Swat Tour Plan - May 2014

[Mohd.Waqas]

Bro... I am living in swat from last 2 years. Internet at my place is not so speedy as I am using GPRS. So I am unable to participate in forums due to internet issue. I read your msg today in my email inbox. If u have any kind of question in your mind regarding district swat or Shangla, u can email me on:-
mudassir_daud@hotmail.com
Plz feel free to ask any question but email plz.

Thank you brother for your response, i just sent you an email of my plan

[Mohd.Waqas]

i have been to kalam in the past two years consecutive....

in 2012 the road was doable in car but this year i doubt it as in 2013 it was in teriible shape.......... i suggest u take taxi form behrain.. cultus chalay tu jay ge but road is not good at all........

baki u have good considerable guidance from experienced travellers.......

day 3 is impracticle........

u have to visit matiltan and ushu and then u hardly have time for anything else.. i suggest u include utror valley as well that day and on day 4 return to islamabd via Marghazar.........

thank you brother always require tips from your side, road condition is a concern

so can i shift some point to day 2 or utror valley on day 2 ? btw i also make a plan B (now changing some mind, to use 30 april full) check if its good ?

Plan A

30 Apr
5am – 10am Lhr – Islamabad
1pm – 7pm Isl – Mingora – White Palace Marghuzar (Night Stay)

1 May
7am – 10am Marghuzar – Mingora – Malam Jaba
1pm – 5pm Malam jaba – Kalam (visit Kalam Bazar & some village around Night Stay in Kalam)

2 May
Kalam - Ushu Valley - Ushu Glacier - Matilton Waterfall - Chashma e Shifa – Mohandand (if roads open) - Night stay in Kalam

3 May
Kalam - Byun Village / Kalam Hilltop – Bahrain (Night stay in Bahrain or some other good place after bahrain to brake my return journey)

4 May
Start return journey from Bahrain - islamabad – lahore
===================================================================
Plan B
===================================================================
30 Apr
3pm - 7pm Lhr - Islamabad

1 May
4am - 9am Isl - Mardan - Mingora (With breakfast stop)
9am - 11am Mingora - MJ
11am - 4pm Spent Time at MJ
4am - 6pm MJ - Bahrain (Night Stay in Bahrain)

2 May
Bahrain - Kalam - Byun Village / Kalam Hilltop (Night stay in Kalam)

3 May
Early mornig leave for visit surrounding to make our return back to bahrain
8am - 2pm for Exploration (is it enough time for the following visits)
Kalam - Ushu Valley - Ushu Glacier - Matilton Waterfall - Chashma e Shifa (got some spot names from other threads)
2pm - 6pm
Return straight to white palace Marghuzar for avoid my extra return traveling (Night stay in Marghuzar)

4 May
Start return journey from Marghuzar - islamabad - lahore
=====================================================================
@asifcae bhai posts like ker ke chaley gaey merey answers ?

[farooq05]

I visited Kalam and Ushu in first week of January this year and road condition between Mingora to Bahrain are okay except few patches but after Bahrain it is not good though you can still drag any car till Kalam. I have added few pictures here from my visit to give you an idea about the road condition. entire Swat valley is so wonderful so I would love to drive my own car with utmost care to have the privilege to stop anywhere to enjoy the real beauty. Secondly, there are still several check points of Army in this region and the first check point is at Dargai so you need to make sure everyone has original CNIC as well as complete documents of your car. wish you have great time off!

[Mohd.Waqas]

I visited Kalam and Ushu in first week of January this year and road condition between Mingora to Bahrain are okay except few patches but after Bahrain it is not good though you can still drag any car till Kalam. I have added few pictures here from my visit to give you an idea about the road condition. entire Swat valley is so wonderful so I would love to drive my own car with utmost care to have the privilege to stop anywhere to enjoy the real beauty. Secondly, there are still several check points of Army in this region and the first check point is at Dargai so you need to make sure everyone has original CNIC as well as complete documents of your car. wish you have great time off!

Thank you brother for such a useful information (so you say i can use my car till kalam)

can you please check my plan if you want to give any comment on that ?

btw why swat is looking rough rough abhi tu snow honi chahye thi around around nahi ?

