Khunjarab Pass-Taftan Overland Tour
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Kalash Chilimjost Festival and Hunza Sightseeing Tour Tour Highlights • Karakoram Highway –Old Silk Route • Eye-Catching Beauty of Nanga Parbat-8125m • Famous Indus River & visit Junction of Karakoram, Himalaya, Hindukush • Hunza Valley and views of snowcapped Rakaposhi 7788m • Explore Kalash valleys of Chitral • Famous Passes- Khunjerab, Shandoor and Lowari 16 NIGHTS HOTEL, 17 DAYS US$550/PAX FOR A GROUP OF 12 SIGHTSEEING US$ 600/PAX FOR A GROUP OF 10 SOFT HIKING US$650/PAX FOR A GROUP OF 8-9 MAX. ALTITUDE – 4733M / 15,528FT Key Destinations: Islamabad- Karakoram Highway - Gilgit- Hunza Khunjerab Pass- Ghizer Valley- Shandoor Pass-Chitral-Kalash Valley-Lowari Pass www.snowland.com.pk PK: +92(0)3335105022 [email protected] 2 | Page Pakistan Autumn Sightseeing Tour TOUR BACKGROUND This exciting tour will take you to the dramatic and enchanting valleys of the Northern Areas (Gilgit-Baltistan & Chitral) of Pakistan. Lush green fertile valleys with high quality delicious fruit are fed by springs and glacial streams flowing from the lofty snow capped mountains. Karakoram Highway and River Indus is a constant Feature of the region. The best time of year to visit mountain valleys (Hunza, Gilgit & Chitral) are April to October. From spring to autumn the valleys are more attractive, all three fabulous seasons have their own unique charm, which cannot be described in words but can only be felt. TOUR OVERVIEW DEPARTURE MONTH: MAY 2018 Date Day Activity Time Height Accommodation 10th May Day 1 Arrive Islamabad Full day 635m Hotel th 11 May Day 2 Drive to Chitral 12 hrs 1500m Hotel th 12 May Day 3 Travel to Kalash Valley 2 hrs 1128m Hotel th 13 May Day 4 Joshi Festival Ceremony Full Day 1128m Hotel th 14 May Day 5 Joshi Festival Ceremony Full Day 1128m Hotel th 15 May Day 6 Joshi Festival Ceremony Full Day 1128m Hotel 16th May Day 7 Drive to Mastuj from Kalash Valley 6 hours 2360m Hotel 17th May Day 8 Mastuj to Ghizer Gahkuch 6 hours 2500m Hotel 18th May Day 9 Drive to Gilgit 2 hours 1,500m Hotel 19th May Day 10 Hunza and Explore Town –Visit forts Full day 2500m Hotel 20th May Day 11 Drive to Gulmit &trek to Borith Lake/Hussaini Full Day 2500m Hotel 21st May Day 12 Explore Gulkin Glacier Full Day 2500m Hotel nd 22 May Day 13 Drive to Khunjerab Pass and Stay in Sost Full day 4800m Hotel rd 23 May Day 14 Travel to Besham 15 hours 1280m Hotel th 24 May Day 15 Drive to Islamabad 7 hours 635m Hotel 25th May Day 16 Contingency for Road Travel/Rest Day 26th May Day 17 Fly Back to Home Tour Ends 3 | Page Pakistan Autumn Sightseeing Tour DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1: Arrive Islamabad Upon arrival one of our representive will meet you at the aiport and the group will be transferred to Hotel. KEY DESTINATION DETAILS: Islamabad is new capital 47 years old well-planned city of Pakistan is lush green at the footsteps of Potwar hills. Visit one of the biggest Shah Faisal mosques in the world; also an interesting round trip combines a tour of Shakespearian Park with a visit to Lok versa, the institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage. Rawalpindi is a lively, bustling city with the crowded streets and colorful bazaars, thorough it lacks the grand monuments; nonetheless, the bazaar should appeal to anyone with the desire to see the real Pakistan. TEMPERATURE 25°C ACCOMODATION MEALS: BREAKFAST DISTANCE 375 KM TIME 5-6 ELEVATION HOTEL DRIVING HOURS 635 M 4 | Page Pakistan Autumn Sightseeing Tour Day 2: Drive to Chitral from Islamabad via Lowari Pass After an early breakfast at the hotel, we board our vehicles and continue our journey to Chitral. Once we leave the Islamabad it will take around 10 to 12 hours to drive to Islamabad passing through typically KPK villages and towns en route. KEY DESTINATION DETAILS: Lowari Pass or Lowari Top, (el. 10,230 ft.) is a high mountain pass that connects Chitral with Dir in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Lowari Top is a relatively low pass, by far the lowest pass to enter Chitral, the rest all being 12,000 to 15,000 feet. Lowari Top is closed by snow from late November to late May every year. During this time, jeeps cannot cross so men must travel by foot. In 2017, the Government made functional Lowari Tunnel making the road all weather for people of chitral and tourists. TEMPERATURE 20°C ACCOMODATION MEALS BREAKFAST DISTANCE 510 KM TIME 12 ELEVATION HOTEL DRIVING HOURS 1500 M Day 3: Drive to Bomburate Kalash Valley After breakfast at the hotel we leave for the Kalasha valleys of Chitral. Here we explore the main valley centres as well as the surrounding small villages by jeep. During the jeep ride we will have plenty