Shimshal Kuch Festival

🏔️ History of Shimshal Valley & Amazing Facts

📜 Ancient Origins & Cultural Heritage

Shimshal Valley, located in the Karakoram Mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan, is one of Pakistan’s most remote and breathtaking regions. It is home to the Wakhi people, an ethnic group known for their semi-nomadic lifestyle and deep connection to the mountains.

Historical Significance:
- Part of the Silk Route – Shimshal was a key passage for traders traveling between China and Central Asia.
- Wakhi Traditions – The valley has preserved its animal herding (yaks, goats) and polo culture for centuries.
- British Exploration – Early 20th-century explorers used Shimshal as a gateway to K2 and other Karakoram peaks.

🌍 Amazing Facts About Shimshal

✅ Highest Pass: Shimshal Pass (4,735m) – A historic trade route to China.
✅ Adventure Hub: Gateway to treks like Shimshal Pamir and Minglik Sar.
✅ Unique Wildlife: Home to snow leopards, ibex, and Marco Polo sheep.
✅ No Roads Until 2003! – Shimshal was only accessible by foot or horseback before the Shimshal Road was built.
✅ Women Polo Players – Shimshal is famous for its female yak polo teams!

🎉 Shimshal Kuch Festival: A Celebration of Wakhi Culture

Held annually in July or August, this festival celebrates mountain life, yak herding, and Wakhi traditions.

🎪 Festival Highlights:

🐎 Yak & Horse Polo – A rugged, high-altitude version of polo.
🎶 Wakhi Music & Dance – Traditional instruments like the daf (drum) and rubab.
🏔️ Trekking & Camping – Explore the Shimshal Pamir (high-altitude pastures).
🥘 Local Food – Try Shir Chai (salt tea), Chapshuro (meat bread), and dried fruits.

Shimshal Valley tour

Hunza Valley

Price

1800$

per person

Duration

7-8 Days

Difficulty

Medium

Group

8 -12 Guest

Height

3200 m

Overview

Private Transport
Toll/Taxes
Accommodation as per Itinerary
Tour Guide Cum Driver
Daily Breakfast
Bonfire
Basic First Aid

Itinerary

Departure point: Departure from Lahore / Islamabad

Day 1: Receive Guest from Airport

Our guide(s) will receive you from the airport. Soon you will be transferred to hotels. On this day, our participants can relax and recover from their long journey. They may go for night walk or shopping in Islamabad city.

Day 2: Islamabad → Gilgit (Flight - 1 hr)

🛫 Fly to Gilgit (PIA or Serene Air). (Sign: "Welcome to the Roof of the World! ✈️🏔️")
🚗 Drive to Kargah buddah via Chitral Gilgit Highway .
over night stay in Gilgit

Day 3:Gilgit to Hunza

🚗 Drive to Hunza via Karakoram Highway (KKH). (Sign: "Glacial Views Ahead! ❄️")
🚙 Scenic drive through Attabad Lake & Passu Cones. (Sign: "Entering the Wild Shimshal Valley! 🏞️")
🎪 Evening Wakhi cultural performance. (Sign: "Dance Under the Stars! 💃")

Day 4: Shimshal Kuch Festival (Full Day)

🐎 Morning Yak Polo Match. (Sign: "Game of the Giants! 🐂🏇")
📸 Trek to Shimshal Pass (optional). (Sign: "Touch the Sky! ✨")
🔥 Bonfire & Folk Songs at Night. (Sign: "Wakhi Beats Under the Moon! 🎶")

Day 5: Shimshal → Gilgit (Drive - 6 hrs)

🚗 Return via KKH, stop at Gulmit Village. (Sign: "Last Glimpse of Wakhi Magic! 🌄")
🏨 Overnight in Gilgit.

Day 6: Gilgit → Islamabad (Flight or Drive - 12-14 hrs)

Boarding our plane we have an exciting flight out of the valley, once again passing by Nanga Parbat before turning south for Islamabad. Arriving in the capital after a period in the mountains is always a strange experience and it takes a little time to get used to the hustle and bustle and especially the traffic. Our private bus will be waiting at the airport to transfer us to the group hotel and once we have settled in it will be time to take lunch (unless we have experienced unusual flight delays).
After lunch the rest of the day is free for independent sightseeing or to relax at the hotel. Your trip leader will advise you on the possibilities for sightseeing. Shopping for hand-woven wool rugs is one popular option. This evening we come together again for a celebratory meal at the hotel or in a local restaurant.

Day 6: Fly to Home Country

participants will move towards airport with our certified guide after breakfast at hotel and participants will fly to home country with bunch of memories and good image of Pakistan and Gilgit Baltistan.

Trek Location

Gallery Of Our Tours

Terms & Conditions

1. Booking & Payments

All bookings require full/partial payment to confirm.
Prices may change due to taxes, currency fluctuations, or supplier adjustments.
No refunds for no-shows or late cancellations (see Section 2).

2. Cancellations & Refunds

Standard Cancellation:
- 30+ days before departure: 80% refund.
- 15-29 days: 50% refund.
- <14 days: NO REFUND.
Force Majeure (Natural Disasters, Wars, Pandemics, etc.):
- No cash refunds.
- ✓ Rescheduling or travel credit only (subject to supplier policies).

3. Liability Disclaimer

Natural Calamities & Unforeseen Events

We DO NOT accept liability for:
- Acts of God (floods, earthquakes, hurricanes).
- Flight delays, or third-party negligence.
Travel Insurance is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

Third-Party Services

We act as intermediaries, airlines solely responsible for their services.

Personal Responsibility

Clients must ensure they have:
- Valid passports/visas.
- Medical clearance (if required).

4. Mandatory Travel Insurance

You MUST purchase insurance covering:
- Medical emergencies.
- Trip cancellations.
- Lost/delayed baggage.
- Natural disasters & force majeure.
We DO NOT provide insurance or reimburse uninsured losses.