Shandur Polo Festival Tour

Journey through the awe-inspiring mountains of northern Pakistan and join the celebrations at Shandur Polo Festival

Rub shoulders with Pathans in the bustling bazaars of Peshawar, then drive through the wild Hindu Kush mountains, exploring ancient Buddhist sites, and head through fertile Swat Valley to reach the unique Kalash Valleys. Follow the ancient trade route through the frontier towns of Chitral and Mastuj, and witness the climax of the Shandur Polo Festival on majestic Shandur Pass. Journey onwards to reach the fabulous kingdom of Hunza, set amidst incredible mountain peaks, set in the wilds of the Indus Valley. Explore Karimabad’s fantastic medieval forts, the 1000-year old ancient settlement at Ganesh, then head up to Khunjerab Pass and the Chinese border.

Descend once more to the thronging tribal bazaars of Gilgit, once an important crossroads on the Old Silk Road, before taking the road trip through Kaghan Valley and over Babusar Pass back to the modern capital city of Islamabad.

Travel across the plains of northern Pakistan for a cultural tour in a private vehicle and then drive up into the Hindu Kush and Karakoram mountains, explore its Buddhist relics, villages and towns, plus the legendry Kingdom of Hunza. Head up to the Chinese border on Khunjerab Pass before taking the road trip through Kaghan Valley and over Babusar Pass back to the modern capital city of Islamabad.

We head across the plains of northern Pakistan to explore the historic bazaars of Rawalpindi and Peshawar, renowned as one of the oldest cities in all Asia, pausing to marvel at the ancient Buddhist archaeological complex at Taxila, before passing through Khyber Gate on the road to Afghanistan, then drive through the wild Hindu Kush mountain range, below the inspiring peak of Tirich Mir, exploring ancient Buddhist sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological complex of Takht-i-Bahi. Sleep in unique Kalash Kafir tribal villages, whose inhabitants are believed by some to be the descendants of the troops of Alexander the Great, and visit evocative historic frontier forts at Chitral and Mastuj, before climbing up onto the splendid heights of Shandur pass for remarkable views over the mountains. Descend eastwards along the ancient Chitral-Gilgit trade route via the fisherman’s paradise of Phander Lake to reach Gilgit where we barter with local tribesmen in the town’s thronging bazaars.

Drive onwards to reach the kingdom of Hunza and sleep in legendry Karimabad below the incredible peaks of Ultar, Diran and Rakaposhi. Take time to explore its fantastic medieval forts and the 1000-year old settlement of Ganesh, then follow the mighty Indus river upwards, below Passu Cones and through Khunjerab National Park, all the time watching for Karakoram ibex and Marco polo sheep, until reaching the lofty Chinese border right on Khunjerab pass itself. Then, follow the Karakoram Highway southwards again back to Gilgit, once an important crossroads on the Old Silk Road, before taking the road trip through Kaghan Valley and over Babusar Pass back to the modern capital city of Islamabad.

Places To Be Visited

Islamabad – Rawalpindi –Taxila – Peshawar – Khyber Pass* – Malakand Pass – Takht-i-Bahi – Chitral – Kalash Valleys – Parwak – Mastuj – Shandur Pass – Phander Lake – Gupis – Gilgit – Karimabad – Passu – Sost – Khunjerab Pass – Rohtas Fort – Islamabad