Need advise for the trip of fairy meadows and sharda+kel

Road Trips / Vacations / Hiking / Trekking

yepee9 (yepee9) 2011-08-23 05:13:50 +0500 #1

Hi everyone,

Me and my 5 friends are planing trip to naran and nellum valley. I need some info, advises/suggestion for following things.

1.Distance and travel time from naran to Fairy Meadows. what route/transport to use and how much they will cost.

2.Distance and travel time from fairy meadows to KEL.what route/transport to use and how much they will cost.

3.Places(hotels/resthouses) to rest or stay in the way or on both destinations, and how much you have to pay there.

Can we visit these places in 4-5 days (we really have shortage of time).

5.Any other place which will be in our way our near both places, visit of which you will recommend.

Other tips, advises or recommedation which will help us.

We will leave on 4th sep.

Appreciate your valuable feedback and info.

Thanks. :):):):):):)

conflicted (conflicted) 2011-08-23 05:15:48 +0500 #2

yara fairy meadows and kel both are opposite in direction w r t kaghan valley...

i think both places in a go are not feasible...

plan to visit one side at a time..

conflicted (conflicted) 2011-08-23 05:16:38 +0500 #3

u have to cross babusar pass to reach chilas and than fairy meadows.. while if u want to go kel than u have to cross nori top opposite to babusar top to reach sharda and than kel....

yepee9 (yepee9) 2011-08-23 05:40:20 +0500 #4

this is the route i selected.

yepee9 (yepee9) 2011-08-23 05:43:56 +0500 #5

i was planing to go fairy meadows first then return to jalkad and from there we were planning to go KEL.

Naran, Pakistan to Kel, Pakistan - Google Maps

Naran Pakistan
1. Head northeast on Mansehra - Naran - Jalkhad - Chilas Rd toward Saiful Muluk Rd 112 km
2. Turn right onto Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad-Chilas 1.4 km
3. Slight right 73 m
4. Slight right toward Karakoram Hwy 2.1 km
5. Sharp right onto Karakoram Hwy 52.5 km
6. Sharp right onto Fairy Meadows Rd 10.7 km
Fairy Meadows Rd Tattu, Pakistan
7. Head northeast on Fairy Meadows Rd 10.7 km
8. Sharp left onto Karakoram Hwy 52.5 km
9. Sharp left toward Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad-Chilas 2.1 km
10. Continue straight onto Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad-Chilas 1.4 km
11. Turn left to stay on Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad-Chilas 71.4 km
12. Turn left toward Neelum Valley Road 47.8 km
13. Turn left onto Neelum Valley Road 18.5 km
Kel Pakistan

imarshad (imarshad) 2011-08-23 06:03:13 +0500 #6

In early July the Jalkhad-Noori Top was closed due to a glacier that fell on the track. Please make sure before leaving that it is cleared...

yepee9 (yepee9) 2011-08-23 06:08:54 +0500 #7

thanks conflicted & arshad.

ranasherdil (ranasherdil) 2011-08-23 06:16:04 +0500 #8

There is no confirm news about opening of Noori Top Road upto Sharda. On 17.07.2011, The road was open just a few km before top from Jalkhad Side. It was also heard that at Sharda Side, there are also some glaciers. Army/authorities are not taking interest in opening this road. As this is not of their use/interest nowadays...

imarshad (imarshad) 2011-08-23 06:25:49 +0500 #9

As far as your questions are concerned I will try to answer them,....

1) Naran-Fairy Meadows....
The route is via Jalkhad-Gitidas-Babusar Top - Chillas - Raikot Bridge - Tattu - Fairy Meadows Total diastance will be about 120-140KM.....
You will need to hire a jeep from Naran to Chillas and it will take at least 5-6 hours to reach Chillas. From Chillas it will take 2 hours to reach Raikot bridge. Here you will need to hire a local jeep and go to Tattu village and then it is a 3-4 hours hike to Fairy Meadows....
From Naran to Chillas will cost some where between Rs. 6000-8000 at least.
Add another 2000 if you take the jeep to Raikot bridge.

