Faisalabad to Mastuj Information required

[itsluqman]

AOA,

Got to setup a final tour plan to Chitral till Mastuj. Need some information urgently.
5 Friends on GLI
4 Days 3 Nights
Leaving on 29th March 18
Can we travel all on our own car?
What are road conditions right now?
Snow conditions?
Where to stay if possible. How much it might be cost in Bamborait, Chitral and Mastuj?
Lawari Tunnel will be closed for some reason or it will be open?
All ok in these areas in terms of security etc?
Any other suggestions please

Thanks

[fazal008]

Read the following thread for more info and tabrez sb's latest reply. I think he is the one with latest thread on this route and his info is updated till July of last year.

A memorable round trip on rented High Roof Hiace Lahore-Gilgit-Shandur-Chitral-Lahore, 4th to 13th Aug 2017

We have done this memorable trip on rented high roof hiace from Lahore. We were total 13 persons (including 1 driver + 3 work assistants) because this trip includes maximum self camping and self cooking basis. So we were total 9 persons contributor of financial cost to this trip. Our trip planing was, Day:1 (4th Aug 2017) Dep from Lahore on 4th Aug night to reach Islamabad Day:2 (5th Aug 2017) Dep from Islamabad @ 6am to reach Chillas @ 9pm via KKH because Babusar top closed due to heavy lan…

[itsluqman]

AOA, they seems had a nice trip and much informative but I think they went there in Aug and we are going next week so I am still worried about road conditions and lawari tunnel etc. Not sure about weather and snow....if any once can help that will be great....

[tabrez603]

Dear Luqman bhai,
i tried to answer your questions at my best knowledge and experience and also give you some reference numbers to get the updated situation,
1/ for Kalash valley (Bamburete).. you can travel on GLI till Ayoun valley and there you have to park the car on per day charges basis and then get there local transport to reach up there in Bamburete. The parking is secure no issue we parked our vehicle for 3 days and pay Rs 1500 in total.
Further you can travel till Chitral and till Bunni on GLI because of carpet road (off course some bad patches are there). But do not recommend travel on GLI from Bunni to Mastuj because road is too much dusty, muddy and no road... its just the track of 4x4. It will be a big disaster if raining on this road and you have car.
2/ Road condition already explain....Ayyoun Valley to Bamburete and Bunni to Mastuj NO GLI. remaining is acceptable with care.
3/ at the moment current i dont have idea any ways please contact Mr. Imran Bhai 0346 9895720. He is local chitral guy and is also work as guide with foreign expeditions. Imran bhai is very helpful and will have the updated situation about snow, and lowari tunnel situation as well. Because lowari tunnel opening and crossing timings varies time to time and he will guide you.
4/ Stay i can tell you our experience as,
.. In chitral we stay in Al-Farooq Hotel, in New Bazar, Chitral (Imran bhai recommend this as we were looking a medium range hotel and was good). They charge us in Aug 2017, three rooms (6 bed+4 bed+3 bed) for one night Rs. 5250/=. There contact numbers are 0943-412726 & 0301-5919313 & 03009320320. They also have deluxe rooms as well. There are also other luxury hotels as well. Its a big city.
..In Bamburete (Kalash Valley), we stay in Frontier Hotel (medium budgeted hotel) and they charge us Rs 2500 per night for 2 bed rooms without bed and we put 2 camps in their lawn. There contact number is Mr. Shakoor Wali Khan 0943-404043. There best part is there location that they have the river view and the river is just passing through beside there lawn. Awesome. There is also PTDC but dont know the charges.
.. In Mastuj they also have the PTDC but not stay there and dont know the charges.
5/ Lowari tunnel check wit Imran Bhai fro Chitral.
6/ Security absolutely no issue. Sir ji go and enjoy without any fear.

Now the above are answers to your questions and now i would give my recommendations but decision is yours,
..I would recommend your tour as (you have only three nights).. please fix two nights stay at Bamburete as it is worth to stay 2 nights at least to enjoy the weather and lush green valley cold water and clear water there local cultural things and bit tracking....dont fix only one night, i am sure yo will regret.
..One night in chitral, i am recommending this just to see and for shopping for family. otherwise i will not recommend stay in chitral. but worth to see because when you be there people say that did you chitral and if you said no. they say pretend ohh you missed a lot so at least you see it and also have shopping because its shopping paradise for local things. Hot weather and big traffic.

