12 Days Trip to Naran , Gilgit, Hunza, Sost, Khunjerab Pass, Skardu & Chilas

[zorro]

Assalam O Alaikum everyone,

I am planning a short trip with a family of 6 adults & 4 kids to the northern areas starting and ending in Islamabad.

Requesting Pak Wheels Travel Gurus to have a look at the itinerary and recommend changes (if any) and if possible kindly suggest "must visit" places at destinations and recommended lodging & restaurants.

Transport: Hiace Van
Total Pax: 10

Start Date: 23 July 2016

[TABLE]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]Trip Days[/TD]
[TD]Activity / Program[/TD]
[TD]Preferred Lodging / Hotel[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 1
Islamabad to Naran
Distance: 257 KMS
Driving Time: 05 hours 14 minutes
[/TD]
[TD]09:00 ? Arrival at Islamabad Airport
11:00 ? Depart for Naran
14:00 ? Lunch
16:00 ? Arrive at Naran
20:00 ? Dinner
Night Stay in Naran[/TD]
[TD]NARAN[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 2
Naran
Distance : 0 KMS
Driving Time : 00 hours 00 minutes[/TD]
[TD]08:00 ? Breakfast
10:00 ? Kunhar River Rafting
13:00 ? Jeep Safari to Saif Ul Malook
14:00 ? Lunch
16:00 ? Return to Naran
20:00 ? Dinner
Night Stay in Naran[/TD]
[TD]NARAN[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 3
Naran to Gilgit
Distance: 233 KMS
Driving Time: 04 hours 22 minutes[/TD]
[TD]08:00 ? Departure for Gilgit
Break at Naga Parbat View Point
Break at 3M - Meeting Point of 3 Highest Mountain Ranges in JAGLOT
(Himalaya, Hindu kush and Karakorum)
13:00 ? Lunch
Visiting NLI Market, Tea at waterfall & Rakaposhi View point in Nagar valley
20:00 ? Dinner
Night Stay in Gilgit[/TD]
[TD]GILGIT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 4
Gilgit to Hunza
Distance: 100 KMS
Driving Time: 01 hour 50 minutes
[/TD]
[TD]07:00 ? Breakfast
08:00 ? Depart for Hunza
10:00 ? Arrive at Hunza
10:00 ? Visit BALTIT FORT
11:00 ? Visit ALTIT FORT
13:00 ? Lunch
14:00 ? Visit Eagle Rock Stone - Duiker
20:00 ? Dinner
Night Stay in Hunza (Karimabad)[/TD]
[TD]HUNZA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 5
Hunza to Sost
Distance: 100 KMS
Driving Time: 01 hour 50 minutes[/TD]
[TD]05:00 ? Watch Sun Rise on Peaks Golden Peak, Ultar Peak , Rakaposhi
08:00 ? Breakfast
09:00 ? Depart for Attabad Lake
10:00 ? Boat Cruise from lake to Sost
12:00 ? Arrival at Sost
13:00 ? Lunch
14:00 ? Depart for Khunjerab (Border) ? 2 hours drive (100 KMS)
20:00 ? Dinner
Night stay in Sost[/TD]
[TD]SOST[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 6
Sost to Gilgit
Distance: 182 KMS
Driving Time: 3 hours 50 minutes[/TD]
[TD]07:00 ? Breakfast
08:00 ? Depart for Gilgit
10:00 ? Arrive at Gilgit
Night Stay in Gilgit
[/TD]
[TD]GILGIT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 7
Karimabad to Skardu
Distance: 208 KMS
Driving Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
[/TD]
[TD]07:00 ? Breakfast
08:00 ? Leave for Skardu
13:30 ? Arrive at Skardu

Night Stay at Skardu[/TD]
[TD]SKARDU[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 8
Skardu
Distance :
Driving Time :[/TD]
[TD]08:00 ? Breakfast
09:00 ? Jeep Safari to Sadpara Lake & Deosai Plane
Drive back to Skardu
Overnight stay at PTDC Motel Skardu
[/TD]
[TD]SKARDU[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 9
Skardu
Distance :
Driving Time :[/TD]
[TD]08:00 ? Breakfast
09:00 ? Visit Kachura Lake - Shangrila Resort
- Visit Shigar Valley
- Visit Khaplu
Night Stay in Skardu[/TD]
[TD]SKARDU[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 10
Skardu to Chilas
Distance : 264 KMS
Driving Time : 5 hours 20 minutes[/TD]
[TD]08:00 ? Breakfast
09:00 ? Drive to Chilas
Night Stay in Chilas[/TD]
[TD]CHILAS[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 11
Chilasa to Islamabad
Distance:
Driving Time:[/TD]
[TD]After breakfast, Drive back to Islamabad
Night stay in Islamabad[/TD]
[TD]ISLAMABAD[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 12 [/TD]
[TD]Flight back to Karachi[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

[mohsin.tariq555]

Too much traveling in a single trip.

