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PAKISTAN - THE INCREDIBLE LAND OF CONTRAST !


THE ULTIMATE TOURIST DESTINATION ..!
The "first tourist group" arrived in Pakistan some 4000 years ago. They were the Aryans. They liked the land so much that they never went back. In their search, came the Persians followed by the Greeks, Bactarians, Huns, Arabs, Darvidians, Turks, Mongols, Tibetans & many others, but all preferred to stay here. The obvious reason was the incomparable beauty, grandeur & tranquility of this region. Pakistan possesses all ingredients for a Booming Tourist Destination. Its "extremely rich heritage" is enough to quench the aesthetics from all walks of life. Unfortunately, however, Pakistan's tourism potential is little known to the western world & its rich & multicolored heritage is lying untapped.

THE INCOMPARABLE HISTORY ...!
10
million years ago, the common ancestors of the man & ape roamed around ISLAMABAD - the gleaming new capital of Pakistan. The stone age tools of the Homo Sapiens species of 50,000 B.C are found along the So'Aan River. We happen to be the proud inheritors of the regions that remained "centers" of the ancient civilizations of the World. Not just one out of dozens, but "ONE" out of the "TWO" ancient civilizations on this Earth. Yes..! the developed civilizations of the Indus, at Harrappa & Mohenjodaro are Contemporary to the Egyptian civilizations of the Nile & the Mesopotamian civilizations of Euphrates. The developed city of Mehrgarh was "3000 years old" when Alexander the great invaded this region in 326 B.C. The region that forms Pakistan has always been on the crossroads of history. All the ancient routes and great passes happen to be in Pakistan, which made this region a favorite play ground for the conquerors, traders, travelers, historian, preachers & tourists.

THE UNUSUAL GEOGRAPHY ...!
Enveloped in the extremes of 04 distinct weathers, the contrasting Geography of Pakistan is the nature's great gift. Spread over an area of 8,68,591 Sq Kms, this magnificent land contains galaxies of towering snow capped mountains, gigantic creeping glaciers, lush green alpine meadows, rushing white rivers, tumbling waterfalls, quiet lakes, blossoming fruit orchards in the "North" & fertile plateaus, rich alluvial plains, meandering yellow rivers, glowing deserts & sandy beaches in the "South". The "CONTINENTAL COLLISION" of the three mighty mountain ranges of the world the Himalayas, the Karakorams & the Hindukush in the North gave birth to the "thickest cluster" of the Highest Peaks & Largest Glaciers on Earth. The statistics are simply baffling. "05" of the world's "14" peaks above 8000 meters are in Pakistan. "101" peaks are above 7000 meters & whereas peaks from 6999 to 3000 meters are countless. "50" of the world's "100" highest peaks are in Pakistan. "K-2" 8626 M is the second highest on Earth. Alone in Baltistan & Hunza, there are more than "100" peaks above 18,000 ft. Literally, most of their base  camps are higher than the Summits of all the peaks in Europe. Pakistan's glaciated region covers 12000 Sq/Kms. The "06" longest valley glaciers of the world, are also in Pakistan & their total length exceed 350 Km. The Biafo-Hispar glacial corridor of 116 Km is the longest on Earth. No mention of over 300 small glaciers & their tributaries. The Hundreds of miles of rushing torrents surging out from the snouts of these glaciers mingle to form the 3200 Km long Indus river which quenches the entire length of the country & merges with the Arabian Sea which banks a sandy beach of over 1000 Km. This incomparable contrast will be completed only but with a brief mention of the 470,000 Sq Km deserts located in Baluchistan, Sind & Southern Punjab with a rich multicolored culture of their own.

THE MATCHLESS PEOPLE ... !
Pakistan is an eternal abode of 120 Million people of over "30 Ethnic Groups" speaking over "40 Languages & Dialects" (excluding immigrants). They all differ from each other in every respect. Here live the people in caves, straw abodes, mud houses & boats quite aloof from the privileges of modern life & in the same country dwell the people in palatial living quarters & skyscrapers well acquainted to the space-age. Pakistan, is perhaps, the only country which exhibits an amazing contrast of color, creeds, races, inheritance, customs, languages, dresses & religions after every 25 miles in any direction. Whether they are the Fierce Pathans or the Upright Baluchi; the Submissive Baltis or the Amiable Hunzakurts; the Primitive Kafirs or the Versatile Punjabis - all wear different cultures, but are fastened with just one common character - the "TRADITIONAL HOSPITALITY".