2) Fairy Meadows - Kel
Back to Jalkhad after crossing Babusar top and then via Norri Top to Sharda and then to Kel.

3) Many cottages in Fairy Meadows and the rate will be between 500-2500 per night. The food will be very expensive....
In Kel there is AK Tourism resthouse as well as 4-5 low level hotels which are very cheap.

4) No you cannot..... My suggestion will be to visit Neelum valley (via Muzaffarabad route).

5) In Neelum valley you can visit Taobutt and Shonter lake.

6) Your plan is not practical and will cost you too much. My suggestion will be to drop one of the locations and concentrate on only one in such short time.....

My Neelum valley trip (July 2010) details
https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/road-trips-vacations/142596-exploring-neelum-valley-10-13-july

My Fairy Meadows Trip (July 2011) details
https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/road-trips-vacations/170966-july-2011-trip-fairy-meadows-astore-rama-chilum-deosai-skardu-gilgit

yepee9 (yepee9) 2011-08-23 06:29:39 +0500 #10

thanks rana sahib for the info, if the way to sharda/kel is closed which other locations you will prefer to visit. Actually we want to visit maximum places in limited time, our bosses are not as good as yours so we have only 5 days .

yepee9 (yepee9) 2011-08-23 06:35:38 +0500 #11

Thank you very much arshad for the detailed reply it will really help us.

So it looks like we can only visit one of them, so which one you will recommend ?

imarshad (imarshad) 2011-08-23 06:38:59 +0500 #12

You can go through my threads of both areas and decide it by yourself. I will definitely suggest Neelum valley. I have visited quite a lot of Northern area but I have to admit Neelum valley is the most beautiful and wonderful place that I ever have been to.

yepee9 (yepee9) 2011-08-23 06:41:40 +0500 #13

thanks arshad.

ranasherdil (ranasherdil) 2011-08-23 06:50:00 +0500 #14

Its better that you opt for only Fairy Meadow or Neelum Valley...

Fairy Meadow k liyay minimum 4-5 days are required for Islamabad.

Day-1 Isb-Raikot via NATCO 1500-2000 18-20 hours journey

Day-2 Raikot-Tattu Jeep Cost 5000 return - sufficiant for you 6 people
Tattu-FM trek

Day-3 Rest/Explore areas/Base camp/Bayal etc

Day-4 Return back to Tattu and onward to Isb

Day-5 You will reach Isb

Note: Raikot say Isb etc k liyay Public Transport milna mushkil ha...Gari milna and pir seat milna bara prob ha...

Ya tou ap gilgit jao ya wait karo kharay ho kar... And Raikot pa apko saaf pani milna bhi mumkin nahi ha.... they drink indus water...

ranasherdil (ranasherdil) 2011-08-23 06:54:07 +0500 #15

Neelum Valley itself bhi 4-5 din ke game ha janab..

Day-1 Isb to Muzaffarabad (4-5 hours) Coaster run every hour from Skyways Pir wadhai

Day-2
Muzaffarabad-Kel (12 hours) you can hire jeep or Tayara Bus -- 400 per head

Day-3
Kel-Taobutt and back to kel (4hours oneway) 200 one way...

Day-4
Shounter valley and back to kel (dont know distance and time)

Day-5
Back to Isb...

As you are 5 people, you can easily hire the jeep.. It will not much cost you... I have no idea abt the jeep fares...

ranasherdil (ranasherdil) 2011-08-23 07:01:52 +0500 #16

Focus on one valley, one area...

Neelum Valley
Kaghan valley
Fairy Meadow

You can go to Sharda and Kel via Islamabad-Murree-Muzaffarabad route.

Another thing for you... If you hire your own jeep.. and you can save time and see many places.

