PAKISTAN: ANCIENT CITIES, TRIBAL CULTURE & NATURE
18-31 MAY, 2022
with Jeremy Woodhouse
(14 days – 13 nights), maximum group size 6
Man Shaving, Kalash Valley
This is a cultural and historical trip for travellers looking for authentic experiences and adventure in some of the most interesting regions of central and northern Pakistan. No trekking, just some small walks.
Pakistan is starting to open up to tourism
In August 2019, the country announced a new, more relaxed visa policy to make it easier for travellers to visit. They have created a new visa system and online portal so potential visitors can find all the information they need in one place.
Pakistan has also abolished most restrictions of movement within the country. Until this week, tourists had to apply for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to visit some areas. These have mainly been scrapped, opening up many parts of Kashmir, Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan to overseas visitors.
There are still restrictions in six areas. Tourists are still unable to travel within 10 miles of the borders with China and Afghanistan and within five miles of the military control lines in Siachen, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Long-term plans are underway to turn Pakistan into a “a heaven for tourists”. The country also already has its fans among the more adventurous travellers. In 2018 the British Backpacking Society voted the country the top destination for backpackers, saying it is “home to some of the world’s friendliest and most hospitable people, and offers some of the world’s most dramatic mountain scenery.”
Itinerary
Day 1: 18 May — Arrival in Lahore
Arrival at Lahore airport where the guide will be waiting. Transfer to the hotel. Explanation about the travel plan (route, distances, and activities) and talk introduction about Lahore, its cultural legacy and monumentality. The most beautiful city in Pakistan, cultural and artistic center and former capital of Punjab before the partition between India and Pakistan in 1947, when India reached Peshawar. We will visit Lahore Fort (World Heritage Site), Badshahi Mosque (1674) and we will get lost in the walled city
O/N Faletti’s Hotel (Full Board)
Day 2: 19 May — Lahore
Visit to the Lahore Museum and the Shalimar Bagh Mughal Gardens (World Heritage Site). Transfer to Wagah Border, border with India, to participate in the colorful ceremony "Lowering of the Flags", daily closing of borders between the two countries at 4:00 p.m. (35km / 1h). Return to Lahore, visit the illuminated Badshahi Mosque and Anarkali Bazaar.
O/N Faletti’s Hotel (Full Board)
Day 3: 20 May — Lahore | Islamabad | Taxila (300km / 5h)
Breakfast. Transfer by road to Taxila. Stop en route to visit the Rohtas Fort (World Heritage Site). Extraordinary example of military architecture, built by Pashtun King Sher Shah Suri to protect the communication route between Calcutta and Peshawar from Mughal attacks. Continuation to Islamabad, the current capital of Pakistan, built in 1960 with funds from King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, to replace Karachi. Modern, planned and impersonal city, political center of the country. Continue to our hotel in Taxila, base to explore Gandhara.
O/N Hotel Royalson (Full Board)
Day 4: 21 May — Taxila | Chilas (6h)
Breakfast. The mythical ascent begins on the Karakorum Highway that opened a series of isolated valleys and lost kingdoms in 1984. Arrival at Chilas, a traditional mountain town with a central market along the main street.
O/N Shangril-la Hotel or similar
Day 5: 22 May — Chilas | Gilgit (8h)
Breakfast. Route through impressive Himalayan landscapes along the Karakorum Highway (many works that slow down the route). Gulmit is a town that serves as headquarter of the Gojal, also known as Upper Hunza. Gulmit is a centuries-old historic town, with mountains, peaks and glaciers.
O/N Riviera Hotel or similar (Full Board)
Day 6: 23 May — Gulmit | Gilgit (5h)
Breakfast. Route through impressive Himalayan landscapes along the Karakorum Highway (many works that slow down the route). Late arrival to Gilgit, capital of Baltistan. The largest city in the mountainous north crossed by the Indus. Gilgit is a point of confluence of the people of the mountain villages who come to shop.
O/N Riviera Hotel or similar (Full Board)
Day 7: 24 May — Gilgit | Damas (3h)
Breakfast. We will penetrate the heart of the Hunza Valley on the Silk road and one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Arrival to the capital of the Valley, Karimabad. It is a small mountain town, with stone streets, neat, clean, with cafes and restaurants, craft stalls and antiques. A quiet place, ideal for a long stop and tour the famous Hunza Valley. Walk the mountains and valleys full of apple trees, enjoy the blue river and meet the empowered women and the men of the town with their self-managed projects. Here people are educated, both men and women and are all Ismailis with the Aga Khan as the leader of the religion. It is a unique place in Pakistan. After visiting the ancient villages of the area, we will reach Damas. We will greet Mir, descendant of the Feudal Lord of the area and explore the traditional houses of the town.
Hotel Tourist Inn. (Full Board)
Kalash Woman Cooking
Accommodation: Hotel Terichmir (Full Board)
Accommodation: Ayun Fort Inn (Full Board)
Day 10: 27 May — Ayun | Kalash Valleys (20km / 1h)
Breakfast. Talk about the Kalash culture, the last village of the Himalaic religion in the Hindukush. Winding track route to the Kalash Valleys, a magical place that has preserved its identity despite the pressures of the outside world (Islamization, forced schooling, Afghan conflict, immigration of people from the Chitral Valley, and tourism that comes with more strength to these, until recently, forgotten mountain valleys).
