Day 1. Naran
We will leave ISB around 10am, is it possible to go Saif ul Muluk and come back and stay a night in Burawai or Batakundi before sunset?
Any family hotels there?
I guess departure will be between 10-11 if the flight arrives on time. It will be day time on KKH till Mansehra so there will be lots of traffic. I guess you will reach Naran earliest by 5-6 p.m. There might not be enough time to visit Saif-ul-Muluk.
If its Ramazan then definitely stay in Naran. Otherwise the view and location of some basic hotels are nice in Battakundi after crossing the bridge and getting on the final road stretch above the u-turns.
The board says Shan Guest House and Restaurant :)
Day 2. Gilgit
Will leave Burawai or Batakundi around 8am and stay a night in Gilgit.
Can be done by evening no issues.
Day 3. Karimabad
Night stay.
Day 4. Sost
Leave Karimabad around 7am, visit border and stay in Sost. (or any other better option? )
( I will be staying in Karimabad, my kids will rent-a-jeep and visit the border)
PTDC is there and needs advance booking.
Day 5. Karimabad
Leave Sost around 7am and night stay in Karimabad
Day 6. Chilas
Leave Karimabad around 7am, is it possible to reach Naran or we stay in Chilas?
It will be roughly 11-12 hours journey so if you can cross Jalkhad by 7 p.m. then should not be an issue. Reaching Babusar well before sunset is must otherwise checkpost guys create trouble in crossing the pass. Besal has become a small town now so after Lulusar Lake it is mostly populated.
Day 7. Naran / Shogran
What will the traffic condition be on the 3rd or 4th day of Eid going towards Islamabad?
This will be nightmare if started from Naran after 8 a.m. Start at Fajr and by the time traffic will build up you will be already ahead of Balakot.
Day 8. Islamabad
Do we need to book hotels in advance?
Get the booking in Hunza and Sost and also return booking of Naran / Battakundi.