General
Shandur Festival (2024-25) – 14 Days
Shandur festival is an amazing festival celebrated by the tribes of Gilgit and Chitral in the northern areas of Pakistan. The tribes from the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral meet at the Shandur pass every summer. The pass has a beautiful polo ground where a unique wild free-style polo is played between different teams of the region. Shandur polo ground is considered to be the highest polo ground in the world at 3,700meter. The polo ground is adjacent to Shandur lake. The festival provides an amazing cultural experience in the Hindukush mountain ranges.
Our events (fixed departures) for Shandur festival and other cultural festivals are given in the table below.
| Holiday | Price (USD) | Price (PKR) |
| Shandur Polo Festival (14 days) | 1790 | PKR 95,000 |
| Chilam Joshi Festival (Kalash spring festival) - 15 days | 1690 | PKR 95,000 |
| Festival of Uchal (Kalash summer festival) - 15 days | 1890 | PKR 95,000 |
| Festival of Choimus (Kalash winter festival) - 15 days | 1690 | PKR 95,000 |
Dates & Cost – Shandur Festival (14 Days)
Summer and autumn are considered ideal for exploring the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. The dates of the Shandur festival are always finalised by the provincial governments of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. They are normally held in the month of July. Considering the flow of tourists and interest in Shandur festival, we carefully choose our dates for the polo festival. The start and end dates in the table below are your dates of arrival and departure from Pakistan. We have at least 1 guaranteed departure for the festival. Our dates and costs for Shandur festival are given below.
| Start Dates | End Dates | Price (USD) | Availability | Minimum required to Guarantee | Deposit | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04-Jul-2025 | 17-Jul-2025 | US$ 2290 | Limited Space | 2 participants | US$ 260 | BOOK NOW |
| 04-Jul-2026 | 17-Jul-2026 | US$ 2290 | Available | 2 participants | US$ 100 | BOOK NOW |
| Start Dates | End Dates | Price (USD) | Availability | Minimum required to Guarantee | Deposit | Registration |
Holiday Information
Foreign travelers (non-Pakistani)
- Implementation of government SOPs/Guidelines in case of new pandemic variants.
- 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)
Domestic travelers (Pakistani Nationals)
- Licensed professional guide
- Road transport (Islamabad to Islamabad)
- Hotel accommodation according to itinerary
- Hotel meals according to itinerary
- All camping accommodation (twin sharing dome tents)
- All camping meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- All camping site fees
- Trekking logistics (kitchen tents, non-personal equipments and tools)
- Support staff (cook, assistant(s) etc – according to need)
- Porters for trekking equipments and kitchen (supplies, tools, equipments, crockery, gas)
Foreign travelers (non-Pakistani)
- Travel Insurance (recommendations only)
- Visa to Pakistan (supporting documents will be offered)
- International airfare
- Personal equipment (warm clothes, hiking boots, etc)
- Tips for guides, porters, staff, etc
- Miscellaneous (drinks, phone calls, laundry, souvenir, etc)
Domestic travelers (Pakistani Nationals)
- Airport transfers in Islamabad (can be arranged – additional charges)
- Sightseeing in Islamabad and surrounding areas (can be arranged – additional charges)
- Hotel accommodation in Islamabad (can be arranged – additional charges)
- Hotel meals in Islamabad (can be arranged – additional charges)
- Travel insurance (recommendations can be requested)
- Visa to Pakistan (not required)
- International airfare for overseas Pakistani
- Personal equipment (warm clothes, hiking boots etc)
- Tips for guides, porters, staff etc
- Miscellaneous (drinks, phone calls, laundry, souvenir etc)
Why Register Now?
1. Early Bird Discount: The given prices for the holiday are limited-time discount offers and are subject to change. Service providers including (but not limited) to airlines and hotels increase prices in peak-season. Early reservations cost less than peak-season.
2: Limited Space in Peak Months: The peak months in the peak season attract the highest number of international guests and are therefore sold out earlier. Due to our revised Covid-19 guidelines, we have restricted our group size to a maximum of 12 travelers. We are taking registrations on a "first-come, first-served" basis.
3. Pay Balance after arrival in Pakistan: In these unusual times, we appreciate that paying the final balance for your trip may cause concern. Our policy is to only receive your final balance once you arrive in Pakistan. The only payment before arrival is the deposit.
4. Deposit valid for 3 years: We understand the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic (Covid-19). As part of our relaxed booking conditions following Covid-19, deposits are valid for 3 years.
