Visit to Deosai in mid September

[hasibsaied3]

Dear All ,

Can someone advise about the intended visit to Deosai around 14 to 16 September. Is it worth to visit Deosai in these days?

I have heard that usually in this period Deosai beauty is much reduced.

Thanks in anticipation of your professional advise.

[Aqeel1982]

thanks for asking this question, i have similar plan to visit Deosai, Skardu and Khunjrab in end september dates, lets see what people say about it.

[tareen]

Deosai plains primarily have three phases, the white, the green and the gold. It is impossible to grade them in comparison as each one has its own charm and serenity. Rest is individuals' comfort, liking and intention of what they prefer.

The dates you have mentioned will be seeing the GOLD phase of Deosai. I'm attaching a few pictures from August 28, 2016 that will give you some idea of what to expect...Time of my visit was the transition from green to gold

Kind regards

[zahraoffice3]

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[hasibsaied3]

Tareen , thank you very much for your logical explaination as well as demonstration , very well understood .
Can you futher guide about the weather conditions in these dates. Thanks

[tareen]

My pleasure brother. It will be pretty cold even during day time and nights are much more...but acceptable and survivable for such an high altitude. Not to worry till snow starts later on.

Proper insulated clothing and gear is the key to enjoy that weather rather than spend fighting it for survival. Crossing Deosai in the day time is best during colder months unless proper sleeping and feeding gear is brought along to spend the night at either sheosar or Bara pani being most common for camping.

[hasibsaied3]

Thanks Bro for the information , now mcuh clear what to do in Deosai, my plan is a day visit up to Sheosar and back to Skardu.

Dear if you can guide about the places to visit in Skardu and Hunza, I will be having in total 10 days. Due to shortage of time, I have decided to skip any hsitorical or man built places rather I think that I should visit natural sites to enjoy the nature.I will be with my spouse.

Thanks

[nomi381]

Dear snow season starts with September.
We went around 5th sep and it was totally white.
Plus it may cause road blockage as well.
So keep it in mind

[hasibsaied3]

Thanks for the information I will take it into account .

[tareen]

Post your plan / itinerary. That will help to get precise and accurate advice. Your mode of transportation too...

[hasibsaied3]

Thanks Tareen my possible itinerary is as under:

9/9. Khi to Isb. By Air. Reaching. 6pm
10/9. Isb to Naran. By Car Leave Isb by 10 am.
11/9. Naran to Hunza. By Car. Leave Naran 10 am
12/9. Hunza to Khunjarab . By Car. leave Hunza 10 am
13/9. Hunza to Naltar. By Car/ Jeep. Leave Hunza 10
14/9. Gilgit to Skardu. By Car. Leave Gilgit 10am
14/9. Skardu to Deosi. By Jeep. leave Skardu 10 am
15/9. Skardu to Manthoka By Car. Leave Skardu 10am
16/9. Skardu Shangri-La etc By Car
17/9. Skardu to Gilgit. By Car. Leave Skardu 10 am
18/9. Gilgit to Naran By Car
19/9. Naran to Isb. By Car

Can I fit in Astore etc Kindly guide , it is a very rough itinerary.

Thanks

[hasibsaied3]

Any Comments ???

[Aqeel1982]

will you be alone or family? I am asking this bcoz we 3 guys have a confirmed plan in the last week of Sep for a 9 day trip from isb to Khunjrab and stay at hunza-skardu and deosai. we will be traveling with our own car and i can adjust one person.

[hasibsaied3]

Thank you for your kind offer , obliged , but I will be with family and has pre-arranged the car.

[Aqeel1982]

ok then i will be getting updated info from you bcoz you will be going just 2 weeks earlier than us, you will have first hand info which will be great treasure for us as we will be driving for the first time beyond babusar top. I hope i can get your number to be fully in touch. cheers

[hasibsaied3]

Sure I will InshaAllah!

