Khyber Winter Tour in Pakistan

You will be picked up from Islamabad Airport and transferred to Serena Hotel. Check-in and freshen up in your Suite Rooms that feature a king-size bed, fully-equipped attached bathroom with premium amenities. The rooms also offer a splendid view of the lush green on-site gardens.

You will start your journey with a quick visit to the Lok Virsa Museum - a museum of history and culture situated on the Shakarparian Hills just 9 minutes away (by car) from your hotel. The museum showcases statues, pottery, music, crafts, and textile work boasting the kaleidoscopic cultures and Pakistan.

You will also visit Lok Virsa Heritage Reference Library here which is home to journals on local anthropology, folk music, history, heritage art, and crafts. Pick a few souvenirs such as books on Pakistani culture, video, and audio records of folk music from Lok Virsa Sales Center. We will then get in our car and drive for approximately 13 minutes to reach Faisal Mosque - the largest mosque of Pakistan is well-known for its unique mix of contemporary and Islamic architectural influences.

Witness the spiritual anchor of Pakistani people here as men bow down in absolute resignation while the soothing sound of the Adhaan echoes in the mosque. You will view the sunset behind the mountains at Daman e Koh - a hilltop garden and viewing point that offers a splendid view of Islamabad.

If you're in the mood for light exercise, you can go for Margalla Hiking on Trail 5 - 90-minute trekking excursion that leads to Daman-e-Koh. We will then drive for approximately 15 minutes to reach Monal - a restaurant known for serving delicious Pakistani cuisine with a panoramic view of Islamabad and the forests embracing it. Try the cheese naans here that have garnered a fan following of their own but keep it light because we have a lavish dinner planned for you back at the hotel.

Dinner will be served at Dawat - an onsite restaurant in Serena Hotel that serves delectable local cuisine made fresh in the eatery's open kitchen. Fall in love with Pakistani culinary masterpieces with every bite while you enjoy your dinner with soft, live music in the background.

After early morning breakfast, we will start our road trip to Nathiagali - a mountain resort town in Abbottabad.

The total travel time for this journey is approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes with several scenic views on the way. You will check-in at the exquisite Governor House Nathiagali which has now been turned into a premium hotel lodge. Leave to explore the Saint Lukes Church.

The Anglican Church, constructed in 1854-55, is a historical site of high importance for the locals because of its historical anchor. Next we trek along the pipeline from Donga Gali, crossing Ayubia National Park and towards Ayubia.

Ask your tour guide to take you to one of the highlights of the area, the lift chairs at Ayubia that offer a panoramic view of the thick forests Ayubia is surrounded by. We drive for approximately 30 minutes from Ayubia to return to Donga Gali and indulge in retail therapy at the local bazaar. Shop for bead necklaces in colorful gemstones from the valley and handmade leather wallets made with high-quality leather. Delicious dinner with kebabs and hot parathas (fried flatbread) will be served at a local restaurant.

We start early this morning. You will be taken to a helipad where you catch your ride from Nathiagali to Malam Jabba Ski Resort.

One of the most popular vacation spots, Malam Jabba Ski Resort sits on a height of approximately 2804 meters above sea level and offers recreational activities like chair lift rides, skiing, ice-skating, zip-lining, and trekking. You will check-in at Pearl Continental Malam Jabba and freshen up in your Suite Rooms. The hotel overlooks the majestic Hindukush Mountains and offers a host of onsite amenities for tourists.

Your rooms come with a king-sized bed, individual climate control, an attached bathroom, a writing desk and chair, and a safe. Drop your luggage and get ready to explore the area. Enjoy a cup of hot coffee from a roadside stall here while you marvel at the snow-capped peaks and trees in this area. The tourist spot attracts people from Pakistan and abroad so you would be in for a culturally wholesome experience.

You can strike conversations with the people here while you explore the zip-lining activity and the skiing slope. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Wake up and fuel up your body with a wholesome breakfast at the hotel before we leave for a full-day excursion at the resort for skiing and snow activities.

Flaunt your skills on the slope of about 800 m with the highest point boasting a height of 2804 m above the sea level. The ski resort also has a newly inaugurated Samsons Ski School that provides physical training to tourists.

The experienced staff and qualified instructors at this school can help you pick up the basics of skiing. After an adventurous day swooshing around the Hindukush you will come back to the hotel to rest and dine at leisure.

You will be driven to Kalam - a scenic valley located approximately 4 hours away (by car) from PC Malam Jabba. The valley is embraced by lush green hills and forests, awe-inspiring lakes as well as waterfalls. To get you acquainted with the surreal beauty of this region, we have added stopovers at Madyan - a popular hill station in Swat and Behrain - a small town in Swat at an elevation of approximately 1432 meters on the bank of the Swat River.

Enjoy playing in the snow spread over acres of land and try fresh cold water from rivers, lakes, and waterfalls. Check-in at Hotel Walnut Heights Kalam and unwind in your luxury rooms. Known for its prime location, the hotel offers comfortable rooms with attached bathrooms and running hot water facility. Even though it's located in the mountains, the hotel has its own independent hydel electric power source, which ensures round-the-clock electric power to the building so that the guests never have to compromise on comfort. Explore the area however you fancy.