5. Pay Minimum Deposit: The deposits for the holiday are also early-bird discounts and automatically change accordingly:
- 1st October: USD 110
- 1st November: USD 150
- 1st January: USD 180
- 1st March: USD 260
- 1st May: USD 340
Note: The same dates above apply to next season's deposits.
Deposit (Advance) for Pakistani nationals
The deposit for Pakistani nationals is PKR 40,000 or 30% of the total price, whichever is greater. The deposit is non-refundable but valid for 3 years according to our relaxed booking conditions following Covid-19.
Refund Policy for All
Deposit: Once paid, the deposit is non-refundable (but valid for 3 years) as it will be spent on making in-country arrangements. In the case of visa rejection, a refund/partial-refund (if costs incurred) will be considered. In such cases, a valid proof of visa rejection must be submitted to our office within 72 hours of rejection. For Pakistan nationals, the deposit is non-refundable (but valid for 3 years) in all cases.
Balance: Pay the balance only after arrival in Pakistan on the first day. Payment guidelines will be shared timely.
Currency
All international travelers can pay in US Dollars (USD) or equivalent in Euros (EUR) or Pound Sterling (GBP). Pakistani travelers are charged the equivalent in Pakistani Rupees (PKR).
Single Supplement
Separate accommodation (single supplement) will cost an additional USD 493. This includes all nights. This payment should be made with the balance upon arrival in Pakistan.
Highlights – Shandur Festival
Shandur festival has a lot to offer. Given below are main highlights of the festival.
- Experience the summer polo festival of Chitral and Gilgit tribes
- Participate and dance to the tunes of indigenous music
- Enjoy Pakistani cuisine
- Hear stories from community members
- View of hundreds of peaks including Tirich Mir (7,708m) in the Hindukush Range and Nanga Parbat (8,126m)in the Himalaya range
- Rivers (Kunar, Chitral, Gilgit, Indus), tributaries and streams
- Malakand pass, Lowari Pass (3,118 m) or Lowari Tunnel (10.4 kms), Shandur Pass (4,173m), & Babusar Pass (3,700m)
- Valleys of Pakistan including Dir, Chitral, Yasin, Punial, Naran and Kaghan
- Lakes including Shandur, Phandar, Khalti and Lulusar
- Views of forts (Malakand, Nagar & Chitral) and Mosques (Shahi Masjid)
- Churchil Picket, Malakand
- Sightseeing in Islamabad & Rawalpindi
- Make new friends
- Discounted cultural travel
Itinerary – Shandur Festival
The itinerary for Shandur festival is given below.
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 540 m
On this day our guide will pick you up from the airport and take you to the hotel. After some relaxation, we will start by exploring Islamabad in the afternoon. We will visit Faisal Mosque, the famous landmark of the city and then continue to drive towards the highest view point of Islamabad (Pir Sohawa/Daman e Koh). We will also explore SuperMarket and after a taste of traditional food we will call it a day after having a scoop of ice cream from a famous ice cream shop.
| Accommodation | Twin-sharing room at Chateau Royale (see pictures), Prestige Residence (see pictures) or equivalent standard partner hotel (depends on occupancy) in Islamabad. |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea/coffee and snacks |
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 1,050 m
Today we will start the journey to Chitral via newly built Swat Motorway. We will travel through the Lowari Tunnel which is about 10.4 kms long that connects Dir and Chitral. We will reach Ayun this day. Ayun is the closest villages to Kalasha Tribes and also a beautiful valley to experience and explore the place. Our stay will be in the Ayun Fort that has beautiful biological gardens and its location offers a bird's eye view of the valley and river. We will spend the night at the Ayun Fort.
| Accommodation | Twin-sharing room at Ayun Fort Inn (see pictures) or equivalent standard partner hotel (depends on occupancy) in Ayun. |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea/coffee and snacks |
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 1,100 m
On this day we will drive from Ayun to Bumburet Valley, which is one of the major settlements of Kalasha People in Pakistan. After arrival in Bumburet, we will visit the local museum. The Kalasha Graveyard and the Town Centre. We will dance on Kalasha beats, do photography and interact with the Kalasha Tribe and experience this unique culture firsthand. Later we will travel to Chitral and stay at night in Pamir Hotel alongside the Chitral River.
| Accommodation | Twin-sharing room at Pamir Inn (see pictures), Tirich Mir View Hotel (see pictures) or equivalent standard partner hotel (depends on occupancy) in Chitral. |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea/coffee and snacks |
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 1,494 m
Today we will explore Chitral Town. We will visit Chitral Fort the capital of ancient kingdom of Chitral. The region was ruled from this fort. Later we will visit Shahi Mosque of Chitral which is in the premises of the fort. We will then travel to Birmoglasht which is on the mountain top. It offers a bird's eye view of the valley as well as we might have a sighting of Markhor that are indigenous to this region. We will have lunch at Birmoglasht on this day. If there is an ongoing polo match in Chitral Town we will visit the polo ground and experience the thrilling polo event. Later we will explore Chitral Bazar. We will have dinner in the hotel.
