Last Jeep Point
For trekking to Jahaz Banda, the last point up to which you can go on jeeps is Taki Banda. Some jeep drivers make excuses and try to offload you at earlier points, but jeeps do go until Taki Banda and you should confirm from your driver you hire from Thal that he'll drop you off at Taki Banda and not before that.
Time
Trekking time to Jahaz Banda depends on your own physical condition. Last year when we went there, it took different members of our group from 1.25 to 2 hours to get from Taki Banda to Jahaz Banda. Some people we met on top claimed that it took them up to 3 hours. It all depends on how many times you stop on your way to rest and to take pictures.
Jahaz Banda to Katora lake also took us around 1.5 hours on average (some got there in 1.25 and some in 1.75 hours).
Difficulty
Taki Banda to Jahaz Banda
There is some steep incline at the start of this trek, but it's a very wide area and easily traversable. Rest of the trek (apart from last 5 minutes) is pretty much straight forward and is overall not a difficult trek.
Jahaz Banda to Katora Lake
This trek is pretty much level and there is no steep incline at any area (except the very last point). However, there are some areas on the trek where you have to traverse over large loose rocks where you have to be very careful. At the very end of the trek the last rock that we have to climb is pretty steep, but it is a small part only. Overall the trek is not very difficult but you have to be careful on the rocky portions.
Horses are available for trek up to Jahaz Banda. But on Katora lake track, locals tell visitors that they'll take them to Katora lake on the horse but at the very first part covered with rocks, they disembark the visitors and tell them that Katora lake is just 10 minutes away and have to go on foot from there. But that's not even the halfway mark and if someone is planning to go there on horseback, that's not an option for Katora lake.
Rest House / Hotel / Camps
There aren't any proper hotels at Jahaz Banda and only camps and tin huts are available (with floor bedding). Although some new structures were under construction and the situation may have improved now. Be careful while renting camps as some of them are not waterproof and won't be any good if it rains. Washrooms are a major issue and only 2-3 are available which are used by occupants of multiple tin and camp hotels. In the morning there is a long line outside washrooms.
To be honest, I was disappointed with locals of the area. Most of them lie and try to deceive the visitors as much as they can. Such behavior of the locals when tourism in the area is at such early stages was very disappointing.
