Gilgit to Skardu / Phander by Car

yasirkhanpk (yasirkhanpk) 2021-07-20 13:09:40 +0500 #1

I am planning a road trip from Lahore to Skardu with family on Corolla.
I have been to Hunza and Kunjerab before on City two years ago and it was a pleasant experience.

I am concerned about Skardu road. Can we reach by Car to Skardu or it is better to hire a jeep from Gilgit.
I am thinking of parking my car in Gilgit and then move towards Skardu, Deosai and on return take my car from Gilgit and drive back due to poor road conditions. I am someone who would not like to scrape my car from bottom so suggestions are required.
If someone has done this recently then please share your experience and what options do we have for car rentals from GIlgit or is there a better place than gilgit to park car and hire a jeep.

Also how is the road condition to Phander ? Is it doable on own car or jeep is better ? I heard that road till Phander is good (paved) .
I am aiming for 10 days at the end of August or start of September. Please guide.

nagar1 (nagar1) 2021-07-20 18:20:20 +0500 #2

Skardu road is 60-70% ready. Majorly the portion near and around shingus is under maintenance.some new bridges are being constructed. You can take your car through skardu road with care and hire jeep from skardu for deosai. But the right season for visiting deosai is july start to august mid max. Afrer that it starts loosing its colors...the grass will be fading and flowers will be gone. Phandar is ok for cars

yasirkhanpk (yasirkhanpk) 2021-07-21 15:16:28 +0500 #3

Thanks for your reply. So gilgit skardu road is doable on own car. How good is the road to Phander ? Is it properly paved or just rough track good enough for cars ?
Are there decent places to stay while travelling to Phander ?

nagar1 (nagar1) 2021-07-21 20:12:09 +0500 #4

I cant say properly paved but cars can go easily...its not maintained so many broken patches here and there. Majorly it is good i may say about 70%.
Gahkuch has good hotels to stay. KHALTI LAKE had ptdc but it is closed now. Other than that there are small guest houses or hotels.

waqasch1 (waqasch1) 2021-07-21 22:59:41 +0500 #5

Road to Phandar is good and if you can drive on non paved track do go to Handrap and Teru as well as they are too good to be left in your trip. Road to Ishkoman is not in good shape but still manageable on car. Road to Yasin is good and you can go upto Hunder on car.

To enjoy more, start from Ishkoman, then Yasin, then Phandar, Handrap and Teru because if you go towards Phandar first, you might not be able to appreciate other valleys.

Blossom Inn in Gupis (behind degree college), Sada Bahar (families block, near nala and river, ask anyone its famous) in Phandar and Baam e Duniya (on main road) in Ishkoman are good places to stay, there are other more economical options as well but you would need to check if you like em.

Ghizer valley is easier to reach, has a good variety of landscape, weather and if you get a Jeep from Phander/Teru you can do a day trip to Shandoor as well.

this thread has good info on the area https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/t/help-needed-yasin-valley-phandar-shandoor-and-ishkoman/55020923

nagar1 (nagar1) 2021-07-22 00:20:23 +0500 #6

Very useful reply boss

Moderator (Moderator) 2021-07-22 13:03:21 +0500 #7

KKH is closed due to land sliding exercise caution and get an update from FWO / NHMP before heading for GLBT & further up north

nagar1 (nagar1) 2021-07-22 13:17:40 +0500 #8

05811930055 call this number for info about KKH

[mod edit ] Thank you @nagar1

yasirkhanpk (yasirkhanpk) 2021-07-22 17:04:02 +0500 #9

I am planning at end of next month. Rainy season will end by mid August.

yasirkhanpk (yasirkhanpk) 2021-07-22 17:06:11 +0500 #10

waqasch1:

Road to Phandar is good and if you can drive on non paved track do go to Handrap and Teru as well as they are too good to be left in your trip. Road to Ishkoman is not in good shape but still manageable on car. Road to Yasin is good and you can go upto Hunder on car.

To enjoy more, start from Ishkoman, then Yasin, then Phandar, Handrap and Teru because if you go towards Phandar first, you might not be able to appreciate other valleys.

Blossom Inn in Gupis (behind degree college), Sada Bahar (families block, near nala and river, ask anyone its famous) in Phandar and Baam e Duniya (on main road) in Ishkoman are good places to stay, there are other more economical options as well but you would need to check if you like em.

Ghizer valley is easier to reach, has a good variety of landscape, weather and if you get a Jeep from Phander/Teru you can do a day trip to Shandoor as well.

Thank you so much for a detailed reply. I have an idea about Skardu but was looking forward to some advise regarding Ghizer valley. Will check and make a plan. If I need more information I will ask here.

yasirkhanpk (yasirkhanpk) 2021-07-29 14:29:57 +0500 #11

Is this plan doable for Skardu and am I missing something important ?

Day 1 Arrival at 2 PM - Skardu
Visit (a) Upper kachura lake (b) Buddha Rock

Day 2
Visit (a) Katpana lake / Desert (b) Kharpocho fort (c) Nansoq organic valley.

Day 3

Visit (a) Sadpara dam/ lake (b) Deosai Top (c) Sheosar lake

Day 4
(a) Hussainabad Village (b) Masrur Rock (c) Shigar Fort (d) Amburiq Mosque (e) Chutron Shigar Hot Springs

Day 5
(a) Khaplu Palace (b) Chaqchan Mosque

Day 6
(a) Manthoka Waterfall (b) Skardu

Day 7

Day 8 Departure early morning.

If the above plan is workable then 1 day is free. What could be done on that day ? If not then what to modify in plan
If the above plan does not include any important place then please recommend.

[mod edit] @nagar1 @asifcae @gilgiti

nagar1 (nagar1) 2021-07-30 21:54:18 +0500 #12

Aoa. DAY 1
Upper kachura and buddha rock manthal are in opposite directions however they can be done in a single day
You can add Soq village along with upper kachure lake or shangrilla can be added on the day.
One imp thing...where would you stay ?i mean night stay
Regarding the free day, deosai is a hectic trip .the day after deosai sheosar should be a rest day

nagar1 (nagar1) 2021-07-30 22:19:00 +0500 #13

Day 4 will have a lot of travelling ...skip one place
Masur rock requires 2 hr trekking you may skip it

nagar1 (nagar1) 2021-07-30 22:21:54 +0500 #14

Day 6.
If u leave early morning u can add khamash waterfall which is 2 hrours further journey from manthoka...however it is not necessary as in manthoka u will have quite good time playing in water ,having tea etc etc

yasirkhanpk (yasirkhanpk) 2021-07-31 08:47:28 +0500 #15

I was considering khamash waterfall but then decided against it considering that visiting two waterfalls on the same day won't be very entertaining. Instead will sit and enjoy manthoka.

nagar1 (nagar1) 2021-07-31 11:13:26 +0500 #16

Would be the right rhing