Need support and suggestions for a family trip to Shogran Valley, Naran, Babusar Top, Chilas, Hunza

[u.ali1]

Have a well maintained Mehran 2013, will ensure to change tyres, brakes, radiator rechecked and working etc. right before the tour. Want to go to chilas from Islamabad. Me and my wife. I am a good driver and I do not speed or go adventurous. But I need massive help from you folks in Planning. I would have 10-12 days so time is not a worry so no night driving at all. Here are my requirements in short
1. I want a peaceful trip and would want to get away from crowds, as much as possible.
2. I do not want to test my Mehran too much if possible.
3. I would like peaceful/ honeymoonish places where people do not bother us much.
4. Minimize per day travel time.
5. Money is not much of an issue, I would happily spend on this tour.
So this is what I have so far:

• Day 1: Islamabad to Mansehra (Stay at Mansehra city) 2.5 hours drive ~ Hotel one if I have to - is there something comparable but a little cheaper?

Will have the evening ~ Can we go somewhere good? Things to do?

*Day 2: Mansehra to Shogran 2.5 hours drive ~ Wanted arcadian resort for 2 days but I just called them and there is a court case going. Where to stay? What is the best way to book? call?

Day 3: Shogran Siri Paye Mule ride// hike? Can I drive there?

Day 4: Shogran to Naran 2.5 hours ~ Hotel one? where to stay?

Saiful malook - but what else? Lulusar Lake - how much time to spend ~ Should come back to stay at Naran?

Day 5: Can I cross Babusar Top on Merhan in Sept? How bad is this water crossing really? I mean my mehran has crossed 8-9 inches of water easily - I know the drill otherwise too - first gear full race half clutch. Also people say the road on the opposite of babusar is super steep decline - how bad is it - what is the grade like? Will I be totally damned?

If possible, I would like to go to Chilas and stay there - good places to stay? What exactly are seeable points - also will the time permit for Hunza? I do not mind spending but need places where hotels are OK - like Hotel one e.g. has western restrooms, and hot water presumably. But would I find these amenities anywhere in Chilas? What about in between these?

Your suggestions info help would be much appreciated folks, thanks!

[centos]

Mehran can go all the way to khunjrab, not a problem. No need to half clutch etc. Once the car starts rolling take the foot off the clutch, let the gear box do it's thing. You don't want to fry your clutch by the time you get to khunjrab.

Day 1. If it's your honeymoon etc and want peace as you mentioned I'd suggest drive all the way to batakundi, stay the night there.

Day 2. Next day drive all the way to karimabad, stay at Serena Inn for 2-3 days and explore surroundings, plenty to see and enjoy there. Just serena itself is a treat.
You can stop for 15-30 mins at Babusar top and lulusar lake if you want to but I'd recommend to stop here on your way back.

Day 6. Next you drive to khunjrab, leave early in the morning spend few hours on the lake, get to khunjrab by 4pm, enjoy the sunset. Stay at sost for the night.

Day 7. Next day leave early and drive back to gilgit, spend some more time at the lake if you want on the way back. Stay the night at serena gilgit. Look into surrounding places like naltar valley etc for the next day.

Day 9. Now start heading back to Islamabad and on your way back you can stay at naran, shogran and mansehra etc. These places can be visited over the weekends if you live in islamabad so don't worry about them much. I'd suggest skip these and visit deosai and skardu instead. You may need to hire a jeep for these places, not sure about current road conditions.

and what's with chilas ? why would you wana stay there? nothing to see there and people near by are not friendly. Once you get to chillas try not to stop anywhere until you get to raikot bridge. Chilas to raikot, horrible road and horrible people.

Also, make sure you have 4-5 bottles of water with you for the radiator because you never know when you might need it.

[u.ali1]

Thanks, so I have a few questions: I get that there might be nothing in Chilas to see, whats with the people why are they hostile? {I just googled, damn man how do I avoid them- like I do not want to be even closer to this kind of folks - is it even safe?)

Second which lake at gilgit on day 6 and 7 you are mentioning? Attabad?

Serena Inn website says September check ins are not available?

