The Kalash are a pagan tribe with a polytheistic religion. Their members number about 3,000 and are divided into the 3 valleys of the Indo-Caucasus.

My desire to visit the Kalash was born when, reading an article in a newspaper a year ago, I learned about the legend that accompanies the Kalash tribe. A legend that they themselves passionately support. According to it, the Kalash are descendants of Alexander the Great. I wanted to discover for myself if there were any common elements between the Greeks and the Kalash. I decided that only a visit to the region could convince me of this.

The Kalash claim to be descendants of Alexander the Great's soldiers who, when they were passing through this region in 329 BC, deserted and mated with the women of the region. Since no one can support this view with certainty, I decided to draw my own conclusions based on instinct and my experiences from my trip to this region. However, it is surprising how these people with blue eyes, fair skin and a religion that has many elements in common with that of the ancient Greeks found themselves isolated from everyone in the three valleys of Chitral.

The trip to Northern Pakistan and the Kalash valleys was breathtaking. This is a region unique in both beauty and cultural traditions. At least five different civilizations developed here and left their mark unchanged. Despite the countless invasions that the people of Pakistan suffered, they managed to preserve their cultural heritage while also preserving the essence of their conquerors in their archaeological heritage. The kindness and hospitality that the people of Pakistan generously offered me in all the areas I visited, combined with the uniqueness of the emotions that overwhelmed me during my trip, have painted the journey in Pakistan with vivid colors in my memory».

— yannis psilakis