Dear Travel Gurus As'salam o alykum
Hope you all will be good.
Please provide your expert guide, advise and amendments about the below mentioned planned tour.
Day1 Islamabad to Naran
Departure 6:00am, total distance= 6 h 30min 278km on map,
Details = Short stay at Balakot near River kunhar for tea break, Roughly will reach naran at 3:00pm approx., then move from naran at 4:00pm to Lalazar, from naran to batakundi 12min and then half an hour to lalazar. We assume to reach there at 5:00pm. Sightseeing/tea and pics, then leave for naran at 6:00pm Then back to naran, moving in naran bazar, night stay in camp/hotel,
Day2 Naran to Astore
Departure 7:00am, 4h 16min 211km on map
Details =Moving from naran 7:00am , visiting waterfalls on way to batakundi, then a short stay at Jalkhad for pics, then to piyala lake for pics and then to lulosar lake on way for pics, then babusartop for pics. (Naran to babusar top =1 h 29min 65.7km on map ) so roughly we will reach at babusartop in 4 hours = at 11am. And then takk pics and move at 11:30am from babusartop to Astore 2h 47min 146km. so roughly we will reach in astore in around 4 and half more hours= 4pm. Now here two options, either to go for Rama lake and stay night at Forest rest house/camp after coming back from rama lake (53min 13.7km) can also view rama meadows and can cover these places. But 2nd option/preferable option is to view the lake and meadows and come back to astore and stay there as we have to go to bruzil pass in morning so it will shorten the distance.
Note: (In case of any issue, visit to Burzil pass will be dropped.)
Day 3 Astore to Skardu
Details =Moving from Astore at 7:00am to Burzil pass (1 h 40min 71.4km on map),we assume to reach burzil pass in 2h 30min i.e. = 9:30am, short stay there and after taking pictures move back towards Shausar lake at 10:00am (1 h 12min 38.7km). we assume to reach sheosar lake around 12:00pm, will do
short stay there, take snaps and start moving to deosai plains at 01:00pm, (25min 20.7km), we assume reach there at 01:30, stay there, take pictures will do some refreshment and will move further at 2:30pm to Satpara lake (1 h 2min 38.2km). We assume to reach there 4:30pm. Will enjoy there take pictures till
5:30pm refreshment, and then will start journey at 5:30pm from satpara to Skardu (58 min 23.8km). We shall assume to reach skardu at 7:00pm visiting Budha rocks in Manthal Village on way after crossing satpara lake (just pics). We shall spend night in main skardu city, will have dinner.
Day 4 Skardu (Exploring Skardu)
Details = Moving from skardu at 8:00am to lower kachura-shangrila resort (33min 18.2 km). We assume to reach there 8:30am and then till 10:00am, enjoy at lower kachura and upper kachura(11 min 3.4km). Then move from Upper kachura at 10:00am to Sok (10min 4.9km). Moved from Soak 10:30am to Basha/basho valley (32min 23.1km). We assume to reach basha around 11:15am. Take pics in Basho valley till 12:00pm and move back from basha at 12:00pm for skardu (48min 32.9km). We assume to reach skardu at 1:00pm, take some refreshment and move from skardu at 2:00pm to Katpana desert (23min 11.8km). We assume to reach there at 2:30pm. Take pictures and then move from Katpana desert at 3:15pm for Katpanah lake (21min 9.3km). We assume to reach there at 4:00pm. Take pics and move from Katpana lake at 4:30pm to Kharpocho Fort (16min 6.5km). Move from Kharpocho Fort at 5:00pm to organic village (12min 2.8km). Depart from organic village at 6:00pm back to Skardu (33min 15.km). Reach skardu at 7:00pm, have dinner
Day5 Skardu (Exploring Skardu)
Details =Moving from skardu at 8:00am for Shigar Fort (1h 19min 44.4km). We assume to reach there 9:30am. Take some pictures and move further at 10:00am to Shigar valley (16min 7.8km). We assume to reach there at 10:30am, take pictures and will depart from Shigar at 11:00am to Manthoka waterfall (1 h 37min 68.7km). We assume to reach Manthoka waterfall at 1:00pm. Will take pictures and move from Manthoka waterfall at 2:00pm to Khaplu place (1h 58min). We shall assume to reach there at 4:00pm. Take pictures and will depart from khaplu palace at 4:30pm back to skardu (2h 50min 114km). Reach back to skardu 7:30pm
Day6 Naran (Skardu to Naran)
Details =Moving from skardu at 8:00am for Naran (6 h 31min). We shall first reach babusar top (5h 3 min on map) while having some short stays on the way so we assume to reach babusar top at 3:00pm. Taking some pictures, and refreshment on babusar top and then move to naran while doing short stays at lulusar lake, jalkhad and finally reach naran (1 hr 29 min). We assume to reach there at 6:30pm. Roaming in naran bazar and then dinner. Nigh stay naran.
Day7 Naran (Exploring Naran Dharam sar lake and sambaksar)
Details =Moving to point 500m before babusartop at 7:00am (1 h 30min), we assume to reach there at 9:00am and then from there move to dharamsar lake (1 h). We shall assume to reach dharamsar lake around 10:00am, take pictures and then move sambaksar lake hike (40 minutes). Reach there 11:00am, take pictures and will reach back to dharamsar at 12:00pm, move back to naran and will reach there around 3:00am. At 4:00pm leave for saiful maluk and reach there at 5:30pm, sightseeing and pictures and then leave for naran at 6:30pm and reach naran at 7:30pm, Night stay at naran.
Day8 Naran to Shogran
(Exploring Shogran)
Details =Moving for shogran at 8:00am from naran. First reach kiwai (1h 40 min 61.0km). We assume to reach there at 10:00am. and then from Kiwai to road up lead to Shogran (30 min 7.4km). We assume to reach shogran at 11:00am. Hotel booking/camp and then leave for siripae at 12:00pm. Reach siri pae at 1:00pm. Sightseeing pictures leave siri pae at 4:00 pm and then back to shogran, night stay.
Day9 Shogran to Rawalpindi
Details =Leave shogran at 9:00am for Rawalpindi (5 h 1min 223km). Moving from Havelian towards Sajji Kot waterfall, and then to nathiagali, Murree and Rawalpindi. We assume to reach Rawalpindi around 7:00pm while having short stays on route.
**Note**
Remember, I had a recent experience on bike with my wife and kid to Rawalpindi to Muzaffarabad, Neelum valley, Sharda. Hiking of Trail4 with wife & kid, Peer chinasi, panjpeer rocks, Toli peer, banjosa, Sajikot. My personal Hiking experience includes, Chita katha,dodipatsar, ratti gali, Musa ka Masallah, Meeranjani,mushkpuri, just mentioned this so that Gurus could advise accordingly. Now coming back to plan, In case of any issue, the shogran tour can be dropped and can adjust that day somewhere in the tour. Alternatively, even one day can be added more along with Shogran plan. But preference is of 9 days. Please guide about the mentioned tour plan. I know it will definitely needs expert amendments so please suggest in details, petrol pumps on the locations, Bike Maintenance shops, Can we manage this with camps to have adventure and also to save expense? (If in camps then what about the nature calls at night especially from _female perspective). Details about nooritop lake trek and hiking? Further please guide, will the bikes manage to go to the mentioned destinations (especially, lake saifiul maluk, lalazar, Siri paye, etc. Fuel consumptions, at which point bike tuning, oil changing will be required etc. Best economical hotel (names and contacts). And the best time/month to visit these places. Any further guidance.
Regards