June 19-24 2010: Sri Paye, Naran, Saif-ul-Muluk, Ansoo Lake, Dudipat Sar Lake Trip

[aesiege]

Hello man how r u?well u perhaps not remember me exactly but i really remember u,just go back to Ur memories and recall that part of Ur trip when u were back from dudipat lake and were cross the "Doli"to come back to Baisal there were a guy who asked u about the lake condition and saw Ur pictures.Really outstanding trip u had.All pictures are really owsum.but i think u r really early at these tracks becoz July is the best month for these lakes.Did u visit Ratti gali,Saral,Gattian lake these lakes are really beautiful man.Watch this link Flickr: aamir567's Photostream
its Aamir Rasheed from pindi.and i dont think so any person know about the kaghan valley more then him.Even he has his book on Kaghan which is Ask dar aks vadiyee kaghan.What about ur future tour.lets be in touch.
Regards,Khurram Shakeeb

A.A. dost kaisey hein aap First of all tell me how was your adventure to Dudipat Lake ??????
I definitely remember you and your excitement to know about the trek and place as you were waiting for us in rain

Thanks for liking the trip and pics.

I know the fact very well that i should go there in late July but the problem is leaves :(. I can't take leaves in July. It has to be June or 3rd week of August onwards which is Ramadan so had to settle for June.

I will attempt Ratti Gali, Saral and Gattian in Aug 2012 inshallah as next year it will still be Ramadan in August.

And Yes, thanks for the link, i will go through the pics once i get home as can't access Flickr from office.

Please send me your number so may be we can make a plan together next time

Take care and really nice to see you here.

[aesiege]

Gr8 trip guyz
n Gr8 trip description.

Last year i couldn't reach tp Dudipat due excessive snow fall

Inshallah will attempt this year

Thanks for your appreciation

This year snow is lesser than 2009 so i hope by now lake water should be visible.

Best of Luck for this year !!

[aesiege]

@ aesiege

thanx for the numbers, they surely will help us as we will go there in early august. we dun have much hiking equipment

You are welcome dear

[Sharin]

@aesiege

very good pics and great trip thanks for sharing.

we are also planing to going 2 dudipatsat lake on 22 or 23 july,
what do you think lake will be frozen ?

[aesiege]

@aesiege

very good pics and great trip thanks for sharing.

we are also planing to going 2 dudipatsat lake on 22 or 23 july,
what do you think lake will be frozen ?

Thanks for the appreciation dear

No the snow should not be at lake by the dates of your trip. Infact the locals were telling us that the lake water should be completely visible in 7-10 days which means by now it should look like a lake of water instead of ice skating rink.

[saziz18]

Great journey guys, thanks for sharing.

[aesiege]

Great journey guys, thanks for sharing.

Thank you very much for your appreciation

[ImranKhan01]

nice trip

[myahya]

Can u please tell me if i can stay a night in camp at saif-ul-mulook with my wife and 1.5 year old daughter? Is it safe ? Also is there any hotel or resturant at the lake saif ul mulook?
My other question is how much it costs for a jeep ride from naran to saif -ul-mulook and from narn to lalazar?
Also how is the over all weather of Naran?
Thanks!

[aesiege]

nice trip

Thank you very much for your appreciation

[aesiege]

Can u please tell me if i can stay a night in camp at saif-ul-mulook with my wife and 1.5 year old daughter? Is it safe ? Also is there any hotel or resturant at the lake saif ul mulook?
My other question is how much it costs for a jeep ride from naran to saif -ul-mulook and from narn to lalazar?
Also how is the over all weather of Naran?
Thanks!

I have seen families doing camping so that is very much doable. And there is no security issue up there. Its only the weather which you need to consider with your young daughter as its very cold at night.
There are no hotels at the lake but food is available there easily. There is only one rest house that famous hut which if available, you can use for night stay. I usually go by hiring a jeep for whole tour. So i only know that they take Rs.3000 for a one day round trip to Saif-ul-Muluk. Sorry, i dont know about Lalazar or the rate for Saif-ul-Muluk if you intend to do camping at night.
The weather is really nice, cold at night and you will need some warm clothes. And now the rainy season has started so sometimes it could be raining for continuous days. On my first trip to Naran in 2005 it rained for 3 days continuously in July and on fourth day we finally saw bright sun and sky.

[rashid81]

Can u please tell me if i can stay a night in camp at saif-ul-mulook with my wife and 1.5 year old daughter? Is it safe ? Also is there any hotel or resturant at the lake saif ul mulook?
My other question is how much it costs for a jeep ride from naran to saif -ul-mulook and from narn to lalazar?
Also how is the over all weather of Naran?
Thanks!

