I am planning a trip to the Gilgit-Hunza-Chitral-KKH region this summer and have lots of questions which I will keep positing in this thread. Any suggestion or comment is welcome.
My first question is regarding public transportation in that area. Is that a viable mode of transport to move around in that region?
Also, are these Natco routes still operational?
Lets say I want to go to a Natco bus terminal, is the term ‘Natco’ well known to taxi drivers?
I have been as far as Naraan and Lake Saiful Maluk but this latest scene brings back new desire to return there and go all the way to the Kunjerab Pass!
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Yes natco is wellknown in pindi/islamabad.... i can advise you better if you tell below:
then i can offer you exact answers and recommendations....
I will be keeping a tab on this thread cuz I would LOVEEEE to visit this part of earthly paradise someday iA
@Obama : Beautiful picture ! I think that is Attabad lake. I have been to Saiful Muluk, Naran, and Kaghan side when I was in college. I think that area has more tourist facilities compared to the KKH region I am targeting this time. Thanks for mentioning Khunjerab pass, I will love to keep it on my itinerary if budget permitted.
@NomiCA : Thank you so much for offering to share your knowledge. Right now I have following things in mind:
Time: Around 10 days after reaching Rawalpindi by train
Group: 4 adults (3 guys, 1 woman) - can stay in one room if there is space.
Budget: Roughly Rs.25,000/= per head.
Core objectives: I got basic information from PTDC`s Gilgit-Hunza-KKH tour and Skardu-Deosai tour about places I would like to visit. I am also reading Lonely Planet?s Pakistan and the Karakoram Highway (Country Travel Guide) to see what to add on places to visit. There are just too many places for 10 days so want to choose wisely. If possible, then I would also want to visit Chitral. Some of the essential places are travel on KKH, Skardu, and Hunza.
hmm…your budget seems a bit tight…
let me tell you one thing first…the best time to visit Hunza is Autumn…it is ok in summer too…but the real breathtaking time is in autumn…i.e. end of october/start of november…
2nd thing…in order to enjoy KKH/Scenery ..you will need to have your own vehicle/rented…on public transport ‘the travel/journey’’ will not be that much fun…it wil be hectic..and you can enjoy only the destinations…
anyhow,
your possible route could look like this…with major destinations…
RawalPindi
Naran
Chillas
Gilgit
Hunza -
Nagar (Hopar/Minapin) - Need Hired Vehicle
Khunjerab Pass - Need Hired Vehicle
Back to Gilgit
Naltar Valley - Need Hired Vehicle
Skardu and Kachura Lakes (I personally don’t like this as too much travel and too little ‘scenery’ - unless you are into looking at Barren/Dry Mountains)
Deosai - Need Hired Jeep
FairyMeadows/NangaParbat BaseCamp-Need Hired Jeep
Chillas
Chitral is on another side…if you want to include that too…but you may need Jeep for crossing over Shandur Pass…that planning is tricky… you will have to go from Gilgit-Shandoor-Chitral-Dir-Malakand-Mardan-Rawalpindi
So, If Hunza/KKH was the most important thing…i would suggest to do that area in Autumn…and utilize summer for ‘greener’ areas…
I suggest you visit Pakwheels travel forums and there is a facebook group “the Karakorum Club” with Tons of information…
I would give you following options--- these are areas which fall on similar geographical route.
Autumn-KKH
Rawalpindi-Gilgit-Hunza-Gojal-Khunjerab-Hopar and Minapin(Nagar)-Naltar-Phandar-Gilgit-Rawalpindi..........should be doable in 10 days
Summer -KKH
Rawalpindi-Naran-Chillas-Deosai-Minimerg (if you have army links)-Astore - Rama Meadows- FairyMeadows (Scary Jeep Ride and Some Basic Trekking)-Chillas- Rawalpindi........should be doable in 10 days
Summer Non-KKH (Chitral Side)
Rawalpindi-Dir-Chitral-Kumrat Valley-Swat Valley-Mingora/Kalam/MalamJabba-Rawalpindi
Summer Non-KKH (Azad Kashmir)
Rawalpindi-Neelum-Baboon-Keran-Ratti Galli-Kel/Arrangkel-Taobutt-Back to Neelum-Bagh-GangaChoti- Rawalpindi
@NomiCA How long is the drive from Muzaffarabad to Taobat on an average July day?
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@NomiCA How long is the drive from Muzaffarabad to Taobat on an average July day?
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at least 10 hours i suppose…road till sharda is supposed to be ok for normal cars…from sharda onwards jeep is preferrable…
@NomiCA Thanks for all the info. I will get back to this thread in a while.
@NomiCA great piece of info. Have taken notes.
Thanks...
The northern areas are beauty of the nature that we should explore in the season ...
I?m wondering what is the area around Rawalpindi train station to go to look for an economical hotel. I have heard people take taxi to Raja Bazaar and that area has lots of hotels. Is that area still good to look for a hotel or there is some other area where we can just walk-in and find a hotel in Rawalpindi?
NOT SURE… i have never stayed in rawalpindi in my life lol…
