Islamabad to Khunjerab Pass Advice

[adrahsan]

Any advice for me as I will be taking automatic vehicle to that place from islamabad

[HanifBhatti]

Good information (Y)

[HanifBhatti]

Yes you can.

[HanifBhatti]

No problem, just remember when coming downhill use less brakes, travel on lower gear.

[adrahsan]

Peace full place to stay at batakundi and in hunza ,kindly suggest me a hotel with room rent if possible

[Exubery]

First night in Chilas, Shangrila Hotel go via Babusar pass, 2nd night in Karimabad, make a day trip to Border and back to Karimabad for 3rd night4th night in Besham and 5th night home.

Really depends on your idea of "economical stopovers"...How much does Shangrila Hotel Chilas costs? I am not sure it is a budget hotel.

@yasirrafiq7234

This time of the year, you can get good, reasonable rooms (not luxury but OK for family) at Rs. 1,500 - 2,000 per night.

My suggestions would be slightly different to those of HanifBhatti.

Day 1 : Islamabad to Naran (or even beyond, say Battakundi or Jalkhad). There are many hotels en route and cheaper than in Naran. Else, in Naran, go to Jheel road and there are cheap options. We stayed at Rs. 1000 per night in first week of September last year.

Day 2: Jalkhad to Karimabad. Karimabad is the capital and a popular town to add to your "seen" list. Costly hotels here and they do not often negotiate much if at all.

Day 3: Go to Khunjerab pass, spend some time en route at Attabad lake and back to Passu. Stay at Passu Tourist Lodge (approx. 1500-2000 per night). You need to negotiate slightly or look for other hotels nearby like Passu Ambassador etc. If some hotel has foreign tourists usually en route or returning from Shimshal, they will cost more. Move on to the next one that is empty and they will negotiate). Passu is really calm, serene and you wake up to the gorgeous Passu Cones. Really enjoyable if you like quiteness.

Day 4: Either back via Naran side as before or if you need to take KKH then in Besham (PTDC).

Of all these places, Karimabad and Besham is where you will find the more expensive rooms. If you want to make it in 3 nights, then day 1 at Chilas, day 2 visit Khunjerab pass and back to Sost. Day 3 at Jalkhad and day 4 to Islamabad.

Important Tip:

The worst part of the journal will be from Islamabad till Mansehra or even Balakot. Try to leave very early in the morning (around 3.30 or 4 am) so you clear the congestion between Havelian till Mansehra with ease. Otherwise, it is tiresome, irritating, and will cause loss of time.

Fill up in GB instead of Naran (except at PSO if they have fuel). There is a station at Chilas, Lots of stations near the intersection of Gilgit-Hunza road, then near Karimabad and one at SOST.

[yasirrafiq7234]

Thanks a lot sir....can you tell the actual driving times...I think Google map is also telling the actual time but I would just like to be sure

[atharwaqar]

isb- atd 2.5 hrs approx
atd-balakot 3 hrs approx
balakot -naran 3 hrs approx
naran-babusar 2 hrs approx
babusar chilas 1.5 hrs approx
chilas gilgit 3 hrs approx
gilgit hunza 1.45 hrs approx
hunza passu 1 hrs approx
passu sost 1 hrs approx
sost khunjerab 1.5 hrs approx

rest all depends upon land sliding and driving skills

[tajammal84]

Please go through the post. I hope your most of Questions will be answered. And 1 last advise, adopt Muzaffarabad-Mansehra By Pass Route. This will save your 3-4 hrs.
Khanjrab Trip

Hotels Name and Nos also given in above post. Else if you want to know any thing, please do let me know. Without stay travel will be 2 long, and only possible if you have backup of good driver.

[yasirrafiq7234]

If I am going from Islamabad..wouldn't abbotabad mansehra route be best..besides everyone I asked told me that muzaffarabad route road is not in good condition and dangerous..slow speeds

[tajammal84]

Nothing like this. You will find carpeted Road till Balakot. Excellent Road from Muree to Kohala and Kohala to Muzaffarabad and mozaffarabad to Balakot. If you are still in doubt, I can whatsapp you pictures. I went and back from thsi route just a week ago. So dont worry.

Abbotabad-Mansehra Rd will consume at least 3-4 hrs and might be 6 hrs extra in case of rush at road.

