Uchal Festival Kalash
Uchal Festival Kalash is the most cultural and fateful event in Pakistan. Kalasha tribe organizes this lively event to thank nature for the bountiful crops and the good farm produce. At the time of the Uchal Festival, the community prepares some special foods like corn, buttermilk and cheese to mark the event.
Kalash Uchal festival takes place every year around August when barley and wheat are ready for harvest. This event includes singing and dancing and thanking Nature. There are some dances by women in nation’s clothing, people dance, and they cheer up.
Another strong point of the celebrations is the procession to Balangkuru to a high plateau, where prayers are made, and there is dancing all night long. This procession lasts several days and winds up in different parts of valleys so that the spirit of celebration can reach the entire region.
Dates & Cost – Uchal Festival Kalash
Details regarding the festival’s programs and costs are important for those who want to enjoy the wonderful culture of Kalash.
| Uchal Festival Kalash | Cost(USD) | Cost(EUR) |
| 09 days Tour of Uchal Festival Kalash | 1150$ | 1100€ |
| Uchal Festival Kalash with Hunza Tour(14 Days) | 1950$ | 1700€ |
Availability And Starting Dates Of Uchal Festival
| Start Dates | End Dates | Deposit | Avalability | Register |
| 17-August | 25- August | 500$ | Available | Book Now |
| 17-August | 30- August | 500$ | Available | Book Now |
Uchal Festival Kalash– Choimus (Winter)
The festival takes place every year at the end of the winter season which indicates good harvests to the villagers for the year to come. Their New Year Festival at the time of winter solstice includes various purification rites performed by the people.
The people venturing out seek foxes which are believed to be good to see at this time.
From the surrounding villages, people arrive with torches bearing poles for a traditional dance venue which is referred to as “Charsue”. Indoor dancing and the rest of the entertainment go on till the late hours of the night as the locals entertain with wine around the bonfire.
The Danish elders sit on hills to view the sunrise of the New Year and afterwards, goats are offered as tribute to Jastak, after which her blood is sprinkled at the temple called Jastarkhan.
Highlights
- Take part in the Kalash ethnic groups’ spring festival
- Participate in Kalasha music and dance the night away.
- Panoramas of various mountain peaks including the Hindukush ranges Tirich Mir se 7708 meters
- Rivers(Kunar, Chitral, Gilgit, Indus), rivulets and nallahs.
- The Narowal valley; Lowari Pass of 3118m or the Lowari Tunnel 10.4 km.
- The valleys of Khyber including Dir, Chitral with Kalash regions.
- Sightseeing of forts related to history, others are Malakand, Nagar, Ayun & Chitral forts. Also Shahi Masjid.
Itinerary –Uchal Festival Kalash
One of Our representatives will be at Islamabad International Airport to pick you up.
Since International Flight Reach arrives late at night so you have to give your details 5 days before arriving. After that, he will help you to transfer hotel. Here You can Rest for a while in the evening our representative take you On a tour of Islamabad and Rawalpindi’s beautiful places.
Altitude: 3,020 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Dinner, Breakfast
After Taking Break Fast Your journey Starts Towards Swat in a jeep. It will take 4-5 hours of drive. Enroute we will Take you to the tour of Taxila Museum, Taxila Jaulian, Mohra, Moradu and Sirkap. After Reaching Swat you will be shifted to a hotel.
Altitude: 980 m
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
On This day we’ll drive towards Chitral. We will use the Lowar Tunnel to reach Chitral. It is 10.4 km long and it connects Dir district and Chitral district. We also try to visit Ayun Valley. This valley is very close to the Kalash Tribe. On Reaching There you can see amazing views of flowers and Gardens. Your Guide will also visit you to Ayun Fort.
Overnight you will stay at a hotel.
Altitude: 3,020 m
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Our exploration will commence from the Bomburate Valley. The first stop is the local museum that we will visit. The Kalasha Grave Yard and Town Centre too. Later on, we shall proceed towards a mega festival where all the tribes would congregate in Bomburate. We will have the opportunity to enjoy the dance, take photographs engage with the Kalasha tribe and witness such fascinating culture.
Altitude: 3,020 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take a drive to Rambur Valley and visit the community house in Rumbur village while participating in the Chilam Joshi festival which features song and dance.
You will be able to engage with local people to learn about how their orientation and customs differ from yours. Take photographs and take advantage of an evening drive to Chitral which is 60 km away.
