If you are comfortable with your vehicle's engine power and again it's ground clearance aspect, then i recommend you to use "Mansehra - Naran - Chilas" route.
Point of concern for me in taking this route at 97 automatic civic is a couple of kilometer's bad & bit steep patch when you are approaching to Babusar Top from Naran side. Suggest to keep following pakweels forums and hope you will get recent update about this patch condition from many of our fellows who will visit Babusar Top in this summer season before your departure. Road from Babusar Top to Chilas is quite OK.
If you can manage, i suggest to leave lahore early in the morning (i.e. around fajar time), and on your straight journey, you will be in Naran before sun set with out any issue. Keep it in mind, you may face traffic congestion in Abbotabad city and Abbotabad ~ Mansehra road in afternoon. Rest there will be no issue in your journey.
Stay at budget hotel in Naran, bargaining will be on it's peak in that season. If you want to spend a day there, it's your choice, otherwise you will be required to leave Naran next day early morning to Chilals/ Skardu via Babusar ~ Chilas road. It would be a bit tough to reach Skardu in single trench on same day considering previous day long drive, you can manage if every thing goes well. Otherwise, you can have the option to stay overnight at Chilas (PTDC). I believe, if weather, vehicle health, road conditions etc are favorable, you can mange to reach Skardu around 5 PM in the evening.
In Skardu, you can have multiple options to stay. With my experience, i suggest you if your pocket allows, do stay at Shangrilla, Skardu. Believe me, you will remember your Skardu Tour for whole life. One of the best places where i stayed in Pakistan is Shangrilla, Skardu.
When i visited this place with my family couple of years back, there single room rate was some where around 8K. Otherwise, you can have option to stay at PTDC Skardu as well which i think somewhere around 5K.
You hotel staff can assist you to arrange jeep for your daily sightseeing trips.
i suggest don't miss following places to visit, if you will be in Skardu.
- Lower Kachora Lake, Upper Kachora Lake, Sough Vallay
- Sadpara Lake
- Shigar Vally & Shigar Fort (owned by Serenea Hotels). If you can manage, do spend a night here as well.
- Mantooka Water Fall
and definitely,
- Deosai
Important Note:: From Mansehra onward till Skardu, suggest to re-fill your Fuel Tank where ever you see any petrol station regardless how much fuel still available in your tank. You will find Petrol Stations at Balakot, Naran & Chilas. Considering the peak season rush, to avoid any issue due to shortage of fuel at these places, especially at Naran, to be on safe side i suggest to keep a 10 ~ 15 liter petrol cane with you to avoid any issue.
