North Trip April'17 (Astore/Rama, Skardu, Hunza, Naltar, Fairy Meadows)

[hamzaqadri96]

Hi everyone!
We're a group of 15 university friends from Karachi planning our first trip to North of Pakistan in mid April '17.
Dates: 15th April - 30th April
I've planned an itinerary and put a lot of research and effort into it (my major source was PW Forum), I wish to make it perfect and hence I'm sharing it here to get any sort of advice I can from the travel gurus here.
Following is the planned itinerary;
DAY 1 - Green Line 10pm, travel by train to Pindi, reach at 10pm. Night in Pindi.
DAY 2 - Leave at 6am, breakfast at Khanpur, stop at Dassu waterfall, travel to Chilas via KKH, reach at 10pm. Night in Chilas.
DAY 3 - Leave 8am, travel to Astore/Rama. Night in Astore/Rama.
DAY 4 - Leave at 11am, travel to Skardu. Night in Skardu.
DAY 5 - Leave at 8am, Sadpara Lake, Deosai. Night in Skardu.
DAY 6 - Manthoka Waterfall, ShigarValey, trek to Jarbazu Lake. Night in Skardu.
DAY 7 - Leave at 6am, Upper Kachura, Lower Kachura+Shangrila, travel to Hunza. Night in Hunza (Hunza Huts).
DAY 8 - Leave at 6am, Attabad Lake, Khunjerab Pass. Night in Passu/Sost.
DAY 9 - Passu Lake trek. Night in Hunza.
DAY 10 - Leave 8am, Nalter Valley visit, travel to Gilgit. Night in Gilgit.
DAY 11 - Leave 6am, reach Raikot Bridge, Jeep, 4hr Trek to Fairy Meadows (FM). Night at FM.
DAY 12 - Trek to Nanga Parbat base camp. Night in FM.
DAY 13 - Early Trek back to Bus, Travel to Besham. Night in Besham.
DAY 14 - Travel to Pindi. Dinner at Saidpur Village. Night in Pindi.
DAY 15 - 10.30 am flight back to Khi.

Questions;
1) First of all I'd like to know if my trip is too hectic overall, even for young university students? If so, what changes should I be making to make it bearable?
2) What places are there in Rama to stay? I know about PTDC Rama, but that opens in May. Also read about a PWD Rest House, can anyone tell me how to book that?
3) What is there to do/visit/spend time at in Astore/Rama?
4) At Day 4, is it possible to leave Astore/Rama at 11 and reach Skardu by 7/8pm?
5) What are the charges for Jeep to Deosai?
6) Is it possible to cover Manthoka Waterfall, Shigar Valley and Trek to Jarbazoo Lake in a day?
7) Is it possible to travel to Upper Kachura on coaster? Or we'd have to take jeeps(charges?)?
8) We're planning to stay at Hunza Huts.They are offering us a cottage of 6 rooms along with breakfast and dinner for 15 at 21,000 per night. Is it worth it? Also, is it located at a walking distance to Eagle's Nest?
9) Someone told me that the road to Eagle's Nest is very steep and cannot be done on foot or on coaster, is that so?
10) On Day 9, someone told me to do a Passu Lake trek, but I couldn't find any Passu Lake on google, was it meant to be Borith Lake? Are there any other treks to do the after our stay at Sost/Passu?
11) Is it possible to do Day 10 in one day? And what is there to do at Naltar. Or should we rather just keep a rest day before doing Fairy Meadows trek if Naltar isn't worth it.
12) What places would we be needing to hire jeeps and can you mention charges as well?
13) Is it possible that we find Babusar open on the way back (28th April?
14) We've kept a 35k per person budget from Pindi-Pindi, should that be enough or should be increase it a bit?
15) Any other words of advice?!
I know that's A LOT of questions, but if each guru could answer a few, that would help a lot!
Thanks A LOT you guys!! :))

[usman-pervez]

Question: Are you planning to visit on local transport from Pindi or you will have your own vehicle?
If so, which one?

[usman-pervez]

13) Babusar will not be open until mid of June.. So yes you will miss Kaghan Valley in this tour.

[usman-pervez]

Also Day 4 and 5 are confusing..
As you have to cross Deosai plains while travelling from Astore to Skardu.
So Day 5 will be covered in day 4

[hamzaqadri96]

We have hired a coaster from 17th April early morning.
oh alright, thanks.
No no i was told that at this time of the year, it won't be able to cross to Skardu from Astore/Rama via Deosai. So we'll be coming back to KKH and then going to Skardu.

[asifcae]

bro ur plan has many issues.. first of all its tooooooooo hectic... i dont know y ppl wana cover all the north in one go.. it cannot be done...... not in 15 dayz properly... secondly babusar top. FM and khunjrab and deosai all will not be accessible in mid April.......

u shud plan only one region like skardu or gilgit side for a good enjoyable trip... it has been suggested by me many many times here on PW.... in one day u can visit shigar valley and one day khaplu valley. one day u can visit shangrila and katpana desert region.

in hunza side u can visit uptill passu easily... u cna reach eagles nest on coaster ... its a long way on foot.... passu lake alone is not worth the trek. its ahead of borith lake towards passu glacier trek.
naltar ja satay hain ap but not till naltar lakes.... wahan snow ho ge....

