Dear Mr. Azeem,
I am happy that you have planned a motorbike tour with your family which is a very brave decision. And I wish you all the best in advance. I am writing down my suggestions according to my experience so you could have some help from it.
You mentioned your babies are with you, this tour seems hectic for them. There is a lot of travelling and deosai off road is tough. As you have plan to camp a night at Deosai and I strictly recommend you not to take your 1 year old baby there because oxygen level drops there. Even adult person can’t take breath easily. Night stay at Deosai with a 1 year old baby is like putting his life on risk. Please don’t think I am discouraging you. Deosai night is so cold and if there is rain then you are in a survival situation. In case of any emergency with kids, you can’t find any help miles away.
Below is my feedback according to your route plan:
Day 1 Isb to Balakot via Mansehra
Achievable distance. Go via Ayubia. Its more attractive route than Mansehra.
Day 2 Balakot to Chilas via Naran
Achievable distance but pack your kids with warm cloths after Naran onward because as you get height towards Babusar pass, temperature starts dropping.
(On the way you will see Lulusar Lake and Babusar Pass. You can visit Saif-ul-Malook lake but then you won’t be able to reach Chillas)
Day 3 Chilas to Deosai via Astor Night stay in camping
Possible to achieve this distance if you start your travelling early in the morning from Chillas. By doing this, you can have more time for short stays. Also from KKH to Deosai, the road is not good. You can ride at max 40 to 50 speed.
(If you have time then you can visit Rama Lake.)
Day 4 Deosai to skardu
Distance is short but route till Sadpara Lake is very tough.
(On the way to Skardu you will see Sadpara Lake. In Skardu, you required one full day to visit two places. Skardu Desert & Shangrila Resort. If you want to visit Khaplu and Manthokha water fall, then you will require another full day.)
Day 5 Skardu to Gilgit
Achievable distance. Skardu to KKH, the road is narrow and not very good but one can ride at 60 to 70kmph. It’s a long barren road.
Day 6 Gilgit to Sust
Since Ataabad lake road is open now so from Gilgit to Sust can be achieve easily. Road is good, environment, weather is good.
(On the way to Sust, you will see Rakaposhi Mountain, Sacred rocks, Hunza Vally, Attabad lake & Passu cones. If you want to explore Hunza, you need time. Naltar Lake is a good place to visit but It’s a full day activity.)
Day 7 Sust to Khunjrab and back to Sust
Good distance for one day. It also a cold winds area so pack yourself before travelling ahead.
Day 8 Sust to chilas
It’s a bit long distance but because road is good. It is achievable distance.
Day 9 Chilas to Muzafarabad
From Chillas till Muzzafarabad can be tough because Gari Habib Ullah road is not very good. And I think it will be dark before you reach Muzzafarabad.
Day 10 Muzafarabad to Islamabad
Achievable distance.
I hope it helps.
