Road trip to Northern Areas with Family!

[ali.umair20001]

Assalam o Alaikum to all,

I'm planning a road trip with my wife and son (18 months) InshAllah in July 2019. I plan to visit Neelum and Naran side this year and spend a couple of days in Lahore on our way back to meet some relatives and friends.

I'll be travelling in 2010 altis. Car is well maintained alhumdulilah. Last year i had visited ISd on it without any hassle, so hoping no issues with the car. Still any precautionary measures that i need to look in, please share. Cux this time I'll be with my family and i want a safe and secure travel.

I would appreciate your expert opinions on my proposed itinerary and suggestions on the same. Also, please guide me on:
1. Good hotels where I can stay with family
2. Road conditions in neelum. I dont want to drive or go on roads that will deteriorate my car, suspension etc.
3. Safety precautions especially pertaining to my son
4. Weather conditions in July. Landslide etc.
5. Any other important aspect that I may be missing.

Have no issues with days. Hence, have kept a few free days just to relax and make this a memorable trip at an easy pace.

Day 01: depart from Khi @2:00am for Bwp - stay at Bahawalpur
Day 02: depart for Isd @6:00am - stay ISD
Day 03: free day at ISD
Day 04: depart for Muzaffarabad (sightseeing at Murre, kohala picnic point) - stay in ISD
Day 05: depart for Sharda (sightseeing at Kutton, Keran etc) - stay Sharda
Day 06: depart for Arang Kel - stay at kel
Day 07: visit taobat and overnight in Sharda
Day 08: depart for Naran
Day 09: free day in Naran to visit saif ul mulook, babusir etc.
Day 10: depart for shogran at overnight in shogra
Day 11: shogran
Day 12: back to Isd
Day 13: depart for Lahore
Day 14: Lahore
Day 15: Lahore
Day 16: depart for khi. Overnight in Rahim Yar khan
Day 17: back to khi.

Dear Gurus, please review and help me with your valuable feedback.

P. S. WHAT SHOULD BE MY BUDGET TO COVER THIS TRIP.

JazakAllah kher.

Umair

[imranq]

Day 4 stay Muzzafarabad.
Day 6. Stay at Urang Kel. There is nothing good in Kel. Leave extra luggage somewhere as you will have to carry your luggage. I stayed 2 nights there. I suggest you also enjoy this place for 2 nights and walk around.

One night stay in Taobat is not enough. Its a long journey and you will not enjoy as it will be tiring. Taobat is one on the most beautiful places in Pakistan. Do justice.

In fact the best places in whole Neelam Valley are Urang Kel and Taobat.

Don't take your car beyond Sharda. That even requires careful driving. Bottom of car may hit at one or 2 places.

While returning from Taobat may stay in Muzzafarabad. Next day to Shogran and night stay. Next Naran. Return direct from Naran to Islamabad or Lahore in one day is possible.

[ali.umair20001]

Thanks Imran!
Yes sorry - day4 will be stay at Muzaffarabad. Was a typo.

Valuable suggestion for day 6. Will stay at Arang kel. Its just sightseeing there. Right?
How far is Taobat from Arang kel? Is it possible with a 18 months old baby. As u said its tiring - so just wanna be double sure.

Where should i leave my extra luggage and car? As u said don't take it beyon sharda.

All in all u recommend to extend my stay by 3 days in Neelum. Right?

Thanks @imranq brother for ur help and advice.

JazakAllah

[maazasim]

Hi

Taobat is approx. 3.5 to 4 hours travel from arang kel, I stayed there one night with family (3 years daughter & 6 months son), to justify the beauty of this area you should spend at least two nights there. syed Sabistan is a good place to stay. coverup kids with warm clothes,

[ali.umair20001]

Thanks @maazasim

So basically when i leave from muzaffarabad, i should have my first night stay in Sharda.

1. 2nd should be in Arang Kel for preferably 2 nights.

2. Should be in Taoubat for 2 nights preferably.

On our way back from Taoubat, where should i stay overnight. Keran or Muzaffarabad. Also, can you please share approx journey time in between Sharda and Arang Kel, Taobat and Keran/Muzaffarabad.

Thanks brothers

[imranq]

First of all the Road is not in good condition but manageable. I suggest you raise your car for the tour by using Alluminium Packing in front and rubber pads in rear for the journey. Will cost approx PKR 2500 and you can remove after returning. Since you are two adults and one child, not enough weight in car, after this modification don't go faster than 120 Km/h even on motorway as the car may be a little unsteady. I did the same to my car last year (Altis 2015) but I had with me wife and 4 teenage kids and full luggage so was enough weight,
If you do this modification, you can easily take your car to Kel. Leave extra luggage in car and lock it. Park it in a hotel near the chairlift. Pay them for it if they require.

For Urang Kel there is a Jhoola (Like cable car) for 6 or 8 person capacity. After that you will have to ascend by foot which is a 30 minutes hike. Go slow. It is an exercise but worth the site. You will forget all tiredness after you reach top.

You can also hire a porter for carrying luggage. The boys there will be happy to carry your son too. Normally they charge 200 to 300. Horses may also be available.

Do campfire in the night. They arrange it for few hundred rupees. The place is cold. Warm clothes are necessary. Don't forget the milk and pampers for your son. These will not be available there. Also no chance of getting sanitary pads there. Nor medicines except panadol.

Neelam Valley does not have good hotels. Warm water is often not available for bath. But the available hotels are live able.

Kutton is a place for night stay only. Otherwise not a place to visit. The road to Kutton diverts from main road at Kundal Sahi. On the way there is a big fall on river Jagran. Close is a bridge that fell last year taking many precious lives of University Students.