[tareen]

Masha Allah, very doable and logical itinerary. I don't know if you have been to Skardu before but the city itself is of no interest. While you intend to stay the nights in Skardu city as its always convenient to be stationed in one place when with family, I would suggest a few adjustments.

You can add Shangrila to either of the days i.e. while going to Skardu or returning from there. Its just on the way. Preferably add it to the day while going to Skardu.

And on return, rather than going to Gilgit all the way back (as you have seen it already) try breaking journey either at Jaglot or even better at Chilas. Chilas will leave you with both options the next morning, either to take KKH or Babusar and you can stop to see more places that had been skipped on the way up.

Secondly, by leaving Chilas in the morning, you can comfortably make it to Islamabad. These two changes will get you two extra days.

Add Shigar and cold desert to one day.

Put Mathoka waterfall, Khaplu & Machlu on one day. Other than the famous forte in Khaplu, try to visit fruit orchards of Machlu across the river via one of the longest suspension bridges. Its a rocky track after bridge but easily doable by car. Just keep it very slow. The same track leads to the last village of Ghanche dist. where wheels can reach, Hushey. Thats a pure jeep track (not difficult but uneven for car). I would have highly recommended that if you would be interested in yet another jeep hire. And a night stay there is a must to feel one of the quietest places (like Deosai).

As for adding Astore...Once you have reached Sheosar from Skardu side, it almost fully covers Deosai. Thought the road between Chilam chowki and Astore is one of the most scenic one, it will be too much to reach Astore (an untidy town) and go back to Skardu. Had you been on your own 4x4, it would have come naturally on the way. The adjacent valleys of Astore and Rama are the places to see but that requires atleast two days.

Temperature in Skardu will be very pleasant cold during the day so no worries at all.

[hasibsaied3]

@Tareen, No this will be my first ever visit to this area, I have reached till Babusar and wanted to complete this lag.

Thank you very much for your professional advice , I will be amending the plan as per your guidance , however , for me spending the night elsewhere is no issue however , as my wife will be accompanying so I am preferring Hotels in Skardu & Hunza as I am not aware of other area hotels .

Actually, the minimum facilities which I will be needing in the Hotel will be Spring Mattress (due medical issue ) and Clean washrooms with hot water.

I ahve amended as under , however, I also know that this all depends on teh weatehr , traffic circumstances, rush etc.,

Day # Day Date From To Dep Arr Night Stay at

Day 1 Saturday 9-Sep Khi to Isd 16:00 18:00 Islamabad, Murree or Abbottabad.
Day 2 Sunday 10-Sep Isd to Nar 10:00 18:00 Narran
Day 3 Monday 11-Sep Nar to Hun 10:00 19:00 on the way to Hunza. Hunza
Day 4 Tuesday 12-Sep Hun to Khn 10:00 19:00 Khunjerab,Atabad,Hussaini,Gulmit,Passu
Day 5 Wednesday 13-Sep Hun to Hun 10:00 19:30 Visit Nagar Valley- Hooper Glaciers.
Day 6 Thursday 14-Sep Hun to Sdu 10:00 19:30 Sdu,Shangrila-upper Kachura-Skardu
Day 7 Friday 15-Sep Sdu to Deo 10:00 19:30 Sadpara Lake- Deosai Planes -Sheoshar
Day 8 Saturday 16-Sep Sdu to Sdu 10:00 19:30 Manthoka waterfall, Khaplu & Machlu
Day 9 Sunday 17-Sep Sdu to Gigit 10:00 19:30 Depart from Skardu and reach Gigit
Day 10 Monday 18-Sep Gigit o Nar 10:00 20:00 In-between Naltar Lake etc., (is this doable)
Day 11 Tuesday 19-Sep Nar-Isd 09:00 19:30 Narran to Islamabad Airport. 21:30

[aautomator]

Deosai's view 1 week back. Gold phase at its peak. Snow season about to start

[hasibsaied3]

Is Naltar do able on day 10?