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Pakistan🇵🇰 | festivalsShandur Polo FestivalHigh-altitude polo, Gilgit-Baltistan, tented camps | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Shandur Polo
🏆 Top pickfestival ranked #2
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

Forget the idea that Shandur is some polished sporting event with grandstands and ticket booths. It's raw, high-altitude polo played on a natural pitch sitting at roughly 3,700 meters, the highest polo ground on earth, wedged between Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan's north. Getting there means grinding up jeep tracks for hours, and that grind is half the reward. I remember gasping for air just walking from my tent to the pitch, lungs burning, watching riders thunder past close enough that dust hit my face and horse breath fogged in the cold morning air. The crowd is a mix of local Chitrali and Gilgiti families, a handful of international backpackers, and army officials, all crammed onto the same slope with zero barriers between spectator and chaos. It runs a few days each July. Go for the raw spectacle and the brutal, beautiful journey, not for comfort.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #2 festival in PakistanThe unique appeal for travelers

Backpackers build entire Pakistan routes around Shandur because it delivers something you can't fake: a temporary community of horsemen, herders, soldiers, and travelers thrown together on a plateau with no real infrastructure. The social energy is intense, you're sharing blankets, stoves, and stories with strangers because the night cold forces cooperation. It's a genuine slice of cultural immersion, watching centuries-old freestyle polo rivalries between Chitral and Gilgit teams play out with no rulebook softness. Compared to polished festivals elsewhere in Asia, this is remarkably affordable, since there's no ticket, and costs come mostly from transport and basic camping supplies. It also slots naturally into a longer Karakoram Highway loop, connecting Chitral's Kalash valleys with Gilgit … read more 👉
Backpackers build entire Pakistan routes around Shandur because it delivers something you can't fake: a temporary community of horsemen, herders, soldiers, and travelers thrown together on a plateau with no real infrastructure. The social energy is intense, you're sharing blankets, stoves, and stories with strangers because the night cold forces cooperation. It's a genuine slice of cultural immersion, watching centuries-old freestyle polo rivalries between Chitral and Gilgit teams play out with no rulebook softness. Compared to polished festivals elsewhere in Asia, this is remarkably affordable, since there's no ticket, and costs come mostly from transport and basic camping supplies. It also slots naturally into a longer Karakoram Highway loop, connecting Chitral's Kalash valleys with Gilgit and Hunza, so travelers rarely visit Shandur in isolation. The remoteness itself is the draw, this is one of the few big gatherings in Pakistan that hasn't been reshaped for tourists. You go for the horses and dust, but you stay for the shared fires, unexpected conversations, and the feeling of having earned your seat on that mountain.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of Shandur Polo

  1. The Freestyle Polo Matches: This isn't the manicured, rule-heavy polo you see elsewhere. Shandur's version is fast, physical, and largely unregulated by modern standards, with Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan teams playing out a rivalry that goes back generations. The pace and the close proximity to the action make it genuinely thrilling to watch.
  2. The Altitude Itself: Standing at nearly 3,700 meters while watching a full-contact sport is a strange, breathless experience. Simple movements leave you winded, and that physical challenge becomes part of the story you take home. This is my personal favorite element of the whole trip, the sheer disorientation of altitude mixed with adrenaline.
  3. The Military and Civil Camps: The Pakistan Army and local administration set up temporary camps and facilities
… read more 👉
  1. The Freestyle Polo Matches: This isn't the manicured, rule-heavy polo you see elsewhere. Shandur's version is fast, physical, and largely unregulated by modern standards, with Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan teams playing out a rivalry that goes back generations. The pace and the close proximity to the action make it genuinely thrilling to watch.
  2. The Altitude Itself: Standing at nearly 3,700 meters while watching a full-contact sport is a strange, breathless experience. Simple movements leave you winded, and that physical challenge becomes part of the story you take home. This is my personal favorite element of the whole trip, the sheer disorientation of altitude mixed with adrenaline.
  3. The Military and Civil Camps: The Pakistan Army and local administration set up temporary camps and facilities for the event, and wandering through them gives you a sense of the massive logistical effort required to bring an entire tournament to a spot with no permanent town nearby.
  4. The Night Sky and Bonfires: Once the matches wrap for the day, campsites light bonfires and the plateau's lack of light pollution turns the sky into a dense field of stars. Sitting around a fire at that altitude, wrapped in every layer you own, talking with strangers from three different provinces, is unlike anything you'll get at a lowland festival.
  5. The Journey Through Chitral or Gilgit: Getting to Shandur means passing through Chitral's Kalash valleys or the Gilgit-Baltistan road network, both worth the detour on their own. The final stretch by jeep, climbing switchbacks with views opening up over the plateau, sets the tone for the entire event before a single match starts.
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🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of Shandur Polo Festival?

