You are right.
Apart from discussion k Malam jabba charhna uterna takes 4 hours or 2,3 hours, the actual point is its quite hectic to have a day trip to Malam Jabba and then reach Kalam, which I agree with. Lakin kia kiya jay, people with tight schedule usually take this route. An office friend of mine did the same two weeks ago. On 1st March he visited Malam jabba and then went to Kalam the same day. He was with family, wife and 2 kids. It was just 3 days trip to Sawat from Lahore.
However this is not ideal thing to do.
If somebody is from Lahore or Islamabad with tight schedule then I would suggest to skip Malam Jabba and leave it for next visit, and go straight to Kalam. Lakin Karachi sy aana mushkil hota hai, aur aik area visit kr lain tu dubara us ki bari pta nai kitne saal baad aay, that's why Karachi waale bhai prefer to visit as many tourist attractions as possible in a single trip.
Aur phir Kalam se aage aaj kal activity bhi limited ho gi, Mahodand ya Utror wali side pr zyada duur nai ja skain ge du to snow. So spending 2 nights in Kalam in this tight schedule would be enough, enough nai tu guzara. Lakin agr Kalam mai aik din mzeed spend krain bhi tu us din activity kia ho gi.
Vese aapus ki bat hai wandering deep in Kalam forest itself is very soothing activity. I can do it whole day bre hi shoq se, peace and serenity. Haay kia yad kra dia, Kalam forest aur wo bhi winter mai. Zra deep nikal jayn tu bs berf pr apne qadmo ki awaz k ilawa duniya mai aur koi awaz nai rehti. Ya phir birds ki awazain. Khair mai kaheen aur nikal gya.
Yara this itinerary is my two cents, not the final word. Malam Jabba ko skip bhi kia ja skta hai to avoid hassle and to enjoy the Kalam fully.
@muhammad-noman sir ji ap bhi kuch bolain??