Recently, I came back from this area after 12 days trip. from 24th June to 5th July, 2017. Here is the details:
DAY 1:
We departed from Islamabad at 5:45 and reached Mansera around 8:35. We reached Balakot at 9:40. Stayed there for a while. Later Stayed 15 min at Arcadian Hotel just short of Kaghan. We reached Naran at 12:30. Spent the night in Faran hotel.
DAY 2:
We departed from Naran at 6:45. Reached Lulusar Lake at 8:45. Reached Babusar Pass around 9:30. Reached Chillas at 10:30. Reached Raikot bridge at 12 o'clock. The road from Chillas Juction to Raikot Bridge is extremely bump and uneven. Reached Jaglot at 12:30. Filled petrol at Jaglot. Reached the junction of three mountain ranges at 1 o'clock. Detoured towards Hunza 10 km short of Gilgit. Reached Hunza at 4 o'clock. Stayed at PTDC Hunza.
DAY 3:
Breakfast in PTDC Hunza and then Went to Baltit fort which had a ticket of Rs.250/head. Visited Eagle Nest (Site like Monal in Islamabad). Evening in Hunza Bazar and had local dished in Dinner in Hunza Bazar
DAY 4:
Departed from hotel at 7:15 for Khunjrab pass. Reached Attaabad lake almost 45 min later. Had breakfast there. Reached Khunjrab pass at 12 o'clock. Departed from there at 1 o'clock. Stopped at Sost for lunch. Reached hotel around 6:15.
DAY 5:
Went to Hopper valley the next day. Journey started at 9:30. Hired Jeep for Rs.3500. We reached at 11 o’clock at hoper glacier. In the afternoon, we visited Altit fort. Ticket was of Rs.350/head. Had some traditional food like chap shorou and Brotz bericrutz (cheez chapati) and apricot juice.
DAY 6:
The next day we departed for Gilgit at 7:45. On our way we took a detour through Nomal from where we hired a Pojero Jeep to go to Naltar valley. The Jeep cost Rs. 6000. We started our journey towards Naltar at 10:30 and reached at Satrangi lake at 12:30. We saw two more nearby lakes named Pari Lake and Blue Lake. All the lakes were very beautiful and worth seeing. Had lunch on our way back. We reached back to Nomal at 4:30. After returning we went to Gilgit where we stayed at a hotel.
DAY 7:
The next day we departed for skardu at 6 o'clock in the morning. Filled petrol and had breakfast on the way. Reached Skardu at 1 o'clock. Reached PTDC K2 Motel at 1:45. Had lunch and dinner at the motel and rest. The road condition is bad and single however, I have seen all types of cars on this road. Not busy road so driving is not that difficult but needs care.
DAY 8:
The next day we planned to go to Deosai. We hired a Jeep which cost Rs. 12000. We departed at 10:15 from the hotel. We reached Deosai planes at 12:30. Had tea at Bara pani. Reached Shivsar Lake at 3:30. Started our return journey from there at 4 o'clock. Reached the Motel at 7:30. Dinner at PTDC K2. Spectacular views at Deosai but going to Shivsar lake is not worth. Took a lot of time.
DAY 9:
We planned to go to Shigar Fort and the Buddha rock in Skardu the next day. We departed at 10 o'clock. Filled petrol for Rs. 1000. We saw the blind lake, first mosque of Skardu on the way. The mosque is 600 years old. We reached Shigar fort at 12:30. Ticket was of Rs. 300/head. Departed from there at 1:15. Reached back to skardu at 3 o'clock. Had lunch at Dewan-e-khaas. After lunch we went to Buddha rock. Came back at 6 o'clock. Had dinner at the same restaurant.
DAY 10:
The next morning, we departed for Shangrila lake at 10:30 and reached there at 11:30. It cost Rs. 300/head to see the lake. Though it was well maintained, the visitors were not allowed to take a complete round of the lake. After spending an hour there, we went to kachura lake which took about half an hour. The road is good and every car can go. This lake was much more beautiful than Shangrila lake. For Kachura lake it's 10 min walk from parking. We departed from there at 2 o'clock. Reached back at 3 o'clock. Had lunch in Dewan-e-khaas. Filled petrol. Dinner was also there. Did some shopping in Skardu Bazar and came back to hotel.
DAY 11:
The next day we departed from hotel for Islamabad at 6 o'clock. Had breakfast at a village hotel where we spent half an hour. Reached Jaglot at 12:30. Filled petrol. Reached Raikot bridge at 1:30. Had lunch and restarted our journey at 3:15. Reached Babusar pass at 5:40. Spent 35 min there and departed at 6:15. Reached Lulusar Lake at 6:35. Reached Burwai at 7:20. Spent the night there.
DAY 12:
Departed from Burwai at 10:45. Spent half an hour in road block. Reached Naran at 12 o'clock. Reached Mahandri at 1:15 and had lunch there. Restarted our journey at 2:15. Reached Manshera at 4:30. Reached Abottabad at 5:10. Left Abottabad at 6 o'clock. Filled petrol and took a 20 min break. Reached Islamabad at 9 o’clock.
Mahmood
