Chitral in spring runs from a wet, chilly March to a warm, dry May. March is the wettest month of the whole year in Chitral town, April brings fruit blossom to the lower valleys and, in some years, the Qaqlasht festival at Booni, and May is settled and green, with the Kalash spring festival, Chilam Joshi, from 13 to 16 May. If you can only pick one spring month, pick May.
This guide sets out what each month is really like, using the long-term weather averages, which places are open and which are not, how to get there while the high routes are still closed, and the safety advice you need to read first.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Chitral town altitude | About 1,500 m |
| Wettest month | March, about 97 mm on average |
| Blossom | Lower valleys, mainly April; varies with the winter |
| Qaqlasht festival | Mid-April in the years it is held, near Booni |
| Chilam Joshi (Kalash) | 13 to 16 May |
| Road in | N-45 through Dir and the Lowari Tunnel, open year-round |
| Flights | PIA restarted a weekly Islamabad flight in April 2025; check it is running |
| Shandur | Usually not reliably open until June |
Weather now in Chitral 1,500 m
Live weather loads here.
When it snows: The town gets some snow; the Kalash valleys and Upper Chitral are colder and snowier. The road stays open all year through the Lowari tunnel. More on the seasons
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), updated every 30 minutes. Mountain weather changes fast: check again before you set off.
What the weather actually does
The averages below are the 1971 to 1990 normals for Chitral town, as published on Wikipedia from NOAA data. They are old, so treat them as a pattern rather than a promise, but they show the shape of the season clearly.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Average rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | 15°C | 4°C | 97 mm |
| April | 23°C | 9°C | 72 mm |
| May | 28°C | 13°C | 44 mm |
| June, for comparison | 34°C | 18°C | 5 mm |
The striking point is how wet early spring is. March gets more rain than any other month, and more than June to September combined. By June the valley is almost dry and hot. Spring is the green season precisely because of that rain.
March: wet, cold nights, few visitors
March is the quietest and least predictable spring month. Days in Chitral town are mild, around 15°C, but nights are close to freezing and rain can last for days. Snow still lies on the high ground and side valleys.
It is a month for Chitral town, the fort and bazaar, and a day trip to the hot springs at Garam Chashma, about 45 km by road up the Lutkoh valley. Treat anything higher, or a night in the Kalash valleys, as weather-dependent. The Lowari Tunnel, which opened in July 2017, means the road in no longer depends on the old pass, but rain on the approach roads through Dir can still bring rockfall and delays.
April: blossom and the Qaqlasht festival
April is when spring becomes visible. Fruit trees in the lower valleys around Chitral town, Drosh and the Kalash valleys flower, and the fields turn green. Exact timing moves by a week or two with the winter, so ask a hotel in Chitral how far along it is before you fix dates. Rain is still frequent, but daytime highs climb into the low 20s.
April is also the month of the Qaqlasht festival, held on the Qaqlasht plateau above Booni at about 2,500 metres. Reports from different years put it in mid-April, typically over four or five days with polo, traditional games, music and stalls, and some editions have been sponsored by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme. It is not held every year, and dates are usually announced close to the event, so treat it as a bonus rather than the anchor of a trip. Our Qaqlasht festival guide covers its background.
Reaching Booni in April means driving the Chitral to Booni road, about 83 km. It is part of the 153 km Chitral, Booni, Mastuj and Shandur road (N-140) that the National Highway Authority has been rebuilding since 2021. APP reported in 2026 that the four sections were between about 30 and 48 per cent complete, against a December 2026 target. Expect dust, diversions and slow stretches. Our Chitral road condition guide has the latest we know.
May: the settled month and Chilam Joshi
May is the month most people should choose. Rain halves compared with March, days reach the high 20s, and the valleys are at their greenest. It is also the month of Chilam Joshi, the Kalasha spring festival, held from 13 to 16 May each year across the three Kalash valleys. Families pray for the wellbeing of their livestock, women wear new clothes, and there are days of song and community dances. Bumburet draws the most visitors because it is the easiest valley to reach, about 32 km by road from Chitral town to the valley entrance. Our Chilam Joshi guide explains what happens on each day and how to behave as a guest.
