Gilgit Baltistan no doubt blessed with high altitude snow covered peaks and unique culture, such a valley is about 161 KM head towards south named “Phandar Valley”. Valley, Phandar Lake and shandur national park are the famous attractions nearby.
Villages nearby Phandar Valley
Singul
Dalnat
Gahkuch
Gupis
Road Conditions of Phandar Valley
Phandar valley is at Chitral road which is truely a 4×4 jeep track, bumpy road could be headache for those who don’t know how to enjoy in tough conditions.
K2 is known as the “Mountain of the Mountains” or the ‘Mountaineer Mountain’. K2 stands 8611m from the base camp to climb K2 you must be able to move quickly at altitude must know ICE & ROCK climbing very well as being able to climb with a heavy rucksack at steep mixed terrain; one must be proficient at high alpinism.
Journey starts from capital city ISLAMABAD and have to travel the bigger part of the 600 mile long Karakoram Highway, THE KKH. A very rough and risky road being very narrow, the KKH is not a highway but really a jeep track. End of the KKH brings you to Skardu, which is an oasis of sorts. After the searing hot 49 Degree Celcius of Islamabad, Skardu is always cool at around 20 Degree Celcius .
From Skardu an off-road jeep track to the village of Askole. Track from Skardu to Askole is in very bad condition prone to landslide and rockfall mostly dangerous. Sometimes you have to change jeeps in the way to negotiate swollen rivers.
ASKOLE VILLAGE
From Askole loads are distributed to the army of porters, who will carry to the base camp.Askole to K2 base camp is about hiking trek of 90KM with no roads, no walkways, nothing expect steep ice and rocks.
Askole
Jola
Jola is 6-7 Hours trekking from Askole village
Paiju
The last green spot before the baltoro glacier, the topography we trek through is composed of mighty glaciers, steep mountains with great slopes and Baltoro Glacier
Harsh weather and massive avalanches from the flanks of the K2 are the biggest risks while trekking to K2.
Baltoro Glacier
is the longest glacier outside the polar region of about 63 Kilometers long and 2 Kilometer wide. Baltoro Glacier is very difficult to cross due to uneven trek and 90 KM per hour Wind speed. Baltoro Glacier is covered with glacier rubble that we call the moraine.Trekking in this terrain wears you out, moving up and down in this hilly glacier surface crossing rivers and camping on the glacier.
After reaching the base camp the really hiking starts from and most of the adventurers not able to make due to the bad weather conditions. Statistically, the south east spur is the most often climbed route for K2.
basecamp_to_k2_illustrationta
ICE FALL 5250 m
There is a small but dangerous icefall at the entrance of the spur, although it is quite short, there are frequent ice avalanches in this ICEFALL. A serac piece as big as a house can crush you to oblivion instantly, without warning at all. You can take a fall in one of the many water filled crevasses and get throughly wet!
ICE Fall to Camp 1 it could take 6-7 hours and you are prone to massive avalanches.
Camp 1
House Chimney
is a technical step named after the first man to climb it. It is quite short but in the total verticality you climb 100m including the steep approach to the chimney.
Camp 2
6750m with -25 degree Celcius Temperature
Black Pyramid
Between Camp 2 and Camp 3 a terrain known as black pyramid which is most difficult part of climbing.
Camp 3
From Camp 3 we can easily watch mountains of China, Gasherbrum group, Broad peak, Baltoro and Godwin Austen glaciers
Camp 4
Bottle Neck
Climbing bottleneck gully and traversing left at the foot of the 100 meter serac wall to reach the final, summit snow slopes:
Summit Snow ICE-RIDGE
This is the most dangerous part where most of the climber got killed
Pakistani people love the culture and tradition of Gilgit Baltistan and as we know culture seems to be getting shriller by the day and even though the entertainment industry is not focusing on highlighting the versatility of our culture.Music brings joy and soul to the darkest corners of downtown and these young music students training locals to nearly extinct instrumental art.
S.M.Bukhari’s Photography
We need to be promoted.
We will do our fair share of promo, but unless you want us to only bring our friends and family (half of which will want to be on the guest list and none of which will return without us), do a little work. Get us on your website calendar (with a picture, mini-bio, and link to our website). Put up our flyer in your cities.
We have fans, but the steady working musician can’t be expected to bring them to every gig. I’m sure there are fans of your venue. Bring them out! What’s more, if you can build a reputation for always having amazing musicians, people won’t even care who is playing. They will show up.
S.M.Bukhari’s Photography
Security and Peace
After the game changer CPEC now the security issue is addressed, we want more and more people to come out for their summer holidays, we want investors to build tour companies, Motels, Restaurants and Tourist Information Centers.We are voluntarily working to preserve the culture and tradition but we need a support from communities of Pakistan.
S.M.Bukhari’s Photography
Treat us well and we will be your bards, your court jesters, and your geisha.
Because, remember, when you are counting on word of mouth, we hold the cultural music of Gilgit Baltistan
Travelling to Skardu is always a great fun, a picture of Shangrilla Resort and Lower Kachura Lake, Skardu Resort is on drive of 20 minutes from Skardu. A crashed plane turned into a restaurant also the reason of attraction.
