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Shandur Polo Festival Guide (2026)

Q: When is the Shandur Polo Festival?

It's held annually in **early July** (usually around 7–9 July) on the **Shandur Pass**. Dates shift slightly each year, so confirm before you plan — on our trips we track the official dates and build the itinerary around them.

Q: Where is Shandur Pass?

**Shandur Pass** sits at about **3,700 m** between **Chitral and Gilgit**, in northern Pakistan. Its flat top holds the **highest polo ground in the world**, which comes alive for the festival each summer.

Q: How do you get to the Shandur Polo Festival?

You approach either from the **Chitral** side or the **Gilgit** side, both on long mountain jeep roads. It's remote — most visitors travel as part of an organised trip with camping on or near the pass, since accommodation is tents only.

Q: What should I expect at Shandur?

**Free-style highland polo** between Chitral and Gilgit teams, folk music and dancing, and big crowds — all at altitude. Expect **camping, basic facilities, cold nights and strong sun**. Bring warm gear, sun protection and cash.

Weekend VikingsJuly 2, 20262 min read

In short

The Shandur Polo Festival is held each July on the Shandur Pass (~3,700 m) — the highest polo ground in the world — between the Chitral and Gilgit teams. It's a free-style polo tournament with camping, music and huge crowds. Get there via Chitral or Gilgit, acclimatise, and come prepared for cold nights and basic facilities.

Once a year, the roof of the world turns into a stadium. The Shandur Polo Festival brings the Chitral and Gilgit teams to the highest polo ground on earth for a few days of ferocious free-style polo, music and camping under the peaks. Here's how to experience it.

What is the Shandur Polo Festival?

Every July, the flat top of the Shandur Pass (~3,700 m) hosts a legendary free-style polo tournament between the traditional rivals of Chitral and Gilgit. Highland polo has no umpires and few rules — it's fast, raw and thrilling — and the festival adds folk music, dancing and thousands of spectators camped across the pass.

Where is Shandur?

Shandur Pass lies between Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan, connecting the two regions over a high, open plateau. Its position — remote, wild and above 3,700 m — is a big part of the appeal.

When is it held?

The festival runs in early July each year (often around 7–9 July), though exact dates shift annually and are set by the authorities. Because everything — transport, camping, permits — needs to line up with those dates, it's worth planning ahead.

How to get there

There are two approaches, both long and rough:

From Chitral (west), via the Chitral valley and jeep roads.
From Gilgit (east), via Phander and Ghizer.

Either way, the final stretch is a jeep track, and there are no hotels at the pass — visitors camp on or near Shandur. This is why most people join an organised trip.

What to expect

The polo: intense, high-speed matches between Chitral and Gilgit.
The atmosphere: music, dancing, food stalls and a huge tented crowd.
The conditions: altitude (~3,700 m), cold nights, strong daytime sun and basic facilities.

What to bring

Warm layers and a good sleeping bag — nights are cold even in July
Strong sun protection, a hat and sunglasses (high-altitude glare)
Cash — there are no card facilities
A power bank and headtorch (limited electricity)
Patience for crowds and rough roads

Experience it with us

Shandur is a bucket-list festival, but the logistics — timing it to the fixtures, the jeep approach, camping and permits — are best left to people who run it every year. Our Shandur Polo Festival expedition covers the journey, camping and guiding around the official dates. Get in touch early, as this trip books out well ahead of July.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Shandur Polo Festival?

It's held annually in early July (usually around 7–9 July) on the Shandur Pass. Dates shift slightly each year, so confirm before you plan — on our trips we track the official dates and build the itinerary around them.

Where is Shandur Pass?

Shandur Pass sits at about 3,700 m between Chitral and Gilgit, in northern Pakistan. Its flat top holds the highest polo ground in the world, which comes alive for the festival each summer.

How do you get to the Shandur Polo Festival?

You approach either from the Chitral side or the Gilgit side, both on long mountain jeep roads. It's remote — most visitors travel as part of an organised trip with camping on or near the pass, since accommodation is tents only.

What should I expect at Shandur?

Free-style highland polo between Chitral and Gilgit teams, folk music and dancing, and big crowds — all at altitude. Expect camping, basic facilities, cold nights and strong sun. Bring warm gear, sun protection and cash.