Islamabad to Khunjurab then Skardu by Car in May 2016

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irfanahmed76 (irfanahmed76) 2016-04-06 05:34:21 +0500 #1

I am planning for 19 days trip from Karachi to Islamabad by air then by own car as following.

Day 1: Abottabad to Hunza via KKH
Day 3: Hunza to Khunjurab
Day 5: Hunza to Shigar
Day 8. Shigar to Astore
Day 11: Astore to Raikot Bridge
Day 17: Raikot Bridge to Islamabad

I will be driving Toyota Vitz 2008. What and where are the road conditions where my car wont move along? What are your suggested ideas and inputs. I will be travelling with my kids (under 10). I have been to Sharada, Peer Chanasi, Toli Peer, Shugran etc in same car.

Your kind response will be highly appreciated.

umairadeeb (umairadeeb) 2016-04-06 12:23:44 +0500 #2

I am also planning a similar trip in my car from Karachi. When will you be leaving? May be you could accompany us from Islamabad. Here is my plan for reference: https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/ask-travel-gurus/271299-family-road-trip-karachi-gilgit-baltistan

Weather and road conditions of KKH are uncertain right now due to recent rainfall and landsliding. I am hoping it will become normal in a month.

As far as I have researched on existing threads, your car can go till Khunjerab pass and from Gilgit to Skardu as well (not sure about going beyond Skardu).

haiderjaved (haiderjaved) 2016-04-06 13:13:10 +0500 #3

The car will get some banging from besham to chillas, though it will manage.
Hope you have seen the updates of landslides at current, those kohistab region patches may not be repaired by then.

Hunza to khunjerab is no issue.
Hunza to SHIGAR will be tough again, I found numerous land slides on my way to Skardu and you hardly find any road at some points.
Once again, the car can manage depending how safely you drive at the effected patches.
Skardu onwards road is fine.

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irfanahmed76 (irfanahmed76) 2016-04-07 01:43:03 +0500 #4

Hi Umair,

Your itinerary looks good. I am going by air from khi to isl and sending my car by cargo to isl airport then will start my journey to abottoabad. Stay one nigh there then move forward. I will be travelling on 3rd May.

farooq05 (farooq05) 2016-04-07 02:50:17 +0500 #5

What's the procedure of sending car by cargo, like;

where and how to book,
charges,
transit time,
documentation required from police dept,
most importantly if car handling is taken care safely to avoid any damages?

irfanahmed76 (irfanahmed76) 2016-04-07 03:56:56 +0500 #6

Thanks Haider for your reply and I need to ask you few things.

Is there any chance that Babusar Pass will be open by first week of may?
Any alternate for Hunza to Shigar? or will my car survive those roads?
I am never rough in mountains but land sliding is un-predictable atleast for a car drive without any sensors or updates. Are there any land sliding areas where I have to take care?
What will be the travel time from Abottoabad to Hunza considering recent road conditions?

Thanks

shafimuhammad (shafi muhammad) 2016-04-07 05:18:06 +0500 #7

Abotabad to karimabad hunza at least 13 to 14hours 10 ghanty to chilas tal lag jaengy

umairadeeb (umairadeeb) 2016-04-07 06:16:13 +0500 #8

As far as I know, Babusar pass won't be open until June.
I will be leaving Karachi on May 5th probably if weather and road conditions permit.

shafimuhammad (shafi muhammad) 2016-04-07 07:23:18 +0500 #9

babusar pass will be most probably accessible aftter mid july

haiderjaved (haiderjaved) 2016-04-07 08:08:07 +0500 #10

Babusar top won't be open brother.
You ll have to take skardu road for reaching shigar, Other way around is through DEOSAI that won't be opened either.
KKH to skardu, landslide is really unpredictable. If you make it nice and easy, the car may get some rubbing at the bottom but will through it easily.
Try to leave Hunza a bit early, like 10-11am so as to travel in day light till skardu. It's a deserted route, not much traffic/help in case u need it (I wish u don't).
If u're staying at serena SHIGAR then it's ok, else u may do it like:
Hunza to Shangrila (lower kachura)
Shangrila>Shigar>Shangrila
And shangrila > astore

There's a wonderful army mess at Shangrila lake, or Shangrila resort itself.
You may visit upper kachura lake/village before leaving for astore, it's a beautiful beautiful place..

