Pilgrim’s Path to Kalash Valley

Ghizer to Chitral and Kalash Valley

Tour Highlights:

This trek offers unmatched diversity of cultural experiences and connection with local cultures. The first part of this trip takes us on an ancient pilgrims path from Ghizer valley, surrounded by 6000m peaks. Watch a local polo game in Yasin Valley. Experience the varying cultures of remote villages as we cross Thui Ann pass to Chitral valley, where we take day treks to visit villages of the Kalash people who have maintained their traditions and religion over centuries.

10 DAYS/10 NIGHTS

Physical Rating: 3

Best Time to Visit: June to August

A scenic mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks in the background and a modern building in the foreground on a grassy hillside.

The morning is free to recover from your journey. In the afternoon and we offer an optional walk to the Margalla hills surrounding the capital. Later in the afternoon, the trek leaders will give a full trip briefing. We will conclude our evening with a group dinner, this will be an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other

A mountainous landscape featuring rugged mountains with snowy peaks in the distance, lush green trees and terraced lands on the slopes, and a river flowing through the valley.

n the morning we fly to Giligit and after breakfast we will travel to Yasin Valley. The day is yours to relax. You can stroll in the apple orchards or watch a game of Polo.

Modern house with wooden exterior and stone steps in a mountainous landscape with grassy hills, distant snow-capped peaks, and a clear sky.

5-6 hours, climb about 200m
Start the hike from Nialthi village where the road ends and start
hiking. Walk through fields of barley and millet, with water falls
tumbling down the mountains. We stop at shepherd summer
settlements and continue to our campsite.

Mountain landscape with green grassy foreground dotted with purple flowers, rocky terrain, and mountain peaks in the background under a cloudy sky.

5-6 hours, climb about 1100m
Walk on Haghost bar glacier a mix of ice and scree to Gashuchi, a
nice flat, sheltered camping site near a pool of water

Scenic landscape of a river flowing through a lush green valley surrounded by tall trees, with mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

5-6 hours, climb about 400m, descend about 1100m
Walk through flower fields to the head of the valley and take a
donkey path to the top of Thui pass, you can see 5,000m and
6,000m peaks in both directions. We start the descent from
glacier to summer pastures and stop at the shepherd settlement
of Goleshi where we will spend the night.

Mountain valley with colorful hills, greenery, and snow-capped mountains in the background.

3-4 hours descend 700m
It's an easy walk down Gazin river to the Yarkhun river, past
villages and shepherd settlements to the village of Wasam. Our
transport will be waiting for us to drive us to Mastuj village,
where we spend the night within the walls of Mastuj Fort.

A lush green valley surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

This is a beautiful and scenic drive, as we start from Mastuj Valley
towards Yarkund Valley and wind down towards Chitral. Driving
close to the Wakhan Corridor, which borders Afghanistan and
Tajikistan we will see impressive views of Trich Mir 7,708 m
(25,289 ft) the highest mountain in the Hindukush range. In
Chitral the day is free to relax at our heritage hotel.

A hillside with a number of wooden houses built on different levels of the slope, surrounded by greenery and trees.

Birbir, Bumborete and Rumbur valleys are locally known as Kafiristan
(the land of the infidels). These valleys are home to the 3,000 year
old civilization of Kalash people who are spread in about 20 villages.
The Kalash practice their own religion and their cultural practices
are unique from all other ethnicities. We will visit Kalash villages,
meet with locals who are keen to share their culture and lifestyle
with visitors. Later we will move to our hotel in the Kalash Valley
where we spend the night

A scenic landscape of lush green mountains and a sprawling valley with fields, houses, and a winding river under a partly cloudy sky.

We will travel by road to Swat Valley, stopping at the Chakdara
Museum with its collection of first to seventh century Gandhara Art.
The drive will take us through villages and small towns and we will
reach our destination in the evening.

A large white mosque with three tall minarets against a cloudy sky, with a fountain and people walking nearby.

Visit the Swat Museum with its collection of Gandharan statuettes and
treasure from the valley of Swat. Continue to see the remains of 2nd
century Butkara stupa, believed to contain the ashes of Buddha. Later
we drive to the UNESCO world heritage site of Taxila. Taxila was an
important city in Bactria, we will visit archeological sites from the
Bactrian and Buddhist periods before heading to Islamabad.

A white mosque with tall, pointed minarets set against a blue sky with mountains in the background.

After a relaxed morning, you will have a chance to visit some of
sights in Islamabad, including Faisal Mosque and the national institute
of folk heritage. You will have an opportunity to buy local handicrafts
and we will arrange a tour of carpet shopping.
After relaxing at the hotel, we will head to the Margalla hills for a
celebration dinner to end an amazing experience.

A large commercial airplane flying in the sky with scattered clouds.

This morning transfer to Islamabad airport where your tour ends

Is this Trip for you?

All our tours feature a physical rating to help select the right vacation. Every one of tours require the ability to walk around sights unaided, while more active tours include longer walks or multi-day treks.

Level 1: A reasonable level of fitness is required but its more about spending time on your feet than covering large distances. You will be getting on and off vehicles, walking around sites and climbing steps.

Level 2: The typical day is busier and involves more steps or multiple sites visits every day. The trip might involve day hikes of 2-3 hours.

Level 3: You should enjoy hiking and feel comfortable hiking 3–6 miles with elevation with elevation gains/losses of up to 300m(1000 ft) per day. We suggest beginning a regular exercise regimen at least 2–3 months prior to departure.

Level 4: You should be comfortable with hiking 5-8 hours each day, up to 18km (11 miles) with as much as 3,000’elevation gain and loss or high altitude.

Level 5: Challenging for fit hikers with experience in multi-day treks in high altitude. These tours are not appropriate for novice hikers or even for experienced but unfit hikers.

If you have any questions, please reach us at info@thewander.travel