Accommodation Twin-sharing room at Pamir Inn (see pictures), Tirich Mir View Hotel (see pictures) or equivalent standard partner hotel (depends on occupancy) in Chitral. Meals Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea/coffee and snacks
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 2,359 m
On this day we will travel from Chitral Town to Mastuj. Mastuj is main village of Yarkhud Valley that borders Gilgit-Baltistan on one side and Afghanistan on the other. We will travel passing many villages of Chitral along the river gorge. Once we arrive in Mastuj we will take a walk around the village, meet and greet local village and community. We will stay in Mastuj for the following night.
| Accommodation | Twin-sharing room at PTDC Motel Mastuj (see pictures) or equivalent standard partner hotel (depends on occupancy) in Mastuj. |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea/coffee and snacks |
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 3,700 m
On this day, we will travel from Mastuj to Shadur. On the way we will pass through many villages of Chitral and ascend towards the Shandur Pass. Upon arrival at Shandur we will camp at the highest polo ground in the world. We will watch matches between different teams of Gilgit and Chitral. Later at night we will attend bonfire. We will dance and celebrate the polo festival. We will stay in camps for the night.
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 3,700 m
On this day we will experience the final match played between the teams of Gilgit and Chitral. This title match will be the main attraction of the festivals as audience will be supporting their teams with full zeal and enthusiasm. After the presentation of the final match, we will start our journey towards Gupis and make stops on the way on the beautiful Phandar Lake. We will stay at PTDC Khalti for then night.
| Accommodation | Twin-sharing room at PTDC Motel (see pictures) or equivalent standard partner hotel (depends on occupancy) in Gupis. |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea/coffee and snacks |
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 1,500 m
On this day we will travel from Khalti to Gilgit. Gilgit is the capital city of Gilgit-Baltistan Region. Upon arrival we will check in to hotel and have some rest. After lunch we will go to visit Kargah Nala and the famous Buddha Carving. Later we will go to explore the Gilgit Bazaar and will taste the “Mantu” (Dumplings). We will relax and stay at Gilgit for the night before we start the journey to the “Land of Legends” – Hunza.
| Accommodation | Twin-sharing room at Riveria Hotel Gilgit (see pictures), MarcoPolo Hotel (see pictures) or equivalent standard partner hotel (depends on occupancy) in Gilgit. |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea/coffee and snacks |
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 2,500 m
This day will be different and exciting as we will be travelling to Hunza now. Let me tell you that Hunza is a full package that offers beautiful scenery, glaciers, high rising mountains, lakes, culture, heritage, an international border and the 8th wonder of the world that is called the Karakoram Highway. As we start our journey on the Karakoram Highway, we will see the old silk route used for trade which was made centuries ago. We will make a stop at Rakaposhi View Point enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and feel the breeze coming from the Mother of Mist. As we travel ahead towards Hunza we will have a view of magnificent peaks from the window seat and as we arrive in Karimabad. The view of Rakaposhi will stun every nature lover as this ultra-visible peak will glance over your head. We will visit Baltit Fort and Altit Fort this day and also explore Karimabad Market and later we will visit the famous Eagle’s Nest View Point to experience the sunset over the mighty peaks.
| Accommodation | Twin-sharing room at Hilltop Hotel Hunza (see pictures), World Roof Hotel (see pictures) or equivalent standard partner hotel (depends on occupancy) in Hunza. |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea/coffee and snacks |
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 4,693 m
On this day we will travel to Northern Hunza, we will do boating in the Attabad Lake. The pristine glacial water and the color of the lake with the barren mountains will leave you stunned. We will continue travelling further passing through many villages of Upper Hunza and enter Khunjerab National Park at Deh. We will experience the amazing journey on the Karakoram Highway. On our return we will stay at Passu.
