Trip Info
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Hotels in Gilgit/Phander; camping or festival tents at Shandur Pass
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Gilgit (Islamabad also possible)
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Gilgit
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Early July (festival dates vary slightly each year)
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Professional English-speaking cultural guide
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English (Deutsch on request)
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Breakfast & Dinner (full board optional)
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Regular seasonal departures
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4×4 jeeps, private SUVs, coaster buses
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4–7 hrs/day
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Festival Tour / Cultural Experience / Adventure Safari
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8 – 25 travelers
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Gilgit, Gupis Valley, Phander Valley, Shandur Pass, Ghizer District
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Festival experience, photography, cultural interaction, camping, jeep safari
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10
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70
Overview
The Shandur Polo Festival is Pakistan’s most iconic summer event — a three-day cultural and sporting celebration held on the world’s highest polo ground at Shandur Pass (3,700m).
Here, the traditional rivals Chitral & Gilgit compete in a thrilling freestyle polo match that dates back over 100 years. Surrounded by dramatic mountains, alpine lakes, music, dance, and local food, Shandur becomes a living celebration of mountain culture.
Your journey starts in Gilgit and moves through the scenic Ghizer region — Gupis Valley, Khalti Lake, and Phander Valley — before reaching the festival grounds.
This tour offers the perfect mix of adventure, comfort, and authentic cultural immersion.
Trip Highlights
- Witness the legendary Gilgit vs Chitral polo match
- Camp beside the stunning Shandur Lake
- Enjoy folk music, dance performances & local bazaars
- Drive through the scenic Ghizer Valley
- Explore Phander Valley — a crown jewel of the region
- Visit Khalti Lake & Gupis Fort
- Experience high-altitude festival life at 3,700 meters
- Great opportunity for cultural & travel photography