Ugrent Reply-Need Vacation badly,Sick of Karachi &Want to spend some time in Greenery

[Jeff1]

Hello. My name is Jeff, And I am planning to take some break from my work & go for an adventures vacation, Like Trekking and Hiking in a quiet and clean environment will travel solo, And I am living in Karachi and I am sick of here.

1- Places to go for an adventure like Trekking and Hiking (I heard a lot about Bhurban, Murree, Nathia Gali) ?

2- Is it safe to go solo for the very first time ?

3-What are things I should do in this trip? Should I take a Business train which will drop me Lahore or Should I take Daweeo bus from Karachi.

4- Nice and affordable Hotels for stay in between traveling.

5- For now approximately the budget is 50 thousands (Suggestion needed, I am traveling alone with this budget ?). I want to travel in few days.

Thank you very much.

Jeff

[Raheeln]

hotels would be cheaper in these days all around galliyat region,

solo wud be difficult 4 u if u r going for the very first time !

some1 who has some exp of same wud be helpful as a partner and guide as well !!

[Jeff1]

Thanks Raheel for your reply. I need some time off from work, all my friends are busy with their work. Can't take anyone with me,
Where I can go Solo? Murree? Nathaigali? Bhurban I need Maximum I week holiday! Would love to Explore the Scenery. How much Money I need for a week stay?

[faraz74]

you have quite a handsome budget for a week since its off season and hotels will be cheaper...

I would suggest you to travel by Air from Karachi to Islamabad and back. The expense will be between 15000 to 20000 round trip depending on the airline...It will save a lot of time and you will still have enough money to spend for the week.
Take Daewoo from Islamabad for Murree or hire a taxi. Stay a couple of days in murree if you want or proceed to Nathia gali by taxi.
Hotels in Murree, Nathia gali etc should be around 1000 / night unless you will be staying in a four or five star hotel.
The famous treks in the region are Dunga gali to Mukshpuri, Nathia gali to Miran Jaani and The famous pipe line trek which also starts from Dunga gali and ends up at Ayubia. Take a local guide with you which should cost you around 500.
you can also keep a couple of days for Islamabad sight seeing and Margalla hiking trails...You can do them solo...safe and no guide needed.

Regards

[ism1]

nicest idea given by Faraz bhai. Love to travel wid u or any1, but Alaaasss!!! much busy in daily routine life.

[Jeff1]

Thank you Faraz for your reply. I truly appreciate it.

1. I want to travel by Bus, so that I can see the whole Villages and all on the way to Islamabad. Will it be safe and enjoyable?

2. So I don't need a guide even in Murree? One week is enough to explore the beauty of Murree and Surrounding areas? Any other suggestions from you would be nice too.

[Xoofi]

If you want to observe the villages then book your seat in Pak Business Express. It leaves Karachi at 3:30 PM and reach Lahore 10 AM (Approx 18 hours). You won't be able to observe much in day time because Karachi to Hyderabad has mostly barren landscape and after Hyderabad night time starts. However, during 6 AM to 10 AM, you can enjoy the greenery of many villages in Punjab on Khanewal - Sahiwal - Lahore route.

Another option is a different train (i.e. Night Coach Express privately run by Shalimar Group). It leaves Karachi at 6 PM and reach Lahore at 12 PM next day (18 hours). It takes the Khanewal - Faisalabad - Lahore route and you can observe village life better on this route as compared to Khanewal - Sahiwal - Lahore route of Pak Business Express. Since it is also a private train, it is also maintaining its time quite well.

If you reach Lahore by 12 PM, you can also explore Lahore a bit in evening, stay overnight in a hotel/guest house and then book your Daewoo ticket early morning next day to Rawalpindi/Murree. This journey will also give you a chance to observe village life across M2 Motorway and a stretch of mountainous region at Kalar Kahar which is also very beautiful.

A combination of train + bus ride will not make you much tired. I don't like Bus travel on N5 Highway especially in Sindh because road condition is very bad. If you do decide to travel by train, ask the booking person to allot you lower berth so you'll get the window seat and can observe the outside better.

[Jeff1]

Thanks Xoofi. I appreciate your suggestions. What are safest hotels in Lahore and Murree? Can I stay in resort in Murree ? Would that be expensive?

[afnan_88]

now a days everyone living in this city is fed up from it , even i need a trip lol

[Jeff1]

Ahahahh Tell me about it, They F***** my city.

We all need some time off though, especially If you live in Karachi-Concrete Jungle.

[Xoofi]

Any hotel/guest house in good locality of Lahore would be good and safe. I have never stayed in an hotel in Lahore because I have many relatives there but I have friends who stayed in different hotels in Lahore like Royal Hotel in main Shadman Market near GOR-III and they were satisfied. Another group of friends chose Hotel View Garden near China Chowk (Bagh-e-Jinnah) and they were satisfied. Some hotels that are near railway station are also good like Pakistan Hotel which is near Australia Masjid, McLeod Road. A number of hotels on Lower Mall Road are also good, couldn't remember the names right now though. There are good hotels near Liberty Market like Smart Hotel etc.

In Murree, you will find hotels everywhere. Choose any good one on Mall Road. If you want luxury then choose PC Bhurban.

[Jeff1]

Thanks Xoofi. I appreciate all the help. God Bless U

[Wanderer]

I know what you mean Jeff, when talking about safety and the urge to see village life

Following are my suggestions:

1-NEVER go by train or by bus, its tiring (specially buses are where you cant roam and your legs get numb) time consuming and filthy.

2-Go by air.

3-There is nothing to see in Sindh just Dhool Mitti and Date/palm trees.

4-There is nothing to see in Punjab too just some grass with johar.

5-Go directly to Isl, take taxi to murree, spend a day going for chair lift (its take a day or the better part of it)
6-spend second day morning strolling on Mall road upper area its safe clean and refereshing,
7-spend the night exploring and enjoying crowd on mall road /shopping.

8-On third day go to Nathia gali
9-Go to Kashmir side for 3 days..

10-Everywhere is safe except remote areas and karachi,

11-take loads of books and music you will need them (I went to Quetta alone and it was LONELY....)

Any way Good luck...

[pistonhead]

Hunza. I am planning a trip there end of April or May and I have heard its really beautiful.

[olgajhenry]

I can undertsand your concern as work can be too stressful and you can go by cheap flights with no heavy budget and I would suggest you look at all the flights and choose one of them as per your vacation experience also price never affect the entertainment.