15-Day Uchal Festival Tour through Kalash Valley and North Pakistan

15 Days Round trip from Islamabad International Airport (ISB) Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Experience the Uchal Festival in the Kalash Valley
02 Watch traditional Kalash dances such as "Chilimjusht" and "Shamshay"
03 Witness rituals and ceremonies led by Kalash elders and religious leaders
04 Travel along the Karakorum Highway through North Pakistan
05 See the landscapes where the Himalayas, the Karakorum, and the Hindu-Kush ranges meet
06 Explore historic towns, colourful bazaars, and traditional tribal regions

The Uchal Festival in the Kalash Valley is a vibrant and colourful celebration of the Kalash people, a unique ethnic and religious minority in Pakistan, usually held from 20th to 22nd August. During the festival, women and men dress in traditional attire adorned with elaborate beadwork, feathers, and headdresses, while music, dance, feasting, and cultural rituals create a lively atmosphere. This 15-day journey through North Pakistan and historic cities also offers opportunities to meet local people, experience their warm hospitality, and enjoy striking landscapes where the Himalayas, the Karakorum, and the Hindu-Kush ranges meet. From colourful bazaars and traditional villages to the Karakorum Highway and dramatic mountain scenery, each day reveals a new and exciting side of Pakistan.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 15 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Islamabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Rawalpindi, Taxila, Gilgit, Hunza, Naran, Mansehra, Chitral, Swāt, Lower Dir

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Departure for Islamabad

12th August/Day01: Departure for Islamabad, Pakistan.

Day 02

Arrival in Islamabad and Rawalpindi Sightseeing

13th August/Day-02: Arrival at Islamabad Airport.
Meet our staff on arrival.
Transfer to the hotel.
Sightseeing in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03

Islamabad to Naran through Kaghan Valley

14th August/Day-03: After breakfast, drive from Islamabad to Naran.
The journey is 270 km and takes about 6-7 hours via Abbottabad, Mansehra, and Kaghan Valley.
Several stops can be made along the way at viewpoints and for tea.
After Mansehra, continue to Balakot and then enter the lush green Kaghan Valley, which is like the Alps.
Overnight at a hotel in Naran.

Day 04

Naran to Gilgit via Babusar Pass

15th August/Day-04: Drive from Naran to Gilgit via Babusar Pass at 4170 m.
The journey is 240 km and takes about 7-8 hours.
Make several stops at viewpoints and for tea, and of course for lunch along the way.
Overnight at a hotel in Gilgit.

Day 05

Gilgit to Karimabad on the Karakorum Highway

16th August/Day-05: From Gilgit, continue to Karimabad, Hunza, on the Karakorum Highway (KKH).
The drive takes about 2-3 hours and covers 99 km.
On arrival, visit the fort and bazaar.
Overnight at a hotel in Karimabad.

Day 06

Excursion to Passu Village

17th August/Day-06: Drive from Karimabad to Passu Village.
The drive takes about 1-2 hours and covers 40 km.
After the visit, return to Karimabad.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 07

Karimabad to Gopis via Ghizer

18th August/Day-07: Drive from Karimabad to Gopis via Gilgit, Punial, Gakuch, and Gopis.
The journey is 285 km and takes about 7-9 hours.
You may make several stops along the way, including Gakuch viewpoint, Khalti Lake, the Tibetan bridge suspension on the Khalti River, and the confluence of the Ghizer and Yasin rivers.
Overnight at a hotel in Gopis.

Day 08

Gopis to Mastuj via Shandur Pass

19th August/Day-08: Drive from Gopis to Mastuj via Shandur Pass at 3800 m.
The journey is 150 km and takes about 8-9 hours.
Shandur Pass is home to the highest polo ground in the world, where the annual polo tournament is normally held between Chitral and Gilgit in the first or second week of July.
You will make several stops up to the top at viewpoints, and then descend from the pass down to Harchin Village along the bank of the Laspur River.
Arrival in Mastuj and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09

Drive to Bomburet Valley via Chitral

20th August/Day-09: Drive to Bomburet Valley of Kalash.
En route, visit Chitral town. The journey takes about 6-8 hours.
Overnight at a hotel in Bomburet, Kalash Valley.

Day 10

Full Day at the Uchal Festival

21st August/Day-10: Spend a full day at the festival and follow the festival events, depending on where they will be held.
Overnight in Bomburet Valley at the hotel.

Day 11

Attend the Uchal Festival in Bomburet

22nd August/ Day-11: Attend the festival.
Overnight in Bomburet Valley at the hotel.

Day 12

Bomburet to Swat Valley

23rd August/Day-12: In the morning, drive from Bomburet to Swat Valley.
The journey is 160 km and takes about 7-8 hours.
Travel from Bomburet to Chitral 20 km, then continue to Dir by tunnel, and finally to Swat Valley.
Overnight in a hotel in Swat.

Day 13

Swat to Peshawar with Buddhist Heritage Sites

24th August/Day-13: Drive from Swat to Peshawar.
The drive takes only 4-5 hours.
En route, visit Takht-e-Bahi Monastery and the Buddhist site of Budkada.
Overnight in Peshawar.

Day 14

Peshawar to Islamabad via Taxila

25th August/Day-14: Drive from Peshawar to Islamabad.
The journey is 180 km.
En route, visit Taxila.
Overnight at a hotel in Islamabad.

Day 15

Departure from Islamabad

26th August/Day-15: Departure from Islamabad with drop-off at the airport.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Islamabad International Airport (ISB) 12 cities · 15 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Transportation by coaster/minibus (21 seats), Grand Cabin (13 seats), air-conditioned car, and 4x4 jeeps where needed, according to the itinerary, including all hotel transfers, airport pick-up and drop-off, and visits to the Kalash Valleys as per the itinerary.
Hotel accommodation in twin-sharing rooms with full meals.
Services of an English-speaking guide throughout the trip.
Entry fees for museums, forts, and tourist resorts.
Toll taxes and parking fees.