THE WEARERS OF THE BLACK ROBES ...!
Pakistan's population, as you know is derived from a variety of races bearing distinct languages, culture, & dresses. Out of many interesting & lively cultures we have in Pakistan, I would like to highlight the colorful culture of Kalash.  The Kalash valleys are inhabited by a primitive people known as Kafir Kalash, which means the wearers of the black robes. Their origin is cloaked in controversy. Since the sign of the Macedonian period are still to be found among these people. They are said to be the decedents of the Greek soldiers who entered this valley in 327 B.C. The Kalash people live in centuries old houses multi storied on steep mountain slopes along the river beds. The cluster of these small houses look like bee-hives. The odd rituals, primitive customs and peculiar habits of friendly and peaceful  Kalash bewitch and enthrall the tourists from all over the world. Kalash women still wear black woolen homespun garments, red beaded necklaces by the dozens and exceptional headpiece that flows down their backs embroided with cowrie shells, beads and trinkets. Unlike the Pakistani Muslim women, the Kalash women do not observe "veil" (purdah) and posses frank manners. The Kalash are gay people and are given to lively music and dances. Their instruments are flutes and drums. They worship wooden idols and have strange habits. The woman carry their make up & hair dressing at the river and are not allowed to bring combs and cosmetics to their homes as they bring evils. Another peculiar habit is the separation of women during their menstruation periods. The ceremonies accompanying death are the most queer of all. Every death is celebrated with dance & music by the elders & mourned upon by the young who are not yet fully aware of the Kalash philosophy which says "the dead are passed on to a better world" The body is then placed in a wooden coffin with its personal belongings and jewelry etc and left above the ground to decay.

WHY PAKISTAN GUIDES ?
With an experienced team of city & mountain guides, cooks & drivers, Pakistan Guides is a licensed agency  specialized in operating sightseeing, archaeological, cultural, educational and special interest tours; high treks, mountaineering expeditions, scientific expeditions, mountain & desert jeep safaris, bicycle tours, photo safaris, camel safaris, train safaris, rafting & kayaking expeditions, trophy hunting, snow skiing, exploratory trips, honey moon,  international tours & custom designed adventures to the most exotic regions of Pakistan and many popular tourist destinations of the world. With the spirit of innovation, personalized services, the invaluable experience of our "Professionals" & the strong support of our sister companies, we make each venture of yours ... an unforgettable experience ..!

HOW DO WE RUN OUR TRIPS ... ?
All our trips are managed by a team of our professionally trained guides, cooks & sardars. Porters or pack animals carry all food, camping & kitchen gear including your personal baggage. All you need to carry in your day pack are your jacket, water bottle, camera & other small items you may need on trail. All members walk on their own pace with the "lead" & "sweep" porters providing support throughout. Food on all trips is plentiful, healthy, wholesome & varied prepared by experienced cooks trained in kitchen & table hygiene. Quality tents & foam mattresses we provide are extra spacious & comfortable. Each day's program is designed to allow all members enough time for sightseeing, photography & exploration.

FOOD, WATER & HYGIENE ... ?
The day begins with a cup of tea or coffee in your tent at around 5AM, followed by a full breakfast…, which includes cereal, milk, eggs, bread, paratha (chapati), jam, honey, corn flakes … etc. Walking begins at around 6-7 AM. We stop for lunch around noon. Lunch usually includes crackers, cheese, nuts, fruit, juice, fish, salad, bread, tea and coffee … etc, however, if the remaining trek is shorter and time permits, our cooks always try to supplement your cold lunch with at least one or two main courses of hot lunch. We normally arrive at our campsite between 2:00 p.m. and 3: pm (unless the walk is too long). You are served with tea on your arrival. The staff always arrive before you at the campsite to pitch your tents. Dinner is served around 7 p.m. and includes soup, followed by two to three main courses of stews, rice, lentils, vegetables, chicken or mutton and chapattis. There is always a desert (custard, pudding, kheer, halwa or sheer khorma) at the end of dinners which is served with coffee or black or green tea. Meals are served in rotation with a blend of local and international cuisines to maintain variety. Fresh vegetables are served for as long as it is possible on the trek. Please inform us about any dietary concerns that you may have.  We will be more than glad to fulfill your request. All our cooks and support staff are thoroughly trained in kitchen and table hygiene & observe strict hygienic code. You may give your personal water bottles to our kitchen staff every night & they’ll fill them up with boiling water … which will not only warm you up in your sleeping bag for a sound sleep but also provide you with safe boiled drinking water for the following day’s  walk.