.. I would not recomend at any cost to go to Bunni and Mastuj. As you have only 3 nights and secondly road from Bunni to Mastuj is desaster and nothing to see ful time hot and hectic for nothing.
We did had a plan to stay at Mastuj once coming from Shandur Pass but do not like to stay and even we miss Bunni because it was useless to stay.
Brother decision is yours.
It is still off season so not too much expensive.... no issue. as you can see the hotels rent while we were there in Aug 2017....

Hope these answer will work and enjoy the trip.
Tabrez

[itsluqman]

Thanks a million for all this information brother..
This will help me a lot to plan this tour.....our tour is confirm and will share all the experience with photos on Tuesday IA.

What I planned I think was a big mistake as I did not get any reply yet...let me share...will change all this now as you mentioned...

Thursday
Faisalabad leave 10 pm

Friday
Dir 10am
Lawari Tunnel 12pm (open 9 to 1 and 3 to 7)
Bamboret 6pm

Saturday
Leave 8am
Ayun 10am
Chitral 12pm
Astore 2pm
Booni 8pm

Sunday
Leave 8am
Mustaj 12pm
Laspur 2pm
Shandur 4pm
Gilgit 10pm

Monday
Leave 8am
Naran 2pm
Leave Naran at 4pm
Faisalabd 2am

Thanks

[tabrez603]

Brother Luqman,
Ooooh its totally wrong my point of view, i dont know from where you got this information. I totally disagree with the above your plan and i do not suggest this one...
...its toally travel travel and nothing to see or enjoy..
.. till Friday Bamburete is ok but other will be mess. for example you reached Bamburete at 6pm and will leave 8am next day... what you have seen there nothing.
...there is no Astore between chitral and booni. Astore come when you leave KKH on jaglout towards astore o deosai planes...
... booni to mastuj by gli is very tricky specially if rains.
...mastuj to laspur is difficult rocky track kills your car.
....Laspur to shandur not recommended for car.
.... from shandur 4pm to gilgit 10pm, you missed phandar valley to enjoy just photos, you missed Khalti lake at Guppis just pictures, you miss Yaseen Valley even not go there., you missed Gahkouch before gilgit just pics..

the choice is yours.... this tour make it for 8 or 10 days not 3 nights.

my suggestions was,
..Faisalabad to Bamburete stay there for 2 nights (when you reach at 6pm at least dark is there nothing to see) then
..Bamburete to Chitral 1 night stay (see chitral, shopping)
.. chitral back to faislabad.

the other part make it next year atleast to enjoy.
next plan like,
..faislabad to gilgit ... 1night
..gilgit to guppis 2 nights (khalti lake and the other day go to yaseen valley its different track)
.. guppis to phandar 2 nights (local enjoy and other day go to shandur and come back to phandar)
.. then back journey starts.

Booni to mastuj to laspur to shandur by GLI car not recommended at any cost...
anyway choice is yours.... hope for the best.

eager to see your travel pics and comments.

thanks
Tabrez

[itsluqman]

Thanks Brother, I planned all this which I already said is a worst plan from some other post I dont know url exactly but they did 5 days tour with same route.
After your suggestions I changed plan now....we will stay at bomboret max of the time and try not to rush for other placed after chitral. We will check and change plan after bomboret visit.
On Eid holidays we have a plan for Hunza. So Chitral will be enough I think in this tour.
Thanks again for quick replies....will definitely consider and plan according what you suggest.

[tabrez603]

Brother,
Now its good plan and follow as you mentioned. I gaurantee you will really enjoy.
...Bamburete stay 2 nights
...Chitral stay 1 night

Enjoy the trip have a safe journey. Wait for your input and pics and travel blog after our trip.

Thanks
Tabrez

[itsluqman]

AOA Brother just one last question hope not bothering you. Which networks works there?

