15 Days 14 Nights,8 – 10 July 2023 Shandur Polo Festival Gilgit Baltistan Pakistan
Shandur polo celebration is a stunning celebration celebrated by the clans of
Gilgit and Chitral are in the northern spaces of Pakistan. The families from the
locales of Gilgit-Baltistan furthermore Chitral meet at the Shandur pass
each mid-year. The pass has a wonderful polo ground where a novel
wild free-form polo is played between various district groups.
Shandur polo ground is the most elevated polo ground on the planet at 3,700 meters.
The polo ground adjoining Shandur lake. Shandur polo celebration gives a stunning
social involvement with the Hindukush mountain ranges. Shandur Top in Ghizer is
regularly considered the ‘Top of the World’, whereas the Hindukush is in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Shandur polo celebrations welcome guests to encounter a conventional Polo
competition which since 1936 has been held every year in the principal seven-day
stretch of July between the groups of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.
The competition is hung on Shandur Top, the most elevated polo ground
on the planet at 3,700 meters.
Overview
15 Days 14 Nights, Shandur Polo Festival
Trip Highlights
- Experience the summer polo festival of Chitral and Gilgit tribes
- Participate and dance to the tunes of local cultural music
- View of peaks including Tirich Mir (7,708m) & Nanga Parbat (8,126m)in the Himalaya range
- Rivers (Kunar, Chitral, Gilgit, Indus), tributaries and streams
- Malakand pass, 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
Itinerary
Drive to Bumburet (Kalash valley) 60 km, arrive and transfer to hotel, afternoon visit Bumburet valley. Chitral’s prime attraction is the Kalash valleys, home of 3000 non-Muslim Kafir Kalash (or black infidels) who live in 20 small villages in the valleys of Birir and Rumbur. The Kafir Kalash still follow their own religion, a mixture of animism and ancestor and fire worship, and have retained some of their original cultures. They make
offerings to several gods: sajigor, the highest deity, is in charge of everything: Surisan protects the cattle, Goshedoi milk products, and praba fruit. Most of the Kalash are pale-skinned, and some of them even have fair hair and blue eyes, all of which give rise to the usual legend that they are descended from the followers of Alexander.
Drive to Shandur Pass 3,700 meters,157 km, 6-7 hours. overnight in tents. Shandur Top (e1.12,200 feet (3,700 m) Shandur is called the ‘Roof of the World’. The top is flat, a plateau, and can be crossed between late April and early November. The grade is very gradual, and the area is crossed by plentiful small streams during summer. The boundary line between Ghizer District and Chitral District is also situated in Shandur Top in Punji-Lasht as per the international boundary law division by watershed initially demarcated by Lt. Col AG Durand (also known as Durand boundary line).
Drive to Phander 50 km arrive and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon visits Phander valley and enjoy trout fishing at Phander Lake. Phander is one of the most scenic valleys with easy access both from Gilgit and Chitral. Which is commonly called ‘Little Kashmir”. Phander Lake is one of the most famous tourist spots in the entire region. Phander valley was the breadbasket for the whole Northern Areas. The name Ghizer comes from the name of a village ‘Ghizer’ situated in the vicinity of Phander. The deep blue lake in Phander offers a magnificent view and is basically the home of trout fish.
Morning visit Baltit Fort 700 and Baltit Fort 900 Years old, Altit. Afternoon drive to Duiker valley thirty minutes arrive and transfer to hotel. An evening walk through the village to Holy shrines, today you will have the opportunity to see many local people working in the fields. (Duiker valley is a viewpoint to see the sunset and Sunrise over the beautiful mountains in the surroundings of Hunza). Duiker valley (Roof of the world), has a spectacular view down to Karakoram Highway and awesome views of Golden peak at 7027m, Rakaposhi at 7788m, Ultar Sar at 7388m, Diran Peak at 7266m, Lady Finger at 6000m and Disteghil Sar at 7885m.
Full-day excursion to Khunjerab Pass 4733 m, (Pak- China Border) evening drive back to Karimabad. En route visit Attabad Lake, arrive, and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon visit Borith Lake, Gulkin village, Gulmit village, Passu white Glacier, Passu village, Hussani village, and Hussani suspension bridge.
Drive to Naran 355km 9-10 hours via Babusar Pass 4173-m. Babusar Pass (el. 4173 m. /13,691 ft.) is a mountain pass north of 150 km. (93 miles) long Kaghan Valley connecting it via the Asthak Nala with Chilas on the Karakoram Highway (KKH). Babusar Pass connects Gilgit Baltistan with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
Drive to Islamabad 239 km, 6-7 hours, en-route visit the Taxila Museum and historical sites Taxila Jaulian, Mohra, Moradu, and Sirkap, Most of the archaeological sites of Taxila (600 BC to 500 AD) is located around the Taxila museum. For over one thousand-year Taxila remained famous as a center of learning Gandhara art of sculpture, architecture, education, and Buddhism in the days of Buddhist glory. There are over 50 archaeological sites scattered within a radius of 30 km around Taxila. In Taxila visit the archaeological sites of Jaulian, Mohra Moradu, and Sirkap. Later visit. Taxila museum: A museum comprising various sections with rich archaeological finds of Taxila. It is one of the best and most well-maintained site museums in Pakistan.
COST
Includes
- Licensed professional guide (government requirement)
- Airport transfer on the first and last day in Islamabad
- Visa to Pakistan (supporting documents will be offered)
- All domestic road transfers
- All hotel accommodation
- All hotel meals (breakfast and dinner)
- Support staff (assistant(s) etc.)
Excludes
- Travel Insurance (recommendations only)
- International airfare
- Personal equipment (clothes, boots, etc.)
- Tips for guides, porters, staff, etc.
- Miscellaneous (drinks, phone calls, laundry, souvenirs, etc.)
Write a Review