SHANDUR-CHITRAL,
Location
Hotels & Camping
Accommodation
JULY
Best Season
Full Board
Boarding

Shandur Polo Festival 2020

Shandur Polo festival is a polo tournament between Gilgit and Chitral Polo teams, which take place at the Shandur polo ground every summer. Shandur Polo ground is located on the border of Gilgit and Chitral in the Northern areas of Pakistan.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • Experience the picturesque Chitral & Kailash Valleys of Pakistan.
  • Stunning wild and remote scenery of Shandur.
  • Meet and explore the Kailash valley and its people.
  • Fantastic mountain vistas.
  • world’s Highest Polo field.
  • Really authentic travel Experience

OVERVIEW

Shandur Polo Festival is one of the wildest and oldest polo festival play in the world. Shandur Festival take place every summer on the world highest polo ground Shandur. Shandur polo ground is located amidst Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan in the North West and Chitral District. It is a common shared pass between these regions. Shandur is a flat plateau and is also a border between the province of Khyber Pakhtonkhowa and Gilgit-Baltistan. First time polo was played in Shandur was In 1936. Ever since it has become the greatest polo ground of entire North Region of Pakistan. Shandur polo ground is approximately 155 kms away from the Chitral Town and about 200 kms from Gilgit City. Shandur Festival is incredibly different from any other game festivals around the world. The elevation of this great polo ground is about 3,743 m above the sea level. The birth of this ground is also an incredible story of local wisdom. Shandur polo festival attracts many tourists from around the world. Matches are played between different teams of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral but the final match is a contest between Gilgit Team and Chitral Team. These teams have been rivals in this game since centuries. It is also a very incredible moment to experience a horse charging on the roof of the world. The other attractions near Shandur Polo ground are Shandur Lake, Langar and Phandar Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan. We have linked Shandur Polo Festival with a well planned Trek in the Hindukusch mountain range.

Since 40 Years We have been organising Shandur Polo Festival Tour and Treks for mountain enthusiasts from around the World. Trango Adventures operates a 8-10 days long Tour to Shandur Festival. We offer  full board services. The duration may be longer or shorter depending on the clients experience and ability. We strongly believe that traveling to the Chitral & kalash valleys ,Exploring their ancient Pagan culture and adventure at the Shandur festival will give you a real authentic travel experience. It will be life changes experience, which will stay with you for a long time.

We are organising Three fixed departure tours to “Shandur polo festival” in Pakistan, starting in August 2020.

Please contact us if you would like to know about these treks and tours

CLICK HERE TO READ OUR TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS FOR SHANDUR POLO FESTIVAL

BRIEF ITINERARY
D-1

ARRIVAL DAY IN ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN:

D-2

SPECTACULAR FLIGHT TO CHITRAL:

D-3

DRIVE TO RUMBUR:

D-4

DRIVE TO SHADUR (3,743m) 5-6 HOURS DRIVE:

D-5

POLO FESTIVAL DAY:

D-6

POLO FESTIVAL DAY:

D-7

DRIVE TO GILGIT:

D-8

DRIVE TO ISLAMABAD:

D-9

DEPARTURE DAY - FLY BACK HOME:

Additional information

Duration9 Days
GradeEASY

Map of Shandur Polo Festival.

Since many years Trango Adventure has been organising Shandur Polo Festival Tours in Pakistan. We designed our itinerary based on Over 40 Years of experience, which is the best in terms of acclimatization, safety and enjoyment.

It is our intention to keep to the day by day travel itinerary detailed below, although there might be some flexibility due to local conditions or other factors beyond our control. If this is the case the trek leader will do everything possible to work out the changes to the itinerary in order to minimize your inconvenience.

Adventure travel requires an open and flexible attitude. You may experience extreme conditions, unpredictable weather and last-minute changes to the itinerary beyond our control. The ability to work in team is an important aspect of all of our trips.

DETAILED ITINERARY

D-1

ARRIVAL DAY IN ISLAMABAD:

Most of the international flights arrives at Islamabad International Airport in the mornings. Your Guide will meet and greet you at the airport, then you will be transfer to the hotel. Rest of the days is free to recover from your journey. Later in the day, when everyone has arrived, we will have a group briefing about the Shandur Polo Festival Tour. Depending on the time available to us, there may be an option to do some sightseeing in Islamabad, A purpose-built City in 1961 as the new capital of Pakistan.
  • ACCOMMODATION
  • HOTEL
  • MEALS
  • BDL
D-2

SPECTACULAR FLIGHT TO CHITRAL, 1 HOUR :

After Breakfast we will leave the purpose-built Capital City Islamabad behind and drive to the airport to take a spectacular mountain flight to Chitral (subject to weather). After check in to the hotel we will spent the day visiting local Bazar and historical places in Chitral Town.

