Dear Pakwheelers , Advice needed for CHITRAL-GILGIT-SKARDU-ASTORE trip

[azfee]

Dear All,

Hope you all doin in best of your health...After the successful trip from Karachi to Naran by road this time me n frnds are planning for CHITRAL-GILGIT-SKARDU-ASTORE trip I have made some mapping , but in desperate need of experinced people like you to adivce if its feasible enough so here is the plan which consist of 7 days.

3 July - Reach ISLAMABAD by plane on sunday from Karachi.

4 July - ISB-Chitral 13 hours journey to Chitral crossing famous Lowari Pass and stay there.

5 July - Chitral to Bumberet(Kalash) We travel from Chitral to Bumberet (Kalash Valley) via jeep and stay there , 1 day to explore Kalash valley and tribes.

6 July - Kalash to Gilgilt Early morning departure for a long trip to Gilgit crossing Chitral, Mastuj, Shandurr Pass, Gopis, Phandar and stay at Gilgit overnight stay.

7 July - Gilgit to Skardu Early morning Departure to Skardu , explore Skardu near by area like Kharpoocho Fort, Shangrila, Kachora Lake etc

8 July - Skardu to Astore early morning departure from skardu to Astore crossing Satpara Lake, Deosai, Bara Pani sheosar Lake and will stay at Rama maidaan.

9 July - Astore to ISB leave at 12 pm for ISB

10 July - Reach early morning at ISB and take flight back home

Advice needed that if the plan is good enough to be followed , tips will be highly appreciated we do have a room for some ammendments as well .

will be waiting for your kind replies!!

[aesiege]

Nice plan Azfee

Just two suggestions from my side

1- Stay at Shandoor as festival would be going on in first week of July. Otherwise it will be tooo long travel from Kailash to Gilgit.

2- From Astore to Islamabad is not possible in one day. It takes 4-5 hours from Astore to Chilas and 11-12 hours from Chilas to Mansehra and another 3-4 hours to Islamabad. So you are talking about a travel of 20-22 hours in one go. So i will suggest to stop either at Dasu or Besham on your way.

Another better option can be to go to Naran from Babusar pass and stay there at night and then onwards to Islamabad next day but you will have to leave very early from Astore to make it in time at Jalkhad.

Best of Luck !!!

[asifcae]

u r not giving any time to thses places man. from what i c u r just crossing through. first of all there r 3 kailash valleys and 1 day isnt enuf for them.

in 1 day kailash to gilgit?????? . i think u wont have any time to stop at the places u have mentioned and just ur continous drive will take up the entire day...
in 1 day gilgit to skardu is fair as its only travel experience that is great and also 1 day from skardu to astore is resonable ...

my suggestion is that u give atleast 2 days to kailash valley and try to c max places coz u dont come to these parts every day.

secondly u shud break up the kailash-gilgit part in 2 and sakoon say sari places dekho.

over all 8 dayz for such a wide band trip is not advisable to me. if u cannot give more dayz then mayb reduce ur destinations and skip skardu area altogether.

[azfee]

Thanx for the prompt reply
festival sounds facinating to me .. i wasnt sure about the dates will definetly check it out n ya the way back to Astore is no doubt a long way to go but i have travelled almost the same distance 2 years back that was from ISLAMABAD to Chillas it took about 14 hours from NATCO express with some unusal delays as well but will definetly count in consideration !!
thanx again Bro

Nice plan Azfee

Just two suggestions from my side

1- Stay at Shandoor as festival would be going on in first week of July. Otherwise it will be tooo long travel from Kailash to Gilgit.

2- From Astore to Islamabad is not possible in one day. It takes 4-5 hours from Astore to Chilas and 11-12 hours from Chilas to Mansehra and another 3-4 hours to Islamabad. So you are talking about a travel of 20-22 hours in one go. So i will suggest to stop either at Dasu or Besham on your way.

Another better option can be to go to Naran from Babusar pass and stay there at night and then onwards to Islamabad next day but you will have to leave very early from Astore to make it in time at Jalkhad.

Best of Luck !!!

[azfee]

Thanx asifcae for prompt responce

I do agree with your points basically we are very tight with the timelines due to some offical commitments but ya your concern is worth considering i will go thru the plan with by buddies which are accomponying me may have to cut down some places... thanx for the suggestion brother APPRECIATED!!

u r not giving any time to thses places man. from what i c u r just crossing through. first of all there r 3 kailash valleys and 1 day isnt enuf for them.

in 1 day kailash to gilgit?????? . i think u wont have any time to stop at the places u have mentioned and just ur continous drive will take up the entire day...
in 1 day gilgit to skardu is fair as its only travel experience that is great and also 1 day from skardu to astore is resonable ...

my suggestion is that u give atleast 2 days to kailash valley and try to c max places coz u dont come to these parts every day.

secondly u shud break up the kailash-gilgit part in 2 and sakoon say sari places dekho.

over all 8 dayz for such a wide band trip is not advisable to me. if u cannot give more dayz then mayb reduce ur destinations and skip skardu area altogether.

[asifcae]

ur welcom man. if u r short of time as we working men always are then u better skip skardu side completely or gilgit chitral side completely

[azfee]

hey ppl
do you have any idear about the security situation in chitral side , as i have to cross lower DIR and peshawer city as well... there was blast yesterday at the islamabad - peshawer motorway connecting bridge due to which traffic was completel suspended ... so just concern about the security threat as well!
comments appreciated!

[fahimrauf]

ur welcom man. if u r short of time as we working men always are then u better skip skardu side completely or gilgit chitral side completely

I totally agree... visit less places and give them time...

[azfee]

yes fahim.. im remapping my trip .. read your plan too and might be following your plan and reduce my trip to astore - skardu - fairy meadows - gilgit .. but still final plan is not done will share the plan soon!

I totally agree... visit less places and give them time...

[shoaibahmed232]

Can u please guide me that is it possible to drive my own car from Chitral to Gilgit or Chilas ? And is the road made properly or is it a Jeep road ?

[shoaibahmed232]

Can u plz guide me that is it possible to travel from Chitral to Gilgit or Chilas directly if i drive my own car ?? And is the road well built or Jeep ways ??

[nagar1]

From mastuj till phandar road us not in good condition.below that all doable by car.before mastuj i am not aware of the conditions

[adnan69]

Yes i have drive my Suzuki Swift from Chitral to Gilgit its doable

[adnan69]

what is the detail of your convene and no. of passenger

you can have a view upon this link

[adnan69]

great bro.

[adnan69]

Gilgit & Skardu visit from 6 April to 15 April,2018, LHR to Chitral to Gilgit to LHR by road visit from 11 May to 14 May

Set off from Lahore at 12.00 (night of 6th April) Arrival at Gilgit 03.00 pm of 7 April need to know about your precious feeds back regarding designing the tour as per mentioned destination. Khunjrab pass Hunza valley ( Biltit fort, Eagle naxt) Naltar valley Skardu Fairy Meadows Upper & Lower Kachura Lakes Khaplu & Shigar Forts if you know any other nice places kindly do inform and further guide me accordingly car is Suzuki Swift members 2 couples Thanks