Six peaks above 7,000 m, run from Skardu by our own Balti team. Permits, oxygen, insured high-altitude porters and a turnaround policy that is actually enforced.
Six peaks above 7,000 m, run from Skardu by our own Balti team. Permits, oxygen, insured high-altitude porters and a turnaround policy that is actually enforced.
The Shandur Polo Festival Journey is a 8 days guided trip in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 3,800 m. It is graded Easy — road travel with three nights camped at about 3,700 m — short walks at camp. 1 fixed departures are open from $980 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Every July, Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral meet on a grass field at about 3,700 m, just below Shandur Pass, and play polo the old way: freestyle, no boards, few pads, the whole valley shouting. It is the highest polo ground in the world, and the festival runs over three days, usually 7 to 9 July. Most operators bundle it into two weeks through Chitral and the Kalash valleys. We keep it on our side of the pass: eight days from Gilgit up the Ghizer valley, a slow day at Phander Lake to acclimatise, three nights camped at Shandur for the matches, and back the way we came. Simple, honest, and built around the polo. Local hands, real safety, fair price.
Duration
8 days7 nights
Max altitude
3,800 mhighest point
Grade
Easy — road travel with three nights camped at about 3,700 m
Days on foot
short walks at campthe rest is travel
Group size
Max 1min age 8
Best season
early Julyopen Early July
Departures open
1next 3 Jul 2027
Shandur Festival Journey Price
From $980 per person in a group of four to six, Gilgit to Gilgit. That covers private 4x4 transport for the whole journey, a local guide, two nights at a Phander Lake guesthouse, three nights in our own tented camp at Shandur with a cook and all meals there, and a night in Gilgit at each end. Flights or the road to Gilgit are not included. Festival camps fill fast, so we take a larger deposit for this departure.
Fixed Departures
Fixed departures are scheduled dates you join as part of a group, rather than arranging your own trip. 1 date is currently open, capped at 6 people. Every date is the same price, $980 per person. A $200 deposit reserves a place. The availability column shows how many places are left on each date.
These are private departures, priced by the size of your party rather than by a set date. Pick the band that matches your group and the price per person is fixed at that rate, across 3 options. The more of you who travel, the less each person pays — from $1,850 for Solo (1 Person) down to $980/pp for 4-6 Persons. What each band covers is set out in the table.
Group size
Price
What it includes
Solo (1 Person)
$1,850
Private 4x4, guide and your own tent for one.
(2-3 Persons)
$1,250/pp
One vehicle and camp, shared, ideal for couples and friends.
(4-6 Persons)
$980/pp
Best per-person rate for one vehicle-load of family or friends.
Is this trip right for you?
Yes — this is one of the easiest trips to say yes to.
Graded Easy — road travel with three nights camped at about 3,700 m.
short walks at campDays on footthe rest is travel
3,800 mhighest pointMost people feel only short breath.
8minimum age
Good to know
The highest point is 3,800 m. Most people feel nothing worse than short breath up there, and the pace is set to keep it that way.
You’re ready ifyou enjoy a full day out and do not mind some hours on the road.
Give yourself a little longer ifyou would like to feel fresher. A couple of walks beforehand makes the short strolls even easier.
This might not be your trip ifyou are after long days on foot and nights in a tent. Tell us and we will point you at one.
One thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Travel Plan
Itinerary — Shandur Polo Festival
Eight days from Gilgit: up the Ghizer valley to Phander, an acclimatisation day at the lake, three nights camped at the Shandur polo ground for the festival, and back to Gilgit.
8 days
Arrive in Gilgit by air or road. Afternoon at leisure, briefing with your guide and a night in a Gilgit hotel.
Out along the Gilgit River through Gupis into the Ghizer valley, about 184 km and five to six hours on a road that is paved for long stretches and slow in others. Night at a guesthouse on Phander Lake.
A slow day at Phander, the largest of the valley’s lakes, roughly 900 m long and up to 44 m deep. Village walks, trout for lunch and an early night before going higher.
About 30 km and an hour or so up onto the Shandur plateau. Settle into camp near the polo ground at about 3,700 m and walk up to the pass in the afternoon as the festival crowds arrive.
Opening day: the first matches, the bands, and the slow build of a crowd on the grass banks above the field. Afternoon free on the plateau.
More matches and the festival in full swing: stalls, music and the chance to watch the horses and riders up close between games.
The final between Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, the loudest afternoon of the year at Shandur. After the match, down off the plateau to Phander for the night.