In case of flight cancellation, we start our journey by road. We will pass through Mardan, Malakand, Bathkhela, Dir then enter Chitral through Lowari Tunnel. . Night will be spent in Chitral.

  • ACCOMMODATION
  • HOTEL
  • MEALS
  • BLD
D-3

DRIVE TO RUMBUR, 3 HOURS:

In the morning you will continue your epic journey Towards Rumbur by Jeep. Rumbur is part of Kalash Valleys and it is roughly 50 km from Chitral. We will spend our day visiting local shops, communities and with the very hospitable and warm welcoming Kalash tribes, who have been living in these valleys for centuries. We will spent our first night in the camp.
  • ACCOMMODATION
  • Camping/Guest House
  • MEALS
  • BLD
D-4

DRIVE TO SHANDUR (3,700m) 5-6 HOURS:

Today, we are off on an epic adventure. Travelling by 4WD, we will head up towards Shandur Polo Field. The scenery from the road is truly incredible and we will make frequent stops for photos and chai. We will make our way up towards the highest polo field in the world. We will pass through the beautiful Booni, Mastuj, Laspur and Ascends. Will arrive at Shandur Polo Groundearly in the afternoon, so we will have an opportunity to watch the last polo match of the day. A tourist tent village with restaurant facilities is sprung up during the Shandur Polo Festival. Merchants from Peshawar, Chitral and Gilgit set up souvenir and folk craft shops. The tournament offers visitors and opportunity to mix with the locals. Tonight you will experience one of the most amazing bonfires of your life in the tent village on Shandur Pass. Night Stay in tents at roof of the world, Shandur Pass. We will spend the night in a comfortable tent.
  • ACCOMMODATION
  • CAMPING
  • MEALS
  • BLD
D-5

SHANDUR POLO FESTIVAL DAY :

Shandur Polo Festival will be at its full height when you reach at the Shandur Polo Ground. You will see people from all around the world who has travelled to experience this amazing festival with local people. You will have penalty of time and opportunities to merge into the festive vibe and get to the know the local people and get on the floor to participate in the local traditional dance.
  • ACCOMMODATION
  • CAMPING
  • MEALS
  • BLD
D-6

SHANDUR POLO FESTIVAL DAY :

Today is the last day of the Shandur Polo festival so expect a lot of folk dancing, folk music, horse racing, paragliding and VIP arrivals. It is the tradition of the Shandur Polo festival that, The president or Prime minster of Pakistan will be the chief guest and he will give out the Trophy to the winner team. The highlight of the festival is the final match between the Gilgit and Chitral teams. The final provides a most colorful spectacle. Supporters of both sides travel long distances from the remote parts of Chitral and Gilgit, to watch the thrilling game. The event, as such, offers a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of the people of this region. Their culture and indigenous customs are a delight to behold for the visitors.
  • ACCOMMODATION
  • CAMPING
  • MEALS
  • BLD
D-7

DRIVE TO GILGIT:

After Three days at the Shandur Polo festival , we will drive towards Gilgit with a lot of good memories. Gilgit is the capital of Gilgit Baltistan Region of Pakistan. It is the getaway to China, Karakoram Highway, K2 Base camp Trek and many other mountain valleys.
  • ACCOMMODATION
  • Ptdc Hotel
  • MEALS
  • BLD
D-8

DRIVE TO ISLAMABAD:

After breakfast, you will drive through the Gilgit Town to join Karakoram Highway towards Islamabad. On route you will Pass the view point of Nanga Parbat and the junction point of Himalaya, Karakoram and the Hindukush mountain range. Before Chillas you will turn left toward Babusar Pass to explore the lush green Naran and Kaghan Valley. We will stop for lunch in Naran town then carry on our epic journey towards Islamabad.
  • ACCOMMODATION
  • Ptdc Hotel
  • MEALS
  • BLD
D-9

DEPARTURE DAY - FLY BACK HOME:

Depending on your flight departure time, you will be transferred to Islamabad International Airport for your flight back home. End of “Shandur Polo festival” Tour

