Chillam Joshi Festival

DAY-01: ARRIVAL-ISLAMABAD (CITY TOUR)

• Arrive at Islamabad International Airport and transfer to the hotel.
• In the afternoon have lunch at the famous food street to enjoy the local cuisine.
• After lunch, we will explore the capital city.
  • Later, visit the Pakistan monument and the museum, a landmark built to mark the nation's amazing history.
  • We will visit Faisal Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world.
  • We will then further drive to Pir Suhawa, the highest location from where we will have an aerial view of this beautiful city. We will witness the sunset and later artificial lights brightening one the most beautiful cities in the world.
• We would then visit the famous bazaar to see the bustle before having a delicious dinner.
• Drive to the hotel for early sleep, to be ready for the long drive on the next day.

DAY-02: ISLAMABAD - CHITRAL

• Early Morning after breakfast, leave for Swat.
• On the way enjoy some amazing landscapes of Punjab and KPK.
• On the way stop at Takht bhai, one of the most important relic of Ghandahara civilization.
• Our expert guide will take you through each and every detail of this Heritage site.
• Once done, drive further to Swat.
• Arrive in Swat, and enjoy Pukhtun delicacy before transfer to the hotel.
• In the afternoon, visit the Swat museum. This museum keeps a huge number of artifacts of the Gandhara Civilization.
• Later visit Butkara Stupa, built by Ashoka in the 2^nd Century BCE.
• Enjoy dinner by the Swat River.
• Have a good night's sleep at the hotel.

DAY-03: SWAT-CHITRAL.

• Have a nice breakfast before leaving for Chitral.
• During this road trip, we would go through the Lowari Tunnel avoiding Loweri Pass.
• Have a nice dinner before good night for a beautiful day tomorrow

DAY-04: CHITRAL-RAMBUR-BUMBURET

• After breakfast, we will leave for Rumbur village, one of the main villages of Kalash Valley
• Today it would be our first day to experience the Chilam Joshi Festival.
• We will walk through the town to witness each and every bit of the festival. We will experience the unique culture of these ethnical minority communities whose population is a few thousand as of today.
• We will enjoy Kalash delicacy from within the community,
• Later in the evening we will drive to Bumburet, another beautiful village of Kalash.
• Overnight in Hotel in Bumburet

DAY-05:  BUMBURET

• Today we will have a little late breakfast, to get rid of all the travel that we had done.
• We will then visit the local museum. Contains artifacts belonging to the community.
• We will then visit the Kalasha Graveyard, which is famous for its open cascades.
• Today all the tribes will gather in Bumburet for the mega festival. Therefore we will be there to enjoy this colorful and joyous event.
• We will then join the locals and dance to their music with the amazingly beautiful people.
• Capture these stunning moments in our memories and cameras.
• Later we will travel to Chitral and stay at overnight alongside the Chitral River

DAY-06: CHITRAL

• After a relatively late breakfast we would leave to explore the city, this city was first settled somewhere back in the 3^rd century AD.
• In the evening we will visit Chitral Fort built in 1774 by the rulers of Chitral.
• Later visit the Chitral Museum to experience the astonishing history this place and the natives had.
• Have lunch along the Chitral River to enjoy local food.
• Later visit Chitral bazar to see and appreciate handicrafts made by locals.
• In the afternoon leave for Mastuj to stay overnight.
• Overnight at hotel.

 DAY-07: MASTUJ-PHUNDER

• Early morning, we will leave for Phunder.hit Chitral Mastuj Road to reach Mastuj village.
• On this day we will travel from Phander which is part of Ghizer District of Gilgit – Baltistan.
• We will travel via Shandur Pass. We will have a brief stop at the pass, we will see Shandur Lake and the famous Shandur Polo Ground (the highest Polo ground in the world).
• Upon arrival in Phander, we will check in the hotel.
• Depending on the available time we could visit this beautiful lake, or we could go fishing if interested.
• Overnight in hotel.

DAY-08: PHUNDER-HUNZA

• After having a nice morning on around the lake we will leave for Hunza.
• We will pass by some beautiful small villages and lakes.
• Reach Gilgit and have a lunch break. We can have Xinjiang food.
• We will reach Hunza in the evening and will check in to the hotel.
• In the evening visit Karimabad bazar and Baltit Fort.
• Overnight at hotel.

DAY-09: KARIMABAD-GULMIT-GHULKIN

• Drive to Gulmit on the way stop over at Ata Abad Lake
• Hike Ondra Poygah to Ghulkin Ghar via Kamaris village
• Walk down to Ghulkin village for lunch at a local house.
• In the evening visit a school constructed by the community on top of the hill.
• Enjoy a beautiful Autumn view of Shishkar, Gulmit, and Ghulkin Village.

DAY-10: GHULKIN-KHUNJERAB PASS (PAK-CHINA BORDER)

• Drive to Khunjerab Pass (Pakistan-China Border)
• On the way stop over at Rainbow Bridge. Passu cones viewpoint.
• Pass through Sost town and Khunjerab National Park (if you are lucky you may see Markhor, blue sheep, marmots snow leopard)
• Drive back to Borith Lake, overnight at Borith Lake Hotel

•  DAY-11: BORITH-NAGAR-GILGIT

  • Early morning drive to Hopper Glacier in the afternoon drive to Gilgit
  • Enjoy the beautiful view of Nagar Valley.
  • Enjoy lunch in Hunza before heading for Gilgit.
  • Brief stop at Rakaposhi viewpoint, for a cup of coffee/tea.
  • Arrive in Gilgit and transfer to the hotel.
  • In the evening sightseeing of Gilgit city.
  • Overnight in hotel

  DAY-12: GILGIT-BESHAM

  • After breakfast leave for Besham.
  • You would be traveling on the famous KKH.
  • On the way visit Chilas Stone Carving, remainings of the Ghandahara civilization.
  • Have lunch in Chilas before leaving further for Besham.
  • Arrive at Besham and transfer to the hotel.
  • Have a nice dinner before going to bed.

   

  DAY-13: BESHAM-TAXILA-ISLAMABAD AIRPORT

  • Early morning Leave for Islamabad after having breakfast.
  • Leave Hazara expressway to divert to Taxila.
  • Visit Taxila Museum, home to a vast collection of Gandhara art and artifacts from the ancient city of Taxila.
  • Explore the ruins of Taxila, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with ancient Buddhist monasteries, stupas, and temples.
  • Enjoy a wonderful local cuisine before leaving for Islamabad.
  • Depending on the flight time, drop at the airport to fly back home.