Traveling By Road To Kalash

[Wolfy]

Me and 3 other friends of mine have decided a long road trip to Kalash from Karachi, I have travelled to islamabad many times by road and never felt it boring, but this time its Kalash for 12-13 days, so here I am asking your advice if anyone been there for once or twice give me a flavour how was the trip, security conditions, weather, hotels and meals and clothing etc etc.

I heard the weather is still pleasent in Oct but chill waves, food is not that good and camping aint a good idea in kalash.

most importantly I need to know the road condition can I drive my accord all the way to kalash or do I need a 4x4 jeep for that?

 

[syed shehzad]

Me and 3 other friends of mine have decided a long road trip to Kalash from Karachi, I have travelled to islamabad many times by road and never felt it boring, but this time its Kalash for 12-13 days, so here I am asking your advice if anyone been there for once or twice give me a flavour how was the trip, security conditions, weather, hotels and meals and clothing etc etc.

I heard the weather is still pleasent in Oct but chill waves, food is not that good and camping aint a good idea in kalash.

most importantly I need to know the road condition can I drive my accord all the way to kalash or do I need a 4x4 jeep for that?

bro i will help u in ur trip to kalash my father is ex coordinator of awkum chitral campus \
like staying transport and guidance safety !!!

 

[K3yser]

[MENTION=10825]Wolfy[/MENTION]: Karachi-Kalash by road? You sir have my full respect now! Ive been there twice both before the sh*t hit the fan and let me tell you its outta this world. No need to camp theres plenty small time hotels plus a rudimentry PIDC house, but hotels farther up the hill are recommended as their workers can take you hiking on hills, visit the Kalash scrificial grounds complete w goat blood and wooden statues of their deities etc.

Some ppl there make this local 'Cheese' variant thats amazing sorta like malai and cheese mix, almost like liquid cheese but very heavy.

Imo anything with a Honda badge is a bad idea for taking there, get a hilux surf sorta vehicle and Im sure youre good to go. Security wise I dont have first hand experience but from wat I hear theres a lot of policing going on and you get ticketed for even parking wrong.

Btw if you complete this one I suggest trying Karachi-Kargil by road next... done that one with my whole family

 

[Wolfy]

bro i will help u in ur trip to kalash my father is ex coordinator of awkum chitral campus \
like staying transport and guidance safety !!!

thanks mate I will contact you soon.

[MENTION=39702]K3yser[/MENTION]: thats exciting!!! my plans are we will go till we can reach by our own vehicle than hire something if we are planning to go further.

 

[K3yser]

^^ its best if you take a flight to Peshawar then decide if you wanna proceed by road to Chitral-Kalash or fly again. coz the journey between Peshawar-Chitral proper aint not cake walk, trust me when youre flying over all those mountains in a rickety PIA Fokker it looks like frikking Northrend down there altho Im told theres a fully functional highway there but still.... I highly recommend taking a flight to peshawar thn proceeding by road with an experienced driver and supplies etc coz all that energy spent travelling outta karachi wil be better utilized...

 

[syed shehzad]

thanks mate I will contact you soon.

@K3yser: thats exciting!!! my plans are we will go till we can reach by our own vehicle than hire something if we are planning to go further.

from dir u can hire any kind of ncp vehicle

 

[Anurin]

Imo anything with a Honda badge is a bad idea for taking there

I've been travelling all around Pakistan for the last 10-12 years with my family on Cities (Citys?).

 

[Lord Ammar]

I've been travelling all around Pakistan for the last 10-12 years with my family on Cities (Citys?).

I took my City to Muzaffarabad last week and it was a huge mistake. Can't imagine anywhere up North.

 

[Anurin]

I took my City to Muzaffarabad last week and it was a huge mistake. Can't imagine anywhere up North.

Then my Dad must be one hell of a driver cause we didn't have a single issue when we went to Muzaffarabad this July.

 

[Lord Ammar]

It's got nothing to do with the driver when the bumps are big enough to bang up your car from underneath. It was just an unplanned trip from Murree otherwise I'd have taken the Corolla

 

[K3yser]

[MENTION=38771]Anurin[/MENTION]: not that Hondas a bad car, just that if u north folks are more well versed w toyotas thn any other company.

 

[AbbY]

Dude. It's not that Honda's are bad.

The suspension on Toyatas and Corolla's in particular are suited better for the bumpy, hilly and not-so-awesome terrain than Hondas.

 

[syed shehzad]

Dude. It's not that Honda's are bad.

The suspension on Toyatas and Corolla's in particular are suited better for the bumpy, hilly and not-so-awesome terrain than Hondas.

basically here in kpk side people don't prefer honda cars here people prefer Toyota corolla e.g xli and gli
coz they are made for rough and tough areas and even they preform good in hilly areas!
but i have already told to OP that he can hire any kind of car jeep !
every kind of vehicle is available there e.g land cruiser vigo surf jeep corolla fielder coz they are non custom paid !!

 

[HaiderSangi]

I suggest you consult 'Libra' at pakwheels.com

 

[Wolfy]

so u guyz actually trying to say Honda is a bad option and Corolla will do the magic???

I was thinking totally opposite.

 

[Wolfy]

so guyz what are the places I should be staying? any paticular villages that I need to see before reaching Chitral or Kalash? I want to know some hot spots to stay.

 

[K3yser]

[MENTION=10825]Wolfy[/MENTION]: you can stay wherever you like coz if its just guys then its okay... else with family PIDC house is recommended altho I cant say anything abt its amenities have a look around... we've stayed in locally owned small hotels farther up from the PIDC house coz from there hills surround you on both sides.

and wat've u decided going all the way by road or halfway by plane?

 

[SEvolution]

Bhumbret is a village that needs to be visited if you are going to Kalash as i've been to Kalash in Sept 2011 and there was some festival or ritual close by in October. It is a rare sight and you will witness too much international media covering that event.

No cars, No 4x4 just hiking boots and mountains and one more thing don't forget to gear up as it will be monsoon season right now or it will drop by in 15 days as we experienced 12 days of rain, storms, snow and weather becomes too cold for a Karachiite.

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@Wolfy: you can stay wherever you like coz if its just guys then its okay... else with family PIDC house is recommended altho I cant say anything abt its amenities have a look around... we've stayed in locally owned small hotels farther up from the PIDC house coz from there hills surround you on both sides.

and wat've u decided going all the way by road or halfway by plane?

It's PTDC not PIDC