Planning Trip to Neelum Valley, Sharda, Kel, Arang Kel, Halmat, Taobat

[mhaseeb4]

Hi PWs

So as like the title planning trip to Neelum Valley 14May -17May.
Needs suggestion about the places according to 4 days.
Places we have decided till yet are
Sharda, KHEL,Shounter Valley, Taobat,

14 May - Move From Islamabad at 6:00am to Muzaffarabad. Visit on way places, Move to Sharda Stay for First Night
15 May - Explore Sharda and move to Kel > taobat. Stay in Taobat for second Night.
16 May - Visit Taobat, Upper Toabat, Hamlet, head back to Kel visit Arang Kel is time is there.
17 May - Move for Shounter and visit Upper Domail, Shounter, Shounter Lake. Head Back to Kel > Muzaffrabad

Recommendations required in the whole tour. Like Stays, Places to Visits Etc....
Also the places like Shounter, Taobat will be accessible in this duration ?

Looking for your reviews and recommendations

[tahirbutt789]

Hi PWs

So as like the title planning trip to Neelum Valley 14May -17May.
Needs suggestion about the places according to 4 days.
Places we have decided till yet are
Sharda, KHEL,Shounter Valley, Taobat,

14 May - Move From Islamabad at 6:00am to Muzaffarabad. Visit on way places, Move to Sharda Stay for First Night
15 May - Explore Sharda and move to Kel > taobat. Stay in Taobat for second Night.
16 May - Visit Taobat, Upper Toabat, Hamlet, head back to Kel visit Arang Kel is time is there.
17 May - Move for Shounter and visit Upper Domail, Shounter, Shounter Lake. Head Back to Kel > Muzaffrabad

Recommendations required in the whole tour. Like Stays, Places to Visits Etc....
Also the places like Shounter, Taobat will be accessible in this duration ?

Looking for your reviews and recommendations

IMO - The no. days needs to be increased otherwise you'll be on the road - most of the time but if you really want to enjoy extend the plan from 4 to 6-7 days if possible.

• Kutton / Karen (1 Night stay) please don't forget to visit Jagran Nala in Kutton breath taking view. You'll need to take left from Kundal Shahi.

• Since it's said that it's upto you where you want to stay Kutton or Karen you should skip your stay at Sharda and can give 1-2 hours for visiting places like Gash Valley etc. and capture some shots. If you stay in Karen you can explore Upper Neelum Valley too.

• From Kutton / Karen drive upto Kail and stay there for the night.

• Next day leave for ArangKel trek - it's a 3-4 hours trek and you may hire porters / horses - totally depends on your budget.

• If you don't want to stay at ArangKel you'll need to make the plan accordingly that you go / come back at the same day and upon return the ride should be ready to leave for TAO BUTT.

• Stay Night at TAO BUTT

• Re: Shouter Lake - I will not make any suggestions because I haven't visited that yet.

• Re: Hotels - In Kutton you can either stay at Hydro (cheap & best) or continental guest house.

• Karen - you can book through Valley trackers website has all the numbers
• Kail - only has 1-2 hotels the most famous one is Sardar Khan and it shouldn't take more 1500 - 2000 (totally depends on the people visiting those place as that's a peak season time)
• ArangKel - has only one hotel
• TaoButt - has 1-2 hotel

NOTE: Whichever travel operator you go with - please collect the hotel vouchers from the Muzaffarabad Office and always demand for confirmation otherwise in the peak season time they won't entertain your request.

Let's see what others have to say - as there are many Senior Travel Gurus around.

Thank you.

[tahirbutt789]

btw - I visited Neelum Valley last year and writing the travelogue here: https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/road-trips-vacations/251253-family-road-trip-ajk-neelum-valley

[m_a_a_i_r]

stay at kutton (beautiful)
must stay at arrang kel (from kel 2.30 hr easy trekking to arrang kel . do advance booking)
must stay at taobat (camp facility avl and safe too)
shounter lake bhi acha hai lots of glaciers in the way

[mhaseeb4]

IMO - The no. days needs to be increased otherwise you'll be on the road - most of the time but if you really want to enjoy extend the plan from 4 to 6-7 days if possible.

- Kutton / Karen (1 Night stay) please don't forget to visit Jagran Nala in Kutton breath taking view. You'll need to take left from Kundal Shahi.

- Since it's said that it's upto you where you want to stay Kutton or Karen you should skip your stay at Sharda and can give 1-2 hours for visiting places like Gash Valley etc. and capture some shots. If you stay in Karen you can explore Upper Neelum Valley too.

- From Kutton / Karen drive upto Kail and stay there for the night.

- Next day leave for ArangKel trek - it's a 3-4 hours trek and you may hire porters / horses - totally depends on your budget.

- If you don't want to stay at ArangKel you'll need to make the plan accordingly that you go / come back at the same day and upon return the ride should be ready to leave for TAO BUTT.

- Stay Night at TAO BUTT

- Re: Shouter Lake - I will not make any suggestions because I haven't visited that yet.

- Re: Hotels - In Kutton you can either stay at Hydro (cheap & best) or continental guest house.
- Karen - you can book through Valley trackers website has all the numbers
- Kail - only has 1-2 hotels the most famous one is Sardar Khan and it shouldn't take more 1500 - 2000 (totally depends on the people visiting those place as that's a peak season time)
- ArangKel - has only one hotel
- TaoButt - has 1-2 hotel

NOTE: Whichever travel operator you go with - please collect the hotel vouchers from the Muzaffarabad Office and always demand for confirmation otherwise in the peak season time they won't entertain your request.

Let's see what others have to say - as there are many Senior Travel Gurus around.

Thank you.

Thanks i checked your travelogue last day

stay at kutton (beautiful)
must stay at arrang kel (from kel 2.30 hr easy trekking to arrang kel . do advance booking)
must stay at taobat (camp facility avl and safe too)
shounter lake bhi acha hai lots of glaciers in the way

Thanks dear

So currently tie with Keran/Kutton/Arang Kel - (Sharda Excluded as per suggestions)
which one is better according to our plan ?

[tahirbutt789]

Thanks i checked your travelogue last day

Thanks dear

So currently tie with Keran/Kutton/Arang Kel - (Sharda Excluded as per suggestions)
which one is better according to our plan ?

IMO - Stay at Keran and on your way to Keran spare 30 - 45 min in your plan to stay and for some clicks at Jagran Nala water fall that's the most beautiful thing you must see and I won't suggest you miss it.

Else it's good. While staying in Karen you can stay at Valley Trackers guest house / hotel and visit upper neelum valley.
You excluded Sharda - Well done as I forgot to mention in mine post and here as well that is no concept of electricity in sharda after maghrib so you and family will get bore soon with the darkness like we did..

Thank you.

[sk_cooldayz]

duplicate post deleted

[sk_cooldayz]

Last year I made this plan but never managed to complete it. Looking for it this year:

[mhaseeb4]

@tahirbutt789 thankyou for this valuable information.
@sk_cooldayz good luck dear

[haiderjaved]

I am going there on 7-10th May InshaAllah.
I am still confused for taobutt, as that is not accessible till date.
One thing I wanted to mention here, hydro-power jagran resort has revised its rate to almost double...

Bachelor house rate increased from 1400 to 2500/night and family house from 3000 to 4500/night.

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[mhaseeb4]

are you sure that it is not accessible in these dates ? i have heard that Toabat is accessible after April. Same is the case with Shantour Valley. Can anyone confirm this please ?

[haiderjaved]

Yes, both are closed till today.

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