[Maddy27]

Bro... Whatever plan u choose, it is upto u. Both are practicable. Malam Jabba is a beautiful place at an altitude of 2471 metres. Must spend 2 to 3 hrs there. Top most point at Malam Jabba is PTDC which was destroyed by Taliban few years back. Road to Malam Jabba is in excellent condition.
White palace is a nice place to spend a night. There is nothing much to see there but must buy caps and pashmina shawls for ladies there. It is a good place for traditional swati shopping.
Kalam is also a beautiful place to see. At the moment road to Mahodand lake is not open. It is open till Matiltan.

Road from Mingora to Khawaza Khela is in excellent condition. From Khawaza Khela to Bahrain, it is broken with few good patches in it and C & W department is working on the road. It is under construction. Road from Behrain to Kalam is in pathetic condition. All places except Mahodand are accessible on every kind of vehicle even Mehran. Last year, on Swat Summer Festival, all kind of vehicles went to Kalam and even I saw a Cuore reaching Mahodand. But I will suggest u to come on your Cultus till Mingora or at max till Behrain. Then hire a vehicle.
For Malam Jabba u can use any car but preferably petrol.

FEW OTHER GUIDELINES
Another thing is that u all must be in possession of NIC cards
They will be checked at Dargai check post.
At Kalam, only Zong works and a little bit Jazz.
Petrol is available everywhere but CNG will not be available after Mingora.

[Mohd.Waqas]

Bro... Whatever plan u choose, it is upto u. Both are practicable. Malam Jabba is a beautiful place at an altitude of 2471 metres. Must spend 2 to 3 hrs there. Top most point at Malam Jabba is PTDC which was destroyed by Taliban few years back. Road to Malam Jabba is in excellent condition.
White palace is a nice place to spend a night. There is nothing much to see there but must buy caps and pashmina shawls for ladies there. It is a good place for traditional swati shopping.
Kalam is also a beautiful place to see. At the moment road to Mahodand lake is not open. It is open till Matiltan.

Road from Mingora to Khawaza Khela is in excellent condition. From Khawaza Khela to Bahrain, it is broken with few good patches in it and C & W department is working on the road. It is under construction. Road from Behrain to Kalam is in pathetic condition. All places except Mahodand are accessible on every kind of vehicle even Mehran. Last year, on Swat Summer Festival, all kind of vehicles went to Kalam and even I saw a Cuore reaching Mahodand. But I will suggest u to come on your Cultus till Mingora or at max till Behrain. Then hire a vehicle.
For Malam Jabba u can use any car but preferably petrol.

FEW OTHER GUIDELINES
Another thing is that u all must be in possession of NIC cards
They will be checked at Dargai check post.
At Kalam, only Zong works and a little bit Jazz.
Petrol is available everywhere but CNG will not be available after Mingora.

Thanks mudassir bhai for your information / guidelines

brother can you suggest some good contact to hire jeep from bahrain & good hotel or place to leave my car there for two days ?

[mudasernaeem]

Ok Here is Final Plan for approval from experts / most welcome for any suggestions from all members (Require Recommendations for Hotels, Food Places, and Jeep Drivers)

30 Apr
3pm - 7pm Lhr - Islamabad

1 May
4am - 9am Isl - Mardan - Mingora (With breakfast stop)
9am - 11am Mingora - MJ
11am - 4pm Spent Time at MJ
4am - 6pm MJ - Bahrain (Night Stay in Bahrain)

2 May
Bahrain - Kalam - Byun Village / Kalam Hilltop (Night stay in Kalam)

3 May
Early mornig leave for visit surrounding to make our return back to bahrain
8am - 2pm for Exploration (is it enough for the following visits)
Kalam - Ushu Valley - Ushu Glacier - Matilton Waterfall - Chashma e Shifa (got some spot names from other thread)
2pm - 6pm
Return straight to white palace Marghuzar for avoid my extra return traveling (Night stay in Marghuzar)

4 May
Start return journey from Marghuzar - islamabad - lahore

I estimate the total expense as follows:
Car petrol = Aprox. 3 Tanks = 12000
Night Stays = 3 Nights = 4000 (excluding isl.)
Jeep = 7000 (for 2 days Bahrain - kalam - surrounding visits - Bahrain, including fuel)
Food = 4000

Total = 30000 Aprox. Lhr - Lhr (5 days)

Aoa
Bro road Bht khrb hai....Blky road hai hi nhi....But Till "Mahodand lake" Cars chali jati hain...
For ur car's safty good to hire jeep from bahrain but still u can mange it in ur car...

change the day 3 plan if u can reach till "Mahodand Lake".....and stay at kalam on that day
Nhi to thk hai ap ka plan....