Head east to Spinkhor Lake and discover a hidden waterfall, trek west for a panoramic view of the Boyun Villages also known as the Green Top, or head north to witness the rage of the Ushu River and the deodar trees lining the Ushu Forest. The area is blessed with the best strokes of nature from all four corners and spoils nature lovers for choice. We recommend exploring all four sides of this area to get the complete experience.

Breakfast will be served at the hotel followed by your departure for Kumrat Valley. We have added several photo-stops on the way so that you can soak up the purity of snow-covered mountains, waterfalls, meadows, and gushing lakes.

Don't forget to take some unfiltered pictures here for your travel diaries. Upon arrival, you will drop your luggage at the premium campsite. The evening is free for you to explore the area at your own pace and according to your liking.

Kumrat Valley is dotted with green meadows, snow-capped mountains, the river Panjkora, and forests especially the Deodar Forest. The forest is located on the ground adjacent to the Panjkora River and has become one of the major tourist attractions in the area.

The Panjkora River originates in the Hindu Kush mountains and runs through the valley which is why it is rich in flora and fauna. Ask your tour guide to take you to Utrar, a village about a 1-hour drive from Kalam, where you can get acquainted with the culture and locals of the valley, and indulge in retail therapy at the Utrar Main Bazaar.

Try the local delicacies here from the roadside stalls and sit under the stars with a cup of tea while the fresh, cold breeze from the mountains stirs your soul.

After breakfast, we will drive from Kumrat to Chitral. The total journey time for this leg is approximately 7 hours but the views on the way are straight out of a fairytale.

We will stop at Dir - a region situated on the foothills of the Himalayas. The region is peppered with clothing and footwear industries that give you an insight into the region's preferences.

Ask your tour guide to take you to the local wood-processing plant which procures its raw material from the forests on the mountain slopes that are rich in timber. Next we will head to Lowari Pass - a mountain pass located approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes away from Dir. Lowari Pass boasts an elevation of 3118 meters and connects Chitral with Dir. Lowari Top is closed because of snow from November to May every year but you can travel by foot and explore this scenic gem. Upon arrival to Chitral, you will check-in at Hindukush heights and rest at leisure until dinner is served.

The rooms at Hindukush Heights come with a king-sized bed, private balcony offering a panoramic view of the mountains from Hindukush Range, free laundry services, and other indulgent amenities. The chefs at the hotel will prepare your food from the fresh produce of their on-site organic garden.

After breakfast, you will pack an extra costume and leave for a full-day trip to one of the main attractions of the valley known as Garam Chashma (hot spring).

The water body runs across the valley and offers a heavenly view of the mountains. The chashmas are famous for fishing because of the abundant supply of trout found in these water bodies. Bathe in the freshwater - considered therapeutic by many - and marvel at the beauty of this region embraced by mountains and meadows. Next we head to the Shandur Polo Ground to witness the king of sports, Polo and participate in a match to get firsthand experience of why the world raves about this game.

Depending on your time of visit, you may also get a chance to attend the famous Shandur Polo Festival held from 7 to 9 July every year on Shandur Pass. Get on the course and flaunt your polo skills on this ground which is the highest polo ground in the world at 3700 meters. Time to explore the marketplace. We take you for a tour of Chitral's local bazaar where you can truly immerse yourself in the colorful culture of this region.

Chitral is a hub of local craftsmen, artists, and leather workers so take this chance to pick a few souvenirs. We recommend the gem-studded jewelry, vibrant-colored pashmina shawls, and the hand-made Chitrali hats. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the helipad. We have arranged for a once in a lifetime helicopter ride over the Hindukush mountain ranges where you also get to witness the magnificence of Tirich Mir.

This beast of mountains stands at approximately 77,081 and is the highest peak of Hindukush. The valley itself is surrounded by peaks with Hindukush Mountains in the north-west, the Karakoram in the north-east, and the Hindu Raj range in the south.

You will catch your return flight to Islamabad and check-in at Serena Hotel. You can rest at leisure in your suite room before we leave for an evening drive around Islamabad. Visit the markets in the capital and enjoy a cup of tea with the city dwelling locals in the downtown area. End your trip with a traditional Pakistani fine-dine cuisine at Zamana in Serena. The onsite restaurant gives you the option to choose dishes cooked � la minute by chefs at live cooking stations and deliver piping hot food straight from the pan to your plate.

After dinner, retire for the day or use the complimentary passes to Maisha Spa at Serena Hotel we have procured for you. Go for a Himalaya Rock Salt Detoxifying Journey or a Hydrating Milk Bath to soothe and pamper your body. You can also enjoy the onsite facilities and take a dip in the pool or unwind in the steam room.

After breakfast, you will be taken to Islamabad Airport to catch your homebound flight. This sensorial tour was put together to recharge the nature lover in you.

The snow-capped mountains, lush green meadows, freshwater lakes, nerve-testing chair lifts, and adrenaline pumping ski experiences - this tour has it all. You can book with us anytime the nature lover in you starts longing for these scenic views again.