Calling all guru's ! Help in organising trip to skardu & surrounding areas

[hamza_xeg]

AOA!

I am planning a trip with my mamu and his family to skardu side in end of july or start of august. Duration will be 5-6 days. Will be renting prado/pajero from abbottabad. I have some questions. Help will be greatly appreciated.

1. What places should we visit ? Should we go to skardu via astore and deosai or the other way around ? I am thinking one day exploring astore and surroundings, next day move to skardu via deosai, day after that explore places near skardu ?

2. Places to stay for the night ? Ideally where to find a cheap rooms to stay in those places ? Drop some hotel names and prices if you guys know.

3. What will be traffic and rush situation in early august/july end ?

4. I was thinking visiting rama and minimarg near astore (please tell if you have other suggestions as well) whereas shigar, shangrilla, khaplu, manthoka waterfall near skardu (insert your suggestions please)

5. What amount should we keep, i was thinking 60-70k ? would that be enough ?

I saw hanif bhatti's video of astore to skardu, the road looks okay ish to me, what about the one which goes directly to skardu turning off the kkh after jaglot, the S-1?

This is for jeep/suv owners:

This will be my first time driving a jeep. I have years of experience with cars in hilly areas but not jeeps. When and where to use four wheel drive ? What does 4H and 4L do and where to use them ? for normal driving leave it in N ? What would you suggest we should take, prado or pajero, keep in mind both will be 2000-2003 models not newer ones.

Also any tips for driving in deosai, minimarg, rama and in general astore and skardu, would appreciate them.

[nagar1]

For skardu that too with family 5-6 days will be hectic but if you are willing to do skardu/astore only you can follow the plan as
Day 1 Abbotabad to Astore
Day 2. Astore exploring Rama Lake etc Minimerg (needs army permission)
Day3. Astore Skardu via deosai
Day 4. Shangrilla ,Upper Kachura Cold desert
Day5. Manthoka ,Shigar ,Khaplu )will have to select one between shigar and khaplu)
Day 6. Wapsi ka safar
Try not to take skardu gilgit road as it is under construction. If you can manage travel on it on friday as construction work is closed or travel after 5.pm
Traffic will be reduced as Start of august the number of tourists starts to decline. THe major rush period is June/July (Dont plan trip with a public holiday)
80 K would be good. other wise ATMS are available in skardu/astore
Regarding S1 skardu jaglot i have answered it above
Astore deosai road is not a dangerous one as u have seen bhatti sbs video. No issues otherwise if you are a sensible driver

[hamza_xeg]

Thank you for the detailed reply, much appreciated. Will have to plan accordingly to your suggestions. Will try to extend the number of days but prado's rent is too much. Other option is 1.6 corolla, can that easily make it all the way ? Will try and do both shigar and khaplu if time allows. This helped alot. Now just need some one to suggest reasonable hotels.

[nagar1]

Corolla can do this trip easily. No issues.You may find good hotels in both Astore and Skardu but I dont know the rates.

[hamza_xeg]

Bro weather wise august is okay to go? Someone said barsaat starts in august and roads get blocked, is it true?

[nagar1]

In mountain areas you can have landslides anytime but yes july and start of august is the peak time

[nagar1]

I have talked to my fruend in skardu he runs a guest house there named skarchan guest house.his name is naveed.phone number 03467073072 rates are between 2500 to 4000

[hamza_xeg]

Thanks for that, will def contact him and tell him that you sent us. Also the time frame where all of us are free is from 27 july onwards, so it has be done in august, Allah khair rakhe bas.