Mobile network is not available in this valley. Only army mobile network operates there. Sim can be purchased from Keran or Kundal Sahi. The service is pathetic. Data package is available but I couldn't even check weather forecast. Network is unavailable with the first drop of rain. (That was 2 years ago. They may have improved).

You may check my travel details which I posted 2 years ago. Also a very good travelogue by @Muzzambus is recommended.

[imranq]

Sorry guys. A year has passed and I did not gave a report of tour. Here is the brief. Before moving I had booking in Kutton and Sharda with State Continental Guest house and in Urang Kel with ,, It was third Day of Eid ul Fitr. We started our Journey from Bahawalpur and reached Kallar Kahar before Maghrib. Had lunch on Motorway. Stayed at a Cement Factory Guest House where I had booking. Very nice place. Day-1. We started our journey at 8.00 and had heavy breakfast in Murree. Kids loaded wit…

My travel details

[imranq]

http://mozumbus.blogspot.com/p/neelum-valley.html

travelogue of Muzammil.

[ali.umair20001]

Thanks alot brother. Your input is really valuable. I'm actually planning to alter my plans now. Keep it to Neelum only and extend my stay at taobat and Arang Kel.

Muzammil's travelogue was also very helpful. Thanks @imranq

Can i have your number if possible to discuss regarding hotels and other stuff in details, sometime after eid. My plan is for July

[farooq05]

my suggestion is do not take you car to Kel as it will be very careful driving plus in case of rain the road between Sharda to Kel gets really muddy and adventurous and July is a month known for rains. in any case you will need to leave your car in Kel and will travel to arrange Kel on chairlift/foot and Taobut is totally jeep track so its just matter of approx. 2 hours journey from Sharda to Kel where you will be on your own car with lots of care to take.. i travelled twice on my City from Karachi to Neelum, first time i drove till Kel and second time i parked it in AJK resort in Keran and hired Jeep for two days.. i didnt go arrange kel as chairlift was not working..

day 2 & 3, if you do not have any specific plans in Isl, i would suggest you drive directly to Murree and overnight stay there and spend any additional day in Galliat before starting to Kashmir.. you will find good weather as Isl will be too hot..

while going Mzb, on your left there is a waterfall peopled named it Kashmir Waterfall.. you will need to cross river on chairlift and you should enjoy it.. i find this waterfall better than dhani waterfall which is on the way to Neelum..

hotels are getting better in neelum but they are still not very good.. in Kutton, Keran, upper neelum, Sharda and Kel, you can find hydro power, AJK resorts and valley tracker resorts but you will need to get prior booking from their offices in Mzd...

approx. travel times are;
Mzd to Keran 4 hours
Keran to Sharda 1.5 to 2 hours
Sharda to Kel 1.5 to 2 hours
Kel to Taobut 4 hours

[imranq]

Sorry I did not check this forum for a long time. @ali.umair20001 what is status of your tour. Please write travelogue after your visit.

[ali.umair20001]

Hi @imranq... Bro my plan is still in the air... Well, due to some personal issues i had to postpone my plan until Aug and then yesterday only I got that window of opportunity where i can actually implement my plan with few alterations in the initial plan. Hence, InshAllah im leaving on Sunday morning at around 4 am InshAllah...

Destinations have changed. Won't be covering Neelum Valley this season... InshAllah that will be done next year. Car for this trip will be Aqua and I will InshAllah be going Nathia Gali, Naran and Shogran this year. Brief snapshot of my itinerary is as follows for the expert opinion.

Day 1:Leave Khi and overnight stay in Bahawalpur
Day 2: BWP to nathia gali
Day 3: Nathia Gali
Day 4: leave for Naran
Day 5 & 6: Naran {will cover saif ul mulook, lalazar top, babusir top}
Day 7&8: shogran {will cover siri paye and makra top}
Day 9 & 10: isd
Day 11-13: lahore
Day 14: lahore to rahim yar khan
Day 15: rahim yar khan to khi

Can you please suggest good family hotels in lahore, isd, nathia gali and naran within a reasonable budget.

Cedarwood in shogran
Legrand in nathia gali

These two hotels are suggested by someone. Any feedback?

InshAllah will post the travelogue once i return which is expected by 20th InshAllah

[pwuser149404724018]

Dont try to leave Karachi before 4am as you should be covering sindh in day light. Not safe to travel by road in sindh at night.
Khi to bahawalpur is atleast 15hrs drive with 2 short stays in between so think about staying at sadiqabad or Rahim yar Khan which can be done in 11hrs. Midway hotel at sadiqabad is a very good option for night staying with family. May cost you around 6.5 thousand for master bed.

[imranq]

For Hotels / Guest houses try google maps and call them for price and availability. You can also use booking.com. In Lahore a guest house should cost 4k to 5k. If you want to stay in hotel I sometimes use Best Western in Liberty Market costs around 7K or Quick Continental on Jail Road costs 5K. Rates are 2 years old. If you can spend try Nishat Hotel in Emporium Mall. 16.5K

In Shogran I once stayed at Afaq Hotel. Rooms are not good but it has best views. Having a cup of coffee in its veranda while looking at paye hills and valley below is awesome.

In Islamabad I once stayed at Casablanca Guest house in F7. Rates were 4K after bargain but in 2017. Again Google maps and booking.com may help.

Naran will be expensive. try hotels on bypass road for budget. I once stayed on Bypass. That was probably New Hilton Hotel and they charged 4k. IN 8K range you can get Fairy Meadows Hotel or STC Motel (Now called Pine Top). both good. there are many on Saif ul Malook road, Never tried them.

Hope that helps.