[mohsan87]

this thread might be helpful for you. I visited the said places in 2017

Road Trip To Khunjarab Pass From Islamabad via Naran, Babusar Top, Chilas, Hunza On Suzuki Swift - July 2017

Asslamoalikum Dear PakWheelers. I planned a road trip with my family (me, wife, 3 year old son and 8 month old daughter) to visit the Khunjarab Pass in 3-7 days estimated. As we have already visited Shogran side and Saif-ul-malook lake so we decided to skip these view points. Car used : Suzuki Swift 1.3 DLX Manual Transmission. Departure from Islamabad 23 July Came back to Islamabad 27 July Total Distance Traveled 1716 Kms Approx Fuel 130 L Approx Fuel Cost 10,000 Rs Engine oil check, T…

[mohsan87]

If you are starting from Islamabad, its better to stay in Shogran instead of Mansehra,, there is no such views in Mansehra, but yes you can take a break and enjoy the views while crossing Mansehra,

To reach Shogran you have to take right side road just after Kiwai stop. Shorgan road is not very good and also not very bad, book the hotel in advance for Shorgan as there are very less options.

Shogran to Siri Paye, you have to hire Jeep,

Naran is over crowded, If you want to go to Lake Saif Ul malook, you have to stay in Naran or surrounding area, I would prefer to look for hotel at Naran Bypass road instead of Naran Main Road, but staying in Batakundi (few kms more from Naran) will be better if you are planning to go further.

In Naran area, have to hire a Jeep for Lake Saif ul malook, it take approx 1 hour from Naran to Lake.

Lulusar lake is on the way to Babu Sar after Crossing Naran.

You can cross Babusar Top on Mehran easily, there are few steep curves, you have to be careful, rest is ok.
At Babusar Top you may face cold weather, be prepare for that.

While descending from Babusar Top to Chilass, road is very steep with sharp turns, you have to keep the car under control. low gear and avoid excessive braking. you can descend in 1st gear easily.

Once you reach Chilass, there is nothing to see in Chilass temperate in Chilass will be hell hot. The only good hotel in Chilass in Shangrila Hote.

From Chilass you can continue to Hunza on KKH road, Chilass to Rai Kot bridge road is not good, its approx. 65 kms and may take 2 to 3 hours.

After Rai Kot bride road is very good and you can continue your journey toward Hunza, Hunza is good place, you can stay there for 2 days while enjoying the visit to Altit Fort, Baltit Fort, Eagle Nest View Point, all these are accessible on car.

In Hunza there are multiple private guest houses which reasonable price and facilitates.

If time permits you can go to Khujarab Pass (China Border) from Hunza, it take approx 3 hours for once side. so If you start in morning you can easily come back to Hunza from Khunjarab before Maghrib prayer.

PS: From Naran to Babusar Top to Chilass, you have to travel in day time, you cannot travel after Asar Prayer.

[centos]

Just try not to stop anywhere between chilas and raikot bridge. If you have to stop for fuel or get something from a shop etc that's fine, but don't stop anywhere random to take pictures/selfies etc. It's a 45-60 min drive so not a big deal.

Yes, attabad lake.

Try giving them a call.

[emaanaziz94]

I have heard from other people not stop in between chilas nd raikot why is that so ?

[mohsan87]

Said area is not safe when alone. And there is no such spot to stay or refresh , only dry mountains and bad road..

[mumbojumbo]

Salam
I went to Hunza in 2019 and Skardu just recently in this year June so here is my input.

If this is your first trip to Hunza then I would suggest that you keep your focus on Hunza and skip Shogran. If you have already been to Naran then no point in staying there rather I would suggest that you stay at Batakundi. Stay in Naran only if you want to visit Lake Saiful Malook otherwise Naran has lost its touch. Look for hotels on Jheel road or the bypass road.

If you are starting from Islamabad then take the Hazara expressway and then switch over to the Balakot road. The journey to Hunza should take two days and so no use staying in Mansehra.

If I were you then I would plan my journey like this

Day 1) Leave early 5 am in the morning and reach Naran or Batakundi by 4 pm. Have lunch at Ahsania hotel in Kiwai.