[yasirrafiq7234]

Thanks for this great tip

[yasirrafiq7234]

One more thing..if I set aside the Khunjerab plan and have 04 days/3 night return trip..then what will you suggest to fully enjoy it...take base camp at battakundi and explore around? Please give your suggestion..I will leave inshallah on Saturday...what time u took from Islamabad to naran through this route? I am thinking that Khunjerab plan needs more days and we can do it on another time

[tajammal84]

For Khanjrab, you essentially require 5 Nights and 6 Days as mentioned in Post. In battakundi there are not so much develope dhotel for right now. So its better to stay in Naran(heritage hutts near saif al malook exit) Or Venus Guest House (Lalazaar Peak). Room rent will be same at both places i.e. Naran and Lalazaar (2000 per room/ night) but Lalazaaar is really natural and having low temperatures. Only thing is you need to pay jeep rent for Lalazaar (3000 for overnight). For having an really enjoyable trip, i will fully recommend stay in Lalazaar. For that you haev to pak vehicle at Lalazaar Jeep point. Contact with Driver Mir Hassan (Vehicle No 1552 Blue Colour Jeep).

ISB to Natran took us 7.5 hrs with short stay via Muazffarabad and Mansehra By Pass Road. But it also depeen dupon you are fast driver or drive with patience. Patience drive without any hurry will take 8 hrs and i will recommend patience drive. Just 1 mistake can make situation fatal in these areas.

W.r.t 3 nights and 4 Days Trip, you can follow below plan. Remember Police will not allow you to travel towards Babusar after 4PM in eveinig from either side i.e. from Naran to babusar or from Chillas to Babusar.

Day 1: ISB to Naran and Night Stay at Lalazaar
Day 2: Lalazaar to Nomal Village via Babusar and KKH, night Stay at Nulter Village (Naagri Guest House)
Day 3: Visit of Naltar Lakes and arrival at PTDC Hunza or Golden Peak Hunza by 1400 hrs. Check in at Hotel and visit Attabad Lake and back to Hotel on same day
Day 4: Hunza to Naran (Reach 0 point essentially before 4 PM). Stay at Herritahe Hutts Naran
Day 5: Naran to ISB or even on Day 4 you can directly back to ISB if you have good driver as an backup.

Drive in all areas with patience and calm. Avoid to give un necessary dippers and Horens.

For any further query, let me know.

[yasirrafiq7234]

Is the point where you park cars to leave for lalazar safe? No car theft problems I hope so...we will be 04 adults plus 2 kids and 2 infants...3000 will be for whole of us or is it per person...are bigger jeeps also available to fit in one? Thanks for replying

[tajammal84]

There are many hotels around the point from where you will hire the Jeep. Also its jeep driver responsibility to get your vehicle parked, so dont worry about it. Car theft rate in Naran and surroundings areas is almost 0. I have parked many time car even 2 or 3kms away from my accommodation. Before boarding on Jeep ask the driver to get your car parked at safe place. They will do it for free. Try to get Mr Mir Hassan by Giving my reference. Its now days off season so i dont think so hotel booking would be required.

Jeep is designed for 7 to 8 adults. So you are ok in number. All jeeps are of same sizes. Rather its better to be accomodated in same jeep to have less jumps during travel. Lalazaar parking point to Lalazaar peak is 35 mins approx. PKR 3000 is total that Jeep will take from you.

In 3000, Jeep will drop you to Hotel at Lalazaar and will you next morning from Lalazaar at your given time. Deaprt early from Lalazaar next day, have breakfast at Basel (Moon Resturant) in order to reach Nomal in time (preferably by 1600hrs.)

[pwuser152856666939]

Aoa, i am planning to go khunraj pass from islamabad we will be seven adults along with six kids. Can you suggest hiace will be a good option to travel by?? What will be the rate with driver????

[pwuser152856666939]

Further we want to go at the end od june 2018 what will be the hotels rate at that time approx?? Please guide

[pwuser153184380745]

I want to go Islamabad to Khunjerab pass in End of December or start of January .
Can it possible and safe
and
if not , Then where we have to go in End of December for five days tour by road.
And kindly also tell about Visiting points

[HanifBhatti]

Not the right time to go, most of the places will be closed due to Snow.