TOUR TO THE HIGH PASSES OF PAKISTAN

Duration: 10 Days
Nature of Trip:  Cultural Experience
Age Group:  5 Years onwards
Accommodation:  Hotel
Transportation: Air-conditions and4x4
Best Time:  April-October
Max Altitude:  3800m
Language Guide:   Available on Request.

Chitral Valley with the unique Kalash (known as the Wearers of Black Robes) - a remaining minority of approximately 3500 people living in three isolated, beautiful valleys. To make a responsible, low-impact effect on this fragile culture our groups will be small and accompanied by a local Kalash guide. With your guide you will be able to observe and mix with the friendly Kalash, including their magnificently dressed women, in a more comfortable, less obtrusive manner. The program in Kalash Valley is unstructured to enable you to enjoy the people and area according to your interests - be it gentle strolls through villages and along tree-lined irrigation channels, to walks to high summer grazing fields at the end of the valleys or the long, strenuous walks over high passes to neighboring Kalash valleys.

As we are sure you know, Alexander the Great passed through the area in 327 B.C. It is not known exactly where he crossed, but I believe that he went up the Kunar River and crossed a mountain pass into what is now Bajaur Valley in Pakistan. Alexander did not reach as far up as the Kalash Valleys. However, the Kalash say that they came from a place called Syam. The location of this place is unknown. Summer and early autumn are some of the best times to visit the Kalash Valleys, although visits can be made almost year-round.