Ghizer Valley
Ghizer & Shandur Adventure
Blue lakes, trout streams and the world's highest polo ground
from $880 / person
- Duration
- 6 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Season
- May – October (Shandur Polo Festival departure in July)
- Group size
- 2-10 guests
West of Gilgit the mountains relax, the river slows, and tourism all but disappears. This 6-day tour follows the Gilgit–Chitral road into Ghizer — the gentlest, least-visited of Gilgit-Baltistan's great valleys — to Phander Lake, a sheet of impossible blue that locals call 'Little Kashmir', and on up to the 3,700-metre Shandur Pass, home of the highest polo ground in the world.
The pace is pastoral by design: mornings casting for trout on the Ghizer River and Khalti Lake (gear and local fishing permits arranged), afternoons walking between willow-lined villages, evenings around the fire at simple riverside guesthouses. A side trip into Yasin Valley adds old forts and a corridor of Hindu Kush peaks that few foreign travelers have ever photographed.
Each July, one special departure times the Shandur day for the Shandur Polo Festival, when Gilgit and Chitral teams clash at full gallop on the pass and a tent city blooms on the plateau — book months ahead for that one. The Moderate grade reflects rough road sections and basic accommodation rather than any demanding walking.
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1
Fly Islamabad → Gilgit, drive to Khalti Lake
Take the mountain flight to Gilgit and turn west along the Ghizer River, through Gupis to Khalti Lake — a trout-rich widening of the river that freezes solid in winter. Evening walk along the lakeshore villages.
- 2
Khalti fishing morning, on to Phander
Cast a line for Khalti's famous trout after breakfast (instruction and gear provided), then continue up-valley through poplar-lined hamlets to Phander, arriving in time for late light over the lake's deep blue water.
- 3
Phander Lake & valley day
A full day in 'Little Kashmir': walk the plateau rim above the lake, fly fish the slow bends of the Ghizer River, picnic on the grass and meet the families whose meadows surround the water. Sunset photography from the famous viewpoint above the lake.
- 4
Shandur Pass excursion — the world's highest polo ground
Drive up to the wide grasslands of the Shandur Pass at about 3,700 m, where a lake-dotted plateau holds the world's highest polo ground. On the July festival departure this is match day — polo at full tilt, mountain music and a tent city; on other dates the pass is gloriously empty. Return to Phander.
- 5
Yasin Valley & return to Gilgit
Head back down the valley with a detour into Yasin, a quiet corridor of orchards and old watchtower forts beneath Hindu Kush snowlines. Continue through Gupis to Gilgit for a farewell dinner.
- 6
Fly Gilgit → Islamabad
Morning flight to Islamabad, with the standard overland contingency plan if weather closes the airfield.
What’s included
- Islamabad–Gilgit return domestic flights (with road contingency plan)
- 5 nights in guesthouses and lakeside huts with breakfast
- Private 4x4 transport for the full Ghizer and Shandur route
- English-speaking local guide throughout
- Fly-fishing gear hire and local fishing permits
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Shandur Pass access and, on July departures, festival camping arrangements
Not included
- International flights and Pakistan visa fees
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Lunches, drinks and snacks
- Tips for guide, driver and guesthouse staff
- Shandur Polo Festival ticket premiums on the July departure
Ghizer & Shandur Adventure — frequently asked questions
Do I need fishing experience to enjoy this tour?
None at all. Your guide teaches basic fly casting on day two, the gear and permits are included, and Khalti and the Ghizer River are forgiving waters for beginners. Seasoned anglers can request extra fishing time — the itinerary flexes easily.
When is the Shandur Polo Festival and can foreigners attend?
The festival is usually held in early July and is fully open to foreign visitors, who camp in the tent village on the pass. It's hugely popular, so our July festival departure must be booked months in advance to secure camping and transport.
What is accommodation like in Ghizer Valley?
Simple, clean and warmly run: family guesthouses and lakeside huts with proper beds and home-cooked food, rather than hotels. Electricity and hot water can be intermittent. It's a fair trade for having Phander Lake virtually to yourself.
How does Ghizer compare to Hunza — should I do both?
Hunza is vertical, famous and well developed; Ghizer is horizontal, pastoral and almost untouristed. If you have 10–12 days, combining this tour with our Hunza Explorer gives you the Karakoram's drama and the Hindu Kush's calm in one trip.
