Chitral & Kalash Valley Tours 2026
We run eight Chitral and Kalash packages, from a four-day trip at USD 260 to a fifteen-day festival expedition at USD 2,480. This is the only part of our range priced for both Pakistani and international travellers, because it draws both markets in roughly equal numbers.
The Kalash valleys sit west of Chitral town: Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir. Around four thousand Kalasha people live there, following a calendar of festivals that predates Islam in the region. UNESCO added Kalasha culture to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2018.
Quick answer
Short trips: USD 260 for 4 days, USD 320 for 5.
Chilam Joshi, the spring festival: USD 330 for 5 days, or USD 2,480 for the full 15-day international version.
Uchal, the harvest festival: USD 1,050 for 9 days.
Choimus, the winter festival: USD 2,150 for 15 days.
Getting there: Islamabad to Chitral via the Lowari Tunnel, or by air when flights operate.
Permit: a small entry fee applies to the Kalash valleys for foreign nationals.
The eight packages
Six shown here as cards. All eight are listed in the full table below.
Two festival packages are not shown as cards but are in the full table below: the 15-day international Chilam Joshi expedition and the Choimus winter festival tour.
What is included
Included
- Private vehicle with driver throughout
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Accommodation as specified per package
- All meals
- Driver accommodation, meals and allowances
- Kalash valley entry fees
- Local guide in the valleys
- Cultural briefing before entering the valleys
Not included
- International airfare on USD packages
- Pakistan visa fee
- Islamabad–Chitral flight where the itinerary uses road
- Personal expenses and shopping
- Tips
- Travel insurance
- Anything not listed under Included
All 8 packages
All prices per person in US dollars, 2026.
| Package | Duration | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Days Kalash Valley & Chitral | 4D / 3N | Short trip | USD 260 |
| 5 Days Ayun Fort Inn Deluxe | 5D / 4N | Deluxe | USD 300 |
| 5 Days Chitral & Kalash Tour | 5D / 4N | Standard | USD 320 |
| Chilam Joshi Kalash Spring Festival | 5D / 4N | Festival | USD 330 |
| Uchal Festival Kalash Tour | 9D / 8N | Festival, intl. | USD 1,050 |
| 14 Days Hindu Kush & Karakoram | 14D / 13N | Grand tour | USD 870 |
| Choimus Kalash Winter Festival | 15D / 14N | Festival, intl. | USD 2,150 |
| 15 Days Kalash Chilam Joshi Festival | 15D / 14N | Festival, intl. | USD 2,480 |
Two product names need fixing before this table goes live. "Choimus Kalash Winter Festival" is currently titled "Hot Selling Choimus Kalash Winter Tour Package" on its own page and in its URL — a marketing label has no place in the name of a USD 2,150 cultural festival tour. And the Hindu Kush & Karakoram tour's live title and URL both contain "Chirtal," a typo for Chitral, which also shows on the Skardu and Naran pages since the same product appears there too. Both are shown here under their corrected names; the underlying pages still need renaming and a 301 redirect.
The three Kalasha festivals
The reason most people come, and the dates move each year because the Kalasha calendar is not the Gregorian one. Confirm with us before booking flights.
| Festival | 2026 dates | What it marks |
|---|---|---|
| Chilam Joshi | 13–16 May | Spring. The best known and busiest, with dancing in Bumburet and Rumbur |
| Uchal | 20–22 August | The wheat and barley harvest. Quieter than Chilam Joshi |
| Choimus | 15–22 December | Winter solstice. The most important religious festival of the Kalasha year, and the least visited |
Dates confirmed with contacts in Chitral for 2026. We reconfirm every year rather than repeating the previous year's dates.
Choimus is a religious observance, not a performance. Parts of it are closed to outsiders and that is not negotiable. If you attend, you attend as a guest at a private ceremony rather than an audience.
Visiting the Kalash valleys respectfully
Around four thousand Kalasha people live in three valleys. They are the smallest religious minority in Pakistan and their villages receive thousands of visitors a year. How those visitors behave matters more here than almost anywhere else we operate.
Photography
Ask before photographing anyone, and accept no as an answer. Kalasha women in particular are photographed constantly without consent, and the traditional dress is not a costume. Never photograph inside religious spaces, and never photograph children without a parent present.
The Bashali
A communal house in each village where women stay during menstruation and childbirth. Forbidden to men and to outsiders. Do not approach it, photograph it, or ask to see inside.
Alcohol and shopping
Kalasha wine is made and drunk locally, not a tourist attraction. Buy beadwork and embroidery directly from Kalasha makers rather than shops in Chitral town reselling at a markup.
