With the option to continue to the Afghanistan tour

ITINERARY

 

Day 1, Saturday 31 October 2026

 

Arrival in Lahore

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You will provide us with your flight details so that we can take note of your arrival and departure dates and times. You will arrive at Lahore International Airport, Pakistan. One or more guides will meet you at the Airport and transfer you to your hotel. Group meeting with tour overview, Q&A session at 5.30/6 pm. Overnight at Four Points by Sheraton or similar.

 

Days 2 & 3, Sunday and Monday 1st and 2nd November 2026

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Two full days to explore the city of Lahore.

 

Some of the opportunities may include mud wrestling at Akharra, shrines with Sufi (Islamic mystics), and many markets (fish, vegetable, meat, and spice). The old buildings from Mogul times have intricate wood carvings and balconies where families of repute used to sit. The Wazir Khan mosque, chai wallahs on the street, and street doctors using cobras, leeches, and lizards to cure willing patients! Dinner at a local restaurant in Lahore. Overnight at Four Points by Sheraton or similar.

 

Day 4, Tuesday 3rd November 2026

 

We leave early to drive from Lahore to Islamabad (The Capital of Pakistan), which takes 5 hours. Here, there is the possibility of photographing the traditional buses and trucks. The vehicles are an art form being painted with great skill and uniqueness. We will try to visit a brickworks just outside the city. Overnight at Roomy Signature Hotel or similar.

 

Day 5, Wednesday 4th November 2026

 

A long drive and a very early start from Islamabad to Chitral. The Himalayan foothills of the Swat valley are beautiful. The roads in places are torturous, with switchbacks commonplace and sections of the road in poor condition. We arrive in Ayun, where we take local 4x4’s and drive to Rumboor/Rumbur – one of the villages in the Kalash valley system, almost on the border with Afghanistan. Overnight in a local lodge in Rumbur (This is a simple lodge in a great location but a really relaxing place to stay. We are in the foothills of the Hundu Kush so please bring warm clothing for the evenings and early mornings`) Jamil will be our local guide for the three nights we have there.

 

Day 6, Thursday 5th November 2026

 

A full day in the Rumbur valley to photograph The Kalash people, an ethnic minority of approximately 4000 people. The three remote valleys are in an incredible setting with mountains as a backdrop. The valley has rich soils but is vulnerable to flash flooding. They grow walnuts, apricots, beans, maize, wheat, grapes, pears, peach, apple, mulberry, fig and more. They then store food for the winter when the valleys become inaccessible for three months. The people are ‘pagan’ or ‘animist’ and their traditions and culture are under threat from the ever enclosing Muslim populace. They have a very distinctive style of attire and many are pale skinned and blue or green eyed. Perhaps a vestige of Alexander the Great’s forays into the area. They are also known as black Kaffirs (non-believers). Overnight in a local lodge in Rumbur

 

Day 7, Friday 6th November 2026

 

A full day in the valleys to immerse ourselves in Kalash culture and to possibly visit Sheikhandeh, a Nuristani village. Their houses are all built of stone interspersed with wood. This helps to mitigate against earthquake impacts. Their beliefs revolve around the interactions between the living and non living world . The biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and lithosphere. They have Shamans who sacrifice domestic animals (sheep, goats and cows) when there is illness or an issue.

 

Day 8, Saturday 7th November 2026

 

An early start and a long day drive to Peshawar. Overnight at Tourmaline Hotel or similar.

 

Days 9 & 10, Sunday and Monday 8th and 9th November 2026

 

In old Peshawar there are narrow streets, bustling bazaars, old Moghul architecture with carved cedar wood. We will walk a heritage trail where some of the old architecture has been restored. Streets specialise in particular trades. Food, fruit, lamb kebab vendors, jewellery, gemstones, exotic birds, cloth merchants and tailors. Old tea sellers on the street with giant old copper urns brewing tea as they’ve done for centuries. Snuff vendors, butchers and fishmongers. Red beards, kohl on eyes, some with green and blue eyes. Afghanis, Pashtun (Peshwari), people from the border lands who are predominantly tribal. We may have a chance to visit a refugee camp if it is still in existence. For those going to Afghanistan we will also get our visas here. Overnight at Tourmaline Hotel or similar.

 

Day 10, Tuesday 10th November 2026

 

In the morning we drive to Islamabad (3 hours). If you are doing the Pakistan tour only then this is where you will fly out from. If you are starting or continuing the tour to Afghanistan then we fly from here to Kabul. This is a rest day for those going onwards to Afghanistan. Those going home may fly out in the afternoon or evening. Overnight in Roomy Signature or similar

 

Day 11, Wednesday 11th November 2026

 

Fly onwards from Islamabad to Kabul or onwards to home destination.

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