Need guidance about family trip to Azad Kashmir (also pics from my last trip)

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s0n1a (s0n1a) 2016-04-22 05:11:20 +0500 #1

Salam,

  First of all I want to thank all the PWs for their help in planning my trip to Kaghan/ Naran/Muree in June 2015. I found everything exactly as advised by the PWs and we enjoyed the trip.

This time again I need your advice.

I want to travel with my family 2 people ( me n my husband) and 2 kids ( 6 and 2 years old) to Kashmir for 8-10 days in July during Eid.
Kindly advise

1) whether this time July is a fine time to go there ( as its Eid and also I have heard there are rains in July) ?

2) We will be reaching Isb/Lhr by train, would it be ok to travel in Kashmir by public transport ( rented Jeep /car)?

3)where do we find this transport and what would be their charges?

4) If yes then which places to visit and where to stay?

Posting some pics of my last trip.

Thanks again in advance.

Sonia

Kewai, near shogran. We got a jeep from here that took us to Shogran ( 20 min drive) and to Siri Paye ( one of the most beautiful place of the trip)
A view of Murree, We stayed in army mess but I will not advise it to anybody as it was far and not too good either . Also travel Gurus you were right! Murree was not worth the time and stay, very boring [ATTACH=CONFIG]1678733 [/ATTACH] Shogran, a wonderful place, it was very cold there, carry extra warm clothes especially for children
Shogran
[ATTACH=CONFIG]1678731 The children were thrilled to see monkeys in Galiat
Siri Paye, a heaven on earth

afnan.lunatic (afnan.lunatic) 2016-04-22 05:34:00 +0500 #2

If it is rainy season then dnt go to neelam valley bcoz lot of land slides and road blockages.. See forecast before..
Pubic transport is availablle.. Upto muzaffarabad luxury coasters go there.. Then hiace goes till sharda and khatara bus "tiyara" goes till kel.. From kel to taobut jeeps go "sawari k hisab se" but u can also rent the whole
U can easily find the transport on addas.. Hiace bus are very cheap.. Rented taxis and jeeps will be expensive..
Places to visit in neelam valley
Kutton , keran, sharda, kel, arang kel, taobut,
U may also visit rawalakot bagh side if u have enough time

ubaidpirzada (ubaidpirzada) 2016-04-22 07:40:41 +0500 #3

Hello sonia
July is perfect for traveling in neelum valley
if you are interested to get complete information then i can plan a complete trip for you and your family
let me know, i can share the detailed trip for free so you can get benifit of this forum

afnan.lunatic (afnan.lunatic) 2016-04-22 07:47:18 +0500 #4

U please post ur info n plan here so other people can also take benefit..

asifcae (asifcae) 2016-04-22 10:25:50 +0500 #5

its good to know that u had a good trip and found the PWs advice useful........

well ur plan will depend totally on the prevailing weather conditions.........if its monsoon then u must avoid traveling to nelum valley..

from lahore u can get bus to muzafarabd ... from there coaster to kel......
well places tu bht hain

kutton
keran
sharda
kel
shounter and taobat valleys.....

s0n1a (s0n1a) 2016-04-23 03:16:48 +0500 #6

I am not sure how good the bus/ coaster is. Eg Daewoo from Pindi to Abbotabad was fine.

If we hire car etc any idea about charges?
Also suggest good hotel/ accommodation to stay at.

s0n1a (s0n1a) 2016-04-23 03:23:19 +0500 #7

I agree brothers, everyone from the forum benefits from the advice given here.

farooq05 (farooq05) 2016-04-23 04:28:25 +0500 #8

if you have any option to change schedule, i would suggest to do so as these places are now getting too much crowded due to the fact that first month of summer vacation is now spent in Ramazan and after that everyone heads to tourist spots specially on Eid breaks... then there are not too many options for hotels in Neelum like you would have seen in Naran so availability may be an issue.. only good accomodation options are AJK guest houses which needs advance booking...

get sky ways coaster from Faizabad stand for Muzaffarabad.. and from there you can find option to travel either public transport or hire your own transport.. i didnt use anyone so no experience about cost.. but have heard from people that the cost is something like 2500/3000 per day excluding fuel.. keep in mind it would be peak season so may need to negotiate alot..

s0n1a (s0n1a) 2016-04-23 07:12:56 +0500 #9

farooq05;5068448:

if you have any option to change schedule, i would suggest to do so as these places are now getting too much crowded due to the fact that first month of summer vacation is now spent in Ramazan and after that everyone heads to tourist spots specially on Eid breaks... then there are not too many options for hotels in Neelum like you would have seen in Naran so availability may be an issue.. only good accomodation options are AJK guest houses which needs advance booking...

get sky ways coaster from Faizabad stand for Muzaffarabad.. and from there you can find option to travel either public transport or hire your own transport.. i didnt use anyone so no experience about cost.. but have heard from people that the cost is something like 2500/3000 per day excluding fuel.. keep in mind it would be peak season so may need to negotiate alot..