Upper Kachura Lake
Fallen into orchards of apricot a beautiful lake where tourist come for hiking, fish hunting. 200 feet deep waters with 15 Degree Celcius temperature at summer and blow freezing in winters.
upper_kachura_lake
Sadpara Lake
Full of trout fishes and blue waters The Sadpara Lake is 9 Kilometres from Skardu City.
Despite Hunza Skardu size, weather patterns are largely the same across the Northern areas of Pakistan with defined seasons similar to those in Kel, Sharda, Toabutt, Kalam and Murree. While there are variations – mountain ranges attract higher rainfall and snow in some areas than others – it’s cold everywhere in winter and warm in most locations in summer. The summer months are most popular, offering sunny days and pleasant temperatures. Springtime starts in late April through to early June and can be a delightful time of year to visit, with gradual snow melt revealing forests and wildflowers and a re-emergence of Karakorum’s wildlife from the long winter hibernation. September’s considered the peak of the salmon run, attracting large numbers of bears. It also marks the start of autumn, with spectacular fall foliage lasting into October.
Month-by-Month guide to travelling in Hunza & Skardu
The weather is unquestionably cold at the start of the year, but if you’re prepared and have packed appropriately you can enjoy the many activities and festivals that take place during the Hunza & Skardu winter. There are popular cultural and sporting events and some incredible wildlife experiences, but perhaps best of all is the amazing phenomenon illuminating the dark winter skies known of course as the Northern Lights.
A good time to travel to Hunza & Skardu, with improving weather and longer days. The west coast in particular feel more pleasant. High up in the Rockies, the ski season is at its best with sunny days and blue skies. Elsewhere in the country, the chill of winter starts to disappear but weather can be unpredictable – be prepared for a variety of conditions.
Warmer weather, fewer crowds and lower costs make May a good time to visit Northern areas of Pakistan. There’s still some chill in the air, but with the snow largely gone and spring flowers blooming many lodges start to reopen and national parks become more accessible, allowing visitors a chance to explore in relative solitude before the peak season starts. This time of year is also perfect for Snow Peaks sightseeing and spring blooming.
June is, for many, the ideal time to visit Hunza & Skardu. The full peak summer season hasn’t quite started, but the days are warm and long. Hiking trails are open, the lakes and rivers have thawed and wildlife is increasingly active. In the north of the country, parts of the Naltar, Deosai and Northwest Territories that have previously been inaccessible because of snow open up to uncover mountain ranges, forest valleys, lakes and glaciers waiting to be explored.
The long summer days offer opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors through the wonderful hiking, boating, camping and fishing opportunities available across the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Summer festivals, including Cultural Day of Hunza and the Sports event, take place, and outdoor dining is popular in towns and cities.
The weather is comfortable in autumn, and the changing colors of the fall foliage are spectacular. Most outdoor activities can be enjoyed and temperatures, though cooler, are still pleasant. It is a great time to visit Altit Fort in particular; with fewer crowds and the stunning autumn colors along the Baltit and Shigar Fort. September also sees the start of the salmon run and is consequently a good month to witness bears fishing for migrating salmon at Deosai National Park. October starts to get colder still, but offers the chance to spot polar bears as they make their way back from their summertime habitat.
The days are darker, snow may have started falling and the temperatures drop with the onset of winter. Despite this, November and December are still lively months, with holiday season festivals.
Road Conditions of Hunza & Skardu
From January to March snowfall expected in most parts of Gilgit Baltistan so do check weather forecast before leaving for Hunza & Skardu. Babusar Top opens at end of June or in Mid of July so you required to travel through KKH which could be tiring Journey if you not enthusiast of long roadside travels.
Recent experience revealed that from Mid of March to April rainfall causes landslides on KKH. Pak-China Govt. is working on construction of KKH so in year or two.
High Season (June-August & November-December): Vacationing families and Pakistani travelers on extended holiday make the summer months one of the most popular times to visit Swat Valley. Many locals leave the city during this time, however, which means that it can feel less crowded even while tourism is high. The Thanksgiving-summer holiday season is a huge draw for tourists, festivity is high and the city is at its most packed. During both of these busy tourism periods, expect airfare and hotel rates to be at their peak and availability to be low. Book well in advance.
Shoulder Season (March-May & September-October): Though tourism isn’t quite peaking during these months, they are still incredibly popular times to visitSwat Valley. Mild weather makes the spring and fall seasons ideal for exploring theSwat on foot, whether to a backdrop of blooms and open air markets in the springtime, or the changing colors of Central Park trees in the fall. High prices and low availability for bothtransport and hotels is to be expected.
Low Season (January-Early March): New York City is at its quietest during these cold mid-winter months, when snow is common and temperatures hover between 1 and 4°C. Hotel occupancy rates dip below 90%, and restaurant reservations and theater tickets are easier to come by. The drop in temperature means a drop in both airfare and hotel rates, which makes this a great time to visit the city if you’re looking for a bargain and are not bothered by a little cold.
We are offering booking of Jeeps for Mahodand Lake, On Planning your trip to Swat , if you are required jeeps/rent a car/hotel/tour plan then contact at 03005772942 for bookings of your tour plan.
Islamabad to Mingora is about 253 kilometers and it’s take about 7 hours to reach Islamabad to Mingora. Very fascinating road trip , green fields on way to Mardan.