[hamzaqadri96]

Thing is Asif bhai, this is the only vacation we can avail for a trip North during the year. We can manage it being a little hectic, the group is adamant on covering the whole thing.
Yes I know about Babusar, but FM is opening on 1st of April, our transport guy confirmed. Didn't know about Khunjerab Pass and Deosai though. If KKH is open till Sost, then it's still worth going right?
I can't visit Manthoka Waterfall and Shigar Valley in a day? I was considering Khaplu but I heard it has a few historical places that's all?
So instead of Passu Lake trek, should we do a passu glacier trek?
So instead of going Naltar we keep a rest day in Hunza or is there any activity in Hunza that we're missing? What about Hoper Glacier trek or Ultar Meadows trek?

[asifcae]

well FM open tu ho ga but snow bht ho ge wahan ... i dont think ur fellows will be in for such a hike.... also sosot tak ap ja saktay hain .. its alwayz worth it bro.. every thing in Northern area is worth it. mathoka khaplu wali side par hai aur shigar aur side ha.. if u wana visit manthoka keep that day for khaplu and machlu.. they r butiful places ... shigar wali side par bhe 1 din laga lain.... u cannot trek to passu glcier in april its dangerous... in season may apko patundas meadow recomend karta but not in april.........

yes skip naltar and keep that day for hunza.. go to the forts there and duikar.. isi may din lag jata hai... aur avoid treking in this early season with a large group...

rest is up to u bro......

[usmansameen]

Well, it is a hectic trip and april might not be a very good time to go. Fairy meadows would be either covered in snow or all mud due to recently melted snow. There won't be much green around. And nights would be very very cold there. If you go, take inners and good jackets. Deosai would be closed too. I am not sure about rama meadows but lake would be closed as well. And if you can't reach rama, going to astore is not needed. Skip that and go towards skardu on that day. But personally i think that going to skardu and not visiting deosai isnt a good idea. You can reach upper kachura easily by car. Also i would recommend visiting sokh valley. Its on same road above upper kachura lake. Keep one day for khaplu and manthoka and other for shigar side. Do explore hunza. That is beautiful area. Naltar lake is ok but the valley is beautiful. But, i would personally advise you to visit in july when all the areas are open and green. You can go through babusar top in july, which is beautiful. Kkh is a long dry road and last i heard, it was in bad shape. Not sure about now.

[usmansameen]

And unless you carry equipment to trek on snow, i.e. gators etc, you wont be able to trek towards nanga parbat base camp. And i repeat, fairy meadows would be cold. And no offence but as you are coming from khi, so you wont be used to cold. Make sure you bring proper jackets and inners.

[hamzaqadri96]

So you would recommend against going to FM and using up the days elsewhere? I'll discuss it with the group.
Alright so manthoka, khaplu and machlu one day, and shigar, jarbazu lake the other day. third day in skardu, Upper Kachura, Sokh Valley, Lower Kachura and then travel to Hunza. Aren't we missing sadpara?
Alright no Naltar then.

[hamzaqadri96]

Yes we did keep in mind to wear inner sweaters along with thick jackets, snow cap and gloves. Although for shoes, we were keeping normal joggers, would that be a really bad idea if we decide to go FM?
I really wish we had vacays in June/July Usman bhai I've added Sokh valley.
I'll check further on Rama Meadows.

[usmansameen]

Sadpara lake is at the edge of skardu. Will probably ve 15 mins drive from wherever you are staying. Keep one day for lower kachura. Upper kachura. Sokh valley and sadpara lake. It will take almost a day to go from skardu to hunza. The road from skardu till kkh usually takes 5 hours on own car and would take more if you are on a coaster. And it had a lot of pot holes. I travelled on it last year in a corrolla and took me a bit over 5 hours. Fairy meadows is always awesome and is always a good idea. But it wont be at its best. Joggers will be fine for reaching fairy meadows but probably wont be good if you want to go to nanga parbat base camp. And if the trek is still covered in snow, you cant travel on it in day time as snow gets soft when the sun is out and becomes unwalkable. But yes, if you have just this vacation, visit as many places as you can. Go to naltar valley if you have time. Its a half day trip of going and coming back with a meal break in the valley.

[farrukhzeeshan]

I suggest you to consider Asif bhai's advice. Don't make your trip a marathon. I travel north, to have some peace and tranquility, to slow down life for few days away from the busy and hectic life of cities. You will not do justice with beauty of the north by racing against the time.

[nagar1]

Salam.
First of all this is not the right time to travel to GB.
Main attractions will not be accessible due to snow like Deosai and babusar even khunjerab might not be open. I am not too sure about rama as well. Fairy meadows will be snow trekking. I will suggest go straight to Hunza explore Hunza Nagar and surroundings. Go up towards Sost till where the road is open. Go to Gilgit and visti surrounding areas ie Naltar Kargah etc. You can even touch Ghizer district. Then Go to Skardu There ou can go to Shangrilla sadpara Khaplu shigar etc.

[farhannk]

Hi,

This is great and u have 15 days for this trip..

Please note that u would have to cross chilas region in the morning, as there is a time slot to cross this region. with a convoy.

There are places that you can cover multiple in one day... so focus on the places where you want to spend more time... as few spots are still snow covered.

Good luck.

[hamzaqadri96]

Alright Usman bhai. I'll keep your advice in mind InShaaALLAH.

[hamzaqadri96]

You're right Farrukh bhai, visiting such places should be done peacefully. I only wish we had more time.

[hamzaqadri96]

So on our second day, when we travel from pindi to chilas, that should be fine right? We'd reach by 7pm i guess? And the day after, we'd leave from chilas early morning In Shaa ALLAH.

[farhannk]

plan to reach challas by 5:30 in the morning. as i guess the convoy leaves at around 6