Rooms in Bumburet fill up for the festival, so book early or stay in Chitral town and drive in. Upper Chitral is opening up by May, but the road towards Shandur, at about 3,700 metres, is usually not reliably clear until June. In 2026 the Shandur Polo Festival itself opened on 11 June.
What is open in spring
| Place | March | April | May |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chitral town, fort, bazaar | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Garam Chashma hot springs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kalash valleys | Weather-dependent | Yes | Yes, festival 13 to 16 May |
| Booni and Qaqlasht | Rough road, cold | Yes, festival in some years | Yes |
| Mastuj | Uncertain | Weather-dependent | Usually |
| Shandur Pass | No | No | Rarely; plan for June |
This is our summary from the weather pattern and road reports, not an official schedule. Always check before setting out on any road north of Chitral town.
Getting to Chitral in spring
The road from Islamabad is about 405 km, by motorway to Chakdara and then through Dir and the Lowari Tunnel. The tunnel, two bores of 8.5 km and 1.9 km, is the longest in Pakistan and keeps the road open in seasons when the Lowari Pass above it is snowbound. Our Islamabad to Chitral by road guide covers the drive.
PIA restarted a once-weekly Islamabad to Chitral flight on 5 April 2025, after a gap of about three years. Spring weather often grounds small aircraft on this route, and the service has been suspended before, so confirm it is operating for your dates and keep a road plan in reserve.
Is Chitral safe to visit in spring?
Read this before you book. As of September 2026, the UK government advises against all travel on the N-45 from Mardan to Chitral city, which is the main road in through Dir and the Lowari Tunnel, and against all travel to the Kalash valleys and to anywhere within 10 miles of the Afghan border. It also advises against all travel to Swat and to Upper and Lower Dir. In July 2026 three police officers were killed in an attack at Laram Top in Lower Dir, and on 2 August 2026 a suicide attack on the Kabal police station in Swat killed 17.
Pakistani tourists still visit Chitral in spring, and the Chilam Joshi festival draws domestic visitors every year. Check local news and current police advice before you set out, travel the Dir stretch in daylight, and follow any instructions at checkpoints. If you hold a foreign passport, your government's advice may say not to go, and travelling against it can void your insurance. Our Chitral safety guide has more.
Which part of spring suits you?
- For blossom and quiet: mid to late April, staying in Chitral town and the lower valleys, and accepting some rain.
- For the Kalash festival: 13 to 16 May, with rooms booked well ahead.
- For the most settled weather: the second half of May.
- For Shandur and the high north: wait for June to September instead; our guide to the best time to visit Chitral compares the seasons.
March suits only travellers who want Chitral almost to themselves and don't mind being rained in for a day or two.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Chitral in spring?
March is cool and wet, with highs around 15°C and about 97 mm of rain. April is milder at about 23°C. May is warm and much drier, with highs around 28°C.
When does blossom season start in Chitral?
Usually in April in the lower valleys around Chitral town, Drosh and the Kalash valleys. The timing shifts by a week or two with the winter, so check locally before you travel.
When is the Chilam Joshi festival?
From 13 to 16 May each year, in the three Kalash valleys. Bumburet, the easiest to reach, draws the most visitors.
Is the Qaqlasht festival held every spring?
No. When it runs, it is usually in mid-April near Booni, but some years it is skipped and dates are announced close to the time.
Are the roads to Chitral open in spring?
The main road through Dir and the Lowari Tunnel is open year-round, though spring rain can cause delays. Roads north of Booni are slower and partly under reconstruction, and Shandur usually opens only in June.
Can I fly to Chitral in spring?
PIA restarted a weekly flight from Islamabad in April 2025. Check it is operating for your dates, and expect weather cancellations in spring.