Our guides brief every group on this before entering the valleys. It is the part of the trip we are least willing to be casual about.
Getting to Chitral
By road. Islamabad to Chitral via Mardan, Dir and the Lowari Tunnel, which keeps the route open year-round. A long day.
By air. PIA operates Islamabad to Chitral when weather allows. Short, spectacular, and cancels often. Never plan a tight connection around it.
From Gilgit. Over the Shandur Pass at about 3,700 m, the route used by our fourteen-day Hindu Kush and Karakoram tour. A rough jeep road, open only in summer, and one of the great drives in Pakistan.
Where you stay
Guest houses in Bumburet are simple and mostly Kalasha-run, and this is by design rather than a shortfall: staying with local families keeps more of what you spend inside the community you have come to see.
Which package should you choose?
| If you are | Look at | From |
|---|---|---|
| Visiting for the first time | 4 Days Kalash Valley & Chitral | USD 260 |
| Coming for Chilam Joshi, domestic | Chilam Joshi Spring Festival, 5 days | USD 330 |
| Coming for Chilam Joshi, international | 15 Days Kalash Chilam Joshi Festival | USD 2,480 |
| Coming for the harvest festival | Uchal Festival Kalash Tour, 9 days | USD 1,050 |
| Coming for the winter solstice | Choimus Winter Festival, 15 days | USD 2,150 |
| Crossing to Gilgit-Baltistan | 14 Days Hindu Kush & Karakoram | USD 870 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Kalash valley tour cost?
From USD 260 per person for four days and USD 320 for five days covering all three valleys. International packages with English-speaking guides start at USD 1,050.
When is the Chilam Joshi festival?
13 to 16 May, 2026. Exact dates follow the Kalasha calendar and shift each year, so we confirm with contacts in Chitral before you book flights.
What are the other Kalasha festivals?
Uchal, 20 to 22 August 2026, marks the wheat and barley harvest and is considerably quieter. Choimus, 15 to 22 December 2026, is the winter solstice festival and the most important of the Kalasha year, though parts are closed to outsiders.
Can I photograph Kalasha people?
Only with permission, asked each time and accepted when refused. Kalasha women are photographed constantly without consent and the traditional dress is not a costume. Never photograph inside religious spaces or near the Bashali, and never photograph children without a parent present.
What is the Bashali?
A communal house in each village where women stay during menstruation and childbirth. Forbidden to men and to outsiders.
Do I need a permit for the Kalash valleys?
A small entry fee applies, included in our packages. Foreign nationals should carry their passport; requirements can change.
How do I get to Chitral?
By road from Islamabad via the Lowari Tunnel, open year-round. PIA also flies from Islamabad when weather allows. From Gilgit, the Shandur Pass route is open in summer only.
Can I visit the Kalash valleys outside festival time?
Yes, and it is a quieter and in some ways better experience. Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir are lived-in villages year-round, not a festival site.
What is the difference between the 5-day and 15-day Chilam Joshi packages?
The five-day package at USD 330 is a domestic trip focused on the festival itself. The fifteen-day package at USD 2,480 is an international itinerary with an English-speaking guide and a wider route covering Islamabad, Swat, Chitral, the Kalash valleys and Peshawar.
How far in advance should I book for Chilam Joshi?
Several months. Accommodation in Bumburet is limited and fills early, and the festival is the busiest week of the Kalasha year.
What our travellers say
Reviews from guests who travelled with Click Pak Tourism Services, our domestic brand, and Pakistan Tour Maker.
“Amazing people, amazing service!! I am extremely satisfied with the service. I recommend to plan trips with Click Pakistan and choose Mr. Malik Rizwan as the driver.”
“My younger brother recently joined a honeymoon tour with Click Pakistan and had an outstanding experience. The accommodations and transportation were excellent. I highly recommend Click Pakistan to others.”
“A big shoutout to Click Pakistan company for an incredible tour! Their passion for showcasing the beauty of Pakistan's northern region. They managed the tour very well. 100% recommended company.”
Reviews are shown as published on Facebook. Click Pak Tourism Services and Pakistan Tour Maker are the same operator.
Chitral & Kalash in pictures
Planning a Kalash trip?
Tell us your dates and whether you are coming for a festival. Festival dates move each year, so confirm with us before you book flights.
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Related: Chitral Valley travel guide · Where to stay in Chitral · Swat & Kalam tour packages · All Pakistan tour packages
Prices current for 2026 updated
Pakistan Tour Maker is the international division of Click Pak Tourism Services, a Government of Pakistan licensed tour operator (Licence No. 9780), operating since 2013.