This extended circuit pairs the green valleys of Swat β Malam Jabba, Kalam and Mahodand Lake β with the remote culture of Chitral and the Kalash valleys. The route runs north-west from Islamabad along the Swat Expressway, crosses the Lowari tunnels into Chitral, and returns with a city tour of Islamabad on the final day.
Itinerary
- 1
Day 1 β Arrival in Islamabad
Meet and greet at Islamabad Airport and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for your own activities. Night stay in Islamabad.
- 2
Day 2 β Islamabad to Swat (Saidu Sharif)
Early breakfast, then depart for Swat Valley via Motorway M-1 and the Swat Expressway (237 km, 4 hrs 30 min). Drive through Barikot and Mingora city to Saidu Sharif and check in to the hotel. After some rest, visit the White Palace at Marghazar (8 km, about 25 min). Evening return to the hotel for the night.
- 3
Day 3 β Malam Jabba
After breakfast, depart for Malam Jabba (48 km, 2 hrs) for a full-day excursion with the zip line and chairlift ride. Night stay at Malam Jabba.
- 4
Day 4 β Malam Jabba to Kalam
Breakfast, then drive to Kalam (123 km, 4 hrs 15 min), visiting the trout fishing farm at MadyanβChalyana and passing Bahrain on the way. Arrive in Kalam and transfer to the hotel for the night.
- 5
Day 5 β Upper Swat by 4WD Jeep
Full-day 4WD excursion into Upper Swat: Mahodand Lake, Mataltan Waterfall, the dense Ushu forest and many other scenic points. Evening return to Kalam for the night.
- 6
Day 6 β Kalam, Miandam and back to Saidu Sharif
After breakfast, explore the valley around Kalam, then take a full-day drive to Miandam (65 km, 2 hrs 15 min). Return towards Saidu Sharif via the same route (47 km, about 1 hr 25 min) and transfer to the hotel for the night.
- 7
Day 7 β Saidu Sharif to Chitral
Breakfast at 7:00 am and departure at 7:30 am for Chitral (239 km, 6 hrs 30 min), with short stopovers on the way. The route passes Chakdara, Timergara, Lower Dir, Upper Dir and the Lowari tunnels. Arrive in Chitral and transfer to the hotel for the night.
- 8
Day 8 β Garam Chashma and Chitral Town
Breakfast at 8:00 am, then depart at 9:00 am for Garam Chashma (87 km, 3 hrs) β a full-day excursion through scenic valleys with a hot-spring bath at Garam Chashma. Back in Chitral town, visit the Polo Ground, Shahi Mosque, Chitral Fort and the old bazaar, then drive to Ayun Valley, the gateway to the Kalash valleys (43 km, about 50 min). Overnight in Ayun.
- 9
Day 9 β Kalash Valley
Breakfast at 7:00 am, then a full-day visit to the Kalash Valley (43 km, 1 hr 30 min). Explore Bamburet village, the Kalasha graveyard, the Kalasha Museum and the community's colourful customs and traditions, then continue to a second Kalasha village, Rambur. Return to the hotel in Ayun for the night.
- 10
Day 10 β Return to Islamabad
Breakfast at 7:00 am and departure at 8:00 am for the long drive back to Islamabad (415 km, around 10 hrs) with short stopovers, passing the Lowari tunnels, Upper Dir, Chakdara, then N-45, the Swat Expressway and M-1. Late-evening arrival and transfer to the hotel.
- 11
Day 11 β Islamabad City Tour and Departure
After breakfast, a city tour of Islamabad takes in Faisal Mosque, the Lok Virsa Museum and the Pakistan Monument, followed by drop-off at Islamabad Airport for your flight home.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Price Includes
- Accommodation in single/double/twin rooms with breakfast
- Luxury air-conditioned transport sized to the group
- Fuel, toll taxes and parking fees
- Dedicated driver
- 4WD jeep for Upper Swat
- 4WD jeeps for Kalash Valley and Garam Chashma
- Kalasha Museum entry fee
- Lok Virsa Museum entry tickets
- Pakistan Monument entry tickets
- English-speaking tour guide
- First aid medical kit
Not Included
- Porters for carrying participants' personal equipment or luggage
- Extra expenses caused by landsliding or roadblocks
- Extra expenses due to acts of nature, or religious or political events
- Lunch, dinner, mineral water, side orders, laundry, telephone calls, or any other service not listed above β charged separately
Important Notes
- Any change in the tour plan changes the cost, which is reflected in the invoice accordingly.
- Allow roughly 3β4 hours of variation either way when travelling in hilly areas.
- Standard hotel check-in is 14:00; late checkout can be extended to 14:00, after which 50% of the room rent applies, and a full night is charged beyond that.
- Accommodation and vehicles are booked only after confirmation, and rates are subject to availability.
- In peak season, the booked accommodation or vehicles may differ from those listed; equivalent arrangements will be made.
- Late confirmation can lead to changes and revisions in the quote and plan.
- The price changes if the quoted itinerary changes.
- Fuel is priced at the latest rate; any government price change or route change is adjusted after the final quote or during the journey.
- Unutilised services or inclusions are not refundable.
Payments & Cancellation Policy
- Reservation is confirmed on receipt of a 50% advance payment.
- The remaining 50% must be cleared one week before departure.
- Cancellations not intimated at least 72 hours before departure are charged 75% of the quoted package.
- Cancellation 4β7 days before departure: 50% of the confirmed package.
- Cancellation 7 days or more before departure: 25% of the confirmed package.
- Refunds are processed within 7 working days of written intimation to GlobalGateway.
- Refunds outside the country are subject to State Bank regulations and charges.
What to Bring
- Day bag
- Raincoat
- Sunglasses
- Warm clothes
- Joggers
- Sunblock cream