Chapursan Valley: A Beautiful Remote Valley In Pakistan.

Chapursan Valley is a remote and beautiful valley in the northern areas of Pakistan, just west of Sost, the last settlement along the Karakoram Highway before you reach China and the world´s highest border crossing at Khunjerab Pass 4693 m/15,397 feet).

I am reaching Chapursan Valley in far north-west Pakistan.

This breathtaking valley is located less than 10km&miles from the Afghanistan border in the Wakhan corridor. It is still one of the less travelled to and unexplored regions of the country with its lonely snowy peaks.
The last village in the valley is Zood Khun; you can find a homestay run by the redoubtable Alam Jan Dario, horseman, musician and ambassador of Wakhi Tajik culture.
As Alam Jan Dario runs cultural and adventurous treks on foot or horseback into the valleys and over the passes of his spectacular homeland

Across all my travels, this visit was one of the most memorable ones especially when you realise that you stay in the same house as (Pamir Serai Homestay) Greg Monterson mentions in the book “Stones Into Schools” (there´s a lot of photos on the walls from his visit)

Top Things To Do In Chapursan Valley.

The natural scenery at the valley is spectacular but while enjoying the pure and beautiful mountain life might be the first item on your agenda, here are all the fun activities that you can do when at Chapursan. But be aware that like most of far northern Pakistan so are the time of year to visit limited between late May to early November.
Visit the lakes:

There are many small lakes that are about a 45-minute walk away from the valley. You can follow the road to Baba Gundi and ask someone for directions. The lakes are not just beautiful scenery to enjoy, but you can even swim in them if weather permits.

Trekking: If you love trekking, then you are going to love to hear that there are treks of almost all difficulties and lengths in Chapursan. You can go for overnight treks to 15-day mountain passes. On top of that, if you love horses (or yaks), then you can rent out animals for trekking by asking your guesthouse as well.

The whole settlement in Chapursan.

Hang out with shepherds: If you would like to see the shepherds at work in Chapursan, then you can visit between June and September. During this time, you will find the shepherds on the high altitude regions.

Polo: The variant of polo played at the valley is called Buzkashi (played with headless goats). If you are visiting the valley during the summers, then ask around for when the next match is to enjoy a good game.
Beyond Zood Khun is the mystical and holy Baba Ghundi Ziarat, a shrine to a Sufi saint said to have miraculous powers, and a popular pilgrimage site.
The shrine is surrounded by meadows which host herds of sheep in summer and, sporadically from June to September, Kyrgyz traders from Afghanistan who traditionally cross the Irshad Pass with horses, yaks and sheep to trade with the Chapursan villagers.

The People of Chapursan Valley:

Chapursan Valley is populated primarily by Ismailis who speak the Wakhi language, one of the oldest and purest languages in the region. Most residents of the valley are dependent on livestock such as sheep and yaks for their sustenance. However, despite having seen very few foreign visitors in the past, the Wakhi people of Chapursan are very friendly and accommodating.
The hospitality and culture of the people is something you will definitely remember.

Local kids in Chapursan.

A local older woman wearing a traditional headdress

Preparing for the trip to Chapursan Valley:

Now that you know about the location and people, it is time to move on to what you will need to travel to Chapursan Valley.

What should you pack?

Warm Clothes: The weather in the valley can be quite chilly, particularly during the nights. If you are travelling anytime between November and March, you need to keep warm clothes with you to stay cosy.

Trekking Boots: The valley has some great trekking sites, but even the roads are rocky so you will need to keep your boots with you to get from one place to another.

Snacks and Water: There are very few shops in the valley and those that are there seldom sell mineral water and decent snacks. Either keep water bottles or a water purifier with you to make the most out of the resources.

Such a beautiful place

 

How To Reach Chapursan Valley?

Once you are in Pakistan, preferably Islamabad, you can either choose to travel via public transport or private transport. But most tourists visit Charpursan as a side trip along the Karakoram Highway either before leaving for China or when just arriving from China.

The only public transport available for Chapursan Valley is through a small village called Sost. You can take a bus to the village from Islamabad. Once you are in the village, a public jeep will leave for the valley twice a day, which is quite economical (approximately 300 PKR in local currency). However, it is best to reach the village early since tickets are sold on a first-come and first-serve basis.

If you prefer going by private transportation (as I do), then you can find various jeep-for-hire services in Sost. You can find private jeeps in the Sost bazaar, or the guesthouse you are staying at can help you arrange the transport. Keep in mind that private transportation is more expensive and can cost between 3000 PKR to 5000 PKR per day.
Permit.

Where To Stay In Chapursan Valley?

There are a bunch of guesthouses and homestays available throughout the valley that offer basic accommodation to travels. Finding guesthouses is simple enough since you will see several signs when you reach the valley with Pamir Serai Homestay being the most popular.

However, since this is a remote area, the utilities available are minimum. There is no electricity for most parts of the day, and mobile networks seldom work, unless you have a SCOM network. If you travel during the winters, then you might not find running water in pipes as well because it gets frozen.
As for the meals, the locals eat bread, rice, and potatoes and rarely, meat. This is why it is a good idea to carry your own snacks when visiting the valley.

A Typical homestay

When To Visit Charpursan Valley.

With the valley being located on an altitude of 3000m/9842.52feet is there no surprise that it can get very cold here, as I visited Charpursan in late November, which is already a few months after the “tourist season” here. In late November, its cold, very cold, with the temperature going as low as 15-/4F during the night.

Late May to late August is the best reason with the temperature being on the warm side and the scenery is green. During late June to late July are the flower bloom in the valley and their local polo and buzkashi games between the locals in the valley and nomads from neighbouring Afghanistan.

Like It? Share It! Pin It!

Travel guide to Chapursan Valley in northern Pakistan.