Altitude: 3,020 m
Accommodation: hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, you begin your day from the Shahi Mosque, visit the Chitral Museum & Chitral Fort, and in the afternoon drive to Swat 254 kilometres. Reach Swat & check into the hotel.
Altitude: 3,020 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We will drive from the Swat Valley to Peshawar, spanning 195 kilometres. According to schedule your Guide take you to the tour of the monastery at Takhat-e-Bai and then proceed to Peshawar via the Malakan Pass.
Altitude: 3,020 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin the day with a city tour of Peshawar including; Bala Hisar fort, Kissa Khani market and Peshawar Museum which are. Afternoon drive to Islamabad which is 172 km.
Altitude: 3,020 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The last stage of the process is to take a flight back home – leaving from Islamabad airport. hoping that this journey will invite you to come again and again.
Altitude: 3,020 m
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinn
- All domestic flights and road transfers
- All hotel accommodation (twin sharing room)
- All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Licensed professional guide (government requirement)
- Government trekking permit fees and paperwork
- Waste management fees (government requirement)
- Support staff (cook, assistant(s) etc)
- First aid medicine kit (basic)
- Satellite phone for emergencies
- All transfers by road within the country.
- Personal travel insurance (suggestions only)
- Visa to Pakistan (five supporting documents will be offered)
- International flight tickets and airport tax.
- Gratuities for drivers, porters, and other personnel.
- Personal equipment (e.g. trekking shoes, down jacket, walking sticks etc)
- Extra nights in Islamabad (hotel check in/out is 12pm) – additional USD 49 per night
- Tips/gratuities for guides, porters, staff etc
- Miscellaneous (minibar, bottled water, phone calls, laundry, souvenir etc)
Important information
Why register at this time?
- Early Booking Benefits: The specified rates for the vacation are introductory prices which are likely to change in the future. Service-based businesses such as (but not limited to) airlines and lodgings raise prices during high-demand seasons. Reservations that are made outside of the peak season will always be lesser in cost than the peak season.
- Early Sell-Out in Peak Seasons: Due to high international traffic during the peak months, places sell out quite early in these peak months. We have also revised our COVID-19 safety protocol and now do not accept more than 12 travellers in a single group. Registrations are being made on a first-come come first serve basis.
- Remaining Amount Payable on Arrival in Pakistan: Owing to our unusual circumstances, we understand that making arrangements for the final payment for your travel can be quite worrisome. Our company’s policy is to obtain your final payment after you have arrived in Pakistan. The only upfront fee before your trip is the deposit.
- Deposit valid for three years: The uncertainty around the pandemic (COVID-19) is common in our times. Covid-19 has for us induced very lenient booking terms. All deposits are now valid for 3 years rather than the previous year.
- Make the smallest deposit: The first payment for the holiday is a discount for booking in advance, and naturally, it alters depending on the ratio:
1st October: 110 USD
1st November: 150 USD
1st January: 180 USD
1st March: 260 USD
1st March: 340 USD
Note: The mentioned dates below also apply to next season’s deposits.
Deposit (Advance) for Pakistani nationals
In this respect, the deposit for Pakistani nationals is PKR 40,000 or 30 per cent of the average cost, whichever is higher. Such deposits are not refunded but considering the changes over COVID-19, all deposits now are valid for 3 years.
Refund Policy for All
Deposit: a deposit once made cannot be refunded (but is valid for three years) since all deposits will be utilized for making the in-country logistics. In the event a visa is denied please a refund/ partial refund (if expenses were incurred) will be entertained.
In such an instance, a valid reason for the denial obtained from the immigration office must be delivered to our office not later than 72 hours after the denial. In the case of Pakistan nationals, deposits are non-refundable (but valid for three years) for all reasons.
Payment:
The final payment will be made after arrival in Pakistan on the first day only. Instructions for payment will be distributed in due course.
Currency
US dollars (USD) and its equivalents in Euros or Sterlin pounds (EUR or GBP) can be paid by all international travellers. For Pakistani travellers, all of them are charged equivalents in Pakistan Rupees (PKR).
Single Supplement
Separate and single accommodation supplements shall comprise an additional USD 523. All rights are included in it. This amount has to be paid together with the outstanding balance. It shall be on arrival in Pakistan.
FAQs
How many festivals do you find in Kalash Valley?
The Chilam Joshi (spring festival), Choimus (winter festival), and Uchal (summer festival) are the three principal Kalash Festivals.
What is the Uchal festival?
The Kalasha people celebrate Introduction Uchal as a jubilant festival representing the thankfulness of the people for plentiful foods and harvests.