Hi Guys,
As our club "FRONTIER OFF-ROADERS" is new in Pshawar and we havn't gathered yet, so i planned a 4x4 trip with my cousins to Swat. We left Peshawar on Friday 13 May 2011 at 1.30 pm. We were 9 persons and vehicle used was Prado 1996, TX Ltd, 1 kz engine, 3000 Diesel. 4 persons in 2nd roow and 3 in 3rd row + driver and passanger. So we nine were easily seated. Our first stop was Madyan, reached there at 6.30 pm and camped. Road was very good till Fatehpur ( 1 hr from Maingora), but afer that a 2 km patch is very tough and we climbed on 4x4. Lots of cars had difficult time there. Next morning we all got up at 4 am. After selfmade b/fast and packing tents and other stuff we proceeded to Bahrain at 7 am. Road constructed by army 2 years back was washed away by last year floods and we followed a rough track, used 4x4 gear several times but other vehicles on way were mostly japanese 98 corolla, station wagon driven by locals, so they can manage but i cant even think to bring my local Corolla or civic there.Although Bahrain is just 7 km from Madyan but we reached there in 45-50 mins. Spent some thime there , then went to Malamjabba, did some hard-core off-roading ( but honestly not really hard core ), camped there and spent night. Returned back on Sunday. On the way back we also visited Buddhist Archeological site at Takhtbhai (which is a must see) and had the famous chappal Kabab there. Reached back home safely at 6 pm.
Pictures r also in this sequence.
Guys i request everyone to visit swat this summer. We were the only tourist in whole swat valley that weekend and hospitable people of Swat r looking forward to visitors to run their kitchen. Its is very very very safe, as army and police has full control. The roads that were destroyed r being recontructed. But everyone can go till Maingora in thier own car, park it there and hire a local car, which can even go till Kalaam and Ushu. And those who have any kind of 4x4 have no problem in any corner of Swat valley. Have a safe trip.
EARLY MORNING IN MADYAN, SWAT