I visited Hunza, Nagar and Ghizar from April 4 to April 8 with my family. In fact it was a spring blossom tour.
I left Skardu in my Suzuki Alto at 8: 00 am and reached Karimabad (Hunza) at around 5:30 pm. I rented a spacious room with two master beds and free extra mattress in Hunza View Hotel for Rs 1,500 (They have electricity generator and hot water facility).
Hunza was in full bloom.
Next morning, I visited Baltit Fort and around 11: 00 am I left Karimabad for Hoper village (Nagar). The road was mettled but not in a very good condition. Last 4-km portion of the road was not mettled. Reached Hoper village after 1-hour drive. There are two hotels at the end of the village and the road too. Visited Hoper Glacier. I met a man with a gun on way to the Glacier. He was returning to village after hunting a duck. After lunch (full chicken karahi with chappatis Rs 1200, boiled rice one dish Rs 400 and a cup of tea Rs 30. simple but tasty), I left Hoper at 4:15 pm and reached Hunza within 40 minutes. Then I drove to Attabad lake. Stayed there for 15 to 20 minutes, took some photographs and watched loading and unloading of boats. Then back to hotel in Hunza.
Next morning, left Hunza at 9: 00 am and drove to Gopis (Ghizar). Reached Gopis at around 4:30 pm. Visited Khalti Lake and then rented a room with two beds and two free extra mattresses in PTDC motel (Rs 3,000 per night, the motel opens on April 01 every year after winter ). On way to Khalti lake from Gupis (8-km) there was a cheap a hotel. The rooms were just okay and rent was Rs 600 for a room with three beds and free extra mattress. Gupis was also in full bloom.
I had dinner at PTDC motel (half chicken karahi Rs 600, two plates boiled rice Rs 400, chapati Rs 30 and a cup of tea Rs 45). I discussed with the motel incharge about visiting Phandar Valley and Yasin Valley and he advised me to leave early in the morning.
Next morning, I woke up at 4:30 am and it was raining. I had to wait until it stopped raining at 8: 00 am. I decided to go to Yasin Valley first. First two or three villages were in bloom. I drove slowly and reached Hundor village (38-km) at 10:30 am. The road was mettled. I visited the tomb of Lalak Jan Shaheed in Hundor village.
Left for Gupis at 11: 00 am. In Gupis, I filled the petrol tank of my car and at 12:30 pm I left for Phandar Valley. The road was mettled and I reached Phandar Valley at 2:15 pm. The valley is around 10,000 feet high from sea level. It was cold there and the Phandar Lake was frozen. There is a PTDC motel in Phandar and it opens from May 01 after winter. I took some photographs of the lake and the Phanda Valley from the helipad of the government rest house. The view from the rest house was spectacular.
I saw boys were fishing in the river. I decided to go down and visit the valley. I crossed the hanging bridge and found a narrow dirt road. After around 150 meters it was a little muddy and slippery. I decided to go back but the road was narrow and it was not possible to take a turn. I tried to reverse but it was slippery. Left with no option, I entered in the field and took a turn but got stuck my car in the mud. The villagers came to my rescue and brought a rope. They pushed and pulled my car out of the mud. I thanked them but my car's wind screen was covered with mud. I stopped at a nearby house and asked an old woman sitting outside the house for water. She went inside and sent a young boy with a bucket and a glass. The boy fetched water from the river and I washed my car.
At 4: 00 pm, I left Phandar Valley and went back to Gahkuch (Ghizar's district headquarters). Reached there at 6:45 pm. I rented a room with 3 beds in Karim Guest house (Rs 2200 room rent and Rs 200 for extra mattress). I had dinner there (Half chicken karahi Rs 600, Dal mash Rs 130 per plate, chapati Rs 20, a cup of tea Rs 40). The food was good and delicious. The service was also good.
In morning, I left at 8: 00 am and reached Gilgit at around 9:30 am. Went straight to a service station and got my car washed. Then went to NLI market, did some shopping and left for Skardu.