# Shandur Pass, Gilgit-Baltistan

> Shandur Pass, at about 3,700 metres, lies on the boundary between Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and hosts the Shandur Polo Festival each summer on a ground often called the highest in the world.

- **Page:** https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/gilgit-baltistan/shandur-pass
- **Type:** Pass
- **Province or region:** Gilgit-Baltistan
- **Best season:** July
- **Altitude:** 3,700 m

The pass is on the boundary of two provinces. The plateau and the polo ground lie mostly on the Gilgit-Baltistan side, in the district of Ghizer, and the road on the other side drops into Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We list it under both for that reason, and travellers arrive from either direction: from Phander and Gilgit on one side, or from Mastuj and Chitral on the other.

## The festival

The polo match, held in early July, pits the Chitral team against the Gilgit team. It is played by local rules, with few restrictions and a great deal of noise. Spectators arrive from both directions and the plain fills quickly. If you want to attend, plan months ahead, and prepare for cold nights even in July.

## Highlights

- The polo match between the Chitral and Gilgit teams
- Shandur Lake beside the polo ground
- The high road between Phander and Chitral

## Tours to Shandur Pass

- [Shandur Polo Festival Tour](https://hunzaexplorer.com/tour/shandur-polo-festival-tour.md): 13 days, Festival Tours

## Seasons in Gilgit-Baltistan

- **Spring (March to April):** Apricot and cherry blossom in the lower valleys, mostly in April. The higher villages are still cold and the high passes are closed.
- **Summer (May to September):** The main season. Every valley is open, and this is the time for trekking, Deosai, the Khunjerab Pass and the K2 approach.
- **Autumn (October to November):** Golden leaves in the orchards and the clearest light of the year. Nights are cold and the first snow reaches the high valleys in November.
- **Winter (December to February):** Cold and quiet. Hunza and Gilgit stay reachable by road, but the high valleys and passes are closed.