Shandur polo festival is one of the wildest and oldest polo festival in the world.
The festival also includes folk music and dancing and camping. The Tournament is held on Shandur Pass, the highest Polo ground in the world at 3700m.
The first time a polo tournament took place at the Shandur Pass, was in 1936. A British Agent Major Cobb, who was fond of playing polo under a full moon, had the polo ground near Shandur, named, “Moony Polo Ground”.
The most exciting polo tournament of the entire Northern Pakistan is played on the top of Shandur Pass, around 3700m above sea level. It is a place unique and exotic in itself, surrounded by some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world. The event makes the annual rivalry between the polo teams of Gilgit and Chitral. The polo tournament has added some attractions for the visitors: trout fishing at the nearby streams and lake and a festival of folk dances and music of the Northern Areas.
Hidden Paradise Tours advises all valued clients to be there one day in advance to enjoy the wild/freestyle polo tournament. Activities of Shandur include dances and music performances by different groups, trout fishing, mountaineering, trekking, hiking, and of course horse riding, crystal clear lakes, snow-covered mountains, alpine flowers, and vast stretches of green grass, are added attractions.
Itinerary
- Day 01: Arrival at Islamabad. O/N stay in a hotel
- Day 02: Drive to Besham, en route stop at Taxila Museum.
- Day 03: Drive To Gilgit, en route stop at Shatial Rock Carving, Nanga Parbat View Point, and Junction Point of Three great Mountain Ranges in the world (Himalaya, Karakorum & Hindukush). O/N stay in the hotel.
- Day 04: Drive to Phandar, afternoon trout fishing at Phandar lake. O/N stay at the hotel.
- Day 05, 06 & 07: Drive to Shandur pass, today is the opening ceremony of the world’s wild polo between the teams of Chitral & Gilgit. O/N stay in a hotel.
- Day 06: Drive back to Gilgit. O/N stay in the hotel.
- Day 07: Drive to Karimabad, Hunza, along the Hunza River, in the afternoon visit of Baltit Fort, Walk along the water channel.
- Day 08: Drive back to Chilas. O/N stay in the hotel.
- Day 09: Fly Back ✈ Drive to Islamabad and transfer to airport to embark home flight.
