AOA Fazal sb,
Very sorry for late reply because i came back from Bangkok yesterday night. Now straight to points asked,
1/ I would strongly not recommend to go via Chitral to Shandur Pass (via chitral buuni, mastuj, shandur) on high roof.
If you want to go to by High Roof or by car choose route Babusar, Gilgit, Gahkouch, Guppis, Phandar Valley, Shandur Pass and back by following the same way. The reasons as below,
...can use High Roof or Car to follow above route but off course carefully but it can be done.
...If you start early morning from Islamabad so your 1st could be Battakundi or Gilgit.
...from Giglit cross Gahkouch and 2nd stop at Guppis Valley and put camp on Khalti Lake for 2 nights. 1st day explore the local Guppis Valley and secod day go to Yaseen Valley (its different route so you go early morning and then come back. hee you will found the tomb of Lalak Jan Shaheed nishan e haider etc etc and worth to see). There is also a PTDC in Gupis as well if not camping but then will see the Khalti Lake and spend morning there. Specially sunset and sun rise view is awesome.
...4th night would stay at Phandar Valley. There are options of hotels like PTDC or other options as well. The Phandar Valley worth to see and stay... its Allah gift to us and i highly recommend the stay by any means.
...5th night at Shandur Pass and way from Phandar Valley to Shandur Pass worth to see on the way and off course 1 night stay at Shandur Pass. Put camps near hotel to use there wash rooms and water and food. There are 2 or 3 three very very basic hotel at Shandur Pass to stay. Means just sleep and food but cleanliness not so good. Here visit Shandur Polo festival ground and Shandur Lake, nice place. Careful about breathing because oxygen level down due to height and may be be some who has heart problem or breathing problem can face problem if walk. Not serious just feeling or some people even dont feel it. Also use this way back.
...I would not recommend to cross Shandur Pass to go to Chitral by High Roof or Car. Some time people choose (as we do) to go but its risk specially if raining starts because the way from Shandur Pass till Mastuj is rocky, steep, up and down, small, very less traffic so no body to help if some thing got wrong. The way from Mastuj to Bunni was disaster in 2017 steep but muddy and if rains immpossible to go move by car or high as we got lucky do not have rain all the waythrough. so only 4x4.
...Only 4x4 is recommended to cross from Shadur Pass till Chitral.
2/ There are two tunnels in 2017 Aug one long tunnel was working but small tunnel (about 2km) was closed so they make alternate for that. Whole week is open and not big issue just wait in queue and they managing in good way. This is Allah gift to us as lot of time and energy saved by using this tunnel. The exact situation will be more clear from Upper Dir (if coming from that side) or from Chitral (if coming from that side) because some time they changes the movement situation.
3/ Just the time constraints comes to face which forced us to skip Gol national park and Qaqlasht.
4/ Yep will definitely stay again and again in Kailash. Landscape and view is awesome. You have to Park high roof or car below at Ayyoun Valley they will charge you per day basis but secure and use rent rental to move on. We do our camping there in hotel lawn. Try to go in a hotel which is one side river and enjoy the natural cold pure clean water and sounds.
5/ I think i have discussed in detail above in 1st point but just rewind it,
..high roof or car only recomended to go via gilgit, gahkouch valley, yaseen valley, guppis valley, phandar valley till shandur pass.
.gilgit till phandar valley- metal road (but off course as of mountain metal road some patches are there.
.phandar valley to shandur pass- no metal road but carefully can do it and worth it to do.
.phandar valley to mastuj valley- rocky, dusty, hot. No way for high roof or car only 4x4. Even i myself do not recommend to visit Mastuj or Bunni its disaster and hot.
.mastuj to bunni- another road disaster muddy, dusty and hot. no way on high roof or car if rains its dangerous. Even i do not recommend to visit.
.bunni to chitral- metal road no issue by any transport.
.chitral to kailash- ok till Ayyoun valley parked there and hire the local transport to kailash (bambourete).
.chitral to lowari tunnels- metal road and is ok till dir and so on.
6/ Alhamdolillah we did not face any single time Tyre flats. not single time.
7/ Hmmm.... exactly no idea to be very honest. but i think 50:50. pls check once have plan.
My final suggestion and recommendations,
split the valleys tour in TWO parts (any one option for this year and second option for next year),
OPTION# 1:
1 night...Islamabad to Batakundi or Giglit via Babusar Top (see on the way Lolosar lake, babusar top etc)
2 nights...Batakundi/Gilgit to Guppis Valley via Gahkouch Valley (see Khalti Lake, Yaseen Valley)
1 or 2 nights....Guppis Valley to Phandar Valley (Oh my God just local area is so beautiful)
1 night...Phandar Valley to Shandur Pass (see Langar area, Shandur Lake & polo ground)
follow the same way back.
Total almost: 7 to 8 night stay tour if starts from Islamabad early morning and back.
OPTION# 2:
2 nights...Islamabad to Kalash Valley (Bamburete) via upper dir (lowari tunnel)and ayyoun.
4 to 5 nights...Kalsah Valley back to Upper Dir & turn to Kumrat Valley explore it. Its worth to be there. Here you could find tracking to Lake (not remember name), thick jungle walk, and you can go to cross Pas to enter in Swat Valley and enjoy Mahudand Lake and Saifullah Lake etc etc.. As we also have plan to do like this option# 2 for 2018 summer as on our Jimny 4x4.
Hope answer will help you. I am still open for any further querry. You are welcome Sir.
Cheers
Tabrez