Hotels,food places and jeep drivers ka koe issuee nhi Waha ja k Easily Mange ho jae ga...
Ap bs Tyari pkry
1 suggestion ur hotel offers u jeeps but mostly they charge More than a jeep u find on roads

Ushu Glacier is simple glacier
and Chashma e Shifa k bary mein Mashoor hai k pani peny sy bnda bemar nhi hota mein b piya aur 2 din bemar raha

Day2- I suggest u "utror Valley"....agr road open na ho then u can visit byun village

[Mohd.Waqas]

Aoa
Bro road Bht khrb hai....Blky road hai hi nhi....But Till "Mahodand lake" Cars chali jati hain...
For ur car's safty good to hire jeep from bahrain but still u can mange it in ur car...

change the day 3 plan if u can reach till "Mahodand Lake".....and stay at kalam on that day
Nhi to thk hai ap ka plan....

Hotels,food places and jeep drivers ka koe issuee nhi Waha ja k Easily Mange ho jae ga...
Ap bs Tyari pkry
1 suggestion ur hotel offers u jeeps but mostly they charge More than a jeep u find on roads

Ushu Glacier is simple glacier
and Chashma e Shifa k bary mein Mashoor hai k pani peny sy bnda bemar nhi hota mein b piya aur 2 din bemar raha

Day2- I suggest u "utror Valley"....agr road open na ho then u can visit byun village

Thanks Mudasser for your good suggestions - OK i make changes in plan according to suggestions from all of you and making a final plan to get final opinion from all of you posting in next post - Please have a look and give your opinion

[Mohd.Waqas]

Ok here is final plan, need final input for go ahead and need prayers for the trip. A request to all of you to give your final opinion @aesiege @asifcae @ranasherdil @farooq05 @mudasernaeem

Day ? 1 ? 30th April 2014 - (Night Stay in Bahrain)
5:30am ? 10:10am: Lahore to Islamabad
12:10pm ? 7:10pm: Islamabad ? Mardan ? Bahrain

(Can we do this in one day?)

Day ? 2 ? 1st May 2014 ? (Night stay in Kalam)
7:10am ? 10:10am: Bahrain ? Kalam ? Check-in (leave luggage & breakfast)
12:10pm ? 7:10pm: Kalam - Narewal village ? Utror & Gabral Valley - Dhamaka Lake, Kharkhari lake etc (till available route)
After return maybe we can visit - Kalam Hill Top ? Jalband ? Byun Village

(Can we do this all in one day?)
(If not practical please suggest or combine the must visit places for this day)

Day ? 3 ? 2nd May 2014 ? (Night stay in PTDC Miandam)
7:10am ? 7:10pm: Kalam - Ushu Valley - Ushu Glacier - Matilton Waterfall - Chashma e Shifa ? Falak Sar Veiw - Mohandand (if roads open) ? Miandam

(Can we do this all in one day & what can be other good option to stay in Miandam)

Day ? 4 ? 3rd May 2014 - (Night Stay in White Palace)
7:10am ? 7:10pm: Miandam ? Shangla Pass View - Malam Jaba - Margazar - Illam Mountain Walk

(Any other worth to visit place, can we add on this day for short visit?)

Day ? 5 ? 4th May 2014
7:10am ? 7:10pm Margazar ? Islamabad ? Lhr

[asifcae]

Ok here is final plan, need final input for go ahead and need prayers for the trip. A request to all of you to give your final opinion @aesiege @asifcae @ranasherdil @farooq05 @mudasernaeem

Day ? 1 ? 30th April 2014 - (Night Stay in Bahrain)
5:30am ? 10:10am: Lahore to Islamabad
12:10pm ? 7:10pm: Islamabad ? Mardan ? Bahrain

(Can we do this in one day?)