Day 2) Start off at 7 am sharp and reach Babusar by 10 to 10:30 am. Lulusar lake is on the way. Stay there for an hour and half and then start descend towards Chilas. Keeping the car in first gear is a good idea and once you are done with steep part just park it for 10-15 mins to let the brakes cool down a little. Reach zero point Chilas and continue towards Raikot. Chilas is an ok place but not recommended for stay, very hot and the road to Raikot is freshly laid with hardly a few bad patches so nothing to worry about. You can easily reach Jaglot in an hour and half. Stop at the Nanga Parbat view point and if you are lucky you might see it without any cloud cover. Then continue over to Gilgit. By this time it would be around 4-5 pm and so you can either stop in Gilgit (plenty of hotel options) or continue towards Hunza. From Jaglot Hunza is around 140 kms. If you continue then you will reach Hunza by last light or maybe 30 mins after that. Usually its a good idea to book hotels in advance but you can find better options once you reach there. If you are with family then book in advance.

Day 3,4,5) There is a whole list of places you can explore in upper and lower Hunza. Plan Khunjerab pass for day 4 and make sure to leave early so that you can reach there by 11 am and be back by 4-5 pm.

Day 6) Start early at 7 am and aim to reach Batakundi or Naran by 5 pm. Now here you can decide if you want to visit Shogran or not but I am pretty sure you will simply continue towards Islamabad with your appetite for mountains and scenery fulfilled for at least a year and pockets may get empty as well.

Day 7) Reach back to Islamabad.

Now you can add more days to this plan but I suggest you add them to your stay in Hunza.
In 2019 I went to Hunza in end of Sept and its easily doable by any car in good shape. Mehran will certainly do it easily and the steep parts not much of a problem if you stay careful. Chilas is very hot and shall be hot even in september.

[mohsan87]

any recommended hotel to stay for 1 night in Batakundi or Burawai area ?

[u.ali1]

Thank you. This is for some reason, such a well-crafted response. Perhaps since it addresses my worries? Appreciate it!

[ali_77]

[mumbojumbo]

I tried to answer all your questions. Even if I have missed anything do ask away. Always here to help anyone. 🏼

[mumbojumbo]

There used to be law and order problems but that's not the case anymore. I think the dam construction helped with that since plenty of law enforcement forces are present there now. The area is fine and sees a lot of tourist traffic. The bad patch between Chillas and Raikot has been newly laid and it's an absolute pleasure to drive on.

[mumbojumbo]

Only a few bad patches between Chillas and Raikot. Rest of the road is smooth as butter.

[emaanaziz94]

I planning to visit hunza in mid november and babusar top will be closed at that time so what plan would you recommend via kkh route where to stay etc etc

[mumbojumbo]

Depends where you are traveling from. I am going to assume you will start from Lahore. Babusar will be closed so you will have to take KKH. You should be easily able to get to Besham in one day. Stop over in Besham and then set off early next day in the morning for Hunza. I recommend going straight to Eagle nest hotel. Even if you are coming from Islamabad you should stop over in Besham. I would recommend going there in mid October since Babusar will be open and traffic will be minimum. It would be off season and so hotel rates will be very reasonable. Also Streams would have dried out by then and so there would be minimal risk of landslides.
October also means autumn and trees will be turning yellow. It's not everyone's cup of tea but for some it's very attractive. Weather will be chilly in Hunza so do pack a lot of warm clothes. If you get delayed for some reason while on way from Besham to Hunza then you can stay in Gilgit or even Jaglot.

This is KKH passing through Passu. It was October of 2019.

[emaanaziz94]

I would be starting from Gujranwala towards islamabad via GT road which highway should i take from Islamabad?

[mohsan87]

From Islamabad you have to Take Peshawar Motorway and then Hazara Expressway M15. if you planning via Babusar then you have to exit from Mansehra, otherwise you have to continue on Hazara Expressway M15 and exit after Thakot before Basham, then you have to use KKH

[pwuser162927553294]

AoA, i m planning to visit to Khunjrab with family on City 1.5 Cvt from Islamabad.
I intend my plan as
Day 1
Move from Islamabad to Batrasi after noon

Day 2
Move from Batrasi to Batakundi

Day 3
Batakundi to Jaglot

Day 4
Jaglot to Hunza

Day 5
Hunza to Khinjrab and back

Day 6
Hunza to Jaglot

Day 7
Jaglot to Batakundi

Day 8
Batakundi to Islamabad

Is it Ok??? as I m not much driver to drive all day to avoid nights and tire my self.
any suggestions??