WA !!!
Here are the answers to your questions
- What would be the weather and what to pack?
Days would be normal and nights may get colder.
- I am not taking my own transport as I am the only driver experienced to drive in such areas so do not want to ruin the trip by driving all by myself. we will be reaching islamabad/pindi first. How should I proceed further? What should be the next destination?
- Have a few references for car service till gilgit, any suggestion about that? Should I proceed to gilgit straight from isb/pindi
Better to use private cars with family as they are fast and comfortable as compared to NATCO or other bus services. The route is long so u can agree with the car drivers for stay somewhere.
- Places to stay? at gilgit and hunza?
Gilgit is not an attraction to stay specially unless u want to break journey as normally it is hot but now weather may have got a bit better.
Yes, if u want to visit Naltar Valley and lakes then it is good idea to stay at Gilgit and then move onwards to Naltar next day.
I loved my stay at Duikar in Eagle's Nest Hotel and highly recommended for family.
- Places to visit? Along the way to gilgit and hunza. And also in gilgit and hunza? What about astore? fairy meadow? Can I add Riat and darla bala?
Day 1: Use night service for pindi journey and arrange for cars in advance to pick you from bus stand. Then move onwards till Besham. There is PTDC there and few hotels in bazar.
Day 2: Reach Gilgit
Day 3: Visit Naltar Valley and lakes and reach Karimabad in Hunza Valley by evening. There is a huge lake towards left of main lakes and it can be a family trek for the whole group. It is 1 km away from main 4 lakes and is climb of around 1200 ft. I haven't seen anyone going there so explore it and share with us
Here is a map. People normally go to main 4 lakes in red circle.
Day 4: Visit attractions of Hunza like both forts, villages, sunset and sunrise at Duikar, Atabad Lake and back to Hunza.
Now u have 2 options:
Day 5 and 6 can be used to visit Khunjrab Pass or spend them in Astore Valley on your way back.
Option 1
Day 5,6 to Khunjrab: In this case avoid Atabad Lake on previous day and visit Hopar village and glacier instead. Next day start for Khunjrab and stay at Sost or Pasu on return. Come back to Gilgit on 6th day.
Option 2
Day 5: Reach Astore and visit Rama Lake and meadows. Lovely stay option of PTDC Rama for families.
Day 6: A full day drive uptill Kala Pani from Astore and then back to Astore. You can reach Kala Pani in 4-5 hours. This is the same route we did this year like Astore - Rattu - Darla Bala village and lake - Chechri - Gishat - Riat Village - Muhammad Das in Kala Pani which is last jeepable point. You cannot go to Riat Lake as it needs minimum full day 12 hours trekking with last climb being very tough. Moreover there is no place for ladies to stay in Riat.
Day 7: This is your return journey to some mid point like Besham.
Day 8: Back to Lahore