I recently came back from a memorable road-trip to Skardu with my family and enjoyed a lot. I had benefited a lot from earlier threads on PW prior to heading out on my adventure, so I thought I should also put in my share to the pool of knowledge that is so helpful for all the members. Following is the schedule of my trip followed by some useful info. Stand-by for pics
Day 1
Left I<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com</st1:place><st1:City w:st="on">slamabad</st1:City> @ 0730 hrs
Reached Hasanabdal @ 0800 hrs
Waited for my friend and his family to join and left Hasanabdal @ 0845 hrs
Reached Abbottabad @ 1030 hrs
Left Abbottabad after a brief stop @ 1100 hrs
Drove past Mansehra @ 1200 hrs because of traffic jams caused by work on the road
Drove past Shinkiari @ 1235 hrs
Drove past Battal @ 1300 hrs
Drove past Batagram @ 1335 hrs
Reached Besham @ 1435 hrs
Left Besham after lunch @ 1545 hrs
Reached Dubair @ 1615 hrs and had tea at Forest Rest House there
Left Dubair @ 1705 hrs
Reached Pattan @ 1740 hrs
Stayed overnight @ the FWO Mess in Pattan with a cousin who serving in FWO and posted there
Day 2
Left Pattan @ 0805 hrs
Drove past Dassu @ 0945 hrs
Drove past Barseen @ 1015 hrs
Drove past Lotar @ 1055 hrs
Reached Samar Nullah @ 1125 hrs and had tea there
Left <st1:place w:st="on">Samar</st1:place> Nullah @ 1145 hrs
Drove past Sazeen @ 1155 hrs
Drove past Shatyal @ 1215 hrs
Drove past Harban @ 1240 hrs
Reached Chilas @ 1340 hrs and had lunch there
Left Chilas @ 1530 hrs
Drove past Thatta Pani @ 1635 hrs
Drove past Raikot Bridge @ 1650 hrs
Drove past Jaglot @ 1745 hrs
Reached Gilgit @ 1945 hrs
Stayed overnight in Gilgit at FWO Guest House
Day 3
Left Gilgit @ 0720 hrs
Missed the turning to Skardu and reached Jaglot @ 0850 hrs
Turned back from Jaglot and drove past Farhad <st1:place w:st="on">Bridge</st1:place> @ 0915 hrs
Drove past Ansar Camp @ 0935 hrs
Drove past Hanuchal @ 0945 hrs
Drove past Sassi @ 0955 hrs
Drove past Shatoot @ 1000 hrs
Drove past Shangus @ 1100 hrs
Reached Asthak @ 1150 hrs and stopped at PTDC Asthak for tea
Left Asthak @ 1235 hrs
Drove past Dambudas @ 1320 hrs
Drove past Chhari @ 1420 hrs
Reached Kachura @ 1515 hrs and ate lunch at the FWO Hut by the <st1:place w:st="on">Lower Kachura Lake</st1:place>
Visited <st1:place w:st="on">Upper Kachura Lake</st1:place> and left for Skardu @ 1750 hrs
Reached Skardu @ 1830 hrs
Stayed overnight at the Concordia Hotel in Skardu
Day 4
Left Skardu for Khaplu @ 0910 hrs
Drove past Ghowari @ 1040 hrs
Drove past Yugu @ 1110 hrs
Drove past Barah @ 1135 hrs
Arrived at Khaplu @ 1145 hrs and had tea at the PTDC Khaplu
Left Khaplu @ 1310 hrs
Drove past Barah @ 1325 hrs
Drove past Yugu @ 1350 hrs
Drove past Ghowari @ 1405 hrs
Arrived at Shigar Fort @ 1600 hrs and ate late lunch there
Left Shigar Fort @ 1725 hrs
Arrived at Skardu @ 1815 hrs and had overnight stay at Concordia Hotel
Day 5
Left Skardu @ 0615 hrs
Drove past Kachura @ 0640 hrs
Drove past Baghicha @ 0745 hrs
Drove past Dambudas @ 0800 hrs
Reached Asthak @ 0835 hrs and made a brief stop there
Left Asthak @ 0845 hrs
Drove past Shangus @ 0950 hrs
Drove past Shatoot @ 1035 hrs
Drove past Sassi @ 1040 hrs
Drove past Hanuchal @ 1050 hrs
Reached Ansar Camp @ 1100 hrs and made a brief stop there
Left Ansar Camp @ 1115 hrs
Drove past <st1:place w:st="on">Farhad Bridge</st1:place> @ 1140 hrs
Drove past Jaglot @ 1200 hrs
Drove past Raikot @ 1315 hrs
Drove past Thatta Pani @ 1320 hrs
Drove past Gonar Farm @ 1355 hrs
Reached Chilas @ 1435 hrs and stopped there for a quick lunch
Left Chilas @ 1500 hrs
Drove past Harban @ 1605 hrs
Drove past Shatyal @ 1635 hrs
Drove past Sazin @ 1655 hrs
Drove past <st1:place w:st="on">Samar</st1:place> Nullah @ 1705 hrs
Drove past Lotar @ 1735 hrs
Drove past Dassu @ 1840 hrs
Reached Pattan @ 1955 hrs
Had overnight stay at Pattan with my cousin
Day 6
Left Pattan @ 0915 hrs
Drove past Dubair @ 1000 hrs
Drove past Besham @ 1045 hrs
Drove past Thakot @ 1135 hrs
Drove past Battagram @ 1210 hrs
Drove past Chhattar Plain 1240 hrs
Drove past Battal @ 1245 hrs
Drove past Shinkiari @ 1320 hrs
Drove past Mansehra @ 1350 hrs
Reached Abbottabad @ 1430 hrs
Had overnight stay in Abbottabad
Day 7
Came back to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Islamabad</st1:place></st1:City>
Useful Info
About the Road
The road from Mansehra to Thakot is in excellent condition. It has recently been replenished by FWO. Driving on that road is a pleasure.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com</st1:place>Farhad Bridge (the KKH turning) and Skardu. It is a very good place to make a stop on the way to Skardu (especially if you are with family).
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I didn’t see any good family hotels on the KKH. I was fortunate to have my cousin living in Pattan who hosted us both on the way up and back for overnights. I saw a PTDC motel at Barseen named Khyber Lodge. I didn’t go inside it to check, but I think it is ideally placed halfway between <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Islamabad</st1:place></st1:City> and Gilgit and can be a good place to make an overnight stay. If somebody else has been to Khyber Lodge please share the info for the knowledge of everyone.
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Please take along a good sun-block because the sunlight is very strong in those areas and causes sun-burns if exposed for longer durations.
All the adult passengers should keep their ID cards with them. There are quite a few check-posts on the road and the guys might well ask for ID cards.