A 21 days Journey for Women

Khush Amdaid Pakistan

Welcome Pakistan

A 21 days Journey for Women

The journey will provide you with opportunities to understand the culture of Pakistan from a women`s perspective and make lifelong friends.

Basic Theme

We have the privilege of presenting this invitation for a group of foreign women to join Pakistani women on an exploration of the rich and diverse heritage of Pakistan.

This journey, in the company of women from Pakistan, will provide opportunities to learn about how women live in Pakistan today, their cultural and ethnic origins, their lifestyles, family and religious celebrations and their professional interests.

Here you have opportunities to meet women from the cities, the villages, the tribal areas and from the remote valleys of the Hindukush. We will visit their homes and share aspects of their culture, visit hospitals, schools, craft cooperatives, and women`s projects.

Our trip is timed for the cool early winter months when temperatures and humidity are at comfortable levels.

The journey begins in Lahore, capital of Akbar the great, and site of the sub-continent`s greatest assemblage of Moghul architectural heritage. You will join Pakistani women in an exploration of this ancient walled city, meet women in the bazaars of the Old City, that provided the palette for Rudyart Kipling`s imagination.

Our program takes us next to the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, where we will have opportunities to meet with women who are active in politics and health care. Our route next takes us west along the Grand Trunk Road, Akbar the Great`s imperial highway between Kabul and Dheli. We visit Taxila, seat of ancient Ghandhara with cities that were old when Alexander he great passed by on his journey to the Indus. We next overnight at picturesque Swat, where we can visit the homes of tribal women of he Pathan. Before we make our way by road to Dir and over the Lowari Pass to the green wale of Chitral. Here, nestled beneath the towering peaks of the Hindukush we overnight in the mysterious Kalash valleys where we will visit with the women of the Kalahs tribes.

From Chitral we fly to Pewshawar, one of the sub-continent`s oldest and most historic cities. Here we will explore bazaars that seem like windows to a excursion to the Khyber Pass and the infamous smugglers bazaar at Landi Kotal.

From Peshawar we fly directly to Karachi, commercial center of Pakistan and its largest city. Our friends here will host us for home visits and sightseeing before we travel to Hyderabad, the commercial center of the ancient Sind Kingdom.

Our program in Hyderabad takes us east towards the Thar desert where we will stay near Umerkot on the estate of a Sindhi farmer. Our program includes a visit to Umerkot Fort, birth place of Akbar the great and an opportunity to visit with Tribal people of the Thar Desert on Camels.

From Thar we will return to Karachi by the coastal route for departure to homeward destination.

It is a unique opportunity to

. Travel in the company of Pakistani women

.Visit our hosts homes and families

.Meet with Pakistani women both socially and professionally in different forums

.Experience tribal cultures – the Kalash in the Chitral area, the Pathans of Swat and Peshawar and the tribes people of the Thar desert.

.Visit craft co-operatives, women`s health and

education projects

Overview

(June – October)

Day To Mode Stay

01 Departure for Pakistan flight

02 Arrive Lahore AC van home

03 Lahore AC van home

04 Lahore AC van home

05 - Islamabad Train home

06 Islamabad AC van home

07 - Taxila – Swat AC van hotel

08 Upper Swat valley AC van hotel

09 Chitral AC van/jeep hotel

10 Chitral Jeep/Walk hotel

11 Chitral(Kalash valley)Jeep/Walk hotel

12 Flight or drive to Peshawar home

13 Peshawar, CSS AC van home

14 Peshawar,Khyber Pas AC van home

15 - Karachi Flight home

16 Karachi AC van home

17 - Hyderabad AC van home

18 - Thar desert AC van home

19 Explore the desert Camels home

20 Back to Karachi AC van home

21Departure flight

Cost Includes Accommodation on twin sharing basis: at standard category hotels in towns. Meals: half board. Transport: Air conditioned transport in Islamabad, soft top 4x4 jeeps for excursions. English speaking qualified Guide.

Cost Does Not Include: Any domestic/international air fare. Personal equipment, medicines and any expense of personal nature. Any expense due to forced majeurs, cancellation of flights, landslides, evacuation or accident or delay beyond the control of land operator.