Another solo trip - a tribute to KKH

[zzqureshi]

Thanks for the appreciation. Are you going to visit these places?

Not this time actually, but Insha Allah in coming years. However, i have no hesitation in saying that your solo trip is big inspiration for people like me. we (friends) will Insha Allah visit Kumrat Valley after Ramadan.

[Wanderlust]

One thing that I noticed was very small villages along the track.....villages that look like from stone age. I felt this route must have some strategic and or trade importance in the history where people are still based here from centuries. Afghanistan's Wakhan's corridor is few kilometers away and after this corridor is Tajikistan...access to Central Asian states.

My companion confirmed that before Soviet involvement in Afghanistan 80s, there was active trade along this route between Gilgit, Chitral and Afghanistan. People used to move around freely. There was even a proposal to construct a road here but the plan was later shelved because of security reason.

A shot of the village.

[mubeenshahid]

Good going keep posting more pics

[qasmi66]

Then we stopped at this place.....strange feelings touched me and I felt there was something in the surroundings.... something different from the landscape we had left behind.

My host informed me that there was a village at this point many years ago....and at night when villagers were sleeping, a flood triggered a huge landslide and swept away everything that came in its way.

This image easily qualify to be your DP.

[qasmi66]

Easily qualify to be your DP.

[Wanderlust]

Not this time actually, but Insha Allah in coming years. However, i have no hesitation in saying that your solo trip is big inspiration for people like me. we (friends) will Insha Allah visit Kumrat Valley after Ramadan.

Good luck...have a safe jouney!

[nabeel121]

Beautiful pics and journey

[Wanderlust]

That was the point where wheels stopped at last. There was still a track ahead but may prove to be very bad for the car. After all this was the target as advised by the host. Behind the mountain on the right was track to Wakhan corridor and behind left mountain was passage to Chitral.

[Wanderlust]

My location on google maps

[zzqureshi]

This thread proves that good quality photographs are a plus point for a thread but not the main reason of its popularity among viewers/readers.

[Abdullahnoor007]

Is there something special about the Wakhan Corridor? Any special reason for going on this track?

[ezisohail]

hundar valley... hmm ok.. i have missed the sub vallies of ghizer on my tour.... chalo next time in may koi trk marun ga insha allah... they r butiful valleis

Will visit in July IA

[abid722]

The down to earth attitude shows in the writing a true mark of a well travelled soul at peace wih itself Kudos:]

[Wanderlust]

Is there something special about the Wakhan Corridor? Any special reason for going on this track?

Nothing special. Just like right turn from naran bazar to jheel road 20 years ago. But if I will visit this place again, I will plan for a camping trip.

[Wanderlust]

This thread proves that good quality photographs are a plus point for a thread but not the main reason of its popularity among viewers/readers.

Thanks brother. I wish I have DSLR but I can't carry bulky stuff, after all I am traveler first when it comes to hobby. I do have a couple of little canon point and shoot cameras. On this trip, I did miss DSLR once while spotting ibex high up on the mountains with my monocular.

[Wanderlust]

The down to earth attitude shows in the writing a true mark of a well travelled soul at peace wih itself Kudos:]

Thanks Abid bhai.

[Wanderlust]

From here starts my trip towards my original target Khunjerab pass. My host dragged me to his home for a quick lunch.....thank you for your hospitality.

A few points to note:

In summers, Ghizer valley is hot under the sun like Hunza but cool in the morning and late afternoon. However, it's cool under the sun in the Phander and Shandur.

Only places to stay are a couple of PTDC motels but the food there is very expensive. I think there are a few more places here and there but those were closed owing to very limited tourist activities.

I haven't stopped at Gahkuch the main town of Ghizer so can't comment on the food availability there. There is no place offering full meals other than PTDC. You will definitely find little grocery stores around.

People are nice, caring and welcoming.

Excellent opportunities for landscape photography.

[Wanderlust]

I left Yasin valley at 12:35pm with the hope of reaching Hunza before sunset at 7pm. So I just stopped for a couple of clicks and entered Gilgit at 4pm.

[Wanderlust]

This time I turned the wheels towards Gilgit bypass to save time.

Stopped at a place to google left turn towards Hunza. While I was busy on the phone, a person tried to force himself into my car from the other side assuming that doors are not locked.

Thanks to Allah, my car was locked and I pressed the accelerator right away.

[Wanderlust]

Refueled the car at Gilgit and was back on lovely KKH.