Thank u for your advice.
I checked the weather forecast from net, it says it will be sunny and a few days will be cloudy. Where is the best place to check for the forecast and monsoons.
We have to apply for leaves, therefore have to decide the time of travel now.

s0n1a (s0n1a) 2016-04-23 07:47:12 +0500 #10

Thank u Asif Bhai. Found one info that monsoon is expected to start from mid June this year. Do u advise not to travel to AJK? If yes then What other place u recommend for a family trip? (murree n Shogran are out of the list.) Thanx

asifcae (asifcae) 2016-04-23 08:01:44 +0500 #11

yes monsoon mid june say start honay ke forcast ha and if that happens it will wear out after eid and u can travel to AJK.. on the contrary if weather is not good than i suggest u visit lower kashmir places like chikar sudhan gali ganga choti and lassdana.......

s0n1a (s0n1a) 2016-04-23 09:59:24 +0500 #12

Sounds good enough.
Plz do suggest good places to stay there with rates , n good mode of travel with charges/fares if possible.
Thank u

asifcae (asifcae) 2016-04-23 10:43:50 +0500 #13

there is a ajk tourism govt rest house in sudhan gali but i have never stayed there....... neither have i stayed in chikkar so i am not sure abt hotels and rates .. sorry..... also public transport is available but u can also go on ur own car

tayyab.chughtai (tayyab.chughtai) 2016-04-24 06:42:02 +0500 #14

I will suggest that never check the forecast of northern areas online. Because these area BAIMAN, one minute is rain other minute is sun, other minute different temp.
Temp changes very sudden there.
And gor neelum valley I dont suggest to chk online.

If u will go till taobat adnd arangkel so u have to face cold else ita fine every place.

And beat option is to take bus from faizabad islamabad to muzaffarabad but u r 4 ppl and each tickt cost 350 approx total 1400 rs. If u so not have the budget issue then its better to take a car which will drop u to muzaffarabad it will take around 3500.

tayyab.chughtai (tayyab.chughtai) 2016-04-24 06:50:31 +0500 #15

farooq05;5068448:

if you have any option to change schedule, i would suggest to do so as these places are now getting too much crowded due to the fact that first month of summer vacation is now spent in Ramazan and after that everyone heads to tourist spots specially on Eid breaks... then there are not too many options for hotels in Neelum like you would have seen in Naran so availability may be an issue.. only good accomodation options are AJK guest houses which needs advance booking...

get sky ways coaster from Faizabad stand for Muzaffarabad.. and from there you can find option to travel either public transport or hire your own transport.. i didnt use anyone so no experience about cost.. but have heard from people that the cost is something like 2500/3000 per day excluding fuel.. keep in mind it would be peak season so may need to negotiate alot..

I prefer to go for pvt hotels they are much better than govt.
For govt u have to book them from muzaffarabad and the permission from there. But rates for govt hotela are fixed. Pvt hotels will charge higher prices.

And for jeep i pefer u to be carefuul because many jeep driver will charge u the price but they will stop in middle and let u know that their 4X4 gear is not working so we can not go further and we have to go back.
I prefer u to hire a jeep with package for 5 days or 8 days what ever u want but include fuel on driver side.
Cu normal jeep driver are cheaters. If u hire them for 3 days and u fill the fuel tank and so they take out fuel from tank when u go to hotel at night and next day when u start u journey again so they again say for refil fuel. And u have to pay fuel.

Trick is they have 2 reasons
1) fuel guage is not working they have to check fuel manually
2) its hilly area and due to 4X4 traveling vehicle is consuming double fuel then normal due to height.

s0n1a (s0n1a) 2016-05-07 04:20:52 +0500 #16

Thank you Tayyab Bhai. I found your advice highly informative n helpful.

pwuser152839588894 (Pakwheels User) 2018-06-07 23:28:48 +0500 #17

Planning for 8 days trip to neelum valley. Plz suggest itinerary. Where to stay and means of transport.
Tentative time 2nd week of June 2018

usman1947 (usman1947) 2018-07-04 11:57:25 +0500 #18

dude how was your trip?
i am planning it for mid July with family.
How were the roads, weather hotel etc?
Any recommendations or tip?

pwuser153031475480 (Raja Wasit Khan) 2018-07-07 01:30:20 +0500 #19

Best in July neeluum valley plz for More information and booking what's app 923415464180

pwuser150497121814 (Adnan ) 2018-07-11 16:09:26 +0500 #20

Plz guid us for family toor azad kashmir