Dear Friends
In June 2011, we 7 friends went on a 7 day trip to Northern Pakistan. Although it is tooooooooooo late but still i want to share our experiences and photos as this might be helpful to those who r planning it this summer.
Before finalizing the trip, i checked pw forums, discussed here with many travellers esp IJC, and found everyone really very helpful. So i will be pleased if i couldnt be helpful to someone else. Pl pm me or write in this forum if u need any info regarding this or any other area in North.
Route:
Peshawar-Mardan-Malakand-Dir-Lawari Pass-Darosh-Ayun-Bamboret(Kalash)-Chitral-Mastuj-Laspur-Shandur-Langar-Phander-Gopis-Gakuch-Gilgit-Hunza-Chilas-Babusar-Lulusar Lake-Basel-Jalkhad-Naran-Balakot-Mansehra-Abbotabad-Peshawar
Vehicle:
1996 Toyota Prado (1kz 3000 cc Diesel Turbo)
Dates:
15 June 2011 - 21 June 2011
Brief Description:
We left Peshawar early in the morning around 5.30 am. The journey was smooth except for the last hour drive till Bamboret Valley of Kalash. We had our lunch at a road side restaurant in Lawari pass. Reached Kalash around 7 pm. Camped in the lawns of a hotel. Cooked our own food. Next morning we got up early. Spent whole day roaming in Bamboret. Visited Museum, a mosque, a local school, 3-4 houses of locals, traditional graveyard etc and did some handicrafts shopping, cooked our own bar b q dinner. At night local boys told us about traditions , customs and religion of Kalash.
Next morning we left for Shandur. The valleys and scenries were mesmerising. Due to poor road conditions, our calculation found wrong and we had camp at an unknown place a few km before Laspur. We got up early in the morning and headed towards Shandur, reached there in around 3-4 hrs. Stayed there for a few hrs, had lunch at a local resturant. There were no tourists except us. It was very cold in daytime so we decided to move forward. Passed the most beautiful landscapes i had ever seen, especially the Langar area. Stopped there for fishing, but returned back empty handed. Stayed for night at PTDC Motel Phander.
Next morning left early for Hunza. Passed Gopis, Gakuch, Gilgit and reached Karimabad ( Hunza ) at 10.30 pm. Stayed at Darbar Hotel for 2 nghts. Had traditional dinner there. Next day visited Baltit fort, bought some wooden handicrafts, tooks loads of photos. Had chinese dinner. Next day left early for way back home. At night reached Chilas, spent night at a hotel . Next morning we came to know that way to Babusar has just opened, so instead of travelling on pathetic kkh, we can climb upto babusar. Although we calculated same time from both ways but Babusar was very scienic and the dream of all, so we followed that way and it proved much more breathtaking and adventurous. Crossed babusar, lulusar, jalkhad, naran , balakot, abbotabad and finally reached Peshawar at 12 mid night
here r the photos, which i think u guys will like, although not professionally or aesthtically taken
