Concierge for the Conscious Traveller
Shandur Polo Festival (7th - 9th July)
Day to Day Itinerary
DAY-1: ISLAMABAD
Arrival at the Islamabad International Airport, transfer to hotel. City tour of Islamabad.
KEY ATTRACTIONS
- Shah Faisal Mosque - the largest mosque in Pakistan
- Lok Virsa (Folk Heritage) Museum
- Pakistan National Monument
- Daman-e-Koh (Islamabad View Point)
- External view of Parliament House, President House, Prime Minister House & Supreme Court of Pakistan
DAY-2: ISLAMABAD – GILGIT – KARIMABAD
Islamabad-Gilgit: 1 hour’ flight
Gilgit – Karimabad Hunza: 104 kms/2-hour drive
A morning flight to Gilgit. Upon arrival, drive to Karimabad Hunza. After lunch, half-day sightseeing.
KEY ATTRACTIONS
- Rakaposhi Viewpoint Ghulmet
- Baltit Fort
- Karimabad Bazaar
- Walk Along Barbar Water Channel
DAY-3: CENTRAL HUNZA & NAGAR
A full day is dedicated to discovering the rich cultural tapestry of Central Hunza and Nagar. Drive to Gilgit in the late afternoon.
KEY ATTRACTIONS
- Hoper Nagar Valley
- Stop at Ultar & Lady Finger Viewpoint
- Optional Walk to Barpu Glacier
- Altit Fort
- Altit Cluster/Altit Village
- Sunset from the Eagle’s Nest Viewpoint in Duiker
DAY-4: KARIMABAD-GILGIT-GUPIS
Karimabad - Gilgit-Phandar: 210 kms/8 hours’ drive
Drive from Karimabad Hunza to Gupis, visiting Kargah Buddha on the way.
KEY ATTRACTIONS
- Kargah Buddha
- Drive along the Ghizer River
- Beautiful villages along the road
DAY-5: GUPIS-SHANDUR PASS
Gupis – Shandur Pass: 105 kms/6 hours’ drive
Drive to Shandur Pass via Phander. Overnight in camps
KEY ATTRACTIONS
- Phander Lake
- Shandur Pass- the highest polo ground in the world
DAY-6/7: SHANDUR POLO FESTIVAL
Experience Shandur Polo Festival at Shandur “The roof of the world”.
KEY ATTRACTIONS
- Polo tournament
- Music & folk dancing
- Short hikes around
DAY-8: SHANDUR PASS – CHITRAL
Shandur- Chitral: 150 kms/8 hours’ drive
Drive to Chitral via Mastuj.
KEY ATTRACTIONS
- Chitral Fort
- Shahi Masjid (Royal Mosque)
DAY-9: CHITRAL-KAILASH
Chitral – Bumburet Kailash: 22 kms/1 hour’s drive
In the morning visit Chitral Gol National Park. After lunch drive to Bumburet via Rambur.
KEY ATTRACTIONS
- Kailash Museum
- Traditional House to explore their way of life
- Visit of their sacred places
DAY-10: KAILASH –ISLAMABAD
Bumburet Kailash – Islamabad: 425 kms/10 hours’ drive
Drive from Bumburet Kailash to Islamabad.
KEY ATTRACTIONS
- Swat Museum-showcasing collections of Gandhara Art
DAY-11: DEPARTURE FROM ISLAMABAD
Transfer to the Islamabad International Airport for the home-bound flight.
This tour can also be done as a 13 day itinerary, which includes overnight at Gilgit and in Swat.
Additional information
We provide you with the following services;
- Hotel accommodations incl. breakfast,
- English Speaking Guide
- Private air conditioned transportation throughout the trip
- Entrance fees to all archaeological sites & museums
- Porterage at the airport
- Can arrange full board if you wish
- 24/7 access via WhatsApp throughout the trip duration in Pakistan
- Letter of invitation needed for the Visa
Important
Please note that 3 nights in this tour entail camping when attending the Shandur Polo Festival as there are no hotels or guest houses in this area.
Recommended Dress Attire
- Light summer clothes (Cotton / Linen)
- Light cardigan for evenings
- Comfortable Shoes
- A couple of nice outfits if you wish
- For ladies please avoid clothing above your knees, sleeveless tops, clothing with low necklines.
- Headscarf is only needed when visiting places of worship.
If this trip is of interest to you & you would like to do as a private tour, please complete the contact us form below & we can provide you with a quote.
Prices vary based on how many people there are, what standard of hotel you'd like to stay in and what time of year you visit.
All of our tours are versatile so we can adapt this itinerary based on your requirements.
A donation is made to local community projects which include helping the payment of fees for individual students.
This tour fulfils the SDG values;
- 5 'Gender Equality',
- 8 'Decent work & Economic Growth' &
- 17 'Partnerships for the Goals'
which we are committed to fulfilling. We work with local guides & local artisans to ensure they benefit from the tourism we bring in.
Reserve a Place
Shandur polo festival - 11 days
£194.00
If you would like to reserve a spot on one of the group tour dates, we just require a minimum of 10% deposit to help gauge numbers.
Should we not get these numbers the deposit will be fully refundable or offered as a private tour with an adjusted price based on the number of people we do have.
We are Socially Responsible
We are committed to give back & have been recognised for it
Socially responsible Luxury Retail
Sikhana means to educate, the lifestyle collection aims to open peoples minds about topics misrepresented through creative products with stories & give back to the local community with every sale made.
We believe in doing business with a social purpose.