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)

Busy — Eid al-Fitr, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Eid al-Fitr

  25 Feb – 25 Mar · usuallyRamadan & EidClosuresCrowdedBook early

  Eid al-Fitr ends Ramadan with three or more days of public holiday. Markets are packed with shoppers in the nights before, offices and most shops close for the first days, and intercity buses, trains and flights sell out as families travel home. Source ↗

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

Busy — Eid al-Fitr, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• 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 ↗

Still on: Eid al-Fitr (25 Feb – 25 Mar (usually))

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 — Eid al-Adha, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Eid al-Adha

  1 May – 5 Jun · usuallyRamadan & EidClosuresCrowdedBook early

  Eid al-Adha brings three or more days of public holiday. Livestock markets spring up in the weeks before, many businesses close for the first days, and roads, buses and flights are packed as families travel home or take trips to the hills. Source ↗

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

Busy — Eid al-Adha, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Karakoram Highway season (1 Apr – 30 Nov (usually)), Eid al-Adha (1 May – 5 Jun (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 JulSporting eventCrowded

  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 ↗