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irfanahmed76 (irfanahmed76) 2016-04-07 08:15:34 +0500 #11

Farooq,

Contact Chief goods - 0334 2100783 (Zulfiqar)

He gave me 17500 rs rate. Pick from home khi and delivery to airport isl. Includes everything documentation etc. Few of my colleagues used their services and no damages has been reported yet. For return from isl to khi they will charge 7500 rs, again pick from isl airport and drop at home khi.

irfanahmed76 (irfanahmed76) 2016-04-07 08:25:03 +0500 #12

[TABLE="width: 703"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]Day[/TD]
[TD]From[/TD]
[TD]via[/TD]
[TD]To[/TD]
[TD]Travel[/TD]
[TD]Mode[/TD]
[TD]Stay[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]1[/TD]
[TD]Karachi[/TD]
[TD]Islamabad[/TD]
[TD]Abottoabad[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Air[/TD]
[TD]Abottabad[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]2[/TD]
[TD]Abottoabad[/TD]
[TD]Gilgit[/TD]
[TD]Hunza[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Car[/TD]
[TD]Hunza[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]3[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Bazar[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Walk[/TD]
[TD]Hunza[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]4[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Altit/Baltit Fort/Eagle's Nest[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Car[/TD]
[TD]Hunza[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]5[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Khunjurab Pass[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Car[/TD]
[TD]Hunza[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Rakaposhi[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Car[/TD]
[TD]Hunza[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]7[/TD]
[TD]Hunza[/TD]
[TD]Aliabad, Karimabad, Gilgit[/TD]
[TD]Shigar[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Car[/TD]
[TD]Shigar[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Shangrila, Sadpara, Deosai[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Jeep[/TD]
[TD]Shigar[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]9[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Khaplu[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Jeep[/TD]
[TD]Shigar[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]10[/TD]
[TD]Shigar[/TD]
[TD]Jaglot[/TD]
[TD]Astore[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Car[/TD]
[TD]Astore[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]11[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Rama Lake[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Walk[/TD]
[TD]Astore[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]12[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Rupal[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Astore[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]13[/TD]
[TD]Astore[/TD]
[TD]Raikot Bridge[/TD]
[TD]Fairy Meadows[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Car+jeep[/TD]
[TD]Fairy Meadows[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Fairy Meadows[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]15[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Fairy Meadows[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]16[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Fairy Meadows[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]17[/TD]
[TD]Fairy Meadows[/TD]
[TD]Raikot Bridge[/TD]
[TD]Abottabad[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Jeep+Car[/TD]
[TD]Abottabad[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]18[/TD]
[TD]Abottoabad[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Islamabad[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Car[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]19[/TD]
[TD]Islamabad[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Karachi[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Air[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

haiderjaved;5058235:

Babusar top won't be open brother.

You ll have to take skardu road for reaching shigar, Other way around is through DEOSAI that won't be opened either.

KKH to skardu, landslide is really unpredictable. If you make it nice and easy, the car may get some rubbing at the bottom but will through it easily.
Try to leave Hunza a bit early, like 10-11am so as to travel in day light till skardu. It's a deserted route, not much traffic/help in case u need it (I wish u don't).
If u're staying at serena SHIGAR then it's ok, else u may do it like:
Hunza to Shangrila (lower kachura)
Shangrila>Shigar>Shangrila
And shangrila > astore

There's a wonderful army mess at Shangrila lake, or Shangrila resort itself.
You may visit upper kachura lake/village before leaving for astore, it's a beautiful beautiful place..

