- Upper Chitral
Booni: The soul of Upper Chitral
Fast-paced polo, music, and open-minded community life set the tone in this lush valley, ringed by towering peaks.
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- The essentials
Experience the rhythm of booni
Booni
Booni is a natural base for exploring Upper Chitral. Just above town, Qaqlasht is a wide, high-altitude plateau known for its sweeping views, paragliding, and motorbiking. It’s also home to the famous spring festival, where cultural games and freestyle polo bring the whole region together.
From Qaqlasht and Zani Pass, you can look out over the convergence of two rivers, with Zani Pass rising to 4,200 meters and opening into mountain corridors that stretch toward Afghanistan. The surrounding landscape offers countless hikes across the Hindukush and Hinduraj ranges.
Booni also has a strong musical tradition, with some of Chitral’s finest musicians calling it home, and informal evening performances are easy to come by. In summer, polo practice matches happen almost daily, and locals often welcome visitors to ride horses through the village. Many climbers base themselves here too, using Booni as a midpoint between Upper and Lower Chitral and the peaks that define both.
Booni has a handful of great places to stay, from simple guesthouses to more social, traveler-friendly setups. The Outpost Traveler’s Hostel is a top pick for those who want to tap into local life. It’s run by a well-known polo player and his American wife, who also lead a nonprofit building libraries and health centers across Chitral.
Their first library sits next door, with an espresso bar, cultural events, and a remote work space overlooking Qaqlasht plateau and Zani pass. Spending money here, whether on a stay or a coffee, directly supports health and education initiatives throughout Chitral.
Booni’s food scene is rooted in the land. Local dishes like kaveerogh, a savory caper stew often linked to liver health, and lobia, a hearty kidney bean staple, are simple and deeply tied to daily life. You’ll also find cheera shapik, a crepe-like dish filled with cheese and finished with walnut oil.
Booni is rich in fruit, from cherries and mulberries to apricots, figs, apples, persimmons, and walnuts. Dried fruits are a staple, especially in winter, often coming straight from family harvests.
In spring, locals forage for mushrooms, capers, herbs, and wild rhubarb. Join a seasonal foraging outing to experience it firsthand.
Go South
From Booni, travel three hours south to Chitral town and the Kalash valleys.
Go North
Shared cars depart for Shandur Pass and Gilgit daily from Booni bazaar.
- Story
Collect Moments, not Things.
Travel
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id interdum velit laoreet. In pellentesque massa placerat duis. Arcu cursus euismod quis viverra nibh cras pulvinar mattis. Blandit libero volutpat sed cras ornare arcu dui vivamus. Integer eget aliquet nibh praesent. Volutpat commodo sed egestas egestas.
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