Voyager's Trip to Skardu-Trip Details & Pictures

[Voyager]

I arrived back safely from Skardu – Gilgit trip. I planned & tried for the last three years via PIA but the flights were canceled. This time the flight also got canceled and then I decided to go via road. I think nature wanted me to come via road and enjoy utmost beautify and versatility of the area.

Skardu is the capital town of Baltistan . It is 2438 meters above sea level in the backdrop of the great peaks of the Karakuram mountain range. Historically, Baltistan was know as little Tibet , Traditions, music and life style of people here still reflects past glories of the ' Land of Lamas'.

Baltistan is known from its high mountains, broad valleys and huge glaciers. Skardu is the launching pad of all treks and expeditions heading to K2 and route Shigar valley. it is the only place on the planet where 32 high peaks are located within a radius of 40 km .

Trip Details:

Day1:
Left Rwp/ISB via Kashmir Highway @ 2:30 P.M. destined for Battagram. Traveled initial journey on Motorway Peshawar section till Burhan and then joined KKH (KoraKoram High) @ Hasan Abddal.
Corrosed Hari Pur @ 40 P.M. Crossed Abbottabad @ 4:35 P.M.
Arrived Mansehra @ 5:10 P.M. Re-filled the fuel tank.
Left Mansehra for Batagram @5:25 P.M Arrived Batagram @ 7:35 P.M

Over night @ Thai Hotel Batagram, NO PTDC Motel there so have to stay there but a nice hotel with friendly staff. Some of UN International staff also staying there, working for re-habilitation projects.

Day 2:
Left Batagram for Besham @ 60 A.M. Crossed Besham @ 7:30 A.M.
Left Besham for Pattan @ 7:35 A.M. Crossed Pattan @8:40 A.M
Crossed Dasu @ 9:45 A.M Arrived Chilas @ 12:45 P.M.
Left Chilas for Jaglot @ 2:15 P.M. Arrived Jaglot @ 3:45 P.M
Left Jaglot for Skardu @ 40 P.M Arrived Skardu @ 86 P.M

Rooms were booked @ Shangrila Resort so straight went there and the lovely thing @ that time was it was a BBQ night, had a great dinner out around bonfire plus perfectly done Trout fish.

Day3:
Early Morning walk around Lower Kachora lake and pix session. Then went for trakking around Sharngrila viewpoint and later Skardu City Tour.

Day4:
Spent most of the day at Saptpara Lake and later afternoon visited upper Kachora Lake.

Day5:
Early morning Left for Gilgit @ 70 A.M Arrived Gilgit @ 11:30 A.M
Spent some time in Gilgit City Tour & had nice lunch.
Left Gilgit @ 2:30 P.M destined for Dasu. Crossed Jaglot @ 2:58 P.M.
Crossed Chilas @ 60 P.M Arrived Barseen @ 7:45 P.M

I proffered staying at PDTC Motel @ Barseen instead heading towards Dasu. As with family I avoid mostly traveling @ lat nights.

Day6:
Early Morning left Barseen for Dasu @ 5:45 A.M.. Had breakfast on a roadside hotel. Arrived Dasu @ 70 A.M Left Dasu & arrived Pattan @ 8:10 P.M
Left Pattan for Besham @ 8:15 A.M Arrived Besham @ 9:25 A.M
Left Besham @ 9:30 P.M for Batagram Arrived @ 110 A.M
Had Tea in Batagram & left Batagram for Mansehra @ 11:15 A.M
Arrived Mansehra @ 1:30 P.M. Left Mansehra for Abbottabad @ 1:30 P.M.
Arrived Abbottabad @ 20 P.M.

