Salam to all all Pakwheelers,
I have been following pakwheels for quite a long time now, and its a great website where tons of help is available freely.
I need to plan my trip to the northern areas in September 1st week and for that I need experts' valuable suggestions.
My tentative plan is as follows (subject to the availability of leaves and weather permitting of course):
Day 1: Karachi to Islamabad via Daewoo
Day 2: Islamabad to Kutton-night stay
Day 3: Kutton to Sharda-explore around-stay overnight
Day 4: Sharda to Kel-visit Arang Kel as well if time available-stay at Kel
Day 5: Start trek for Chitta Katha Lake-camp enroute
Day 6: Make a beeline for the lake early in the morning and after visiting, come back all the way to Kel
Day 7: Kel to Taobatt-explore around-night camp
Day 8: Taobutt to Jalkhad via Noori Top
Day 9: Jalkhad to Besal to Dudipatsar Lake, camp at Mulla ki Basti..or perhaps at the lake ?
Day 10: Trek back to Besal, hire a jeep and go to Chilas via Babusar-night at Chilas
Day 11: Chilas to Astore to Rama Lake- night camp at lake
Day 12: Rama to Deosai..after visiting Sheosar and Bara Pani, come back to Astore for night stay
Day 13: Astore to Tarshing-night stay
Day 14: Tarshing to Karimabad, Hunza via KKH-night stay
Day 15: Hunza to Attabad Lake, if possible visit Khunjerab and stay at Sost.
Day 16: Come back all the way to Islamabad
Day 17: Islamabad to Karachi
Please advise whether the above plan is suitable or not with regards to time available, and whether any changes can be made to make the duration shorter..but incorporating all the places I mentioned.
Please advise me whether to stay at hotels in Sharda, Kel, Chilas, Astore and Hunza, or just camp everywhere..because camping everywhere won't be easy.
Please suggest alternative options or routes to the places I mentioned. I'm particularly concerned about the road conditions from Sharda to Jalkhad, will the road be easily accessible in September ?
How much time it would take to get from one destination to another, especially from Sharda to Jalkhad and from Dudipatsar lake all the way to Chilas ?
Is public transport easily available in these areas, and where is hiring a jeep a must ? Please advise about the fares too.
Is the time allocated to each place enough or will I need to pend more time ?
Can I incorporate Ratti Gali and Saral Lake in the plan as well ?..advice is required about the extra time it would take and how much more days would I need to spare?
I have discussed my tentative plan, please suggest alternative routes/plan so that all the places are covered, but in a shorter amount of time.
Finally, what about the security conditions in these areas..maybe I would be alone in the second leg of my trip..to Dudipatsar Lake, Astore and Hunza..is travelling alone safe or not, keeping in mind the recent spate of killings and violence in Kohistan, Chilas and Babusar recently ?
Thanks in advance.
Taha