Chilam Joshi Festival
Chilam Joshi is also known as Kalash spring festival. Chilam Joshi festival is held in three Kalash valleys, Bumburet, Birir, and Rumbur where Kalash girls and boys dance to the tune of traditional drum beats.
Chilam Joshi celebrations highlight their cultural richness, the plethora of colors and the underlying message of peace. The women dressed up in traditional clothes of vibrant colors, gold, silver jewelers and elaborate headgear. Men wear traditional shalwar kameez with a woolen waistcoat.
Kalashi festivals are famous throughout the world. Three festivals are more important, celebrated in different months of the year. Chilam Joshi is the most important festival celebrated in May for four days. Uchal Festival held in autumn season and Choimos Festival in midwinters.
Chilam Joshi festival starts at Rumbur valley and then moves on to other valleys of Kalash. In this festival, Kalashi people pray for the safeguard of their fields and animals before going to their fields and for this purpose they used to spread milk on their Gods. The festival brought smiles on the unmarried Kalasha boys and girls faces who during the festival get an opportunity to choose their life partners. They announce their life partners name on the last day of the festival.
Dates & Cost – Chilam Joshi Festival
| Chilam Joshi Festival 2023 | Cost (USD) | Cost (EUR) |
| Chilam Joshi Festival (09 Days) – ALL INCLUSIVE | US$ 1,190 | € 1,145 |
| Chilam Joshi Festival (14 Days) – ALL INCLUSIVE | US$ 1,820 | € 1,730 |
- Experience the spring festival of ethnic minority community of Kalash
- Participate and dance to the tunes of Kalasha music
- View of hundreds of peaks including Tirich Mir (7,708m) in the Hindukush Range
- Rivers (Kunar, Chitral,), tributaries and streams
- Malakand pass, Lowari Pass (3,118 m) or Lowari Tunnel (10.4 kms)
- Valleys of Khyber including Dir, Chitral and Kalash
- Views of forts (Malakand, Nagar, Ayun & Chitral) and Mosques (Shahi Masjid)
Welcome at Islamabad airport and transfer to hotel. Afternoon proceed for city tour of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, which includes famous Faisal Mosque, Shakar Parian, Pakistan monument, Damen Koh, Lok Versa, Museum, Rawalpindi old bazaar, Raja Bazaar.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive to Swat 4-5 hours, en route visit Taxila; which includes Jaulian, Mohra, Moradu and Sirkap and Museum. Arrive Swat transfer to hotel. Afternoon sightseeing in Swat valley.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive to Chitral 254 km, after refreshment continue drive to Kalash valleys 60 km, arrive Bomburate and transfer to hotel
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we will start exploring the Bomburate Valley. We will visit the local Museum. The Kalasha Graveyard and the Town Centre. Later we will join the mega festival as all the tribes will gather in Bomburate. Enjoy dance, do photography and interact with the Kalasha Tribe and experience this unique culture firsthand
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive to Rambur valley, visit community house, Rumbur village and enjoy Chilam Joshi festival, where men and worm sing and dance. You will interact with local people to exchange their cultural and custom. Enjoy photography and evening drive to Chitral 60 km.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning visit Shahi Mosque, Chitral Museum, Chitral Fort, later on drive to Swat 254 km. Arrive Swat and transfer to hotel
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive from Swat to Peshawar 195 km, today we visit well preserved monastery of Takhat-e-Bai and continue drive to Peshawar via Malakan Pass.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning city tour of Peshawar, which included Bala Hisar fort, Kissa Khani bazaar and Peshawar Museum. Afternoon drive to Islamabad 172 km
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transfer to Islamabad airport for return flight.
- Airport transfer on first and last day in Islamabad
- All domestic road transfers
- All hotel accommodation (twin sharing room)
- All hotel meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Licensed professional guide
- International airfare and airport taxes.
- Visa fee for Pakistan and personal insurance of the clients.
- Tips for drivers, porters and staff
- Single Supplement
- Transfers to and from airports for participants making individual air arrangements
- Optional excursions or deviations from the scheduled tour
- Miscellaneous (drinks, phone calls, laundry, souvenir etc)
- Room service, gratuities for personal services, items of a purely
- Any other service that is not mentioned in the list above.