Need advice: Khunjerab + Chitral from Lahore on Eid Holidays

[hamsafar4u]

Assalam-o-Alikum to All!
As you all know that the summary for Eid holidays has been placed for approval and it could be a 8 days holidays if one could avail the leave for 20th August, 2018. Keeping in mind the stated fact a family (comprising couple + 3 kids of age 7, 6 & 2 years) trip is being planned to exploit the upcoming opportunity.
Tentative tour plan is shared with you for your valuable suggestions and further improvements please.

[gilgiti]

Seems like a great plan.
What vehicle are you gona travel in? Are you going to drive it yourself or do you have a driver. Please mention that and I’ll put forward some suggestions as i have traveled on all these raods.

[hamsafar4u]

Great to know that you are familiar with the area.

On my side it would be done on Honda Civic-97 driven by myself. Have already gone till China border with few of university friends, using the same vehicle in August 2016. As of now Gilgit to Chitral expedition would be complete new trail for me.

[gilgiti]

I would suggest you not to go to Chitral Via Shandur. The roads are in pathetic condition and since you are traveling with family any little unfortunate event might pose you a lot of difficulty. As these areas are very under developed there aren’t any proper workshops along the roads from Shandur till Buni Chitral. Most of the road is very rough, hilly and bumpy full of large stones . One needs a SUV to travel on such roads.
My suggestion for you would be trave back from Phander to Gilgit and from Gilgit you should take KKH back to Besham and from there you can go to Swat, Dir and Chitral.

[hamsafar4u]

i really appreciate your suggestion of Besham, Swat, Dir route would surely consider it on the go... for now, i have a few concerns about the area;

a) What about the road rush in the said dates from Naran to Hunza (especially eid days) ?
b) Boarding costs in eid days, i mean do the hotels in the area charge extra during eid holidays ?
c) Crowd / Number of visitors at China Border in Eid days ?

[gilgiti]

Don’t know much about the boarding costs but yes it won’t be hyped as they are regulated by the local government. Its not like Muree.
About the rush yes, there’s gona be traffic on the roads but nothing to worry. It won’t be too much especially from Babusar onwards.
You won’t feel any any difficultly because of the traffic I’m sure. As the season is closing already.

[farrukhzeeshan]

An excellent opportunity but due to rush, lot of people will curse themself for going North in these holidays. Roads will be packed, most of the tourists will spend most of their time on roads and traffic jams. Hotel rates will be sky high, a 2k worth room will be hardly available in 8 to 10k.

Don't go beyond Phander, Phander-Mastuj is a jeep track, if you still insist to go, get spacers in your car, tell your mechanic to, jitne bare spacer dal sakte hain dal de... you will thank me later once you reach there.

[farrukhzeeshan]

پچھلے ہفتےناران، ہنزہ اور غذر کے سفر سے واپسی ہوی، جس ہوٹل میں ٹہرا تو دیکھا وہ چھریاں تیز کر رہے ہیں ، بڑی خوشی ہوی کہ اس جوش
وخروش سے ایک مذہبی فریضہ یعنی عیدقرباں کیلئے تیاریاں ہو رہی ہیں،استفسار پر چھری تیز کرتے اسنے بایئں آنکھ دبا کر کہا، کہ
بکروں(ٹورسٹ کواس دفع بڑی تعداد میں چھری پھیرنی ہے

[hamsafar4u]

@farrukhzeeshan thanks for your appreciation and valuable suggestion of SPACER(s) would surely consider it.

It would really add value to happily go with my plan.

[hamsafar4u]

@gilgiti if i skip Phandar - Chitral and adopt other route it may be packed as it gets packed in Muree and Naran on vacations....

What about Astor, Deo Sai and Rupal instead... on the mentioned days against Chitral and area

[gilgiti]

Yeah, you can do that. The roads are not really that good on the Astore side but its still doable on a civic. All the best. Don’t be fooled by what all people tell you. I’m a local resident of GB and I know things here. Hope you have a great journey. Do share pics. All the best. Best wishes!!