| Accommodation | Twin-sharing room at Sarai Silk Route (see pictures), Passu Ambassador Hotel (see pictures) or equivalent standard partner hotel (depends on occupancy) in Passu. |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea/coffee and snacks |
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 2,500 m
On this day we will start our day by walking around the Passu Village. We will experience people working in the field we will also visit a local house to experience the architecture and way of living of the Wakhi Community of Pakistan. We will visit Borith Lake another alpine lake with beautiful colors. We will also take a walk on the Hussaini Suspension Bridge to experience the thrill of the mountains. We will further travel to Hopper Valley and get stunned with its beauty. We will hike to Bualtar Glacier. On this night we will enjoy dances and music of people of Hunza.
| Accommodation | Twin-sharing room at Sarai Silk Route (see pictures), Passu Ambassador Hotel (see pictures) or equivalent standard partner hotel (depends on occupancy) in Passu. |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea/coffee and snacks |
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 2,409 m
The guests will depart to Besham or Naran (depending on weather and other variables) from Hunza. If we take the road to Besham, we drive through Chilas and Dassu travelling along Indus river on Karakoram Highway. However, we will try to return to Islamabad via Naran road/Babusar Pass (4,173m). This will give our guests the opportunity to explore additional locations. Our guests will spend the night in Naran or Besham.
Besham
| Accommodation | Twin-sharing tent/cottage at Besham Hilton Hotel (see pictures), PTDC Motel (see pictures) or equivalent standard partner hotel (depends on occupancy) in Besham. |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea/coffee and snacks |
Naran
| Accommodation | Twin-sharing room at Parhena Cottages (see pictures), Hotel deManchi (see pictures) or equivalent standard partner hotel (depends on occupancy) in Naran. |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea/coffee and snacks |
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 540 m
On this day we will travel to Islamabad from Islamabad. On our way we will visit Taxila Museum and ancient Buddhist sites from Gandhara Civilization. We will then continue to Islamabad which is on a distance of 45 minutes from Taxila and have our farewell dinner at Monal Restaurant.
| Accommodation | Twin-sharing room at Chateau Royale (see pictures), Prestige Residence (see pictures) or equivalent standard partner hotel (depends on occupancy) in Islamabad. |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea/coffee and snacks |
On this Day
GPS Data
Altitude: 540 m
Everything good thing has to come to an end. This is the day when we finally bid farewell to our guests and fellow members. The tour ends this day.
| Apricot Tours' Social Responsibility |
| 1 foreign participant = 5 trees |
| Apricot Tours will plant five trees for every foreign tourist who visits Pakistan for attending the Shandur Polo Festival. The trees will be planted in the northern areas of Pakistan starting from 2019 as part of our CSR initiative. We aim to contribute to "Goal 13: Climate Action" of UN's Sustainable Development Goals by taking part in the massive government campaign to plant 10 billion trees during the next five years to tackle climate change. Pakistan's adverse climate impacts are very much visible through changing temperatures, prolonged droughts, increased floods and extreme weather conditions especially in Pakistan's mountain regions. Pakistan stands 7th on the list of countries that are mostly likely to be affected by global warming and has one of the highest deforestation rates in Asia. Decades of tree felling have reduced the country's forests to less than 3 percent of its total land area. How planting trees will make a difference? Planting trees will help save energy and money, cool our cities, reduce carbon emissions, reduce soil erosion, provide habitat for species of many kinds, provide clean water and add to the beauty of Pakistan's mountain region by simply being there. Our participants can also donate separately. Details on this initiative can be requested. |
Shandur Polo Festival 2024-25 Dates
Shandur Festival Dates 2024
| Festivals | Dates | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Shandur Polo Festival | Wed 08 July – Fri 10 July | 8:00 AM |
Shandur Festival Dates 2025
| Festivals | Dates | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Shandur Polo Festival | Thu 08 July – Sat 10 July | 8:00 AM |
The festival will be celebrated from 8 – 10 July, 2025 at Shandur Polo Ground in Chitral district of Pakistan. The final match will begin at 09:00 am in the morning. Register Now!
Shandur Polo Festival – 2024-25 – Overview
Shandur Polo Festival is one of the wildest polo festival played in the world. The polo ground at Shandur 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 KPK and Gilgit-Baltistan. The first time polo was played at Shandur Polo ground in 1936. Ever since it has become the greatest polo ground of entire North Region. The polo ground is approximately 155 kms away from the Chitral Town and about 200 kms from Gilgit City.
Shandur Polo Festival is incredibly different than 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. This polo ground 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 tour in the Hindukush mountain range.
Website Last Updated: October 29th, 2024
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