Chitral & Broghil Photography Tour
The Hindu Kush side of northern Pakistan: Tirich Mir, the Kalash valleys, and a remote high valley of lakes and grassland near the Wakhan Corridor.
Chitral is the far north-west of Pakistan, a long valley under Tirich Mir, at 7,708 metres the highest peak of the Hindu Kush. Few international photographers come here, and fewer still continue to Broghil.
Broghil is the reason I call this an expedition. It is a wide valley above 3,300 metres at the head of Chitral, close to the Wakhan Corridor, with dozens of small lakes, peat meadows, yak herders and almost no traffic.
Lower down, Chitral offers a different kind of photography: the Kalash valleys with their own culture and festivals, the old summer palace at Birmoghlasht above the town, and the polo ground on the Shandur Pass.
- Best season
- June to September for Broghil; May to October for Chitral
- Altitude
- About 1,500 m at Chitral town; over 3,300 m in Broghil
- Base
- Chitral town, Mastuj, and camping in Broghil
- Access
- Road via the Lowari Tunnel, or over the Shandur Pass from Gilgit
Locations
What you will photograph
Broghil Valley
High grassland, braided rivers and scattered lakes in a national park. Sunrise mist over the water is the picture.
Karambar Lake
At about 4,272 m, one of the highest large lakes in Pakistan, reached on foot or horseback beyond Broghil.
Tirich Mir viewpoints
The peak dominates the skyline from Chitral town and from the Birmoghlasht ridge above it.
Birmoghlasht
A former royal summer residence on a forested ridge, with a wide view over the valley at dawn.
Kalash valleys
Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir, home of the Kalasha people. Photography here is by consent and with a local guide.
Shandur Pass
A high plateau at about 3,700 m with a lake and the famous polo ground, on the road between Chitral and Gilgit.
Light and season
When to go
- Broghil is at its greenest in July and August; by September the grass turns gold and nights freeze.
- The Shandur polo festival is normally held in early July and changes the mood of the pass completely.
- The Kalash spring, summer and winter festivals fall in May, August and December.
See the month-by-month guide to the best time to photograph Pakistan.
From my archive
Photographs from Chitral & Broghil Valley
Practical notes
Before you travel
- Broghil is remote: long days on rough jeep tracks and nights in tents or basic guesthouses.
- Foreign visitors generally need permission for Broghil. This is arranged in advance as part of the tour.
- Good general fitness is needed for Karambar Lake; the valley itself is accessible by jeep.
- This route suits photographers who have seen Hunza and want something wilder.
Plan your trip
Photograph Chitral & Broghil Valley with me
Tell me your dates and what you want to photograph, and I will plan a private itinerary around the light. Tours are operated through Travelbug, the travel company I co-founded, which arranges transport, stays and permits.
Every tour is privately quoted. No fixed packages or departure dates.
Questions
Good to know
Where is Broghil Valley?
At the northern head of Chitral district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, close to the Wakhan Corridor. It is a national park of high grassland and lakes above 3,300 m.
When can Broghil be visited?
From about June to September. Outside those months snow closes the track.
Do foreigners need a permit for Broghil?
Permission is generally required for foreign visitors because the valley is near an international border. It is organised ahead of the tour.
Can the Kalash valleys be photographed?
Yes, respectfully. People are photographed only with their consent, and a local guide helps with introductions.
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Muhammad Asmar Hussain
Award-winning Pakistani landscape photographer, Sony Brand Ambassador for Landscape Photography, TEDx speaker and Co-Founder of Travelbug. Published by National Geographic and a winner at the Sony World Photography Awards. More about Asmar.