Hindu-Kush Horse Safari
Shandur Polo Tournament 2003
 Shandur Polo Tournament |
Departure: 30 June 2003 from Gilgit. Shandur Polo Tournament is held on the second week of July.
Climate: 10c to 30c, Shandur can be windy and cold at night.
Riding: 7 days to Shandur Pass.
Season: May to September.
Altitude: 1500m Gilgit, 3750m Shandur Pass.
NOTE: We organise Horse Safaris between April and October in Gilgit, Naltar, Hunza, Mishgar, Chipursan and Deosai Plateau. Please enquiry for more programs.
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An adventurous ride in the heart of the Hindukush, following ancient routes of famous invaders and explorers. The horseback ride to the Shandur Pass starts in Gilgit, headquarters of the Northern Areas. Highlight of the Northern Areas calendar, the Shandur Polo Tournament is played by the best teams of Chitral and Gilgit valleys. The game hasn't changed much in the last 300 year; the local people proudly call it "free-style polo", being boundless from any regulation beside gallantry. Every year thousands of people from the surrounding regions come here to watch their favorite game. Throughout the festival, where one would usually find lonely shepherds with their herds, there is an authentic Asian bazaar, with folk music and dance every night, giving you the chance to meet people from most of the ethnic groups of north Pakistan. You will ride strong, beautiful and agile stallions, perfect for
the rough mountain terrain you will encounter along the journey; riding along the rough waters of the Gilgit River; crossing large tributaries like Ishkoman and Yasin, and move on along the clear blue Ghizar River and the high plateaus of Barsat and Shandur; passing through fairytale-like villages, filled with life and coloured fruit orchards. Along the way there will be plenty of opportunities for exploring, trout fishing or just enjoy the surroundings. You will spend the nights in camps pre-arranged by our staff. It will take approximately 7 days to reach Shandur Pass, riding 4 to 6 hours a day, walking and trotting with a canter thrown in when ever terrain allows. At times the road is barely a scratch in the landscape, between slopes, narrow gorges and glacier-fed torrents. We offer the trip
to novice and experienced riders, for we firmly believe that riding skills
are not as important as attitude is.
We will fit the horse to the rider's ability and introduce you to when, where and how you ride.
Shandur top is a wide-open green plateau (20km long) filled with lakes and
streams originated from nearby glaciers. Here you will have the best opportunity to ride freely amongst yaks and goatherds surrounded by snow capped peaks. Here, our camp will be set up by one of the lakes that surrounds the polo ground, and at night you will be able to admire the most incredible star-studded night sky you have ever seen. Polo matches are held in the morning and the afternoon can be dedicated to explore the enchanting surroundings of Shandur Pass, trout fishing or visit the tent bazaar. This is a unique journey back in time, through a world that has remained unchanged for centuries, unspoiled by modern development and away from mass tourism.