Shandur Polo Festival Dates And Prices 2020

Private Groups – Chose your own Dates

Tour Start and finish in Islamabad-Domestic Flight Inc

START DATES END DATE TRIP STATUS PRICE   DEPOSIT  
01 Jul 09 July Guaranteed USD $1,350 USD $ 270
01 Jul 09 July Guaranteed USD $1,350 USD $ 270
01 Jul 09 July Guaranteed USD $1,350 USD $ 270
Shandur Polo Festival dates and prices are for the fix departure holidays only, All our holidays are including Domestic flights and Full Board. Shandur Polo Festival Departure dates and prices are for the itinerary based from Islamabad to Islamabad. International flights from most cities of the world will arrive in Islamabad in the morning, Return flights will depart from Islamabad International airport on the last day of the itinerary. We have great range of Couple, Family and  Group discounts are available so please contact use before BOOKING.
Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price for the group departure. We recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, we will contact you with an alternative quote. Secure your place with a small Deposit and pay the remaining balance when you arrive in Pakistan.

BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE – NO SURCHARGE GUARANTEE:

The price of our holidays can change depending on a variety of factors but unlike some other tour operators, Trango adventure have undertaken to guarantee the price of your holiday will not change after you have booked. The price when you book is the price you will pay, whether you are booking for this year or the next. Book early to avoid any tour price increases, get the best flight prices and take advantage of our ‘No Surcharge Guarantee’. Trango Adventure a Government Licence and bonded tour operator to follow the strict Regulation set by the Tourism Department of Pakistan.

We accept Cash on Arrival, Bank Transfers, PayPal and all major Credit & debit Cards.

Shandur Polo Festival 2020 Information

What’s Included

  • Licensed professional guide (government requirement)
  • Airport transfer on first and last day in Islamabad
  • All domestic road transfers
  • All hotel accommodation (twin sharing rooms)
  • All camping accommodation (twin sharing dome tents)
  • All hotel meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  • All trekking meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  • All camping site fees
  • Trekking logistics (tents, non-personal equipments and tools)
  • Support staff (cook, assistant(s) etc)
  • Porters for trekking equipments, kitchen (supplies, tools, equipments, crockery, gas) and personal luggage (12.5kg)
  • An Experienced Professional English Speaking Guide (other international Language speaking guides are available)

What’s not Included

  • Travel insurance
  • Pakistan Visa Fee
  • Tips for local guides and support staff
  • Miscellaneous expenses
  • souvenirs etc
  • PLEASE NOTE: an airport departure tax of Rs1500 is sometimes payable

Meal Plan

Fully inclusive of all meals throughout, from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on last day of Shandur Polo Festival tour.

Accommodation

During the Shandur Polo Festival tour group will spend 2-3 nights in Islamabad at a good standard hotel. The group will also have a night in a tourist standard hotel in Chitral before and after the trekking. Accommodation at each of these hotels is twin-sharing with en-suite facilities. Whilst on trek there will be a total of 13 nights camping in 2-person tents. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired with another single client of the same-sex. It is possible to hire a single tent while on trek for an additional cost. Please note single tent hire does not include single rooms in hotels. For the  hotel nights, single rooms are available for a supplementary cost. Additional hotel nights in Islamabad are also available. For hotel prices and single supplement costs please contact our Advisers. Hotels rooms are subject to availability and prices may vary.

Internal flights

CHITRAL FLIGHTS

Chitral is a weather-dependent airport. Since the valley is completely surrounded by high mountains, planes can only land here in good visibility and this means flights to and from Chitral are never guaranteed. The planes do fly more often, but cancellations can and do occur and in these circumstances we will travel by road. If we did not do this then groups would risk being stranded in Islamabad and you should beware of companies that say they will only fly to Skardu as this may mean you have no possibility of trekking.

Health & Vaccinations

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you specific require any vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the US & UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella), along with hepatitis A and typhoid. Malarial prophylaxis is discretionary for this trip. Malaria exists in the area around Islamabad. However, incidences of urban transmission of malaria are extremely low. In Skardu and in the mountains there is no malaria risk. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro.

Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

INSURANCE

We highly recommend that you have adequate travel insurance for your trip with Trango Adventure Pakistan. We recognise the complexity and variety of choice in the insurance market and know that many of you either have your own preferred insurer or have annual multi trip cover in place already. If this is the case, please ensure that your insurer is aware of your Trango Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken.