[tabrez603]

You are welcome....
Every where is Telenor is the best. It works in all northern part and also in remote areas.

[alishankhann]

w/salam, i'll answer your question...warid works better in chitral...

[itsluqman]

AOA,
By the grace of Allah came back home this morning from 4 days 3 nights tour. will post pics and details soon tonight or tomorrow after collecting photos from different cameras.
Route we did is
Faisalabad -> Bamborait -> Kalash -> Chitral -> Kalam -> Swat -> Besham -> Murree -> Faisalabad

[itsluqman]

Left Fasialabad on 29th March Thrusday night 12 AM. Reached Bomborait on Friday 30th March at 6 PM. Stayed in Frotier Hotel. Did BBQ there at night. Chicken we baught for BBQ was cost us 280 per piece. Thinking we should buy chicken from Ayune or before as chicken pieces was very small and we need to buy 4 pieces for 5 persons.
Anyway Frontier Hotel was good. Clean room with matrics and Blankets in just 1200. View was awesome at river side and good sitting area out there. Will share pics also.
Next Morning we did breakfast which cost us only 370. 6 Prathas, 5 Amlate, 2 half fry. Tea we made ourself as we took bruner, milk and tea etc with us.
We first decided to go to Meusum which is just 2 minutes of walk. It was good fee was Rs 10 for each person and 150 for single phone or camera to take pictures. Spent 1 to 1 and half hour there then left for Kalash.
There we visited old graveyard which was good also. Spent a little time over their tried to do some shopping from there for traditional dressess but these was too expensive I think as a single small suit for baby girl of 3 years of age was 1800. Thought to skip shopping and try it from Chitral market. We left for Chitral and was there at 1 PM. There is no special market in chitral for shopping. Did not find any good restaurant in Chitral Bazar.It was hot there. 3 members of group asked to cancel Booni Shandur and Gilgit and go to Kalam instead. So left for Kalam at 3 PM and reached at Kalam at 6 AM Saturday. Got the room at Shalimar Hotel in just 700. After a short sleep we left for Ushu valley Mohandand Lake was not accessable in this season so we just visited till roads was open. Kalam road was a big mistake we did and there was nothing to visit in Kalam just rough roads and Dust. We left for Swat on the same day and left Kalam round 5 PM. Reached at Manglor Swat round 2AM Sunday.
Next day Monday Morning did breakfast and left for Faisalabad via Besham and Murree. Besham is good option to stay and enjoy instead of Kalam but as we need to get back on work on Tuesday we just came back. Had dinner in Murree and did some shopping for Kids and left for Faisalabd. There was a heavy rain started but we kept moving slowly and reached back at home Faisalabad at 7AM Tuesday.
Total Persons 5
Traveld on Liana
Total Cost per person 6936.
We did not hire any local transport all over we traveled on our Liana bamborait , kalash, kalam every where. But I do not recommend to travel on your car only if you are not a too good in drive in such area.
Lawari Tunnel was awesome.

Will post pics soon.

[itsluqman]

For photos I created a new thread.

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[tabrez603]

Thats great Luqman bhi......
mainay tu aap ko bula tha kay bhai give at least 2 nights stay in Bamburete and one night in chitral. Bhai regarding shopping chitral has a big bazaar and market and in 2017 we did a lot of shopping for our kids and wife and friends.
there was a lot of traditional garments and dresses and traditional ladies chitrali goun.
Food restaurents were also awesome brother as we enjoyed every type of food there in bazaar, milk shakes etc etc... lot off..
actually bhai always give time to the places to explore then you will find the correct things.
anyway its new experience.... good luck.

[pwuser153390296347]

Tabrez Bhai,
i am planning to leave Karachi on 2nd September.
my original plan was to round chitral-booni-shandur-phander- Gilgit, i will be driving a Honda Civic 1.8 2016 with a little higher tire pressure.

but looking at your advice which greatly helped me in changing the programme, i am now planning to stay for two nights at Bamboriet, can i drive to bamboriet rather than leaving the car at Ayun?

i also plan to spend a night at Chitral, is it possible to make a day trip to Shandur from Chitral, on my car, if not what another options may be available for a day trip to Shandur as I dont think I should venture out on my Car where the power is not an issue but its ground clearance is one inch less than Corolla of which, about o.3 inch can be gained by inflating the tires to 35 pounds.

