Krash would give you a better suggestion, but recently a new bus service started to Gilgit ....and from there you can travel till Kashghir .....only one suggestion ...bring your best adventure buddies and a nomadic attitude ...you would love it !
We've been talking about your trip for too long and I have a feeling that eventually I'm gonna have to kidnap you and take you there myself! The trick really is to realize that there's nothing really to it except for having time. The fear of the unknown usually holds people back. Don't be afraid to go alone either, you'll make plenty of friends there.
Your ride will take the trip and then some and even if it does break down you'll find plenty of people there who can fix it on an ad hoc bases. Its the comfort level that you'll need to worry about since it is a pretty long drive. Last Eid-ul-Fitr I grabbed the old 70 series and a couple of friends and left for Fairy Meadows. Cost us Rs.7k+ plus for the fuel till Raikot Bridge, with some to spare (have no clue about the consumption). My honest advice would be, since it is your first proper trip up north, to go by road. Although I would still suggest the road if it was your hundredth trip :p Driving yourself would be very tiring and slow, especially since you're not used to driving there. The bus would waste the road trip, since you can't stop and get out. But fear not, I have a better idea. There are taxi services running Gilgit to Islb and then back everyday. Last I checked a corolla would cost you around 16k and one of the small cruisers would cost you from 30-35k (inclusive of fuel and exclusive of your negotiation prowess) one-way. It will come with a driver who's perfectly at home on those roads and with those driving schedules. All you'll need to do is stare out the window and be amazed at what God created and decided to just gift us. I seriously recommend this. I have a few numbers if you decide to go this way. Just make sure you check out the car a day or two before.
The Kohistan stretch on the classical KKH route (Mansehra-Batgaram-Bhesham-Pattan-Dassu-Chillas) has always been a little unsafe. However, the authorities have now gotten even more strict since the Nangaparbat incident. They don't allow night travel after 10 and force people to travel in convoys with police escorts even during the day. You can bypass this troublesome stretch entirely by turning east from Mansehra and taking the route through Naran, then over the Babusar pass down into Chillas district and back onto the KKH, provided that you don't delay it beyond august or the Babusar pass will be snowed shut. This route is more scenic as well, especially if your into all those alpine forests and stuff. You don't wanna miss Babusar Pass. I took this last August, its pretty much how you'll see it:
ps: It is very easily available.
I usually take the plane.But you would miss out on all the action if you take the plane.So my advice drive all the way.Take the naran-Kagan road ( Babusar pass) ,you can't miss out on all the great scenes in the region. You can't miss out on this beauty.
How much does a full tank cost? That should do it,if not don't worry there are plenty of petrol stations available.
There's nothing special about it.It's just clean refreshing.It's available for every one.
Just a piece of advice , go in June.There is a Shundur festival which takes places every year on 7 , 8 ,9 July.You can't miss it.Just that the drive is long and tiring.At the end of the day it's all worth it.You might not know shit about Polo.It's a festival one cannot miss .
Why? That's bulls.My father owns property in Gilgit.Too bad Pakistanis cannot buy property in Gilgit.
Fairy Meadow is heaven on Earth,i would do anything to live over there.BTW , i'm pretty lucky,my grandfather's house is near Chilas (near Fairy Meadow) so i go there usually
. ro nahi bhai.Bolo to CIE 's kay bad apkey sath chalon.No invitation for me !
Theek hai bhai aakhir hum hain kaun ?
New Recruit
Thank you saien.. It was never the fear of unknown.. just bad luck .. Univ,CPL., weddings n asshole frnds who spoil the prog at the last moment.. But Inshallah this time I'm going no matter what ..
Again Shukran Ya Shiekh..!
Have a great journey!No invitation for me !
Theek hai bhai aakhir hum hain kaun ?
What happens if I don't know how to ride a bike ?
Not the Yeti bro, she lives there:
May Allah and the good people of Darda protect her and her kind.
Now that you mentioned Safi-ul-Malook, that place i have visited twice, last time in 2013. But another spot one must visit before dying is Shogran Resort in Kaghan Valley (Below)
Fairy Meadow is heaven on Earth,i would do anything to live over there.BTW , i'm pretty lucky,my grandfather's house is near Chilas (near Fairy Meadow) so i go there usually
OK . What stupidity.
I have tried almost everything.They drive crazy.Are you talking about the NATCO people? Have you tried the local service?
Goner farm
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