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irfanahmed76 (irfanahmed76) 2016-04-07 08:27:02 +0500 #13

That's the plan above I am going to follow.

haiderjaved (haiderjaved) 2016-04-07 08:40:29 +0500 #14

hmmm it's a bit confusing as well.

Day-8:
Shigar > sadpara > Shangrila > Deosai.
Deosai is a question mark, plus shangrila and deosai are in different direction.

you're spending one extra day at hunza, but you never mind relaxing in that serene beauty.
by the way where do you intend to stay at hunza? and have you made reservation?

day-9: Shigar > Khaplu > shigar can easily be done in your own car.

03 days at fairy meadows? seriously?
your kids wont spare you for that
i really dont know what activities you'll have for these 3 days.

day-18: depending on ur flight time, why dont you stay at besham instead of abbotabad.

irfanahmed76 (irfanahmed76) 2016-04-07 09:19:52 +0500 #15

Day 8: It is based on following route and please guide me where I am wrong on ground reality.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Shigar+Fort+Residence,+Shigar/Skardu/Sadpara+Lake/Deosai+Plains/Shigar+Fort+Residence,+Shigar/@35.2250744,75.4455225,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m32!4m31!1m5!1m1!1s0x38e4f53758203f4f:0xd8aaa11fdc61ffcd!2m2!1d75.7422298!2d35.4229227!1m5!1m1!1s0x38e46392bac10283:0xc2f7a786f9833d7!2m2!1d75.6453431!2d35.2900896!1m5!1m1!1s0x38e47cadd5aba933:0xf1cbdf5e1678d85a!2m2!1d75.6280827!2d35.2224829!1m5!1m1!1s0x38e38a0af3c54973:0x433ca1c03b7ce57f!2m2!1d75.4135822!2d35.0264864!1m5!1m1!1s0x38e4f53758203f4f:0xd8aaa11fdc61ffcd!2m2!1d75.7422298!2d35.4229227!3e0

I am staying in Serena Hunza and booking already done. And I know I am spending much time in Hunza but after long drives I love to relax in a beautiful place with beautiful people

Thanks for correction about Khaplu.

We will take photos and relax in Fairy Meadows. My kids has been waiting to visit that place since 4 years and they love to enjoy in the wild.

haiderjaved (haiderjaved) 2016-04-07 09:25:07 +0500 #16

There's no Shangrila in the map brother, very right as it's not in ur route either.

Probably u mentioned it by mistake.

Plus I am not sure deosai can be explored but you must have done your home wo k right, I believe.

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abid110 2016-04-07 09:25:35 +0500 #17

Sending car through a truck? How much is the charge of transportation?

irfanahmed76 (irfanahmed76) 2016-04-07 09:38:15 +0500 #18

yes, 17k home to home delivery.

irfanahmed76 (irfanahmed76) 2016-04-07 10:10:29 +0500 #19

Correct, it was my mistake. I will visit Shangrila while coming from Hunza to Shigar. There is no need to go backward after settling in Shigar.

Re Deosai, either will go from Skardu side or Astore, whichever path will be open.

umairadeeb (umairadeeb) 2016-04-07 13:17:51 +0500 #20

Abbottabad to Hunza is around 16 hours (560 kms) without traffic (according to google). You have selected the wrong route in google maps. Here is the correct one: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Abbottabad,+Pakistan/Hunza+Valley/@35.3296214,72.3124978,8z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m10!1m1!1s0x38de3111557ac517:0x6e59a635b12e952c!2m2!1d73.2214982!2d34.1687502!3m4!1m2!1d73.1055003!2d35.1743608!3s0x38dd96377f9ed1df:0x1b0f956e129db96d!1m5!1m1!1s0x38e8a0927450692b:0x866b1b1181ca7cea!2m2!1d74.6032313!2d36.3445265!3e0

You should stay at Besham or Chilas, IMO.

Also, I would suggest to stay at Passu or Sost as well instead of spending 3 days at Karimabad/Hunza.

Deosai is out of question as it won't be accessible before end of June I guess.