  • Festival Window (Early to Mid July): The event typically runs for a few days in early-to-mid July, when the pass and access roads are reliably open and daytime temperatures sit around 15 to 20°C (59 to 68°F), dropping sharply after dark to near freezing.
  • Pre-Monsoon Clarity: July skies over Shandur are generally clear and dry compared to lower-altitude Pakistan, since the plateau sits above most monsoon cloud cover, giving good visibility for the matches and surrounding peaks.
  • Daylight Hours: Expect roughly 14 hours of daylight, useful since match schedules and camp logistics both depend on getting things done before the cold sets in fast after sunset.
  • Crowd Levels: Crowds peak on the main match days themselves, thinning out quickly once the tournament ends, so arriving a day early gets you calmer
… read more 👉
  • Festival Window (Early to Mid July): The event typically runs for a few days in early-to-mid July, when the pass and access roads are reliably open and daytime temperatures sit around 15 to 20°C (59 to 68°F), dropping sharply after dark to near freezing.
  • Pre-Monsoon Clarity: July skies over Shandur are generally clear and dry compared to lower-altitude Pakistan, since the plateau sits above most monsoon cloud cover, giving good visibility for the matches and surrounding peaks.
  • Daylight Hours: Expect roughly 14 hours of daylight, useful since match schedules and camp logistics both depend on getting things done before the cold sets in fast after sunset.
  • Crowd Levels: Crowds peak on the main match days themselves, thinning out quickly once the tournament ends, so arriving a day early gets you calmer camping spots and easier jeep bookings.
  • Price Fluctuations: Jeep hire and basic supplies in Chitral and Gilgit spike noticeably in the days around the festival due to limited transport supply, so book vehicles ahead rather than on arrival.
Pro tip: pack layers like you're doing two seasons in one day, because 20°C afternoon sun turns into a bitter, wind-whipped night within hours.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: not recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: not recommended for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling

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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

Most backpackers camp directly on or near the Shandur plateau itself during the festival days, since there's no real town infrastructure up there and temporary camps spring up specifically for the event. This is by far the most social option: you're pitching your tent alongside families, soldiers, and other travelers, sharing stoves and stories through the cold nights. It's safe in the sense that the entire area is under heavy official presence during the tournament, though nights get genuinely cold, so a decent sleeping bag matters more than location.

Outside festival days, Chitral town and … read more 👉
Most backpackers camp directly on or near the Shandur plateau itself during the festival days, since there's no real town infrastructure up there and temporary camps spring up specifically for the event. This is by far the most social option: you're pitching your tent alongside families, soldiers, and other travelers, sharing stoves and stories through the cold nights. It's safe in the sense that the entire area is under heavy official presence during the tournament, though nights get genuinely cold, so a decent sleeping bag matters more than location.

Outside festival days, Chitral town and Gilgit town serve as the two main gateway bases, each a long jeep ride from the plateau on opposite sides. Chitral has a more laid-back, small-town feel and puts you closer to the Kalash valleys if you're extending your trip. Gilgit is busier and better connected to the Karakoram Highway, making it the better base if you're continuing toward Hunza afterward. Both towns have areas popular with independent travelers where you can arrange jeep transport and find fellow backpackers heading the same direction, which matters here since shared transport cuts costs significantly on the rough roads leading up to Shandur.
Best hostels in Pakistan


