Travelling to Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, Lahore, and Bahawalpur

[hussain.r97]

My family are planning a trip to Gilgit-Baltistan in July, Hunza in particular (after which we are planning to take the Green Line Express to Karachi, stopping in Lahore and Bahawalpur).

This the kind of itinerary we're thinking of:


Day 1 - Arrive in Islamabad, overnight stay.
Day 2 - Leave for Naran, overnight stay in Naran.
Day 3 - Leave for Gilgit, overnight stay in Gilgit.
Day 4 - Leave for Karimabad, overnight stay in Karimabad.
Day 5 - Visit Khunjerab Pass, overnight stay in Karimabad.
Day 6 - Visit Hopar Valley, overnight stay in Karimabad.
Day 7 - Leave for Gilgit via Naltar Valley. Overnight stay in Gilgit.


Day 8 - Fly to Islamabad, catch the train to Lahore in the afternoon. Overnight stay in Lahore.
Day 9 - Catch train to Bahawalpur. Overnight stay in Bahawalpur.
Day 10 - Bahawalpur sightseeing.
Day 11 - Catch train to Karachi.
Day 12 - Arrive in Karachi.
Day 12 - 21 - Stay in Karachi.

For those of you who have been to the North:

Which hotels do you recommend? and how much do they cost?
What is the weather like at the beginning of July?
What arrangements did you make for food and water, and what was the approximate cost?
How do you hire a driver and car, and what is the cost?
We are avoiding Chilas because the people in that town have a dodgy reputation, and there have been incidents of them targetting Shias, are there any other areas we should be wary of?
Will it be cheaper to phone hotels/drivers in Pakistan to make arrangements ' like a local' (i.e. say we are from Karachi, instead of Auckland)?

For those who can help me with Islamabad, Lahore and Bahawalpur:

Would you recommend travelling by rail on the Green Line service in the AC business class?
Is 1 day enough to see the main attractions in Islamabad?
Is 1 day enough to see the main attractions in Lahore?
Is 1 day enough to see Derawar fort and the main attractions in Bahawalpur?
I am thinking of adding another day in Bahawalpur to also see the wildlife park there, is it worth an extra night?
Best accommodation in Islamabad, Lahore, and Bahawalpur?

Thanks!

 

[hussain.r97]

Also feel free to give any other tips/recommendations.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Hi,

TDCP hotels are actually pretty good in the Northern Areas. There are also private tours now that can create tailor-made trips for families.

Some of them are pretty active on Facebook.

I used to know a lot more about the Northern areas but not anymore as most of my friends have moved out of Pakistan recently.

Personally, the easiest way to travel is if there are more than few members in the family (around 5-8) is to hire a minivan for the duration of the tour. Used to be around 5K a day (fuel cost separate + food arrangement and stay for the driver). That way you have the ability to stop whereever you wish to stay, sight see and adjust the itinerary. I believe you intend to fly to certain places as well from the looks of the plan.

Attractions in Bahawalpur include

1. Laal Sohaanra (a forest resort for deer and other similar animals)
2. Bahawalpur Zoo and old forts with the famous Bazaar (ideal for shopping traditional women clothes)
3. Noor Mehal (and a few other architecture sites)

Daraawar fort is enough but it's a side quest, takes longer time to get there, it's not as close as the ones that I have mentioned.

One day at most places are not enough. Considering you will also be needing time for rest and relaxation inbetween. A place like Islamabad has at least 4 major attractions of different kinds and you are going there in peak summer which will mean that either you won't be able to see them all or you will be in Ayub Park at 4 pm, Lok Virsa at 6 pm, Monal at 8 pm, Murree (skipp), Rawalpindi tour (skipped) etc.

Islamabad and Lahore both require in my opinion at least two days, same goes with Bahawalpur. Keep in mind, Bahawalpur will be 50 C plus by the time you visit there.

