Kalash Valley Tour | 2024| BOOK NOW

Kalash Valley tour is one of the biggest cultural retreats of Pakistan. This tour offers the opportunity to experience astonishing cultural diffusion in the Hindukush mountain range, it also helps in knowing about the Kalash minority community living in the Kalash Valley having a unique culture. In November 2018 UNESCO recognized the Kalash culture as ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’. This decision was made in Mauritius in the 13^th session of UNESCO organized by the intergovernmental committee.

Kalash Valley is located in Chitral but this tour is known as the Kalash valley tour as Kalash is the main attraction in Chitral.

Kalash valley is exactly located in Chitral of province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. Kalash valley is at three hours drive from Chitral town and it is surrounded by the most beautiful and mesmerizing Hindukush mountain range. The Kalash people have a historical connection with Hinduism and they poses a distinctive culture, language, way of living, and tradition. Due to this unique culture, many international tourists visit this area every year. Kalash has three main valleys the valley of Bumburet, Rumbur, and Birir. The main attraction among this valley is the Bumburet valley this valley was once known as the Mumuret. This valley can be reached by road crossing Ayun situated in the Kunar Valley. To the North of Bumburet, the Rumbur and Acholgah are side valleys. And in the south of Bumburet Valley Biriu is the side valley of Kunar Valley.

Kalash’s population is about 5000 people making them the minority of Pakistan religiously and ethnically. Their culture and religion are opposed to the Pakistani culture and religion. They believe in polytheist faith and they give sacrifice to their Gods. Kalash culture is interconnected with their faith and based on various festivals and celebrations. The people of Kalash usually not intermarry or live together with the local Muslims and they neither dislike them. They come under the constitution of Pakistan and the Pakistani government provides them protection and security as a scheduled tribe.

Our tour through the Kalash valley begins in Islamabad. At the Islamabad international airport, your guide will welcome you and move you to the Hotel for a rest. We will meet again over dinner in the afternoon and there will be a briefing on your trip to the Kalash valley. The next morning we will take an hour flight to Chitral through the mesmerizing mountainous view. This flight usually depends on the weather in case of bad weather conditions or cancellations of flights we will drive to Chitral by road resting a day in the Chitral Valley we will head towards the beautiful Kalash Valley to explore the region. We will also enjoy the PAGANS festival and explore the Kalash valley for few days. After this unforgettable exploration and experience, we will head back towards Islamabad.

We firmly agree that this trip to Kalash is the richest and eye-opening experience in the world. Chitral is a region of exceptional natural beauty and it provides the opportunity to know about the culture and heritage as well as experience trekking and climbing in the region. The Kalash minority community and the multi-languages like semi-nomadic Wakhi spoken in the region attracts thousands of tourists in the region.

The region of Kalash was once known as Kafiristan and until 1896 the present-day Nuristan in Afghanistan was known as red kafirs and the Kalash people were known as black kafirs. These inhabitants had connections due to the border connecting the region of Kalash with Afghanistan. The Areas connecting Kalash with Afghanistan are the Birir, Rumbur, and Bumburet located in Hindukush between the Afghan border and Chitral Valley.

One theory suggests that the origin and history of the Kalash people are linked with the occupying army of Alexander the great it is believed that the Kalash people are descendants of one shalak Shaw.  Another study suggests that the Kalash as a nation in the Tibetan Belt that originated from Tsiyane. In the early Christian period, they migrated to Afghanistan. In the 10^th Century, Mahmood of Ghazni thrust them into the narrow Hindu Kush valley. The Kalash people were powerful overall in the southern Chitral until the second half of the 14^th century. But after this period the rais family of Chitral took over the power. This occurred at the end of the 14^th Century.

The God of Kalash valley people is known as “Deziao”.But their religious believes are a combination of animism and worship of descendants. There is also the concept of Dewalok it is the concept of male and female holy spirits. These male and females are responsible to perform various activities and who are expected to pass on prayers to Deziao. There is a concept of pure and impure opposition in the Kalash region. The name for pure is ‘Onjesta’ and the name for impure is Pragata.  The females during giving birth and menstrual period are considered as impure and these women are kept in separate places and the place where these women are kept is named ‘Bashali’. One of the most amazing festivals of the Kalash valley is the colorful dance celebration celebrated by the minority every year and this is a rare opportunity grabbed by the tourists since this festival is celebrated in the scheduled time period in the region.  There are four major celebrations in the Kalash valley, spring, summer, autumn, and the winter festival. Each festival has a reason to celebrate the spring festival to defend the shepherds when they are sent out of the pastures, the summer festival is celebrated in August for harvesting, and the autumn festival in October to harvest the grapes and walnuts and the winter festival is celebrated in December to welcome New Year and cleanliness in the village.

