Family road trip from Karachi - Chitral to Kunjrab ByPass

[umairnoor]

AssalamOAlikum,

I am planning a family road trip in my car from Karachi to Chitral to Kunjrab ByPassGilgit Baltistan in approx 2nd week of September (20 / 25 days total). I have researched most of the existing threads and now i wanted to know about weather info in September.

Plan Visit Location

1. Chitral / Kalash and its surrounding areas for 3 days.
2. Mastuj - Sor Laspur - Shandur - Kinisoteko Lakes - Shahimal Lake - Phandar Lake
3. Phandar - Khalti Lake - Gupis - Gilgit
4. Naltar Valley and Naltar Lake, please let me know if there are some more lakes in this area? Then move to Hunza
5. Karmabad - Hunza - Rakaposhi Point - Baltit & Altit Forts - Sunset Point - Dhaukar Valley
6. Ata Abad Lake - Gulmit - Broith Lake - Paasu & Passu Lake - Sost - Khunjrab Pass - Back to Hunza

I will be traveling with my wife and 2 year old daughter. And I will be the only one driving all along (I have estimated everything keeping this in mind). I will be traveling in my 1997 Margalla (well maintained).

QUESTIONS
Are traveling times okay?
Suggest more Good Places?
Best hotels to stay at these places?
Can my car go to ALL of these places?
Please guys help me out here

[pwuser149410813923]

Starting from Karachi, i went to Shogran last week n just returned. So any help needed while travelling from Karachi till shogran, I am available.
i drove my Cultus 2013 with 4 adults in 1 kid.

[umairnoor]

What were your stop overs, how long did u drive in a day ,did u feel need of renting 4×4 jeep or you have cultus to all places?

[pwuser149410813923]

Used my cultus throughout, removed CNG before leaving to litened up the car. Surely I had reduced 60-70kgs and placed my cng tank to mechanic shop who removed.

Started from Karachi 1st stay at bhawalpur city (around 830km)
Stayed in Executive lodges, good guesthouse with A.C. paid 2250 for one night including breakfast.

2nd stay Islamabad (around 600km+). Didn't rember the guest house name. But not the good one.

3rd stay at abbotabad, Alif Laila (paid 2000 without A.C. without breakfast). But very good hotel/guest house.

Stayed 2 days at abbotabad, went to Nathia gulli, murree and patriata and returned to Abboatabad again through islamabad.

Stayed in Shogran (kiwai to Shogran and return in cultus). Throughout used 1st gear and return also in 1st gear with minimum use of break, often used hand break.
In Shogran, stayed in Hill Top hotel, 1250 per night without breakfast. Not a bad hotel.

Shogran to Lahore, stayed 2 days in safari hotel ( 2500/night with AC breakfast) decent stay again.

Lahore to sadiqabad, stayed at night (just okay stay, didn't remeber guest house name) 1800/night without Breakfast.

Then Karachi.

[pwuser149410813923]

Used Google maps throughout.

Just one advise, in order to catch motorway near Gojra, AVOID Kabirwala-Shorkot-Jhang road. Single road of almost 100km where u have drive ur car throogout by overtaking + heavy traffic (coaches/trucks/hiace) are also senselessly driving + over taking from opposite side.
2-3 times I had to drove down my car to kacha road. With Family and kids, I won't suggest anyone to use this track.
Rather use N5 after multan-khanewal motorway and check other options from Google map ( or probably Chichawatni>Tobatek singh> Gojra> to catch motorway from Gojra. 10-15km more but at least safe.

[umairnoor]

thanks for your detailed reply.
My car also only in Petrol.

Did you carry petrol in can?

[umairnoor]

I planned these routes for my trip.

1. **Karachi - Multan - Mingora - Malam Jabba - Kalam - Mahodand Lake - Kalam - Chitral - Gilgit - Naltar Lake - Gilgit - Kunjrab Pass (Pakistan - China Border) - Gilgit - Shangrila Resort - Naran - Kaghan - Manshera - Bhawalpur - Karachi.**

2. **Karachi - Multan - Manshera - Kaghan - Naran - Shangrila Resort - Gilgit - Kunjrab Pass (Pak - China Border) - Gilgit - Naltar Valley - Gilgit - Chitral - Kalam - Mahodand Lake - Kalam - Malam Jabba - Mingora - Bhawalpur - Karachi.**

so i need suggestion about route?