The long road back down the Ghizer valley to Gilgit by late afternoon. Onward travel to Hunza or Skardu can be arranged.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $980 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
Private 4x4 transport Gilgit to Shandur and back
Local guide
Two nights at a Phander Lake guesthouse
Three nights in our tented camp at Shandur with cook and all meals there
A night in Gilgit at each end
Satellite phone with the crew and a real evacuation plan
Not included
Flights or road transfer to Gilgit
Meals in Gilgit and on the road
Personal spending
Travel insurance (mandatory) and tips
Why Karakoram Venture
Because the people who take you up this mountain are from it. Our guides grew up in these valleys, and they are our own team — not a booking desk handing you to whoever is cheapest that week. Every one of them is certified by the Alpine Club of Pakistan, holds Wilderness First Aid, and has between five and twenty years on high-altitude ground.
Because the safety is real, and we will name it rather than imply it. A satellite phone travels in every camp, we hold established helicopter-rescue contacts for this region, and we tell you exactly which travel insurance to carry. Budget operators cut precisely these things, because you cannot see them on a web page.
Because the price is honest. Local infrastructure is why $980 per person covers the trip from Islamabad rather than a stripped-down base rate. Exactly what it includes — and the handful of things it does not — is set out above.
How to book this trip
Four steps from here to the mountains
1Pick your dateA fixed departure above, or private dates you choose.
2Send the requestThe form on this page, or WhatsApp. Name, party size, date.
3Pay $200 per personThat holds your place. We reply within 24 hours.
4Balance 30 days beforeThen we take over: flights, hotels, permits, crew.
No card details on this page. Nothing is charged until you confirm.
More About the Shandur Festival
Booking & Payment
A deposit of $200 per person confirms your place in the festival camp. Balance is due 30 days before departure
Book through our website or directly on WhatsApp. Festival places are limited
So we confirm in order of deposits received
Cancellation Policy
Cancel 60+ days before departure for a full refund of the deposit. 30-59 days: half the deposit. Under 30 days: the deposit is forfeit
If the organisers move or cancel the festival
You receive a full refund or a transfer to the new dates
Your choice
Permits & Documentation
Shandur
Ghizer valley are open to foreign visitors on a standard Pakistan visa. Carry your passport for police checkpoints on the way
We handle any local registration
Health & Fitness
Easy travel
But three nights camped at about 3,700 m in real cold. Good general health is enough
If you have a heart or lung condition
Check with your doctor first. Minimum age 8
Travel insurance is mandatory and arranged by you
Important Notes
Carry at least 2 recent passport-size photos for verification and documentation.
A valid passport (foreign nationals) or CNIC (Pakistani nationals) is mandatory for booking and travel.
Keep your original passport or CNIC with you throughout the tour for security checks and hotel check-ins.
Foreign nationals need a valid passport and the correct visa; any NOC and trekking/restricted-area permits are arranged by Karakoram Venture.
Special Information
Professional and experienced Tour Manager available from start to end of the trip.
Delicious and fresh daily meals included from Day 1 until departure.
No complimentary meals provided on flights or during transit stops.
Follow updated state travel policies carefully for a hassle-free journey.
Transportation Details
Comfortable and spacious A/C Coaches for long trips and intercity travel.
Sturdy 4x4 jeeps for mountain roads and sightseeing (up to 7 pax per vehicle).
Reliable 4x4 vehicles (Land Cruiser / Prado) for off-road and high-altitude excursions.
Arrival & Departure Guidelines
Day 1: Report at the designated airport on time as per schedule.
Final Day: Depart after successfully completing the full itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Shandur Polo Festival?
It is held every year in early July, usually 7 to 9 July. Official dates are confirmed by the organisers each spring; if they move, we move the departure with them and tell you straight away.
How high is Shandur?
The polo ground sits at about 3,700 m and the pass itself at about 3,800 m, on the boundary between Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. That is why we spend a night at Phander first and keep the festival camp comfortable.
Do we cross into Chitral?
No. This journey stays on the Gilgit-Baltistan side and returns to Gilgit the way it came. If you want to continue over the pass into Chitral and the Kalash valleys, ask us and we can tell you what that involves.
What is the polo like?
Freestyle, fast and loud. Teams from Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral play under old local rules, with few protective pads and no boards, while the crowd on the hillside and the bands keep the noise going. The final is the big day.
Where do we sleep at Shandur?
In our own tented camp near the polo ground, with sleeping mats, warm bedding, a cook and a dining tent. Nights at 3,700 m are cold even in July, and the camp is organised for that.
How far is Shandur from Gilgit?
About 212 km, seven to eight hours by jeep. Phander sits at around the 184 km mark, which is why we break the journey there.
Top-Notch Service, Excellent Reviews
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