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If I had to name my favorite country in the world, that would be Pakistan.
Home to staggering and unspoiled landscapes, Pakistan is the only country that features the three highest mountain ranges in the world: the Himalayas, the Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush.
In this expedition, we will venture into the heart of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
Peshawar, one of the oldest living cities in South Asia, where bustling bazaars, crumbling colonial buildings, and legendary tea houses tell stories from the Silk Road days to the present.
From there, we’ll journey deep into the Kalash Valleys to experience the Joshi Festival, a unique celebration of spring unlike anything else in the country, marked by vibrant dances, traditional rituals, and the joyful spirit of the Kalash people.
May 12th to 21st, 2026
€1990
10 days
Led by Oriol López
Note that we always keep the itinerary flexible, and it may be subject to change, depending on the political situation.
1 – 12th May: Arrival in Islamabad
2 – 13th May: Islamabad to Mingora
3 – 14th May: Mingora to Ayun
4 – 15th May: Kalash Valley
5 – 16th May: Kalash Valley & Joshi Festival
6 – 17th May: Chitral
7 – 18th May: Chitral to Peshawar
8 – 19th May: Peshawar
9 – 20th May: Jingle truck paiting & Islamabad
10 – 21st May: Departure
Day 1 is the arrival day in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.
We will spend the day picking you up from the airport and checking in at the hotel, followed by visiting Faisal Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world.
Dinner will be at Monal Restaurant, one of the most popular restaurants in town, serving high-quality Pakistani food.
Overnight in Islamabad.
On day 2, we head north into the lush landscapes of the Swat Valley, historically known as the “Switzerland of Pakistan” for its green hills and sparkling rivers.
In the afternoon, we’ll arrive in Mingora, Swat’s main city, and check into our hotel, followed by a stroll around town.
Overnight in Mingora.
Stay at Shelton’s Rezidor Swat, Mingora (6-7 hour drive)
An early start as we drive deeper into the mountains, following some of the most spectacular roads in the country, absolutely mind-blowing.
It will be a long driving day (9 to 10 hours), but it’s a beautiful journey as we enter Chitral district.
We’ll reach Ayun, a peaceful village just outside the entrance to the Kalash Valleys, and check in at our charming guesthouse.
Overnight in Ayun.
After the long drive, on day 4, we’ll take things a bit easier. After breakfast, we’ll drive into Bumburet, the largest of the Kalash Valleys, home to the unique Kalash community.
The Kalash are a unique ethnic minority who follow an ancient polytheistic religion, distinct from the Muslim majority of Pakistan. They’re known for their vibrant festivals, colorful traditional dress, and a culture that has survived for centuries in this remote valley.
Bumburet is less than a 2-hour drive from Ayun, so we’ll have almost the entire day to explore its surroundings.
Overnight in Bumburet.
We’ll spend the entire day experiencing the Kalash culture at the Chilam Joshi Festival.
Chilam Joshi is the Kalash spring festival held each May, celebrating the arrival of warmer weather and fertility for crops and livestock. It features vibrant dances, singing, rituals with dairy offerings, and joyful gatherings where locals dress in their traditional colorful attire — one of the most spectacular cultural experiences in Pakistan.
Apart from the festival, we’ll also visit local villages and meet Kalash families, making sure we get a full cultural immersion!
In the morning, we’ll drive to Chitral, the district’s main town.
Free time to enjoy the local bazaar and highlights like Chitral Fort.
Overnight in Chitral.
Day 7 will be the longest drive, but we promise it’ll be incredibly scenic.
In the evening, we’ll arrive in Peshawar, one of South Asia’s oldest continuously inhabited cities
Overnight in Peshawar.
Peshawar is the most photogenic city in Pakistan.
It’s raw, chaotic, and completely captivating. Sitting close to the Afghan border, Peshawar often feels more like Kabul than Islamabad. The language, food, music, and even the faces on the street reflect deep ties with Afghanistan.
This is the heartland of the Pashtuns, a proud and fiercely hospitable people with their own code of honor, poetry, and traditions. In Peshawar, you’ll hear Pashto spoken everywhere, see men in traditional pakol caps, and find kebab stalls and tea houses filled with the aromas of spices and grilled meat.
