Road Trip to Hunza & Khunjerab via KKH

[extrinsic_z]

Dear Guru's,

After getting inspired by all the road trips being taken by fellow Pakwheelers, I have decided to do a trip on my own car with 3 other friends, and need your valuable advice to lock the plan.

Dates:
14 May 2016 - 21 May 2016.

Car:
PakSuzuki Swift 2011.

Itinerary:
Day 1: Islamabad to Besham via Mansehra - Lunch at Mansehra, dinner and night stay at PTDC Besham.
Day 2: Besham to Karimabad via Chilas - Lunch at Shangrila Resort Chilas, dinner and night stay at Hunza Darbar Hotel Karimabad.
Day 3: Karimabad - Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, Bazaar, night stay at Hunza Darbar Hotel Karimabad.
Day 4: Hunza to Khunjerab and Back - Lunch at Glacier Breeze Hotel Passu, night stay at Eagle's Nest Hotel.
Day 5: Karimabad and Gilgit - Day trips to Ganesh and Minapin Village, move to Gilgit, dinner and night stay at Gilgit (?).
Day 6: Gilgit to Naltar and Back - Hire a jeep for a day trip to Naltar Valley, dinner and night stay at Gilgit (?).
Day 7: Gilgit to Besham via Chilas - Lunch at Shangrila Resort Chilas, dinner and night stay at PTDC Besham.
Day 8: Besham to Islamabad via Mansehra - Lunch at Mansehra, back to Islamabad by evening.

Questions:

1. Will Suzuki Swift be able to go all the way to Khunjerab Pass? Especially, how much will it get beaten in between Besham - Raikot stretch with its ground clearance?
2. Is the itinerary manageable or should we take out Naltar? We want to trip to be full of relaxation and not too tiring.
3. Suggest a good hotel (at least 3 stars) in Gilgit for staying?
4. Is Minapin village a good option for Day 5 or are there better ideas? Don't want to go to Hopper though.
5. The car is not in my name as of yet (on open transfer letter); can that be a problem at the security check posts or otherwise?
6. Is the Attabad Tunnel open all day or do we need to observe timings to make it to the tunnel?
7. Will May be fully booked? Should I make hotel bookings in advance or just walk in once at the destination?
8. Anything else I should take care of?

Looking forward to amazing advice as always from the guru's

[haiderjaved]

Slight modificAtion in plan, I would like to suggest:

Day-5: as you have seen karimabad, instead of moving to gilgit you shall go to naltar via Nomal.
Might have to park your car somewhere, a fellow Pakwheeler did the same.
Night stay at naltar continental.

Day-6: naltar > nomal > chillas
Day-7: chillas> islamabad

Sent from my iPhone using PW Forums

[haiderjaved]

Dear Guru's,

After getting inspired by all the road trips being taken by fellow Pakwheelers, I have decided to do a trip on my own car with 3 other friends, and need your valuable advice to lock the plan.

Dates:
14 May 2016 - 21 May 2016.

Car:
PakSuzuki Swift 2011.

Itinerary:
Day 1: Islamabad to Besham via Mansehra - Lunch at Mansehra, dinner and night stay at PTDC Besham.
Day 2: Besham to Karimabad via Chilas - Lunch at Shangrila Resort Chilas, dinner and night stay at Hunza Darbar Hotel Karimabad.
Day 3: Karimabad - Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, Bazaar, night stay at Hunza Darbar Hotel Karimabad.
Day 4: Hunza to Khunjerab and Back - Lunch at Glacier Breeze Hotel Passu, night stay at Eagle's Nest Hotel.
Day 5: Karimabad and Gilgit - Day trips to Ganesh and Minapin Village, move to Gilgit, dinner and night stay at Gilgit (?).
Day 6: Gilgit to Naltar and Back - Hire a jeep for a day trip to Naltar Valley, dinner and night stay at Gilgit (?).
Day 7: Gilgit to Besham via Chilas - Lunch at Shangrila Resort Chilas, dinner and night stay at PTDC Besham.
Day 8: Besham to Islamabad via Mansehra - Lunch at Mansehra, back to Islamabad by evening.