TRIP GRADES

A : EASY
Easy trekking/riding/driving at altitudes between 2000 M to 3000 meters but involving a lot of up & down-hill walking on well beaten mountain trails for 03 to 05 hours a day. Requires basic physical fitness with no technical knowledge or experience. Ability to tolerate extremes of temperatures for all trip grades is a must.

B : MODERATE
Moderate trekking to altitudes averaging 2500 M to 3500 M with plenty of up & down hill walking on mountain trails for 04 to 06 hours a day & possibly including brief side trips or pass crossing up to approx 4500 M. Requires good physical fitness with no technical knowledge or experience.

C : STRENUOUS
Strenuous trekking to altitudes of 3000 M to 4000 M involving a hard walk on steep mountain trails for 05 to 07 hrs a day but possibly including side trips, optional climbs or pass crossings over 5500 M. Requires very good health with basic use of ice axe, crampons & rope.

D : Alpine
Rigorous trekking or alpine climbing to altitudes from 4000 to 5999 M for 06 to 08 hours a day including sustained treks or climbs at altitudes exceeding 4500 M. Includes excursions, pass crossings or summit climbing upto 5999 M. Climbing knowledge with good experience & prime fitness is mandatory.

HEALTH & QUALIFICATION
Any one who is in good health & enjoys the outdoors can join our trips. For "C" & "D" grades we may demand a health certificate & a climbing certificate for "D" grades. We only recommend self reliance, patience & sense of humor to enjoy your trips with us.

TREKKING ZONES
Pakistan's treks are classified into 03 zones : open, regular & closed. All regular treks require a permit, escort of a licensed guide & mandatory briefings before & after the trips at the office of the Ministry of Tourism Islamabad. The open treks do not need such formalities. No treks are permitted in the closed zones.

TRIP DOSSIERS & BRIEFINGS
Upon receipt of reservation, (21 days prior) we shall immediately  mail you our trip dossiers, suggested clothing & personal equipment you need on our trips & other relevant information. A thorough briefing is given to each group before departing on trip

INSURANCE
Before coming to Pakistan all members must bring insurance directly from their agents covering accidents, health, ground & helicopter rescues, loss or damage to baggage. Helicopter rescue bond (100 % refundable if unused) is mandatory for all "C" & "D" grade trips.

NORTHERN AREA FLIGHTS
Since all Northern Area Flights are subject to clear weather and clearance of back log, Pakistan Guides do not guarantee confirmation of seats on any such flight.

PASSPORTS, VISAS & TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Every member must posses valid passport, visa & travel documents. Pakistan Guides will not be responsible for any delays or cancellations caused due to any such discrepancy.

ITEMS INCLUDED AS PER ITINERARY
Tourist Class Hotel Accommodations, Full Board Meals, Non A.C Transport (Van/Jeep/Car); Wages, Food, insurance & Equipment for Guide, Cook & Porters; Pack & Ride Animals, Tents, Mattresses, Camp Food, Kitchen Equipment, Dinning Equipment, Mess Tent, Camping Fees, Road Taxes, Entry Fees, Parking Fees & Octrois. Transportation & Porterage of a Maximum 15 Kg per person on Treks & 50 Kgs per person on Climbing Expeditions.

ITEMS NOT INCLUDED
Air Tickets, Airport Transfers, Climbing Gear, Bicycles, Boats, Rucksacks, Sleeping Bags, Personal Clothing & Equipment; Transportation or Porterage of Excess Baggage, Ground or Helicopter Rescue Charges, Medications, Member's Insurance, Room Services, Beverages, Telephone Calls, Items of Personal Nature & any other item or service not agreed by us herein this contract.
 

 

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