Need advise to plan family trip to Gilgit / Hunza / Khunjerab

[khokharm]

Aoa Brothers ,

Hope this finds you all well . Besides the fact that I had been following Pakwheels travel forums for many years , this is the first time I am posting to seek guidance / advise for a family trip we are looking to plan for during first week of July .

I understand and appreciate that there are many existing threads with similar questions or details but really could use some steer based on the current situation / road conditions / weather .

We are three families (Lahore based) with kids ( age ranging from 3 to 16 years) , looking to explore areas in and around GB (including Khunjerab . We have the leverage of around 7 - 8 days for this trip. We will be travelling on our own cars ( 2 BRVs & 1 Honda City). We plan to commence our journey on 3rd July , Saturday. inshaa'Allah

I am really looking forward for your expert advise in terms of what should be our itinerary and places / areas to visit and family friendly place to stay nights at.

Best Regards

[nagar1]

Aoa...babusar is open but filled with tourist as after covid restriction being put off our nation has all come out at once..
Honda city will be having too many scratches beneath on banusar road.brv is good to go ..no issues with clearance...
I heard babusar had sblnowfall today so do keep warm clothes with u...
You can see my thread help for travellers of gilgit baltistan and ask me for any further info

[khokharm]

Many thanks brother @nagar1. I will review other threads on this subject.

I am just looking to plan such that we can make most of the available time we will have. I reckon we will have around 4 days (excluding travel ans stays outside of GB). So need some guidance on which places to visit etc.

Best Regards

[aakbar]

I've been informed that a few days of opening of Babusar Top, the road will be compacted by the traffic and cars with low ground clearance would be able to pass thru it. I had no problem passing through the Babusar top back in end of June 2019. Hope this is same this time around as well.

[nagar1]

It happens when the road is freshly opened buy now it will be good to go

[zuhaibhyder767798]

i visited till lulusar lake on 5 June, that time just after 4 kilometer of naran one glacier placed on inclined road in a way that upto 1300cc cars were unable to cross it without the help of local people. only civic 1.8 was crossing it easily. due to this majority of tourists even didn't visited batakundi. though i crossed it and enjoyed very few traffic onward.
this happens when road freshly opens, by the time next weekend road will be perfect.

[aakbar]

Just came back from a 7 day trip to Hunza via Naran. The road from New Balakot to Naran is in really bad condition except in patches that remind you of its past glory. Back in 2013, I went to Naran from Islamabad and that mesmerizing ride is still fresh in my mind and hence I felt more disappointment this time. Back then, it only took me 8 hrs from Naran to Isb when there was no motorway and traffic between Mansehra and Abbottabad used to take around 2 - 3 hours alone. But this time it took me 6.5 -7 hours with partial Motorway driving. I am very slow driver on such poor roads so my driving time may be a bit more than a regular driver's time.

The worst part is between Kaghan and Naran but KKH is not far behind however the torture on KKH is much shorter in time and distance as compared to Balakot to Naran section. Also, KKH is under construction at various places so hopefully it will be alright in next few months between Chilas and Raikot bridge but Balakot-Kaghan-Naran section has no such repair/constructions works in progress at the moment.

Total Time from Isb to Karimabad, Hunza was 16 hours and 15 hours from Karimabad, Hunza to Islamabad (including few breaks for refreshment/washroom). Both times I started the journey at 5:15Am and was able to avoid rush hour traffic at some places.

[aliabbas31245]

Hello bro, plz enlighten me regarding your trip, specially about the road condition from new BALAKOT till khunjerab pass. I want to visit on 28 july and we are 5 persons on our own honda civic car 2021 model. Please share your views would we be able to make it to khunjerab on civic with 5 persons with our car intact, because i have heard that at some places the road condition is very poor, plz enlighten me??, would be obliged

[xuhaibkhan1]

I took my altis 1.6 from lahore to khunjerab Pass and came back on 5th July. There is no issue with road clearance, there are alot of rough patches. You can easily go there with your family.

[aliabbas31245]

Thankyou so much

[mustafasethi]

I visited Hunza (reached hunza) on the 14th of August. . route to Naran from Balakot is totally broken up.

on way back had to go via Dasu / besham. The road is so bad you have to take it to believe it. it took me 31 hours to reach from Hunza to Lahore. Left at 6:30 am on 8th muharram and reached lahore at 1 pm (1.5 hours break ) for resting also.

[humsafar77]

Alhamdulillah completed a 5100 kms round trip to Khunjrab pass from Karachi with family in Honda city with I bieng the only driver. If anyone needs any guidance I will try to help as best as I can.

[sajidahmed]

Could you please recommend any medium family hotel in hunza, or can you comments on Old hunza Inn?

[humsafar77]

I stayed at eagles nest in a guest house. I didn't ask the name of the guest house. It was at the end of road beside Hunnza roof top hotel. The rent was 3500 for 5 person. There were three beds and they provided 2 mattress. Warm water was available. It was just a basic setup nothing fancy.

[sajidahmed]

Thanks

[kashif_virgoo]

Hi Dear,

I am planning the same trip in June on Civic 2021. Can u please share ur feedback of trip. I am planning to make first stay from lahore at Batakundi. Specially of u can share some hotel room rent or contact details. it wpuld be helpful to plan iternary.