of opportunity to stop and meet the local village people and learn about their way of life. KEY DESTINATION DETAILS: The Kalasha Valleys are valleys in Chitral District in northern Pakistan. The valleys are surrounded by the Hindu Kush mountain range. The inhabitants of the valley are the Kalash people, who have a unique culture, language. As such, the Kalasha Valleys are a source of attraction for Pakistani as well as International tourists. There are three main valleys. The largest and most populous valley is Bumburet (Mumuret), reached by a road from Ayun in the Kunar Valley. Rumbur and Acholgah are side valleys north of Bumburet. The third valley, Biriu (Birir), is s side valley of the Kunar Valley south of Bumburet. TEMPERATURE 21°C ACCOMODATION MEALS BREAKFAST DISTANCE 45 KM TIME 2 ELEVATION HOTEL DRIVING HOURS 1128 M 5 | Page Pakistan Autumn Sightseeing Tour Day 4: Joshi/Chilimjusht Festival KALASH FESTIVAL The Kalash Valleys of Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir lie approximately twenty-two miles south of Chitral. Population is in the region of 10,000 inhabitants, of whom less than a third are Kalasha. These valleys are the last enclaves to withstand conversion to Islam in the Afghanistan-Pakistan area. We would like to take you to see the unique tribal quality of the KALASH Valleys. The close-knit valley families celebrate with dance and music, hence the KALASH Festival. Allied to the mountain setting and the relatively remoteness, it is a truly memorable experience. The Kalash have four colourful festivals. To the Kalash these festivals are the culmination of religious life and, like the big funerals, they unite the people. JOSHI /CHILIMJUSHT-THE SPRING FESTIVAL This festival takes place in the middle of May and lasts for four days. It honours the fairies and also safeguards the goats and shepherds before they go to the pastures. Before the festival the women and girls gather from all over the valley and decorate their houses. Inside the houses local wine and milk products are shared the women then sprinkle milk on the goddess Jestak, the protector of their children and home. The festival begins at Rumbur where the Shaman and tribal chiefs lead a procession to the Malosh altar, high above Grum and sacrifice goats to the Gods. Later, the festival moves on to Bumboret and finally ends up at Birir. The first day of Joshi, "Milk Day", is celebrated in Bumboret. Kalash ladies move from homestead to homestead, singing and dancing and receiving libations of milk that have been saved for ten days prior to the festival. Every religious ceremony is accompanied by dancing and rhythmical chanting to a beat of the drum. The women, wearing their traditional black robes, ornate cowries shell head-dresses and countless strands of coloured necklaces, dance in a circle. Then the men join in: it may be a man and a women or a man in the middle with a women on each side, lovers being free to intermingle. One hand holds the waist of the partner and the other goes around the shoulders. Elders in colourful dresses narrate stories of bygone days and events.We will spend 3-4 nights in Kalash Valley, staying at a local Guesthouse. Rumbur is rugged and majestic; the mountain ridges are high and the river is wild. With its sparkling streams, shady meadows, groves of mulberry, apricot and walnut trees and yellow and green fields it is a beautiful, picturesque area. As there are few tourists, the Kalasha are less shy and less nervous, and no one objects, if asked, to having their photograph taken. Only seldom does the sound of jeeps destroy the peaceful silence of the valley. At the top end of the valley there is a Nuristani village. We have a few hours in the morning to explore Rumbur, possibly visiting Kalasha village in Rumbur and Dancing Place on top of the hill before leaving for Chitral. TEMPERATURE 21°C ACCOMODATION MEALS: BREAKFAST DISTANCE: 0 KM TIME : NIL ELEVATION HOTEL DRIVING HOURS 1128 M 6 | Page Pakistan Autumn Sightseeing Tour Day 5: Joshi/Chilimjusht Festival TEMPERATURE 21°C ACCOMODATION MEALS: BREAKFAST DISTANCE: 0 KM TIME : NIL ELEVATION HOTEL DRIVING HOURS 1128 M Day 6: Joshi/Chilimjusht Festival TEMPERATURE 21°C ACCOMODATION MEALS: BREAKFAST DISTANCE: 0 KM TIME : NIL ELEVATION HOTEL DRIVING HOURS 1128 M Day 7: Drive to Mastuj from Kalash Valley TEMPERATURE 20°C ACCOMODATION MEALS: BREAKFAST DISTANCE: 165 TIME : 6 ELEVATION HOTEL KM DRIVING HOURS 2360 M 7 | Page Pakistan Autumn Sightseeing Tour Day 8: Drive to Ghizer(Gahkuch) via Shandur Pass This day will be used for travelling from Mastuj to Ghizer (Gahkuch) via Shandur pass. DESTINATION DETAILS: Shandur Top is located in Ghizer District, Gilgit-Baltistan, in the northmost political entity of Pakistan.