Naran to Saif ul Malook and back to Naran will cost you around 1,000 - 1,200 and Naran to Lalazar and back to Naran will cost you around 1,500. I hired a jeep for both location and visited them same day from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm. I got the same for Rs: 2,000/-

[mshujaweb]

Mobeen,

Read this post and found your amazingly helpful information for everyone. I thought, I could ask one thing as well.

If I plan to take my family along to see these places- Kiwai,- Shugraan,- Sri Paye,- Lake Saif-ul-Muluk,- Lalazaar,- Lake Lulusar,- Naran riverside, we have 10 days and we are 4 persons, would it be good to buy tour package before hand or shall we go independently ourself from Islamabad eg hire a car, get hotel on the go ?

One tour operator is asking 10,000 per person for 5 days tour (family) everything covered (except lunch/dinner). 1 night shogran, 3 nights naran - Naran, sri paya, saiful mulik, lalazar, jalkhad - A/c coaster + jeep. I am assuming they might ask 15000 for 10 days or may be 20,000. Would it be worth it ? Or we can manage in a substantially less cost ourselves, and also not run into issues like not getting room/hotel or too expensive rooms eg 2500 or private jeep/car at places ?

[aesiege]

Mobeen,

Read this post and found your amazingly helpful information for everyone. I thought, I could ask one thing as well.

If I plan to take my family along to see these places- Kiwai,- Shugraan,- Sri Paye,- Lake Saif-ul-Muluk,- Lalazaar,- Lake Lulusar,- Naran riverside, we have 10 days and we are 4 persons, would it be good to buy tour package before hand or shall we go independently ourself from Islamabad eg hire a car, get hotel on the go ?

One tour operator is asking 10,000 per person for 5 days tour (family) everything covered (except lunch/dinner). 1 night shogran, 3 nights naran - Naran, sri paya, saiful mulik, lalazar, jalkhad - A/c coaster + jeep. I am assuming they might ask 15000 for 10 days or may be 20,000. Would it be worth it ? Or we can manage in a substantially less cost ourselves, and also not run into issues like not getting room/hotel or too expensive rooms eg 2500 or private jeep/car at places ?

I am really happy that the thread is of some help

First of all, the tour operator costs seems quite expensive since you can manage the tour on your own in much lesser cost. Also, you are bound with tour operators for their timing, route, choice of hotels etc. With your own conveyance or hired jeeps you can stop wherever you like for whatever time and you can go to any place you like as per your own schedule.

I think you can plan a 5 or 6 day trip to cover all these places very easily.

Day 1: Reach Shugraan from Islamabad. You can stay at Kiwai on your way. Take a hotel in Shugraan and visit Sri Paye. Night stay at Shugraan. You may opt to visit Sri Paye next day and stay for 2 nights at Shugraan. In that case add another day to the trip.

Day 2/3: Leave Shugraan early morning for Naran. Get a hotel in Naran and visit Lalazaar on same day as it is close and easily manageable in 3-4 hours. night stay at Naran.

Day 3/4: Visit Saif-ul-Muluk. Spend full day at lake or you may spend after noon or evening at riverside in Naran.

Day 4/5: Full day trip to Jalkhad and Lulusar Lake. You may also visit Nuri Top. Night stay at Naran.

Day 5/6: Return journey to Islamabad.

Now the question is how to travel. You have the choice of using your own car from Islamabad till Naran. Cars can go till Shugraan also from Kiwai.
In this case, you will require jeeps for following visits:
1-Sri Paye (from Shugraan)
2-Lalazaar and Saif-ul-Muluk (from Naran)
3- Lulusar and Nuri Top (from Jalkhad as cars can go till Jalkhad)

Second option is to use buses till Mansehra and hire a jeep for 5,6 days for the whole trip. We hired jeep from Mansehra this summer at Rs.1500 per day plus diesel expense was ours. If you are interested you can contact Qari Rashid Obaidi on his cell 0345-9469770. He is very nice person and would suit for your family trip. He can pick you from Mansehra and drop back on return. You may also opt to use Daewoo for Islamabad journeys which runs from Abbottabad but advance booking is a must.

In case you travel through your own car, even then you can go with him on Naran visits on jeep, he will be reasonable in rates also.

