To Deosai plains!

[timu73]

Dear All

Aoa

I am planning for deosai plains at almost end of july with family that shall have four kids ranging from 3 to 12 years.
Is it safe and advisable ?
shall weather pose threats in this part of July/August.
Can one stay at a hotel in skardu and come back the same day from deosai without having to camp there ?
Are hotels good in skardu ?
Please comment and guide about the overall safety of trip. We intend to take flight to skardu from Islamabad.

[baltistan]

It's safe sir bs trip k dates weather forecast check kr k final kr ly.
Ap 1 din may deosai plains up to Sheosar lake visit kr k wapis skardu askty hy.
Hotels of all categories available in Skardu
Good Family hotels are as follows:
1. Mashabrum Hotel
2. Dewan-e-Khas Hotel
3. Baltistan Continental Hotel
4. Karakoram Inn
5. PTDC Skardu

[haseeb_eng]

PTDC Skardu is a better choice. Whether you can go Deosai and come back the same day, you probably need to get other experts advise on this.

[timu73]

Thank you so much baltistan and haseeb for guidance.....one more thing...........which is safe ? to go by air or road ? and if we opt for road as "by air" is turning out quite expensive, what will be the best route for cars like corollas ? especially at the july's end. A little detail would go a long way to help.... Thanks again for such quick response.

[aukhan75]

Travelling by road is a much better option.
For a corolla car, no route is a problem at all.
At the end of July, the best route to Gilgit-Baltistan is Naran-Babusar-Chillas.
Must check weather forecast.

[haseeb_eng]

By air is a more safe approach however by road is a kind of adventure on it's own.

[mudasernaeem]

Good news is Deosai road is opened today...

Source: Fb status of a Adventure club in skardu.

[Muhammad_Shakeel]

But babusar paas is still not opened.

[Exubery]

Most of your questions are answered by others..

One thing from my side: Most Pakistanis are not conscious or aware of high altitude and altitude sickness. Please do read about it and know its symptoms, particularly as you're travelling with kids. Deosai altitude is quite high where AMS could be an issue.

[timu73]

thank you all for your help and guidance. I am sure its going a long way in planning my trip. I am sorry for a little belated reply as I was away from net for last few days. @ Exubery, thanks for this very vital tip. We have been to naran and swat before this trip. I hope it may help us to get used to travelling to such height but of course one can't be sure as it is higher. We shall though take precautions and prophylactic meds. Thanks all -

[haseeb_eng]

Make sure you eat Khubani at high altitude and it will add more Oxygen in your blood. That's what i did when i visited Khunjrab pass few weeks ago and it helped.

[timu73]

thanks haseeb....But I again want to ask if corolla would be good enough to drive us through and beyond babusar pass etc as in one of the posts somewhere here they had recommended only 4WD for beyond naran....

[timu73]

The following chart got me little upset about possible selection of car once you are beyond naran.. This table was added to these pages in 2010. I wonder if the same situation prevails. Please comment.

Distance Chart and Estimated Travel Time
PlacesAltitudeDistance
In feetIn metersIn kilometersRoad ConditionTravel Time
Islamabad20016100
Abbottabad41201,256116Good mettled road but heavy traffic2 hrs. 30 min.
Mansehra320197626Good mettled road but heavy traffic.40 min.
Balakot2,90088448Good mettled road with low traffic.1 hr. 15 min.
4,7991,46324under construction40 min.
Kawai
Paras4,9201,5005under construction15 min.
Mahandari4,9991,52418Mettled but damaged at some places30 min.
Kaghan6,6882,03915Mettled but damaged at few places30 min.
Naran7,8882,40524Good Mettled road but blocked by small glaciers at 4 to 5 places in early season1 hr.
Batakundi8,8992,71316Good Mettled road but blocked by small glaciers at 2 to 3 places in early season30 min.
Burawai9,5972,9268Good Mettled road suitable for all kinds of vehicles15 min.
Jalkhad9,1182,78011Good Mettled road suitable for all kind of vehicles20 min.
Besal9,1972,80423Under construction road only suitable for 4WD vehicles1 hr.
Lulusar Lake10,2803,4393Under construction road only suitable for 4WD vehicles20 min.
Gitidas11,9203,6349Under construction road only suitable for 4WD vehicles40 min.
Babusar Pass13,6874,1737Under construction road only suitable for 4WD vehicles45 min.
Babusar Village9,2002,80013Unmettled road only suitable for 4WD vehicles40 min.
Chilas37Unmettled road only suitable for 4WD vehicles1 hr. 20 min.