Gilgit also has seasonal flights and there are a lot of flight delays regadless of the season you travel. There will also be snow in the mountains if you travel in early July and ways are not always hundred percent if you travel off-road (Lake Saiful Malook is fine but Ansoo lake not so much) and the same with Fairy Meadows, it's a long draining hike. Not easy to manage everything in one day.


Islamabad has a lot of guest houses along with hotels available, no issue there. So is the case with Lahore but Bahawalpur lodging is dodgy.

 

[hussain.r97]

Thank you bro

Hi,

TDCP hotels are actually pretty good in the Northern Areas. There are also private tours now that can create tailor-made trips for families.

Do you mean PTDC?

Some of them are pretty active on Facebook.

I used to know a lot more about the Northern areas but not anymore as most of my friends have moved out of Pakistan recently.

Personally, the easiest way to travel is if there are more than few members in the family (around 5-8) is to hire a minivan for the duration of the tour. Used to be around 5K a day (fuel cost separate + food arrangement and stay for the driver). That way you have the ability to stop whereever you wish to stay, sight see and adjust the itinerary. I believe you intend to fly to certain places as well from the looks of the plan.

We're a family of four, so we would probably like to get a car, and hire a jeep where required. How does it work, do we need to prebook those things, or can we arrive at Islamabad and get it done?

Attractions in Bahawalpur include

1. Laal Sohaanra (a forest resort for deer and other similar animals)
2. Bahawalpur Zoo and old forts with the famous Bazaar (ideal for shopping traditional women clothes)
3. Noor Mehal (and a few other architecture sites)

Daraawar fort is enough but it's a side quest, takes longer time to get there, it's not as close as the ones that I have mentioned.

One day at most places are not enough. Considering you will also be needing time for rest and relaxation inbetween. A place like Islamabad has at least 4 major attractions of different kinds and you are going there in peak summer which will mean that either you won't be able to see them all or you will be in Ayub Park at 4 pm, Lok Virsa at 6 pm, Monal at 8 pm, Murree (skipp), Rawalpindi tour (skipped) etc.

Islamabad and Lahore both require in my opinion at least two days, same goes with Bahawalpur. Keep in mind, Bahawalpur will be 50 C plus by the time you visit there.

I just realised that it will be summer, so a horrible time to visit Bahawalpur. I think we might drop Bahawalpur and add an extra day each to Lahore and Islamabad. I'm aware it will be hot in those places too, but I think there we can manage by covering the indoor attractions during the day, and outdoors ones in the evening?

Gilgit also has seasonal flights and there are a lot of flight delays regadless of the season you travel. There will also be snow in the mountains if you travel in early July and ways are not always hundred percent if you travel off-road (Lake Saiful Malook is fine but Ansoo lake not so much) and the same with Fairy Meadows, it's a long draining hike. Not easy to manage everything in one day.


Islamabad has a lot of guest houses along with hotels available, no issue there. So is the case with Lahore but Bahawalpur lodging is dodgy.

Regarding Fairy Meadows, we probably won't hike since my parents won't be too keen to hike anything more than 3-4 hours. Isn't there a jeep track there?

 

[Pakistanian]

1 day not enough for Lahore.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Thank you bro



Do you mean PTDC?



We're a family of four, so we would probably like to get a car, and hire a jeep where required. How does it work, do we need to prebook those things, or can we arrive at Islamabad and get it done?



I just realised that it will be summer, so a horrible time to visit Bahawalpur. I think we might drop Bahawalpur and add an extra day each to Lahore and Islamabad. I'm aware it will be hot in those places too, but I think there we can manage by covering the indoor attractions during the day, and outdoors ones in the evening?



Regarding Fairy Meadows, we probably won't hike since my parents won't be too keen to hike anything more than 3-4 hours. Isn't there a jeep track there?

There are complete tours that you can book. It's better if you have some of the major things preplanned and booked.

For the northern areas, this is start of the peak season so better be safe than sorry.

 

[TM Riddle]

Derawar fort in Behwalpur has always been on my bucket list. Beautiful piece of architecture.