Trango Adventure do not provide any advice on travel insurance, although it is Highly recommended  that you have travel insurance which covers the activities which you are likely to be undertaking on your holiday.

It is strongly recommended that suitable cancellation insurance is purchased at the time of booking as all deposits (Royalty Fees) for Expedition are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Suggested insurance companies include:

Expeditions or Treks

Treks only:

Group Leader & Support Staff

The group will be led by an experienced Mountain Guide. During the trek the group will be accompanied by a full support crew, assistant Guide a cook and kitchen crew, as well as porters to carry all equipment and personal trek bags.

Altitude

Shandur Polo Festival tour involves going to very high altitude. During the course of your trip you will be spending at least one night above 3,000 metres and/or trekking to 4,000 metres or above. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude on our website which can be viewed via the link below. Unless you have previous experience of trekking above 4000 metres you should consult one of our trekking experts before embarking on this holiday.

Climate

From mid June to August, we can expect to encounter temperatures as high as 30°C at Chitral and 25°C at Kalash and Shandur. Above 4,000 metres snow can fall at any time of the year. At any time of the season the night-time temperature above 4,000 metres are likely to drop to freezing or below and at our highest camps may reach minus 10 or 15°C. The weather is generally good throughout the summer season, with clear skies and little rain or snow. However, weather in mountainous areas is difficult to predict, and short-lived storms can occur at any time of the year.

Books

  • Trekking in Pakistan. Isobel Shaw.
  • Karakoram Highway. King.
  • Top Treks of the World. Steve Razzetti.
  • In the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods. Galen Rowell.
  • K2 Triumph and Tragedy. Jim Curran.

Passport & Visas

A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit.

VISA PAKISTAN

All nationalities require a visa for Pakistan. The visa fee is approximately USD $100 and you must apply for it prior to departure. To obtain a visa for Pakistan you will require a letter of introduction from an approved Travel Agency in Pakistan which will be provided by Trango Adventure. Visa applications can be made made ONLINE or  in person at the Pakistan consulate/Embassy in your home country. For online visa applications please visit the official dedicated website from Government of Pakistan.

Equipment List

We will send you a detailed list of items close to your  Holiday departure. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. The packed weight of your trek bag whilst trekking including your sleeping bag and mattress should be no more than 15.5 kgs. This limit which is set by the porters is strictly enforced and bags will be weighed prior to setting off on trek. Please note that your mountaineering equipment will be packed into additional, communal kitbags at the start of the trekking and this equipment will not be part of your personal 15.5 kgs weight limit.

If you would like to know more about the tour of  “Shandur Polo Festival” , then Please contact our advisers at info@trangoadventure.com

SHANDUR POLO FESTIVAL
Islamabad internationale Airport
SAWAT RIVER
Shandur Polo Festival
IMG_7562
Shandur Polo Festival
WATER FALL
LAWARI PASS
NEAR LAWARI TOP.
CHITRAL RIVER, CHITRAL
Citral Town
Kalash Valley tour
Kalash Valley tour
Kalash Valley tour
STAFF
IMG_7552
CHITRAL
CHITRAL
BONI, SHANDUR
Shandoor Pass
Shandur Polo Festival
Polo
Shandur Polo Festival
Shandur Polo Festival
SHANDUR POLO FESTIVAL
SUNRISE
Shandur Polo Festival

Tour Reviews

5.00 based on 1 review
Usman Ali
20th July 2019

Great experience. Good selection of routes. Professional people. Really enjoyed the Shandur Polo Festival. Coming back again next year.

TrangoAdventure
10th August 2019

Shandur Polo festival is a unique festival in the worlds. look forward to well come you next year.

Leave a Review

Rating

You May Also Like

GASHERBRUM II EXPEDITION PAKISTAN
Early Bird!
$6,000 $5,000

GASHERBRUM II EXPEDITION

The 13th Highest Mountain In The World. The
Karakoram Range
Hotels & Camping
K2 base camp trek Pakistan
Early Bird!
$3,300 $2,300

K2 BASE CAMP TREK

Trekking holiday to Concordia and k2 Base camp in The
Karakoram, Pakistan
Hotel 3* & Camping
Jeep safari Pakistan
Early Bird!
$2,500 $2,000

JEEP SAFARI PAKISTAN

Discover the hidden gems of Pakistan in