What's on in Gilgit, Pakistan through the year

Quiet — school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Winter shutdown (1 Dec – 28 Feb)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Winter shutdown (1 Dec – 28 Feb)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Festival

  Navroz

  21–22 MarNational holiday

  The spring new year carries weight here in a way it does not further south: the Ismaili communities of Gilgit and the valleys above treat it as the start of the year and of the farming, and the jamatkhanas fill for it. Source ↗

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Karakoram Highway season

  1 Apr – 30 Nov · usuallyTrail season

  The highway runs all year to Sost, but the border at Khunjerab is kept for the warm half: heavy traffic stops around the end of November and the pass is generally shut to everything by the turn of the year. Clearing after a dump takes days. Source ↗

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Karakoram Highway season (1 Apr – 30 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Karakoram Highway season (1 Apr – 30 Nov (usually))

Busy — Shandur Polo Festival, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Babusar Pass window

  1 Jul – 5 Oct · usuallyTrail season

  The short cut over from Naran only exists for a few months and shuts with the first serious snow. When it is closed, everything from Islamabad goes the long way round on the Karakoram Highway. Source ↗

• Festival

  Shandur Polo Festival

  7–9 JulMajor festivalCrowded

  Gilgit and Chitral play free-style polo on the highest ground in the world for three days, no rules to speak of and no facilities either. Getting up there is a long day on a rough road and everyone camps. Source ↗

Still on: Karakoram Highway season (1 Apr – 30 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Karakoram Highway season (1 Apr – 30 Nov (usually)), Babusar Pass window (1 Jul – 5 Oct (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Karakoram Highway season (1 Apr – 30 Nov (usually)), Babusar Pass window (1 Jul – 5 Oct (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Karakoram Highway season (1 Apr – 30 Nov (usually)), Babusar Pass window (1 Jul – 5 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Karakoram Highway season (1 Apr – 30 Nov (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  Winter shutdown

  1 Dec – 28 FebOff-season shutdownClosures

  The valleys go quiet: guesthouses close, the road north of Sost is shut and the flights from Islamabad are cancelled for days at a stretch when the cloud sits in the gorge. The bazaar keeps working; almost nothing for a visitor does. Source ↗