Pakistan: Chilam Joshi Festival Tour

Tuesday 12th May – Islamabad, Pakistan – Takht-i-Bahi – Swat

Morning

• Arrive at your convenience into Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, which is well connected with many countries in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
• Airport transfer to our hotel for the meeting location (hotel will be confirmed to you directly)
• The group will have a pre-tour meeting at 9:00am to get to know your guide and run through important information for the tour.
• We will then head northwest to Takht-i-Bahi, one of the best-preserved Buddhist monasteries in all of Pakistan. Perched dramatically on a rocky ridge just outside Mardan, this UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to the 2nd–5th century AD and offers a stunning mix of history, spirituality, and scenery.
• The climb up the hillside not only gives you sweeping views of the plains below but also explains why the site has survived so well over the centuries. Once at the top, you’ll explore the main stupa, sprawling courtyards, monastic cells, and a huge assembly hall where monks once gathered. Imagine colossal Buddhas, 16 to 20 feet tall, towering over worshippers—remnants of which still remain.
• Takht-i-Bahi’s shrines, with their sculpted podiums and stupa-like finials, form a design unlike anything else in the Buddhist world. Over the years, the site has revealed a treasure trove of artifacts, many of which now sit in museums around the globe—but here, you’ll get to experience the atmosphere where it all began.

Afternoon

• We will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant – try your hand at daahl, karrahi, biryani or other famous Pakistani dishes! 
• In the afternoon, we will continue North to Swat Valley. Swat Valley was a focal point for Buddhism in South Asia and now is often dubbed the “Switzerland of the East” for its incredible and largely untouched nature
• Visit the Swat Museum to see Gandharan art and relics, learning more about this overlooked regions history
• We will then take a  stroll through Mingora Bazaar to experience local culture. In this bazaar you will interact with many locals and can taste some local delicacies including Pakistani mangos. 
• In the evening, we will check into our accommodation and have a local dinner eating delicious food!
• Overnight in Swat Valley

Wednesday 13th May – Swat – Bomburet Kalash

Morning

• After breakfast, we will leave early and begin our long drive to Bomburet Kalash, heart of the Kalash region and just 10km from the Afghanistan border. 
• We will take many photo stops and breaks to stretch the legs along the way as we drive through the incredible Kalash region and various valleys

Afternoon

• We will enjoy a local lunch along the way – if you haven’t tried Pakistani food by now, we recommend digging into the local dishes!
• In the evening, we will arrive to Bomburet Kalash, a hidden away town in the heart of the Kalash region where we will witness preparations for the following days Chilam Joshi festival
• We may be able to partake in the opening day festivities – music and dance start in the village squares and we are welcome to join the locals in celebrating!
• We will enjoy dinner and stay overnight in our local guest house

Thursday 14th May – Chilam Joshi festival

Morning

• Breakfast at our guest house and dive straight into the Chilam Joshi festival!
• The day will be filled with folk dances, singing, and lively drumming. 
• Men and women form circles to dance together, creating a vibrant atmosphere. 
• You will be treated as a welcomed guest and will experience hospitality and will have the chance to try some traditional food!

Afternoon

• After an entire day of celebrating, eating and learning about the Kalash people and their culture, we will return to our hotel for some rest
• Overnight in Kalash

Friday 15th May – Chilam Joshi Festival

Morning

• Enjoy breakfast at the hotel
• On the final day, the festivities continue with more music and dance, along with communal feasts. 
• Families and guests gather to celebrate the arrival of spring, and rituals are performed to mark the festival’s closing. 

Afternoon

• You can expect more food and hospitality today as well as witnessing the closing of the festival, to celebrate the coming of Spring.
• Your whole day will consist of mingling with locals, taking photos, and experiencing the joyful spirit of the Kalash people.
• In the evening, return to our hotel and prepare to depart the following day
• Dinner and overnight in Kalash

Saturday 16th May – Bomburet Kalash – Swat

Morning

• In the early morning, we will again jump back on the road and head towards Swat.
• On the way, we will drive through the incredible fertile valleys, crossing bridges, rivers and through large swaths of green valleys

Afternoon

• We will stop along the way for lunch along the Kalash valley before we bid goodbye to this incredible region.
• Along the way we will be sure to stop for photo opportunities
• In the evening, we will return to the Swat Valley
• We will enjoy a local Pakistani dinner in town
• Overnight in Swat Valley

Sunday 17th May – Swat – Taxilla – Islamabad

Morning

• After breakfast, we will begin the drive from Swat to Islamabad 4-5 hours, en-route visiting the famous archaeological sites of Taxila. There are over 50 archaeological sites scattered in a radius of 30 km around Taxila
• Explore the Taxila Museum with its rich collection of Gandhara art. Gandhara is modern-day Northwestern Pakistan and Eastern Afghanistan) from the 1st century BCE to the 7th century CE
•  We will then continue to the ancient Buddhist university and monastery of Jaulian, and the historic city ruins of Sirkap. These sites have been prescribed apart of the UNESCO World Heritage sites for more that 45 years.

Afternoon

• We will enjoy a lunch break in Taxilla
• In the evening, we will continue driving towards Islamabad
• Transfer tour Islamabad hotel 
• Tour concludes
• For those who are participating in our Afghanistan Spring Tour, we recommend booking an extra night at our hotel in preparations for the tour beginning the following day with a pre tour meeting at 6:00pm