Yes I certainly did all my homework, rather I had been planning this trip for the last couple of years. This idea came to me when I first visited Naran in 2008, then in 2010 I visited Gilgit, Skurdu and Phander to have an idea of the area, roads etc.
At Phander I had met a group who had travelled from Chitral to Phander in a car. I had asked about the road etc they said it is possible but with care.
In Gilgit a taxi driver told me that he had drove all the way to Naran in his Mehran car...well at that time I thought he was joking but now I believe him...(H)
Always had in my mind that I will travel all these areas in 4x4 but when I reached Chitral and travelled through rough roads of Garam Chashma and Kalash Valley my confidence built up and so went on to put my dream trip to reality...