A guide to visiting the Kalash Valleys

A complete guide to visiting the Kalash Valley. Includes information on where to stay in the different Kalash Valleys, information about Kalasha culture, and how to get to the Kalash Valleys. Updated in November 2019 to reflect the new pricing and security situation.

Deep in the mountains along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the remote Kalash Valley (also sometimes called Kalasha Valley, which actually consists of three separate valleys) is home to Kalasha people. Quite distinct from the rest of Pakistan’s people, the Kalasha are said to be descendants of the armies of Alexander the Great.

Long cut off from other communities by their remote location, the Kalash Valleys are a cultural world apart from the predominantly Muslim population of Pakistan. The (literally) colorful Kalash practice a religion said to be closely tied to ancient Hinduism, meaning they have a plethora of unique traditions and festivals found nowhere else in Pakistan.

Read on for a quick travel guide to the Kalash Valleys, including information on Kalasha culture, which Kalash Valley to visit, how to get to the valleys from Chitral, and much more about visiting the region and meeting and learning from Kalash people.

Index

Which Kalash Valley to visit

Kalash culture

How to get from Chitral to the valleys

Where to stay in the Kalash