Day ? 2 ? 1st May 2014 ? (Night stay in Kalam)
7:10am ? 10:10am: Bahrain ? Kalam ? Check-in (leave luggage & breakfast)
12:10pm ? 7:10pm: Kalam - Narewal village ? Utror & Gabral Valley - Dhamaka Lake, Kharkhari lake etc (till available route)
After return maybe we can visit - Kalam Hill Top ? Jalband ? Byun Village

(Can we do this all in one day?)
(If not practical please suggest or combine the must visit places for this day)

Day ? 3 ? 2nd May 2014 ? (Night stay in PTDC Miandam)
7:10am ? 7:10pm: Kalam - Ushu Valley - Ushu Glacier - Matilton Waterfall - Chashma e Shifa ? Falak Sar Veiw - Mohandand (if roads open) ? Miandam

(Can we do this all in one day & what can be other good option to stay in Miandam)

Day ? 4 ? 3rd May 2014 - (Night Stay in White Palace)
7:10am ? 7:10pm: Miandam ? Shangla Pass View - Malam Jaba - Margazar - Illam Mountain Walk

(Any other worth to visit place, can we add on this day for short visit?)

Day ? 5 ? 4th May 2014
7:10am ? 7:10pm Margazar ? Islamabad ? Lhr

day 1 is ok

day 2 is ok but leave karkhari lake as itwill have snow/accesibility issues and it is a hike so time wont permit...............

enjoy till dhamaka lake

[asifcae]

day 3 is doable as well

day 4 is also practicle but again u shud not go for trek... i have no info on this trek aswell..... u wont have time after msallam jaba anf hotel white palace

[farooq05]

Thank you brother for such a useful information (so you say i can use my car till kalam)

can you please check my plan if you want to give any comment on that ?

btw why swat is looking rough rough abhi tu snow honi chahye thi around around nahi ?

you can drive your car even till Matiltan but will surely need some extra care and your pace will be very slow. in first week of Jan, it didn't snow but weather was very cold which actually presented this rough picture..

[asifcae]

you can drive your car even till Matiltan but will surely need some extra care and your pace will be very slow. in first week of Jan, it didn't snow but weather was very cold which actually presented this rough picture..

yar there might be glaciers in the way which have partially/not cleared so first confirm form kalam if road is clear than proceed

[Mohd.Waqas]

you can drive your car even till Matiltan but will surely need some extra care and your pace will be very slow. in first week of Jan, it didn't snow but weather was very cold which actually presented this rough picture..

Thank you farooq for your tips very useful information

day 1 is ok

day 2 is ok but leave karkhari lake as itwill have snow/accesibility issues and it is a hike so time wont permit...............

enjoy till dhamaka lake

day 3 is doable as well

day 4 is also practicle but again u shud not go for trek... i have no info on this trek aswell..... u wont have time after msallam jaba anf hotel white palace

yar there might be glaciers in the way which have partially/not cleared so first confirm form kalam if road is clear than proceed

Thank you very much Asif bhai very useful tips always very helping

[waqasaltaf]

Dear All,

we are also planning a trip to swat kalam in same days.. My Friends are concerned about security issues to be faced in swat and kallam .. is it safe now after all the media and news reporting about the valley ? .. waiting for opinion of travelers who went their in recent past...

[waqasaltaf]

what is the security situation now there as we have some very strong concerns as we are planning a trip to swat kallam and a person from forces has advised us not to do so ...

Bro... I am living in swat from last 2 years. Internet at my place is not so speedy as I am using GPRS. So I am unable to participate in forums due to internet issue. I read your msg today in my email inbox. If u have any kind of question in your mind regarding district swat or Shangla, u can email me on:-
mudassir_daud@hotmail.com
Plz feel free to ask any question but email plz.

[asifcae]

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[Mohd.Waqas]

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Better way to said that

[waqasaltaf]

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Asif Bhai thank u for the No Security Issues in Swat reply ..... ... it concerns a lot of people though and once trips are regular to the area, like they were used to before the doomed situation, people will start coming to swat and kallam .. Pakwheels is a good forum to spread the message and encouraging people to visit the place ....

[asifcae]

Asif Bhai thank u for the No Security Issues in Swat reply ..... ... it concerns a lot of people though and once trips are regular to the area, like they were used to before the doomed situation, people will start coming to swat and kallam .. Pakwheels is a good forum to spread the message and encouraging people to visit the place ....

indeed pakwheels is a great forum... kafi dafa discus ho chuka hai security issue wala subject and many ppl inculing myself have been to swat recently even for trekking......