My plan is as follows;
Day One Karchi to Bahawalpur or Multan
Day 2 BWP?Multan to Mardan via M4,M3,.....
Day 3 Mardan to Ayun (may stop at Dir if delayed)
Day 4 & 5, 6 Bamboriet Chitral
Day 7 will try to reach Kallar Kahar
Day 8 Visit Khewra and try reach Multan
Day 9 stop at Zahir Pir
Day 10 Karachi

your valuable advices awaited. luqman Bhai also requested for input

[tabrez603]

Dear Brother,
Thanks for the message and i really sorry for late reply as i was away from internet for some domestic work. Anyways just replying at my best,
-I will not advise that you should bring your car from Ayun to Bamborete. My suggestion is that you park the car at Ayun as its safe no issue on per day basis charges like Rs.500 to 700/day and take a jeep or fielder type station wagon which bring you to Bamborete. You will also get the transport back from Bamburete to Ayun very easily. No need to bring car for low clearance and tough driving.

-Chitral to Shandur is also highly not recomended because of low road clearance and some area Bouni to Mastuj mud mountains which create sleepy problem if got rain.
Time constrnt is also big issue because speed will be low as Chitral to Bouni is metal road but from Bouni to Mastuj to Laspour Village to Shandur no metal road just stones and small road and some areas mud mountains and hot as well.
We start from Shandur at around 9am and reached Chitral at around 7pm One Way.
We recommend that you must got jeep and then stay one night at Shandur and next come to Chitral again.
By the way to see Shandur, we highly recomend to come from other side from Gilgit to Gahkouch to Gopis (see Khalti Lake and stay in PTDC Gupis your own car) to Phandar (must stay. this is beautiful valley and there is PTDC Phandar by your own car) to Shandur (stay in local hotel. There are just two or three basic basic hotel of tent and mud rooms). Here you can go by your car but with care and if not take a jeep from Phandar to Shandur spend the day at Shandur and come back to to Phandar and stay.
We recommend this way. Choice is yours. Gilgit to Phandar metal road but little patches rough which can be manageable by your car.

Chitral, Bouni, Mastuj, Laspur Village will be have hot weather and very rough track. Shandur weather will be fine.

Hope i answer all your questions at my best. If you have further questions, i am at your service. Try to have Telenor sim as it only works in hilly areas mostly.

Regards
Tabrez

[pwuser153390296347]

Thanks Tabrez Bhai,

I am sorry, to have left before you responded.
my drive was from Karachi to Karachi. at Bamboriet we left the car at Ayun and took a local car, staying 2 days at Bamboriet PTDC, what a place me and my wife at our old age did appreciate the rest and the peace of the place.
next we stayed at Booni PTDC
left PTDC at 0730 to Mastuj - Laspur - Shandur and arrived Phander at 6-30 PM spent 2 Hrs at Shandur.
Luckily there was no rain, the other thing that I experienced was to control your temper while driving, i did not mostly, go above 20 KM and that perhaps kept me safe, surprisingly, clearance was not much of an issue.
came back via Babusar and then covered Khewra salt mines. choay saidan sha, Katas Raj and Kalar Kahar before turning back Home.

covered 4400 KM with my wife as navigator and my standby driver, it was great fun.

I do endorse that Shandur shall be approached from Phander and go back to Phander no fun in scaling the Booni Mastuj road.

[tabrez603]

Dear brother,
Waooo... great to hear that you reached back safely and completed the whole round from chitral to giigit and onward.
So great experience ... thums up. keep on the adventure. keep in touch.
Regards
Tabrez

[pwuser153390296347]

thanks arranging a write up with photographs will share in a few days in sha allah.
my experience was that, with a bit of patience one can do it on a car, like civic which came unscathed. thanks to almighty. though i was mentally prepared for all kind of contingencies including abandoning and turning back or being stranded for a whole day, sufficient hydration and food supplies etc.