Had Luch @ Usmania and left Abbottabad for Islamabad @ 2:30 P.M.
And arrived Islamabad/RWP 4:15 P.M


City Distance Board:

ISB-Hari Pur 70 KM
Hari Pur-Abbottabad 49 KM
Abbottabad – Mansehra 25 KM
Masehra-Batagram 96 KM
Batagram-Besham 80 KM
Besham-Pattan 39 KM
Pattan to Dasu 36km
Dasu to Chilas 126km
Chilas to Jaglot 60km
Jaglot to Gilgit 45km
Jaglot to Skardu 180km

Total Distance Covered during the trip=1675 KM
Disele Consumed=210 Ltrs
Average 7.98 KM per Ltr

[shant]

@Yoyager
Truely amazing trip with sanp shots.
Do u mind passing me ur number, would love to meet you in person once I am arrived in Pak (Probab next month) so can get more info to plan my trip the same way.
Thanks

[AbuJamal]

Mountains are calling, gents!

[GT500]

hmmm..i can hear the valley of hunza singing..." tum chaley aaaaao paharon ki qasam..."

[buksh]

The place to go.

[GT500]

these pics are BEAUTIFUL! and so is OUR PAKISTAN , I was 9 years old when i wnt to skardu, Inshallah I will go back soon.

[razor_salman1]

i m so excited bcoz im leaving for skardu on sunday night..

[salman_m5]

i plan to visit around 14th august.....just made plans after viewin ur pics

[spectra]

I had a trip from July 10 to 15th. Amazing place but you depend a lot on PIA and other locals for your stay and travel. Best way is the way Javed bhai did this trip, your own capable vehicle.

[spectra]

Also, Javed bhai

You went to Deosai or not?

[aghashehraz]

Voyager bhai...very nice pics yar..... i think u r experience cameramen as u ve captured the pics very nicely.....good

[Shahzad727]

nice and excellent pics and trip.

as u told that ur surf is 1997 model and u purchased it of Rs.1,690,000/

pls tell that its milage when u purchased it??

tthnks

[Shahzad727]

lagta hay ap pehlay b kai bar us side per ja chukay ho as u said u have used margalla,civic etc.

ab ap ka yeh konsa No tha wahan janay ka means how many times u have gone there?

and what is the date of ur this trip?

[RX115]

@voyager nice trip dear, n nice photography,
but i am sure u have missed a wonderfull place, which was 1 n half hour drive from satpara lake.
that is DEOSAI PLAINS.which r the most highest n beautiful plains in the world.u shuld had to go for DEOSAI

[gulouna]

Asalamolikom ..


I would like to ask for informtion about the location where this last pic has been taken in which ur vehicle is standing . I have a similar pic and my travelling time to it from abbotabad was 7 hours apprx..

[Shaboo1]

very nice trip mate...............!!!

[zahid135]

Originally Posted by Voyager

@Frooque Q: Can on also drive a normal diesel car (not a 4x4) to these areas, or is there any patch along the way which requires an offroad-vehicle, i.e. taking into account the present road conditions! A: Yes cars can easily travel on these roads. Any reasonable car can go Skardu/Gilgit. 4x4 in not requirement for these road side travel but any excursion off-road or very remote area will require 4x4. But main route along KKH is accessible via any car. Q: Please also write about how your vehicle performed, and how much diesel it consumed, both on the way to Skardu and also on the way back. A) I M Loving it more & more, my Surf performed exceptionally well and didn�t give me a single bit of trouble. My whole family enjoyed the ride. B) I traveled 1675 KM and Disele consumed was 210 Ltrs (It also includes Ac on all the times and stops with engine on. Q: Did you need to use your jerry-can or were there enough pumps on the way and... The thing is when I travel especially with family, I take every possible travel caution. Jerry Can idea was in case if no Diesel available in remote location or stuck somewhere and have to run the engine for AC or lights. BUT Diesel is easily available along KKH and all major destinations in Northern Areas. I have lots of Travel accessories, which I normally carry on my trips. Will upload details soon.

DIESEL IS AVAILABLE AT KKH BUT PETROL IS NOT AVAILABLE ON ALL PLACES, BE CAREFULL IN THIS CASE.

Q: Is diesel more expensive high up there in the mountainous regions? It�s the normal price, as U get anywhere in Pakistan depending on different area rates which is not much different to rates in ISB/RWP.