Cheap and safe Swat tour in 2015

[kamranmemon123]

12 km from kalam to glacier...and it takes only 1 hour to reach glacier....
34 km from kalam to mahodand lake taking nearly 2.5 hrs as Asif has correctly told because of no metalled road but kucha, up-down and zigzag route....ushu river flowing nearby...

[kamranmemon123]

I am thankful to all those who have liked, gone through and presented valuable comments to this thread till posting now.

[kn_khipk]

@kamranmemon123 well done! Your opening post and other responses are very detailed and informative. I last visited Swat valley back in 1998 and would like to go back soon, Insha Allah! The info in this thread will make it easy for travelers to plan their trips better. Thank you!

[uzair951]

Dear you give very good information about swat if you give information about Naran Kaghan and Azad Kashmir (Muzafarabad) in detail like same you give about SWAT

Thanks

[kamranmemon123]

Soon i shall post kaghan-naran-shogran travelling experience......With regard to azad kashmir, my experience is not good....

[danyalabdullah]

Sir do you have no of Zia jeep wala? Thank you

Jeep driver Zia and his son taking us to glacier

[Wanderlust]

Kamran bhai, do you know a secure place in swat where one can park his car to use public transport for Kalam?

[zahid135]

kamran bhai, do you know a secure place in swat where one can park his car to use public transport for kalam?

you should park your car @ bahrain in any hotel.
We parked our car at hotel in madyan in 2013 as road from madyan to bahrain was under construction at that time, but now road is completed till bahrain.

[tahirbutt789]

Kamran bhai - did you book the hotels in advance or on the spot? From my experience on the spot pattern costs you more money vs. prior bookings. Very organized and managed trip.

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[tahirbutt789]

Thanks for contact number. we r planning to go to swat so we will contact u if we need any kind of info. Abhi ap ye bata dein k apni gari pe kahan tak ja sakte hein

I won't say that kamran bhai is wrong in explaining the intensity of the route but swat onwards route is 4x4 and one can easily go. Sedans may get damage.

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[kamranmemon123]

You ca easily park your car at Bahrain....However, cars are going and returning back up to Kalam easily with families...But you must have confidence over driving on such kind of zigzag, up-down and curvy route....

[kamranmemon123]

There is no need for booking in advance....This is not naran kaghan valley people but somewhat polite people at Kalam....They earn in summer season and expend in winter...There are no job prospects...nearly 70% people leave Kalam to other parts of country and start return back in mid april and remain there until end of october...The fares for hotels are the same as three years back...Think that these may go up in the peak summer for 1500 max as for as two beds room....While reaching at Kalam and scroll for at least one hour to find out the cheapest and suitable hotel room by examining yourself....Mountaneer people however are the hard bargainers and start from high rate so be careful... if they say 2000, then you must start from 700-800, nothing more...Then they will come down....Keep in mind that there economy depends wholly on the tourists and for a few months so they will extract much from you.....

[kamranmemon123]

There is no need for booking in advance....This is not naran kaghan valley people but somewhat polite people at Kalam....They earn in summer season and expend in winter...There are no job prospects...nearly 70% people leave Kalam to other parts of country and start return back in mid april and remain there until end of october...The fares for hotels are the same as three years back...Think that these may go up in the peak summer for 1500 max as for as two beds room....While reaching at Kalam and scroll for at least one hour to find out the cheapest and suitable hotel room by examining yourself....Mountaneer people however are the hard bargainers and start from high rate so be careful... if they say 2000, then you must start from 700-800, nothing more...Then they will come down....Keep in mind that there economy depends wholly on the tourists and for a few months so they will extract much from you.....

[kamranmemon123]

Sir do you have no of Zia jeep wala? Thank you

I try to search out....i shall inform you as i find out....

[zakibaig77]

ASSALAM O ALEKUM
Sir you said that you take bilal daewoo from larri adda? was it that larri adda near lahore railway station or bilal daewoo bus terminal at band road?

[uzair951]

Pak Wheelers,

I want to know about Neelum Valley Tour guide about Rawalpindi to Muzaffrabad ,Karen & Upper Neelum,Sharda Kel, Arrang Kel, and Taobot tour for Three days from Rawalpindi so please guide where i go first and other areas for easy route and what is the fare of private car from muzzafrabad to this tour and fare of room every place and shares other information

Thanks

[kamranmemon123]

W.S ZAKI BAIG,
Bilal daewoo as mentioned above goes from lari adda railway station.... The main terminal of Bilal daewoo is at band road....It is clarified here for all that at lari adda, some days you will find other company daewoo buses too as irfan niazi or else from the same place and time table.... And, all such daewoo buses have the same luxury,seats, refreshment, entertainment, security person, lady entertainer etc as of sami daewoo with Rs.1000/- per person only at 10 p.m daily....

[zakibaig77]

Thank you sir for replying in detail..
just want ask another question that you mention the road from bahrain to kalam is not good and kacha, so is it possible for 60 years + age man and woman to travel on this path via hi-ace?

P.S: kindly inform in detail about the condition of this road...

[kamranmemon123]

Thank you sir for replying in detail..
just want ask another question that you mention the road from bahrain to kalam is not good and kacha, so is it possible for 60 years + age man and woman to travel on this path via hi-ace?

P.S: kindly inform in detail about the condition of this road...

it is already described that it is not metalled road or to say as road but path in true sense....Actual road was swept away by floods in 2010 running near to kalam river.....All vehicles can run there, no problem, even i saw alto or mehran cars....But driving through that zigzag path is not easy...Whether you sit in car or hiac...as u wish!

[RZ]

Very nice tour and an informative thread. Thanks for sharing.