AOA Members
By the Grace of Allah i have returned from my trip of Swat - thanks to all members who helped me to plan this tour.
Over all it was good but i missed some points on this tour. Kalam trip was just OK for me i did not enjoy a lot because of following points:
- Mahondand was blocked by Ushu Glacier
- Dhamaka Lake is no more
- Drivers were hesitating for Kharkhri Lake because of very bad road.
- Byon Village was not accessible
- Malam Jaba was closed due to some terrorist attack on Army jeep and there was curfew on 2nd May
- Temperature in morning was high till Bahrain or even till Kalam.
It was time for season opening, almost every place was empty, I used Cultus Petrol in whole trip just book one car from Kalam for Ushu Glacier & Utror Side.
Usage of Vehicle & Roads.
- Road till Bahrain is fine you can go on any vehicle.
- Bahrain - Kalam, Road is not up to mark a rough road with bad patches but more than 90% people where using their own cars so i took my Cultus till kalam just need to be more careful due to bad road - It took 4 hours for me from Bahrain - Kalam with a little stays in mid (3-3.5 hours on return)
- Kalam - Ushu Glacier - Although i did not take my cultus till galcier but i think if you can come till kalam then no problem to take your car till Glacier i saw 2 xli there.
- Kalam - Utror / Gabral - Not recommended for any car its a rough road with stones but if you have any SUV and want little adventure then no problem.
Journey was as follow:
Day ? 1 ? 30th April 2014 - (Night Stay in Bahrain - Swat Valley Hotel beside DimSim - It was good with river side balcony)
7am ? 9pm: Lahore - Wah Cantt ? Mardan ? Bahrain
Day ? 2 ? 1st May 2014 ? (Night stay in Kalam - Pameer Hotel very good i like its first floor corner room with big window)
8am ? 12pm: Bahrain ? Kalam ? Check-in (leave luggage & breakfast)
12pm ? 7pm: Kalam - Ushu Glacier ? Utror & Gabral Valley - Dhamaka Lake - Jangle Hill Top
Day ? 3 ? 2nd May 2014 ? (Night stay in White Palace - Very Nice)
8am ? 12pm: Kalam - Bahrain - Fatehpur - Miandam (Spent some time at PTDC - Worth to stay)
12pm - 7pm: Miandam - Malam Jaba (Army blocked the way) - Saidu Sharif - Marghazar
Day ? 4 ? 3rd May 2014 - (Home Sweet Home)
8am ? 10pm: Margazar ? Islamabad ? Lhr (Via Motorway)
Total distance traveled Lhr - Kalam - Lhr Aprox. 1400 Km (excluding Ushu & Utror distance)
Expense:
Petrol: 11500 (Almost 3.5 Tanks)
Night Stays: 5500 (1000 Bahrain + 1500 Kalam + 3000 Marghazar - All 3 Bed Room)
Food: 7000
Toll Plaza: 580 (i used Gt road for Lhr - Kalam (did not count just guessing for them) Used Motorway Rs. 290 for isl-lahore
Car Rental for Ushu & Utror: 3000
Total: 28000 Approx.
Pictorial Story
Shamoye by AQAS, on Flickr
Sunset by AQAS, on Flickr
Ushu Stream by AQAS, on Flickr
Covered Beauty by AQAS, on Flickr
Cloudy Evening by AQAS, on Flickr
Fresh Morning in White Palace by AQAS, on Flickr
Marghzar Road by AQAS, on Flickr