For two days we will explore the three valleys Rumbur, Bumburet and Birir, to learn about the reality of this unique and fascinating town. Surprising the physical appearance of men and women (light skin, green eyes, blue, many blond and blond). There is a theory that they are descendants of soldiers of Central-European origin who were part of the troops of Alexander the Great who passed through this region on their way to India. Physical aspect aside, the Kalash are very hospitable and like to explain things about their culture. They have different taboos, very particular traditions and above all, a unique dress (women only) that is worth discovering.
Accommodation: Kalash Guest House (Full Board)
Day 11: 28 May — Kalash Valleys | Timergara (8h)
Breakfast. Farewell to our hosts the Kalash and goodbye to this wild land. Long route enjoying the landscape through gorges next to the Panjkora River, to the fertile valleys of the Hindus. Talk summary of the trip and the highlights so far.
Accommodation: Shangrila Resort (Full Board)
Day 12: 29 May — Timergara | Peshawar (5h)
Objective: Peshawar. Mythical millenary border city, located on the Karakorum road, strategic point on the Silk Road, east of the Khyber Pass where the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great, the Mughals, Marco Polo and even Churchill crossed! Cultural and hotbed crossroads of intrigues and collusions, where history is breathed everywhere. Arrival and accommodation at the hotel. Talk about Peshawar (urban map to understand historical periods and socio economic reality). Exploration on foot of the old quarter; mosques, monuments of different periods, the popular atmosphere of the markets, of the shopping street. The city has hosted thousands of Afghan refugees, it is noted for the large number of women covered with burqa.
Accommodation: Hotel Emaraat or Shelton Rezidor (Full Board)
Day 13: 30 May — Peshawar
Breakfast. Visit the Peshawar Museum, the Khyber and Khawani Bazaars with its old storytelling street, the Mahabat Khan Mosque, the Shinwar shopping plaza, the University, the Islamia College, the Peshawar Club, Khyber House, the Bala Hisar Fortress, Sethi St. and the Caravanserai Gor Khatri. With the local guide we can penetrate the bowels of the most authentic Peshawar and understand the essence of the most magical city in Pakistan.
Accommodation: Hotel Emaraat or Shelton Rezidor (Full Board)
Day 14: 31 May — Peshawar | Home
Breakfast. Airport transfer. Flight departure back home.
Trip Notes
- Visits and excursions order may be modified according with local conditions (road conditions, market days.
- If some visit or excursion can’t be done for external causes, they will be replaced if possible.
- Long distances between cities and villages, very often roads are in bad conditions.
- We recommend you to take a single “soft” suitcase not a big a rigid one for the trip, and one backpack for cameras.
- Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever
- Meals: All meals included where it’s indicated, but the traveler is allowed to bring dried fruit, some can, and energy bars.
- Trip expenses: traveler must change into local coin about 200 € approx for drinks, not included meals and shopping. To buy craftwork we recommend bringing some extra money. The guide will help you change money in the hotel.
- Electricity and how to charge cameras: There are sockets in the hotels and in some isolated places there is a generator where batteries can be charged.
- Internet: each person has to buy a telephone card
Arrival & Departure
For US citizens a valid passport and valid Pakistani visa are required. There are no provisions for visas upon arrival.
Women Wearing Burqas in Peshawar
1 SPOT OPEN
Tour Cost: $6500
DeposiT: $1,000
Single: $450
Maximum Group Size: 6
Tour Highlights
- Lahore
- Taxila archaeological sites
- Karakoram Higway
- Himalayas
- Hunza Valley
- Kalash tribe
- Peshawar
- Pashtun culture
- Gypsy camp.
Tour Price Includes
- All transfers
- Hotels, campsites, and tented camps with breakfast
- English speaking guide during the trip
- Full board
- Land transport in private vehicle (minibus + 4x4 to reach remote tribal villages and mountain roads)
- Fuel and tolls
- Mentioned excursions.
- Tickets to the places mentioned in the itinerary.
Tour Price Excludes
- International flights, visa upon arrival.
- Charter flights
- Beverages
- Insurance
- Emergency evacuation
- Tipping of guides through out stay or staff at restaurants/hotels
- Banking fees incurred
Paying by check
If you would like to pay your deposit and/or balance with a check, please make the check payable to: Pixelchrome, Inc and mail it to:
Nicole Woodhouse
Pixelchrome, Inc,
605 Rouen Drive,
McKinney TX 75072
Paying by Wire Transfer
If you would like to pay by Wire Transfer please contact nicole@pixelchrome.com for bank account details.
Equipment Checklist
- Bring you own laptop computer and storage media
- Camera body(s)
- Lenses, 16-35mm, 24-70mm zoom and 70-200mm zoom or similar lenses are very good
- Light bag for easy hiking with camera bodies and accessories
- Cleaning kit for cameras and lenses
- Rain/dust covers for cameras and lenses
- Charger for batteries
- Spare batteries
- Spare Memory cards
- Memory card reader
- USB key to exchange images
Also good to have
- Tripod
- Good quality polarizing filter