I have completed my Neelum Visit in 48 hours. But It involves travelling in the night. Muzaffarabad to Kel.... Not recommended for you...

I think you must tell your budget, your priorities e.g. good hotels honay chahyayy ya normal bhi chalay ga.. Public tranport chalay ge yar hired..

And you starting city. If you are at Karachi, starting from there... how can you see anything....in 5 days...

Observe, from Balakot you can go to Muzffarabad... wahan say Kel Sharda...

Balakot say apko sham ma Muzaffarabad k liyay transport mushkil milay gi... Mansehra say Muzaffarabad milay ge transport upto 7pm

yepee9 (yepee9) 2011-08-23 07:19:21 +0500 #17

is there any posiiblity to go from naran and came back to islamabad from muzaferabad so we can visit both naran and kel surrounding. If possible then "Kitne Din ki game hai yeh :)".

We are planning to change the return date, as both of you advised that it is not possible to visit both places in such short time. So now we will reach ISL at 1-sep 8:30pm will stay there at night, will start the journey next day morning. And We will return from islamabad at 9-sep 9:00pm. So now we have only 7 days , so what would you will suggest for such now.
Really appeciate your valuable advise.

thanks

yepee9 (yepee9) 2011-08-23 07:31:47 +0500 #18

ranasherdil;2963723:

Focus on one valley, one area...

Neelum Valley
Kaghan valley
Fairy Meadow

You can go to Sharda and Kel via Islamabad-Murree-Muzaffarabad route.

Another thing for you... If you hire your own jeep.. and you can save time and see many places.

I have completed my Neelum Visit in 48 hours. But It involves travelling in the night. Muzaffarabad to Kel.... Not recommended for you...

I think you must tell your budget, your priorities e.g. good hotels honay chahyayy ya normal bhi chalay ga.. Public tranport chalay ge yar hired..

And you starting city. If you are at Karachi, starting from there... how can you see anything....in 5 days...

Observe, from Balakot you can go to Muzffarabad... wahan say Kel Sharda...

Balakot say apko sham ma Muzaffarabad k liyay transport mushkil milay gi... Mansehra say Muzaffarabad milay ge transport upto 7pm

thanks rana sahib for the info, Our Budget excluding the tickets of ISL is 20K-25K per person ( this could be increased if there are any possiblities to make this tour owesome).

There is no priorities except hotel mein bathroom hone chahiyae

we will reach ISL at 1-sep 8:30pm will stay there at night, will start the journey next day morning. And We return flight from islamabad is on 9-sep 9 pm.

One more thing we managed to book a hiace which can pick us from ISL or abotabad, but i dont know how far we can travel on it, as you told some roads are for jeeps only.

imarshad (imarshad) 2011-08-23 07:45:14 +0500 #19

Now that you have increased your no. of days so now you can visit both Neelum valley and Naran/Kaghan valley.
My suggestion will be
Day 1: Islamabad - Muzaffarabad - Keran or Dowarian
Day 2: Keran/Dowarian - Sharda - Kel
Day 3: Kel - Taobutt - Kel
Day 4: Kel - Shonter - Kel - Sharda or Keran
Day 5: Sharda/Keran - Muzaffarabad - Balakot - Shugran
Day 6: Shugran - Siri Paye - Shugran - Naran
Day 7: Naran - Saiful Muluk - Naran - Islamabad

But keep in mind that you will only be able to enjoy this trip if you have a rental vehicle for the complete trip. I suggest to rent a 4WD vehicle from Muzaffarabad.
Also you could combine Day 2 with Day 4 if you leave early and this way you can add Lalazar and Babusar top in Kaghan valley....

imarshad (imarshad) 2011-08-23 07:50:41 +0500 #20

Your Hiace can cover all the areas that I have mentioned. We did it on our Honda City and Suzuki Mehran.
The only places where you will need a 4WD jeep are
Kel to Shonter valley
Shugran to Siri Paye
Naran to Saiful Muluk.