Taking a drive over the Northwest Frontier and into the stunning Swat Valley, we will begin our journey north today. This area was previously off-limits to tourists from other countries, but it has lately become accessible once more, giving us a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the area's early Buddhist history. We will visit the local museum, which is filled with exquisite Gandharan antiques, as well as other Buddhist sites after we have checked into our accommodation.

After breakfast, we will embark on a breathtaking journey via Chakdarra, where a young Winston Churchill witnessed battle in the 1890s, before entering the old kingdom of Chitral by the Lowari Tunnel. This afternoon, after lathering, we will have the opportunity to go local sightseeing. The British Garrison that was under siege in Chitral Fort in 1895 is now home to the guns that were transported through the Hindu Kush's high passes to end the siege. The elaborate Grand Mosque is located close to the Fort. Our major focus will be exploring the market, where the primarily Pashtun population is selling a mix of traditional and contemporary wares. Our hotel will serve dinner.

As we ascend to the area around the former hunting lodge in Chitral Gol, the area's National Park, our wildlife experience officially starts today. Since the young of the Markhor are what the elusive snow leopard is most interested in, roaming in the wild will provide us with a fantastic opportunity to see the rutting season for the renowned Markhor wild goat and we will see hundreds of them fighting and playing. If we're incredibly fortunate, we might be able to see one of these beautiful creatures. In the evening, we'll travel back to Chitral and the convenience of our hotel.

Today, after completing some registration requirements, we travel to the village of Balanguru and the Kalash Valley of Rumbor. Most tourists opt to hike the final few miles through this breathtaking valley.

We will take part in this unique festival for the following three days, which very few people from the West have ever experienced. We shall see the religious priests, or Qazis, call forth the spirits and seek their favor in addition to dancing, singing, and eating. Don't worry, it's nothing too extreme—just a bucket wash followed by offering up some pure chapattis at the Temple of Jastak Khan—but on one of the days, the women of the valley—including those who are going with us—must cleanse their souls by engaging in specific purification rituals. The guys will purify themselves in the temple of Sagi Gor on a different day, using goat blood this time. A sacrifice of more than 40 goats will be made as an offering to the gods, wine will be consumed, and the dancing will begin. Men could start donning the shalwar kameez at this point. We'll dance the night away in the village with the Kalash in the evening.

After taking in the celebrations, we can take one last stroll around the Kalash Valley before continuing on to Ayun. Depending on the weather, we might have time to take a little stroll in one of the adjacent villages.

We'll set out early this morning on our return trip to Islamabad. Traffic permitting, this could take a solid twelve hours. The Lowari tunnel has made it feasible for us to continue on this full-day picturesque drive to the capital after a lunch stop in Dir. (NB: We drive because the flight schedules to Islamabad during this time of year are inconsistent and, at best, unreliable.)

Our final full day will be spent seeing Taxila, a fascinating Buddhist university town that dates back to Alexander the Great's Gandaharan era. In the late afternoon, when we return to Islamabad, there could still be time for a little shopping trip before our farewell dinner.

We have the opportunity to visit some of Islamabad's well-known attractions today, including the Faisal Mosque, the fifth-biggest mosque in the world and the largest in Southeast Asia. We'll also set aside some time to check out the Pakistan Monument and Lok Virsa Museum. Before our goodbye meal, which comes to an end following the tour, there may also be an opportunity for some last-minute shopping, if time permits. For those traveling on the group flight, which leaves in the early hours of the next day, washrooms and changing areas will be available.