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[sbaluch]

Firstly, owing to rush and road conditions, driving time from Isb to Naran is approx 8 hrs.
Likewise, owing to terrain and road conditions, driving time to Gilgit is also not less than 8 hrs, if not more

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[sbaluch]

There is nothing at 3M. It's just a roadside billboard with some description on it about 3M. You can get down to stretch your legs or have pics taken but besides that, nothing.

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[sbaluch]

Owing to super highway maintained by Chinese from Raikot onwards, distance time b/w gilgit and Hunza is correctly mentioned. Baltit fort is worth a guided tour @ 200 per person. Altit is just a short version of baltit. If you visit baltit, you have visited all.

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[sbaluch]

Don't stay at Chilas on way back. It's hot and unpleasant. You will find that out on your way to gilgit from naran. If you can travel from naran to gilgit in 1 day then you can also travel from skardu to naran in 1 day. Therefore spend last night at naran instead of Chilas

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[sbaluch]

I tend to agree with mohsin. Be mentally prepared for lot of traveling. Usually families, especially children, are not used to it. Btw, when are you planning to make this tour? If in peak season, i.e 1 Jun - 31 Aug, then be ready to pay 3x prices for lodging and food.

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[aasifjaved]

Assalam O Alaikum everyone,

I am planning a short trip with a family of 6 adults & 4 kids to the northern areas starting and ending in Islamabad.

Requesting Pak Wheels Travel Gurus to have a look at the itinerary and recommend changes (if any) and if possible kindly suggest "must visit" places at destinations and recommended lodging & restaurants.

Transport: Hiace Van
Total Pax: 10

Start Date: 23 July 2016

[TABLE]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]Trip Days[/TD]
[TD]Activity / Program[/TD]
[TD]Preferred Lodging / Hotel[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 1
Islamabad to Naran
Distance: 257 KMS
Driving Time: 05 hours 14 minutes
[/TD]
[TD]09:00 ? Arrival at Islamabad Airport
11:00 ? Depart for Naran
14:00 ? Lunch
16:00 ? Arrive at Naran
20:00 ? Dinner
Night Stay in Naran[/TD]
[TD]NARAN[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 2
Naran
Distance : 0 KMS
Driving Time : 00 hours 00 minutes[/TD]
[TD]08:00 ? Breakfast
10:00 ? Kunhar River Rafting
13:00 ? Jeep Safari to Saif Ul Malook
14:00 ? Lunch
16:00 ? Return to Naran
20:00 ? Dinner
Night Stay in Naran[/TD]
[TD]NARAN[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 3
Naran to Gilgit
Distance: 233 KMS
Driving Time: 04 hours 22 minutes[/TD]
[TD]08:00 ? Departure for Gilgit
Break at Naga Parbat View Point
Break at 3M - Meeting Point of 3 Highest Mountain Ranges in JAGLOT
(Himalaya, Hindu kush and Karakorum)
13:00 ? Lunch
Visiting NLI Market, Tea at waterfall & Rakaposhi View point in Nagar valley
20:00 ? Dinner
Night Stay in Gilgit[/TD]
[TD]GILGIT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 4
Gilgit to Hunza
Distance: 100 KMS
Driving Time: 01 hour 50 minutes
[/TD]
[TD]07:00 ? Breakfast
08:00 ? Depart for Hunza
10:00 ? Arrive at Hunza
10:00 ? Visit BALTIT FORT
11:00 ? Visit ALTIT FORT
13:00 ? Lunch
14:00 ? Visit Eagle Rock Stone - Duiker
20:00 ? Dinner
Night Stay in Hunza (Karimabad)[/TD]
[TD]HUNZA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 5
Hunza to Sost
Distance: 100 KMS
Driving Time: 01 hour 50 minutes[/TD]
[TD]05:00 ? Watch Sun Rise on Peaks Golden Peak, Ultar Peak , Rakaposhi
08:00 ? Breakfast
09:00 ? Depart for Attabad Lake
10:00 ? Boat Cruise from lake to Sost
12:00 ? Arrival at Sost
13:00 ? Lunch
14:00 ? Depart for Khunjerab (Border) ? 2 hours drive (100 KMS)
20:00 ? Dinner
Night stay in Sost[/TD]
[TD]SOST[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 6
Sost to Gilgit
Distance: 182 KMS
Driving Time: 3 hours 50 minutes[/TD]
[TD]07:00 ? Breakfast
08:00 ? Depart for Gilgit
10:00 ? Arrive at Gilgit
Night Stay in Gilgit
[/TD]
[TD]GILGIT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 7
Karimabad to Skardu
Distance: 208 KMS
Driving Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
[/TD]
[TD]07:00 ? Breakfast
08:00 ? Leave for Skardu
13:30 ? Arrive at Skardu