TERMS & CONDITION

Himalayan Horizon promulgates its terms and conditions for any kind of trip, trekking, mountaineering, hiking, rafting, wild safaris and other services being operated so far by the company. The terms and conditions set forth will bring forward its limitations before any interested visitor advances for the programs alluded. What should our clients do for reservation of any kind of services provided by the company?

1. 40% of payment in advance should be made up 1 month earlier or as soon as the trip is confirmed, since it is a proof that you are sure to attempt the trip.
2. It should be done as alluded so that the company can manage all the necessary documents, permissions and required field staffs.
3. The full settlement of the payment should be cleared before the client proceeds for the trip or any kind of service at the arrival in Pakistan.
4. The advance payment is not refundable in case of overturning the trip in any condition on behalf of the client.
5. The advance payment is only refundable if the holding company shows any technical impediments regarding the trip.
6. No refund is made for 40% deposit amount in case of delay arrival, no show or cancellation of trip for any other else reason.
7. For any consideration regarding the terms alluded, a bilateral negotiation can be attempted between the hosting company and the client.
8. The advance payment can be directly deposited to our bank account through any bank in the world.

1: REFUND:

No refund will be made for 50% deposit amount in case of cancellation of trip for any other else reason. Having paid full amount of any trip, you’re entitled to incur refund in case if you want to cancel your trip. Still, cancellation charge is invoiced to you. Written notification of your cancellation should be made to cancel any trip. Nevertheless, you’re imposed cancellation charge as advised below: –

2: SUPPLEMENT CHARGE:

On our holidays tour / trek packages, rooms or tents are provided in twin sharing basis. Thus, single room supplement charge will be imposed to client who does not have another tour participant to share room / tent with.

3: INCOMPLETE TOUR:

No refund will be made to clients who drop out from the journey regardless of whatever portions remain unused in the itinerary.

4: CLIENTS’ RESPONSIBLE:

A tour / trek guide who represents Himalaya Horizon deserves all authority during your tours. If you commit any unlawful act, you are compelled to leave the tour. No refund will be made in such case.

5: IMPACT ON YOUR JOURNEY:

We put our every effort to ensure comfortable traveling of yours, but it is must to understand that what you might be accustomed to in the western affluent countries, the Asian countries can’t afford such facilities. Weather is another factor that directly impact on your journey. Hence, patience in mind, enthusiasm and proper preparation before head is must to venture into journey.

6:  TRAVEL INSURANCE:

You must purchase comprehensive travel insurance package against medical, natural calamity, helicopter evacuation, personal accident, trip cancellation etc. This is  suggested to all our esteemed clients.

7: TOUR AMENDMENT:
To make alterations of any trek / tour itinerary, prior notice is requested. You’re advised to stay in touch with us thus. But occasionally, you may be obliged to do so in route under certain circumstance for instance bad weather etc.

8: PAPERS AND DOCUMENTS:

All necessary documents should be presented in sequence for example to issue visa, necessary permits etc. We’re not accountable in case of any trip formality not completed in time before the trip departs on the absent of essential papers and documents.

9:  RISK AND RESPONSIBILITY:

Your safety and enjoyment is our prime concern. We therefore carry out our responsibility honestly & sincerely to ensure your holiday trouble–free as well as you have desired. Nevertheless, unless stated otherwise, trip may be change under uncertain and inherent circumstances such as land-slides, road blockage, flood, snow political unrest, cancellation of flight, delay arrival, sickness or accidents etc. Any extra cost incurring there is your personal responsibility and should be borne on the spot.

10: FLIGHT DELAY / CANCELLATION:

There is virtually possibility of flight delay or postponement for notorious weather in Karakoram & Himalayan Mountain regions of Pakistan which could be happened,  especially during off season, you’re highly advised to reserve extra days to prepare with some delays and avoid frustrating consequence. In case of flight cancellation pre-tour/post-tour, you need to meet your accommodation and food costs yourself.

Himalayan Horizon puts every effort to ensure your comfortable traveling, but it is must to understand that what you might be accustomed to in the other affluent countries, the Asian countries can’t afford such facilities. Weather is another factor that directly impacts your journey. Hence, patience in mind, enthusiasm and proper preparation before beginning is must to venture into journey.