Trip to Wonderland GB (Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza, Khunjrab) - 29th May to 10th June 2015

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[aghaabbas]

Excellent....

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[sshanu]

haseb lush picture awesome <3

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Tips for Skardu: People going from Punjab and Sindh please make sure that you carry mineral water from your areas or get it from Abbotabad because the mineral water in Skardu is local and this is what makes most of the people sick. So just try to keep a stock of water with you.

In Gilgit and Hunza there is no such issue of mineral water.

That night we Stayed back in PTDC Skardu & next day left for Hunza at 8AM however, we got stuck for 4 hours after Astak near Usmania Moor due to land sliding.

Attached some land sliding pictures.

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The picture below shows the administration trying to clear the route

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Finally Allhamdulilah the road was clear and we went through.

It was bit of an adventure though.

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I was happy that finally we can make to Hunza today but another surprise was waiting for us at Shah Alam bridge. It was windy & the bridge was shuffling up to 2 feet.

Police told us you can't cross the bridge because it's too dangerous and the vehicle can tilt over therefore need to wait until the wind gets under control!!!

I replied back to them ''you got to be kidding... getting wind under control above massive Indus river and between 2 mountains?

[aks_e_ahmed]

You can manage Hunza Karimabad - Khunjarab pass - Hunza Karimabad the same day with the following plan:

Karimabad to Attabad Lake = 40 minutes drive
Attabad Passanger Boat Journey = 35 minutes
From Attabad to Khunjarab Pass= 4 Hours (including lunch, prayer and picture stop)
From Khunjrab Pass to Hunza Karimabad = 4.5 hours (return journey is much faster)

I did this trip in one day because with the family it's not easy to take luggage across the boat and secondly, our driver was afraid of taking the car across the lake so he had to wait for us on the lake until we return.

We had rented another car for the return trip after the lake till khunjrab pass & he was a local driver so was over speeding but fine by me if it cuts down on time. Once you reach other side of the road you will be approached by different drivers and you can negotiate the rates with them,

On average you need 11-12 hours for a return trip from Hunza Karimabad to Khunjrab pass but you should leave at 6am.

Hopfully this will help.

Thanks dear for the detailed reply
how much he charged for the return journey lake khunjrab and back lake ?

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Ahmed, the driver charged 8000 Rs. for a return trip.

on 14th Aug 2015 Govt. will open the the tunnel which will bypass Attabad lake

Thanks dear for the detailed reply
how much he charged for the return journey lake khunjrab and back lake ?

[rao.umair.3194]

I was happy that finally we can make to Hunza today but another surprise was waiting for us at Shah Alam bridge. It was windy & the bridge was shuffling up to 2 feet.

Police told us you can't cross the bridge because it's too dangerous and the vehicle can tilt over therefore need to wait until the wind gets under control!!!

I replied back to them ''you got to be kidding... getting wind under control above massive Indus river and between 2 mountains?

Surprised to know about shuffling. Any ways how long you waited?

[anwarriaz1]

Excellent

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I couldn't believe it when he told me as well until i saw it from my eyes that the bridge was really moving, probably not 2 feet though.

We were stuck there for 2 hours and then finally they allowed us to cross. And there was not much day light so we had to switch to Plan B by staying in Gilgit.

Reached Gilgit by Magerb.

Surprised to know about shuffling. Any ways how long you waited?

[aukhan75]

I was happy that finally we can make to Hunza today but another surprise was waiting for us at Shah Alam bridge. It was windy & the bridge was shuffling up to 2 feet.

Police told us you can't cross the bridge because it's too dangerous and the vehicle can tilt over therefore need to wait until the wind gets under control!!!

I replied back to them ''you got to be kidding... getting wind under control above massive Indus river and between 2 mountains?

I have experienced the same thing at the same place twice. The wind blows very hard and the traffic is suspended. Once I had to wait for a little less than an hour and second time I waited for around two hours. While travelling in the north, anything can disrupt your journey and your schedule.

[haseeb_eng]

It's just 160KM from KKH to Skardu and you need about 5 to 6 hours journey from KKH to Skardu city due to the road condition.

Last month federal Govt. had announced for a new road project(Gilgit Skardu Road) between KKH and Skardu. I hope next time when i will visit this area it will be a carpeted road till Skardu just like KKH.

I have experienced the same thing at the same place twice. The wind blows very hard and the traffic is suspended. Once I had to wait for a little less than an hour and second time I waited for around two hours. While travelling in the north, anything can disrupt your journey and your schedule.