Crossing our beloved passes of Babusar (13700 ft), Shandur (12200 ft) and Lowari (10230 ft) in a single go was a dream trip from ages and was holding it from years. I thought I would do it whenever I would have my own 4x4.
So crossed all these three passes, witnessed the beauty of Ghizer and Yasin valley, been to beautiful plateau of Qaqlasht and completed the trip in Kalash in the end.
Ghizer was much more splendid than I expected, specially from Gupis to Shandur.
And passing through the last three villages of Yasin valley was unforgettable. We never knew it is that rich in natural beauty.
But the real deal was other side of Shandur specially Laspur and Herchin took our breath out. Shandur is a mysteries place, all its silence, serenity, loneliness, remoteness, mystery and horror prevailed us badly. It was mesmerizing, and speaking a word or breaking the silence was like a crime in that mythical place. Only sound we kept hearing for hours was of engine of our jeep.
Very silent, remote and alone. Can not be described by typing thousands of words or sharing pictures. Try to be there in off season when nobody around and Shandur will hit you hard with its magic and mystery.
Khair, details for potential travelers/tourists are given below.
Note: We were used to travel slowly because we were used to have short stops due to kids needs and for taking pictures, for meals and to spend some time at midway places etc. So actual travel time would be less if somebody travels non stop.
Day 1 (Oct 12, 2016): Lahore to Naran
Left Lahore at 05 : 05 am
Reached Abbotabad at 01 : 55 pm
Reached Naran at 07 : 15 pm
Distance covered from Lahore to Naran: 610 km
Night Stay in Naran, Hotel
Day 2 (Oct 13, 2016): Naran to Gilgit
Left Naran at 11:25 am
Reached Babusar Top at 01 : 50 pm
Reached Gilgit at 07 : 00 pm
Distance covered from Naran to Babusar Top: 66 km
Distance covered from Babusar Top to Gilgit: 170 km
Night Stay in Gilgit, Hotel Shaheen
Day 3 (Oct 14, 2016): Gilgit to Gupis
Left Gilgit at 11 : 45 am
Reached Gupis at 04 : 20 pm
Distance covered from Gilgit to Gupis: 116 km
Night Stay in Gupis PTDC
Day 4 (Oct 15, 2016): Gupis to Darkut (Last point of Yasin Valley), Back to Gupis
Left Gupis for Yasin valley at 01 : 00 pm
Visited Tomb of Lalak Jan Shaheed (Nishan e Haider)
Reached Durkut (End point of Yasin valley) at 04:30 pm
Reached Gupis back at 07 : 30 pm
Distance covered from Gupis to Durkut and back to Gupis:138 km
Night Stay in Gupis PTDC
Day 5 (Oct 16, 2016): Gupis to Mastuj (One of the most beautiful journey of life)
Left Gupis at 09:10 am
Reached Shandur top at 02 : 20 pm
Reached Mastuj at 06 : 00 pm
Distance covered from Gupis to Shandur: 98 km
Distance covered from Shandur to Mastuj:47 km
Night Stay in Mastuj PTDC
Day 6 (Oct 17, 2016): Mastuj to Chitral
Left Mastuj at 12 : 10 pm
View of Buni Zom range was awesome on our left whenever we managed to have a glimpse.
Reached Qaqlasht at 03 : 00 pm
Left Qaqlasht at 03 : 30 pm
Reached Chitral at 07 : 00 pm
Distance covered from Mastuj to Chitral (+ visit to Qaqlasht) :134 km
Night Stay in Chitral, Hotel Dreamland
Day 7 (Oct 18, 2016): Chitral to Kalash
Left Chitral at 02 : 00 pm after having complete checkup of vehicle
Reached Kalash (Bamburat) at 05 : 00 pm
Distance covered from Chitral to Kalash (Bamburet): 36 km
Night Stay in Bamburet, Hotel Alexander Post
Day 8 (Oct 19, 2016): Wandering, leisure time in Kalash (Bamburet)
Didn?t touch steering wheel. Leisure time with kids, wandered around in Bamburet, Taking rest etc
Night Stay in Bamburet, Hotel Alexander Post
Day 9 (Oct 20, 2016): Visited historical, cultural places in Kalash (Bamburet)
Again didn?t touch steering wheel. Visited museum, grave yard, worship house, funeral hall and other important places of Kalashi people.
Night Stay in Bamburet, Hotel Alexander Post
Day 10 (Oct 21, 2016): Kalash (Bamburet) to Dir (Timergara)
Left Kalash (Bamburet) at 08 : 15 am
Reached Chitral road at 09 : 55 am
Reached Lowari top at 02 : 50 pm
Reached Dir (Timergara) at 07 : 30 pm
Distance covered from Kalash (Bamburet) to Dir (Timergara): 196 km
Night Stay in Timergara, Hotel
Day 11 (Oct 22, 2016): Dir (Timergara) to Lahore
Left Timergara at 08 : 35 am
Faced worst traffic mess in But Khela
Reached Rashkai interchange at 02 : 30 pm
Reached Lahore at 11 : 00 pm.
Distance covered from Timergara to Rashkai Interchange Mardan: 118 km
Distance covered from Rashkai Interchange to Lahore at home: 492 km
Hats off to all the crew. It was family trip, me, wife and two daughters, elder on is 4 years, younger is infant, 10 months old). It was tough journey specially for wife to handle two kids on such a long travel.
And hats, pagri and topi sara kuch off to Mr. Noman ( @noman8ff , previous owner of this vehicle), We enjoyed the fruit of his hard work and skillful effort he put in the vehicle. It happily beard all the beating through mud, stones, water streams, and all the ascends and descends without a single minor failure. I got checked the vehicle after reaching Chitral by a senior mechanic who had wide experience of such Suzuki Jeeps. He thoroughly checked drivetrain, suspension, diffs oil, and all the belts and declared everything is perfect. He liked the vehicle though he had his own same 660cc turbo intercooler jimny parked there in his workshop.
I am so happy with the performance and capability. Here are few shots.
Adjusted cap of petrol can which started leaking at Batta Kundi
Reached Babusar Top at noon
Darkut (Last point of Yasin Valley)
Shandur Top, Mythical Land
At Beautiful Laspur, can not forget the moment when it was seen from top after crossing Shandur pass
Qaqlasht Qaqlasht Qaqlasht
Kalash, Soft touch
Lowari Top, Finally
And also I want to keep reminding me thanks to God who always hear us all and fulfill every childish and irrational wish we make. It was a long rough and tough journey due to presence of kids which completed safely without any kind of problem or halfway trouble.
Thanks to God for youth, health resources, and making us all able to fulfill our difficult and tough passion of traveling and and everything.
Now its the great addition in the treasure of travel memories.
I will post more pictures soon.