Questions:

1. Will Suzuki Swift be able to go all the way to Khunjerab Pass? Especially, how much will it get beaten in between Besham - Raikot stretch with its ground clearance?
2. Is the itinerary manageable or should we take out Naltar? We want to trip to be full of relaxation and not too tiring.
3. Suggest a good hotel (at least 3 stars) in Gilgit for staying?
4. Is Minapin village a good option for Day 5 or are there better ideas? Don't want to go to Hopper though.
5. The car is not in my name as of yet (on open transfer letter); can that be a problem at the security check posts or otherwise?
6. Is the Attabad Tunnel open all day or do we need to observe timings to make it to the tunnel?
7. Will May be fully booked? Should I make hotel bookings in advance or just walk in once at the destination?
8. Anything else I should take care of?

Looking forward to amazing advice as always from the guru's

1. Swift will make it to khunjerab easily, besham to raikot road clearance is not as big an issue as patience. If you have patience, you can do it without much hurting ur car in relatively more time.

2. Itinerary is good, don't think about dropping naltar. I already saved you one day, even if you don't want to do that then you shall stay at naltar on day-5 instead of gilgit.

3. Please make it a bit more hectic, with so much effort you have put in getting there. Why don't you push urself to PTDC phandar on day-6 for nigt stay.
   Next day chillas and last day islamabad. Phandar is another wonderful place. It will be a lil hectic but worth it.

4. Already suggested, leave karimabad/duiker for naltar. Visit the lakes and night stay at naltar on day-5. You can make it via nomal or via gilgit as well.

5. No problem with car ownership. For safe side, you may keep the proof of purchase and original documents.

6. Ummm I heard it opens at 1100/1130hrs but it was when part of it was still under construction/maintenance. You will manage it once you re at Hunza, seek this info from locals or someone else can clear it for you at PWs as well. Contact the members who re travelling ahead of ur dates.

7. Many options for night stay, atleast at Hunza.
   You shall contact PTDC besham & Shangrila chillas though. Prior booking at these two places shall end ur worries regarding hotel reservations.

8. Besides enjoying ur trip to the fullest, please collect the contact details of some locals who can provide info regarding atta'bad tunnel and naltar specially.
   While leaving for khunjerab, leave a lil early so that you can enjoy stop-overs at atta'bad, borith, passu and the mighty KKH itself.

Sent from my iPhone using PW Forums

[chdemon]

Khunjrab pass road is still blocked. Please check road conditions.

[extrinsic_z]

1. Swift will make it to khunjerab easily, besham to raikot road clearance is not as big an issue as patience. If you have patience, you can do it without much hurting ur car in relatively more time.

2. Itinerary is good, don't think about dropping naltar. I already saved you one day, even if you don't want to do that then you shall stay at naltar on day-5 instead of gilgit.

3. Please make it a bit more hectic, with so much effort you have put in getting there. Why don't you push urself to PTDC phandar on day-6 for nigt stay.
   Next day chillas and last day islamabad. Phandar is another wonderful place. It will be a lil hectic but worth it.

4. Already suggested, leave karimabad/duiker for naltar. Visit the lakes and night stay at naltar on day-5. You can make it via nomal or via gilgit as well.

5. No problem with car ownership. For safe side, you may keep the proof of purchase and original documents.

6. Ummm I heard it opens at 1100/1130hrs but it was when part of it was still under construction/maintenance. You will manage it once you re at Hunza, seek this info from locals or someone else can clear it for you at PWs as well. Contact the members who re travelling ahead of ur dates.

7. Many options for night stay, atleast at Hunza.
   You shall contact PTDC besham & Shangrila chillas though. Prior booking at these two places shall end ur worries regarding hotel reservations.

8. Besides enjoying ur trip to the fullest, please collect the contact details of some locals who can provide info regarding atta'bad tunnel and naltar specially.
   While leaving for khunjerab, leave a lil early so that you can enjoy stop-overs at atta'bad, borith, passu and the mighty KKH itself.

Sent from my iPhone using PW Forums

Thank you for the advice, will definitely opt for Naltar/Phandar on Day 5 as you suggested since I was also feeling this day is being wasted. Quick questions though:

1. How much time will it take to get from Karimabad to Naltar via Nomal? Google says 2 hours.
2. How much time will it take to get from Karimabad to PTDC Phandar? Google says 5 hours.