We’ll spend the day exploring the city.
Overnight in Peshawar.
In the morning, we’ll experience the jingle truck painting near Peshawar.
As you may know, in Pakistan, trucks are real pieces of art, true cultural icons in the country and we’ll visit the main place where this art is created.
After lunch, we’ll drive back to Islamabad.
Overnight in Islamabad.
After breakfast, we’ll take you to the airport, at your desired time.
End of the tour.
Airport transfers in Islamabad
9 nights of accommodation (twin shared)
Private coaster and Jeeps (when needed)
All meals, including dinner in a fancy restaurant on arrival day + breakfast on departure day
Clearance for all checkpoints
Pakistani local guide
International tour leader
Entrance fees, cultural activities, and guided tours to all places listed in the itinerary
International flights to Islamabad
Alcoholic drinks or any extra drink
Single supplement. Having your own private room costs €385
Travel insurance (from €58)
May 12th to 21st, 2026
€1990
10 days
Led by Oriol López
For security reasons, the name of the hotels we stay will only be shared upon booking your spot.
The price of the tour includes accommodation in a twin room.
If you are a solo traveler, you will share the room with another like-minded traveler from the group. Please note: we always try to group people of same gender and age but this can’t be always the case.
If you want a single room, you will have to pay an additional €385.
You can apply for an online visa here.
As of September 2024, the visa process has been simplified. There are no visa fees, no need for a Letter of Invitation, and your visa is issued within hours after applying.
The visa is valid for 90 days, and it’s multiple entry.
Pretty much all nationalities.
We need at least 6 people to run the tour.
Just a heads-up: if there are only 6 to 8 of you, the European tour leader won’t come along—you’ll just be with the local Pakistani team (they’re awesome, by the way).
If we get 9 or more, the tour leader will join too, which will be likely the case.
We will do 2 day hikes but nothing particularly challenging, no camping and stuff like that.
This means that both hikes are optional and that alternatively, you can hang out in the villages. Shimshal and Tarishing are so rural and awesome that you won’t feel you missed something.
Islamabad has an international airport, with some common connections being Dubai, Doha, Istanbul or Jeddah.
If you want to visit the cultural capital of Lahore, I recommend flying there, yes, and then you can take a bus to Islamabad (around 5 hours).
We limit our tours to a maximum of 12-14 people.
To secure your spot on the tour, we require a deposit.
We accept payments in both Euros and US dollars. All details will be shared upon booking your spot.
Information about the risks and dangers of the trip:
The traveler is expressly informed that the activities included in the travel itinerary are adventurous and/or take place in conflict zones, which entail dangers and imply the risk of physical, and psychological injuries, and/or death for the traveler.
Due to the characteristics of the destination and/or activities, the specific risks and dangers of the trip are, by way of example but not limited to, those listed below:
War; terrorism; political instability; arbitrary detentions, gunfire in the activity area; and/or violent crime.
Regarding the potential dangers of the destination, travelers are advised to consult the travel recommendations for the destination country provided by their country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For example, in the case of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), these recommendations can be accessed on the following link: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/pakistan
FCDO advises against all travel to certain parts of Pakistan, including: Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Balochistan Province, Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Sindh Province.
In Against the Compass, we don’t visit any of these areas but remember that on our way to Gilgit Baltistan, we’ll drive through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.
Yes, if you want to join any of our expeditions, you must purchase travel insurance, this is non-negotiable, and it must be with IATI.
Why do we have to book it with IATI?
Against the Compass has been a partner with IATI for a very long time. We know their CEO, the marketing team and we do a lot of collaborations together so in the unlikely case something happened, we’d know what to do.
Moreover, IATI Insurance covers all the countries where the FCDO advises against all travel.
You may also benefit from a 5% discount if purchasing it from the below link.
Get a quote here to claim your discount
Please check our General Conditions.
However, specific conditions might apply depending on the destination. Example: when the trip includes airfare.
Full details will be shared upon booking your spot.