Pakistan

The Sacred Trails of Chitral & Shandur

8 Days 7 Nights

Tour Details

There's a version of Chitral most travelers never see, the one that only opens up on horseback. This eight-day ride starts and ends in Islamabad, but everything in between belongs to the horses: the 3,700-meter Shandur plateau, the turquoise stretch of Khukush Lake, wild river trout for dinner in Langar valley.

You'll ride with the same polo players who play the old, rule-free version of the game up here, men who've spent their lives in this terrain, and who bring their own horses and travel with you the entire time, not just for the photo stops. Some stretches you ride. A couple you hike, because the trail to Khukush is too steep to risk the animals on. Either way, you're moving through valleys that don't show up on the standard northern Pakistan circuit.

Expect long days in the saddle, cold clear nights under canvas, and one of the more physically real ways to see this part of the country.

Trip Route

Itinerary

Expand All

Introduction
Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
Region: Chitral and Ghizer (Upper Chitral, Shandur Pass, Langar valley, Khukush Lake, Barsat, Laspur)
Style: Horseback riding, camping, short hiking sections
Riding days: 5 (Harchin–Shandur, Shandur–Langar, Langar–Khukush, Khukush–Barsat, Barsat–Laspur)
Highest point: Shandur Pass, 3,700m, the "Roof of the World" and home of the Shandur Polo Festival, held here since 1936
Riders & guides: Professional polo players and lifelong horsemen accompany the group for the full trip; horses are well-conditioned mountain horses used to this terrain
Fitness level: Moderate. You don't need to be an expert rider, but you should be comfortable in the saddle for 4–6 hours a day and okay with basic camping at altitude. On the Khukush Lake section, the group hikes instead of rides if the trail is too steep, no shortcuts taken with the horses' safety.

Day 1 Islamabad to Chitral

Long drive through the Lowari Tunnel, the main gateway into what was once the princely state of Chitral. Driving: 10–11 hours
Day 2 Chitral to Harchin (Upper Chitral)

Morning visit to the 19th-century Chitral Fort and the Shahi Mosque, site of the 1895 British siege. Drive on to Harchin to meet the horses and your polo-player guides for the week. Driving: 4–5 hours
Day 3 Harchin to Shandur Pass

Ride up onto the Shandur Plateau, 3,700m, the "Roof of the World" and home of the polo festival held here since 1936. Camp overnight on the plateau. Riding: 24km, 5–6 hours with short breaks
Day 4 Shandur to Langar (Ghizer)

A morning of galloping across the high plains, with time for filming and drone photography. Ride down into the lush Langar valley for the evening — dinner is fresh wild river trout. Riding & filming: 4–5 hours
Day 5 Langar to Khukush Lake

Head for a hidden turquoise lake in the mountains. Where the trail is rideable, you ride; where it's too steep, you hike — the horses don't take that risk. Camp at the lake. Riding/hiking: 4–5 hours
Day 6 Khukush Lake to Barsat

Hike down from the lake, get back on the horses, and ride through the valley to Barsat village for dinner and camping. Hiking & riding: 5–6 hours
Day 7 Ride to Laspur, drive to Upper Chitral

Final ride out through the historic Laspur Valley. Say goodbye to the horses and their owners, then drive to Upper Chitral for a proper night in a guesthouse. Riding: 4 hours (to Laspur) · Driving: 2–2.5 hours (to Booni)
Day 8 Chitral to Islamabad

Early departure for the long drive back to the capital, closing out the trip. Driving: 11–12 hours

What's Included

Expand All

Duration

8 Days 7 Nights
Language

ENGLISH
Includes
Horses, saddlery, and riding equipment for all riding days
Professional guides and polo-player horsemen, present with the group throughout
Camping equipment for Shandur, Khukush Lake, and Barsat
One night's guesthouse stay in Upper Chitral (Day 7)
All meals from Day 2 dinner through Day 8 breakfast, including the trout dinner in Langar
Ground transport: Islamabad–Chitral–Islamabad and all transfers between riding points, including the Lowari Tunnel crossing
Entry to Chitral Fort and Shahi Mosque
Not Included
Flights or transport to/from Islamabad before Day 1 and after Day 8
Hotel stay in Islamabad pre- or post-trip
Travel and medical insurance
Tips for guides and horse handlers
Alcoholic beverages and personal expenses
Drone or camera equipment (bring your own for the Day 4 filming session, unless you're supplying rental gear separately)