Aslam-o-Alykum,
Dear PW members, after last year successful tour from Lahore to Hunza Valley, Deosai, Kachura, Shigar Valley and Skardu with my son and wife this year I decided. to visit few more beautiful places of Gilgit-Baltistan region. So i decided to visit Naltar Valley, Khunjrab Pass and Ghizer Valley upto Phander lake in 2nd week of September 2017. So, like last year I booked the air tickets 40 days early. Booking tickets early is economical but it is sort of a gamble as Gilgit flights are often cancelled due to bad weather. I had already conveyed my driver about the flight schedule so he received us from Gilgit Airport.
Tour 2016:
Tour 2017 Details:
12.09.2017
Our Flight Time was 07:00 AM so we left Lahore at 00:30 AM on Daewoo Express's old uncomfortable bus and reached Islamabad at 5:15 AM. Reached airport and flight took off on 07:00 AM and landed 55 Min later. Our driver received us on Parado TZ we took breakfast and had some rest. Then we headed towards Naltar Valley. After Nomal its a 4X4 track and it becomes worse after Naltar Skiing Area but we remained comfortable as Parado has excellent seats and suspension.
Naltrar Valley is very beautiful with lush green meadows, Pine Forests, Water Stream, High Mountains and cold weather. It took 3.5 Hours from Gilgit to reach Satrangi Lake. Then we visited other two lakes. In the end visited ski area and then left for Gilgit at sunset.
13.09.2017
We got ready at 10 am and started travelling on KKH towards Sost on Toyota Carolla. Stopped at Rakaposhi View Point, Aliabad, Attabad Lake and Passu for Photography. At evening reached Sost and stayed at hotel at night we visited sost bazar.
14.09.2017
Next morning at 08:00 AM left Sost and reached Khunjrab Pass. Weather was very cold, temperature was close to 0 degree. We stayed there for half an hour and enjoyed weather but kept our son inside the car. Then went to Baltit Fort which has very steep climb on foot. It took a lot of effort to reach the fort while carrying two and half year boy. Altit & Baltit Fort are very overrated places. Karimabad Hunza people pretend it to be the eighth wonder of the world, because of this missperception many old people and women climb up with difficulty and in the end place is quite ordinary. Entry fee for this tiny fort was Rs. 250 per person which is also very high. In the evening we left for Gilgit and Stayed there.
15.09.2017
We got up early and started travelling towards Phander lake. This was asphalt road with bad patches but overall seemed to be ok for cars. There were lot of curves and up downs all the way long. After 4 hours we reached Khalti lake it is very beautiful place. Then went upto Phander lake but unfortunately could not take photographs as our DSLR battery became low. In evening we went to hotel and started packing for our return flight.
16.09.2017
At 9 AM we took off from Gilgit and landed at Islamabad airport. Then went to Lahore Via Faisal Mover luxury bus which was very comfortable and had double leg space.
Speacial Request:
It is my humble request to all PW members and other travelers who plan to visit Gilgit-Baltistan. The people of Karimabad have started exploiting tourist too much. They also abuse tourist on their fb pages and other traveler groups like "The Karakorum Club" and often call the people of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad terrorists who litter their land and steal fruit from trees. Hotels in Karimabad have doubled there room rents and food prices in last two years. Now time has come that tourist also prefer PTDC Aliabad, and hotels in Passu and Sost for stay instead of Karimabad. Now there are many good options for stay beyond Karimabad. Like this Karimabad people will relies the importance of Tourist and this place will not become another Murree or Naran.
