Shandur Pass Tour
The Roof of the World's polo ground — a 3,700 m plateau between Ghizer and Chitral.
Shandur Pass, the 'Roof of the World', is a vast 3,700 m grassy plateau between Ghizer and Chitral, famous for hosting the world's highest polo ground and the legendary Shandur Polo Festival each July. Ringed by peaks, dotted with lakes and open meadows, it is one of Pakistan's great high-country crossings and a bucket-list route for adventurers. Our tours handle the long, remote drive, camping or stays and festival logistics.
About Shandur Pass
At around 3,700 m, Shandur is a wide, flat alpine plateau rather than a sharp pass — grassland, small lakes and grazing horses beneath big skies. Its centrepiece is the historic polo ground, the highest in the world, where teams from Gilgit and Chitral meet in the famous July festival, one of the most colourful events in the region.
The Shandur Polo Festival
Held each July, the Shandur Polo Festival brings free-style mountain polo, music, folk dancing and a huge tented camp to the plateau. It is a spectacular, atmospheric event — and busy, so we book transport and camping well in advance for anyone wanting to attend.
How to get there
Shandur is reached from either side — from Gilgit via the Ghizer valley and Phander, or from Chitral via Mastuj. Both are long, remote drives on rough roads, best done over several days with an experienced 4x4 driver. Our tours plan the route, pace and overnight stops.
Best time to visit
Summer is the only practical season — roughly late June to September, when the plateau is green and the pass is clear of snow. The festival is in July. Outside summer, snow closes the crossing. We run Shandur trips in the warm months only.
What's included
- Private transport with a trained mountain driver (Coaster/van for larger groups)
- Handpicked hotels — Standard, Executive, Luxury or Premium on request
- Daily breakfast
- Fuel, toll taxes & driver allowance
- Expert local guide & 24/7 on-trip support
Not included
- Lunch & dinner
- Personal expenses (shopping, tips, etc.)
- Extra activities (boating, jet ski, chairlifts)
- Travel insurance & air tickets (unless a by-air package)
Most Shandur Pass trips are fully customised
We rarely sell a fixed, off-the-shelf tour. Instead we build each itinerary around your dates, group size, pace and budget — and confirm hotels based on live availability for your travel window. Your total package cost comes down to just two choices:
A private 4×4 with a trained mountain driver, sized to your group. For a smooth, comfortable mountain journey we usually recommend the Toyota Prado TZ, though the full range — from sedans to Land Cruisers, Grand Cabins and Coasters — is available depending on your group size.
Choose from four tiers — Standard, Executive, Luxury and Premium. Same route, elevated comfort at each step. Premium and 5★ stays such as Shangrila, Broqand other resorts deliver the best locations and views; these raise the total but are worth it for a special trip.
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Pakistan's Most Trusted Mountain Tour Operator
From your first WhatsApp message to final drop-off, we handle every detail so you can focus on the experience of a lifetime.
Operating Northern Pakistan tours since 2013. One of the most experienced GB operators.
Families, couples and corporate groups guided across the Karakoram since 2013.
A registered business invoicing under a company account. Travel insurance is not included — every package lists it under exclusions, and we recommend you arrange your own.
Resident teams in Hunza and Skardu give you real-time road updates and same-day pivots.
While you are travelling, the WhatsApp line is answered around the clock — usually inside five minutes.
Gilgit-Baltistan locals who run the Karakoram Highway, the Deosai crossing and the Raikot jeep track year-round.
Every trip is private — your own vehicle and driver, never a shared coach. Child-friendly hotels, and the pace is planned around the youngest and oldest in the group.
Book online and receive your confirmed itinerary on WhatsApp within 30 minutes.