[pwuser149410813923]

No, I didnt carry fuel can. Last I filled at balakot n went to shogran n returned with hardly 10-12 liter consumed till balakot if I m not forgetting.
As you r travelling beyond kiwai, I suggest if any other thread can reply to fuel question.
I personally suggest option option 2.

[pwuser149410813923]

Also check roads to chitral as I read on a pakwheel forum that roads to chitral r not in good condition n can be hectic with family.

[pwuser149410813923]

One suggession, change brand new break pads n keep ur current pads in reserve.u can also use them again in future one ur running pads will be consumed.
My break pads conumed dramatically n i had to change them after a week of my return.

[saad2000]

Thank you Brother, for a very detailed plan of visit, AS i am planning to visit till Naran From karachi by road after Eid, i would really appreciate if you can provide hotel contact numbers, Thank you .
one more question i have , how much food costed you for 4 persons throughout the trip just for an idea. Thanks

[Farooqbash]

How much time it took you from Karachi to Bahawalpur and howz the condition of the road within sindh
I will travelling to Rawalpindi from karachi on 22 or 23 June.

[farrukhzeeshan]

You want to see whole Pakistan in one trip. I think your plan is too hectic. You will be traveling too much. Better reduce number of destinations to hit, focus on quality i stead of quantity. You will have more fun.

[waqas.sultan]

Road condition throughout N5 is very good including Sindh. just couple of small diversions before DHA city karachi.
I left Karachi at 6:30 am in morning and reached to Bhawalpur City around 9pm.
Journey include 3-4 stops overs for Breakfast, fuels+refreshment+ Tea + baby diapers and mostly drove car @ 100-110 km/hr unless needed to slow down.

[waqas.sultan]

For 9 days+8 nights, food cost us around 12-13k + we also took 4 packed food cans from Karachi.

On average 1 meal for 4 persons (1/2 kg karhai+1-2 daal + coldrink etc) cost us around 1,000 pkr. More or less same with Chicken Tikkas.

I also suggest to keep few packed food (readily available or u can also pack your home made food from facilities). During travel, u may face certain situations where u will be needing these pack foods like we faced.

[waqas.sultan]

Generally i used Jovago.com to search hotels. After finding a reasonable hotel, i googled their contact number and called them directly to negotiate rates. some time it worked and sometime i had to booked from Jovago.

** just one suggestion, after ur 1st booking from jovago, for next bookings always verify rates by visiting site from other device too. Site designed to show double rates to the device which used it earlier for booking

I am listing down recommended hotels/guest house names,

Bhawalpur:
Executive lodges: 0300 8681336

Abbotabad
AlifLaila : 0345 9566871

[umairnoor]

days+8 nights, food cost us around 12-13k + we also too

yes may be you are right, if i feel then i will skip the chitral area. thanks for suggestion.

[umairnoor]

Thank you Brother, for a very detailed plan of visit, AS i am planning to visit till Naran From karachi by road after Eid, i would really appreciate if you can provide hotel contact numbers, Thank you . one more question i have , how much food costed you for 4 persons throughout the trip just for an idea. Thanks

in which date you planned?

[saad2000]

At first i was planning to leave from Karachi on 2nd day of Eid but after everyone suggestions about road blocks and rush i postponed it till August ( i don't like much rushy situations) itni dour se bunda sakoon k liye jaye aur sakoon hee naa milay
Also compared the hotel room rates, and they are on fire in Eid days and july.

[umairnoor]

At first i was planning to leave from Karachi on 2nd day of Eid but after everyone suggestions about road blocks and rush i postponed it till August ( i don't like much rushy situations) itni dour se bunda sakoon k liye jaye aur sakoon hee naa milay Also compared the hotel room rates, and they are on fire in Eid days and july.

good, but i have changed my plan from September to July. INSHAALLAH i will leave from Karachi on 2nd day of Eid.