Your trip cost should look like:

Jeep: 1500*5=7500
Diesel: 5000
OR you can add up your estimated cost of travel through own car and your jeep expense would be around 6000.
Hotel in Shugraan 1500-2000 per night
Hotel in Naran 1200-2000 per night
Daily meals snacks etc. around 400 per person per day.

Finding hotels in Naran on weekends is a BIG TASK. If possible reach there in weekdays. Jeeps are easily available from all spots. You can always park your car at hotel and travel on jeep if required.

[Raheeln]

very useful and wonderful trip u have had, good !

[mshujaweb]

Wow! I feel much obliged. There are many ppl. specially foreigners, who'd love to know all that, which you have explained in such detail. We can now just use this itinerary and travel (H)

You have gained quite a knowledge on these trips (and ofcourse first hand). I have bought tickets from 14-26 Jul khi-isb-khi. So, will explore what else to see and visit, to cover those days.

best wishes
Shuja

I am really happy that the thread is of some help

First of all, the tour operator costs seems quite expensive since you can manage the tour on your own in much lesser cost. Also, you are bound with tour operators for their timing, route, choice of hotels etc. With your own conveyance or hired jeeps you can stop wherever you like for whatever time and you can go to any place you like as per your own schedule.

I think you can plan a 5 or 6 day trip to cover all these places very easily.

Day 1: Reach Shugraan from Islamabad. You can stay at Kiwai on your way. Take a hotel in Shugraan and visit Sri Paye. Night stay at Shugraan. You may opt to visit Sri Paye next day and stay for 2 nights at Shugraan. In that case add another day to the trip.

Day 2/3: Leave Shugraan early morning for Naran. Get a hotel in Naran and visit Lalazaar on same day as it is close and easily manageable in 3-4 hours. night stay at Naran.

Day 3/4: Visit Saif-ul-Muluk. Spend full day at lake or you may spend after noon or evening at riverside in Naran.

Day 4/5: Full day trip to Jalkhad and Lulusar Lake. You may also visit Nuri Top. Night stay at Naran.

Day 5/6: Return journey to Islamabad.

Now the question is how to travel. You have the choice of using your own car from Islamabad till Naran. Cars can go till Shugraan also from Kiwai.
In this case, you will require jeeps for following visits:
1-Sri Paye (from Shugraan)
2-Lalazaar and Saif-ul-Muluk (from Naran)
3- Lulusar and Nuri Top (from Jalkhad as cars can go till Jalkhad)

Second option is to use buses till Mansehra and hire a jeep for 5,6 days for the whole trip. We hired jeep from Mansehra this summer at Rs.1500 per day plus diesel expense was ours. If you are interested you can contact Qari Rashid Obaidi on his cell 0345-9469770. He is very nice person and would suit for your family trip. He can pick you from Mansehra and drop back on return. You may also opt to use Daewoo for Islamabad journeys which runs from Abbottabad but advance booking is a must.

In case you travel through your own car, even then you can go with him on Naran visits on jeep, he will be reasonable in rates also.

Your trip cost should look like:

Jeep: 1500*5=7500
Diesel: 5000
OR you can add up your estimated cost of travel through own car and your jeep expense would be around 6000.
Hotel in Shugraan 1500-2000 per night
Hotel in Naran 1200-2000 per night
Daily meals snacks etc. around 400 per person per day.

Finding hotels in Naran on weekends is a BIG TASK. If possible reach there in weekdays. Jeeps are easily available from all spots. You can always park your car at hotel and travel on jeep if required.

[aesiege]

very useful and wonderful trip u have had, good !

Thank you very much for the appreciation

[aesiege]

Wow! I feel much obliged. There are many ppl. specially foreigners, who'd love to know all that, which you have explained in such detail. We can now just use this itinerary and travel (H)

You have gained quite a knowledge on these trips (and ofcourse first hand). I have bought tickets from 14-26 Jul khi-isb-khi. So, will explore what else to see and visit, to cover those days.

best wishes
Shuja

You are most welcome Shuja!

I have travelled in last 6 years continuously with almost two trips in every summer and two winter trips in 2007 and 2008 as well.
But there wasn't much information available on internet till this year Google popped up with Pakwheels forums when i was searching for N15 road condition (Mansehra - Naran- Jalkhad- Chillas road) and i found this treasure of latest information

So, i am trying to put in my share to make this more informative.

I really appreciate this PW platform which is unique in a sense that you can find the latest information about remote areas of Northern Pakistan which i can bet you wont find through searching on google.

Best of Luck for your trip !!

[luckyman]

nice photoes

[aceones]

nice pics, thanks for sharing...

looks like they installed a new doli