Best quality hotels in Pakistan

👛 Costs (as of 15 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

Costs at Shandur Polo Festival stay low by international festival standards, mainly because there's no ticketing system, but budget carefully for transport since that's where money disappears fastest on rough mountain roads.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival TicketsFreeThere is no formal entry fee for spectators; the event is open access on the plateau.
AccommodationUSD 3 to 15 per nightCamping on the plateau is cheapest if you bring your own gear; guesthouses in Chitral or Gilgit before/after cost more.
Local TransportUSD 20 to 60 per personShared jeep hire from Chitral or Gilgit to Shandur is the main expense, prices spike during festival days due to demand.
Food & DrinksUSD 5 to 12 per dayBasic meals at camp stalls and tea stops are cheap, but selection is limited and cash-only.
MiscellaneousUSD
… read more 👉
Costs at Shandur Polo Festival stay low by international festival standards, mainly because there's no ticketing system, but budget carefully for transport since that's where money disappears fastest on rough mountain roads.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival TicketsFreeThere is no formal entry fee for spectators; the event is open access on the plateau.
AccommodationUSD 3 to 15 per nightCamping on the plateau is cheapest if you bring your own gear; guesthouses in Chitral or Gilgit before/after cost more.
Local TransportUSD 20 to 60 per personShared jeep hire from Chitral or Gilgit to Shandur is the main expense, prices spike during festival days due to demand.
Food & DrinksUSD 5 to 12 per dayBasic meals at camp stalls and tea stops are cheap, but selection is limited and cash-only.
MiscellaneousUSD 5 to 20Covers warm gear rental, extra fuel contributions for shared jeeps, and small camp supplies.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodLocal Flavors for Backpackers

Food at Shandur is basic, hearty, and tied directly to what can be transported up a rough mountain road, so don't expect variety. Local vendors and camp cooks serve Chitrali and Gilgiti staples like flatbread, dal, rice, and tea brewed strong and sweet, often cooked over open fires or portable stoves right beside the camps. Meat dishes appear too, usually simple grilled or stewed preparations, since refrigeration isn't really a thing at this altitude.

What's worth trying is the butter tea or salted tea common in the region, an acquired taste but a genuinely local one that locals drink constantly to cope with the cold. Thermoses of hot tea get passed around camps freely, and accepting one is often how conversations with local families start.

Expect cash only, since there's no card infrastructure … read more 👉
Food at Shandur is basic, hearty, and tied directly to what can be transported up a rough mountain road, so don't expect variety. Local vendors and camp cooks serve Chitrali and Gilgiti staples like flatbread, dal, rice, and tea brewed strong and sweet, often cooked over open fires or portable stoves right beside the camps. Meat dishes appear too, usually simple grilled or stewed preparations, since refrigeration isn't really a thing at this altitude.

What's worth trying is the butter tea or salted tea common in the region, an acquired taste but a genuinely local one that locals drink constantly to cope with the cold. Thermoses of hot tea get passed around camps freely, and accepting one is often how conversations with local families start.

Expect cash only, since there's no card infrastructure anywhere near the plateau, and bring more rupees than you think you'll need because Chitral and Gilgit are your last real chance to withdraw money. Portions tend to be generous but informal, sharing is normal and even expected if you're camped near a family group. Lines don't really exist in any organized sense, it's more a matter of patience and friendliness winning you a spot near the fire.

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Shandur Polo Festival takes place annually in early to mid July, timed to when the high-altitude Shandur Pass and its access roads are reliably passable. Exact dates shift slightly year to year based on weather and official scheduling, so confirm current dates with regional tourism offices a few months out.
There's no entry ticket cost, since the festival is free and open on the plateau, but total daily spending for backpackers typically runs USD 30 to 100 once transport, camping, and food are factored in. Jeep hire to and from Chitral or Gilgit is usually the biggest single expense.
No formal tickets exist since there's no gate or seating system, but you do need to arrange jeep transport and camping gear well in advance, as vehicles and supplies get scarce right before the festival dates.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways before you go

Shandur rewards you with a spectacle you genuinely can't see anywhere else, raw polo at brutal altitude, surrounded by strangers who become camp-mates fast. The drawback is real: the travel grind, cold nights, and total lack of comfort will wear on you if you're not prepared. Go anyway, just pack smart and don't expect anything polished.

✈️ When did I visit Pakistan?
Even though the media portrays Pakistan often as a dangerous country, it has its great spots, and for a mountain lover like me the mountain regions in the north are just heaven. Visited Pakistan in October 2022.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Pakistan, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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