Night Stay at Skardu[/TD]
[TD]SKARDU[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 8
Skardu
Distance :
Driving Time :[/TD]
[TD]08:00 ? Breakfast
09:00 ? Jeep Safari to Sadpara Lake & Deosai Plane
Drive back to Skardu
Overnight stay at PTDC Motel Skardu
[/TD]
[TD]SKARDU[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 9
Skardu
Distance :
Driving Time :[/TD]
[TD]08:00 ? Breakfast
09:00 ? Visit Kachura Lake - Shangrila Resort
- Visit Shigar Valley
- Visit Khaplu
Night Stay in Skardu[/TD]
[TD]SKARDU[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 10
Skardu to Chilas
Distance : 264 KMS
Driving Time : 5 hours 20 minutes[/TD]
[TD]08:00 ? Breakfast
09:00 ? Drive to Chilas
Night Stay in Chilas[/TD]
[TD]CHILAS[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 11
Chilasa to Islamabad
Distance:
Driving Time:[/TD]
[TD]After breakfast, Drive back to Islamabad
Night stay in Islamabad[/TD]
[TD]ISLAMABAD[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Day ? 12 [/TD]
[TD]Flight back to Karachi[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

I did not seen any thing abnormal in this plan.
Some people always worried about long distances but some like them a lot.
Start and enjoy.

[zorro]

Too much traveling in a single trip.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using PW Forums mobile app

Yes i do understand that travelling wise it may be a little demanding but with kids you cannot even stay longer at one particular place specially if you do not have kids activities around....

[zorro]

Firstly, owing to rush and road conditions, driving time from Isb to Naran is approx 8 hrs.
Likewise, owing to terrain and road conditions, driving time to Gilgit is also not less than 8 hrs, if not more

Sent from my iPhone using PW Forums

Noted with thanks brother. I will make this correction in my plan.

[zorro]

There is nothing at 3M. It's just a roadside billboard with some description on it about 3M. You can get down to stretch your legs or have pics taken but besides that, nothing.

Sent from my iPhone using PW Forums

Thanks for the input.

Would it be possible to provide GPS Coordinates for places where we should stop/visit i.e. Nanga Parbat Viewpoint, Rakaposhi Viewpoint, a waterfall which you can visit (if any)

[zorro]

Owing to super highway maintained by Chinese from Raikot onwards, distance time b/w gilgit and Hunza is correctly mentioned. Baltit fort is worth a guided tour @ 200 per person. Altit is just a short version of baltit. If you visit baltit, you have visited all.

Sent from my iPhone using PW Forums

Thanks...Altit Fort visit is out from the itinerary

[zorro]

Don't stay at Chilas on way back. It's hot and unpleasant. You will find that out on your way to gilgit from naran. If you can travel from naran to gilgit in 1 day then you can also travel from skardu to naran in 1 day. Therefore spend last night at naran instead of Chilas

Sent from my iPhone using PW Forums

Noted brother. Have made this change in our itinerary. Truely appreciate your help.

[zorro]

I tend to agree with mohsin. Be mentally prepared for lot of traveling. Usually families, especially children, are not used to it. Btw, when are you planning to make this tour? If in peak season, i.e 1 Jun - 31 Aug, then be ready to pay 3x prices for lodging and food.

Sent from my iPhone using PW Forums

We plan to start our trip on 23rd July so i guess we will have to bear the brunt of heavy pricing everywhere....

Any recommendation for a decent accommodation (with reasonable prices) by the riverside in Naran other than PTDC ?

[zorro]

I did not seen any thing abnormal in this plan.
Some people always worried about long distances but some like them a lot.
Start and enjoy.

Thank you sir. My only worry is the travelling from Hunza to Sost and onward to Khunjerab Pass. I hope i have that part planned comfortable....

[aasifjaved]

Thank you sir. My only worry is the travelling from Hunza to Sost and onward to Khunjerab Pass. I hope i have that part planned comfortable....

No worries,you will found this part is best part of whole tour.
Newly constructed tunnels,newly constructed road like silk you feel proud to be there.
Hint.
If you leave 7am hunza then you can easy return back to hunza till 7pm.

[zorro]

No worries,you will found this part is best part of whole tour.
Newly constructed tunnels,newly constructed road like silk you feel proud to be there.
Hint.
If you leave 7am hunza then you can easy return back to hunza till 7pm.

Great. Can't wait to start our tour.

Are you suggesting that we do not take a stop in Sost ?

[zorro]

If possible, can anyone provide contact of a good driver experienced in travelling to northern areas and has a clean reliable hiace van for 12 days hire from Islamabad.

[mehran]

@zorro
STC hotel (Sarhad Tourism Corporation) at Naran is a very good alternate to PTDC Naran. The room rates will be comparable but it is quite neat and clean, inside Naran city, free WiFi etc. You may try it.

[sbaluch]

For a family of 12 Trout Lodges naran is also a good option. You can book their full floor consisting of 2 bedrooms lounge and kitchen and adjust in there. Contact no is on Facebook

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