NATCO is the Best Transport for Gilgit

Asked

Hi:

I read your post on the blog about travelling to gilgit.

We are a group of people including kids and we are travelling to gilgit.

Can you please guide us as to how to go there and what is best and most economical way to get there.

thanks,

Replied

Hi there

Thanks for your email.

The best way to go to Gilgit is NATCO (Northern Areas Transport Company) bus which can be found at Pir Widhai Bus Station of Rawalpindi.

For Rawalpindi - Gilgit it takes atleast 16 hours and in case there is a landsliding, add 3-4 hours. The bus goes nonstop, i.e. without a night stay, and might be a hassle with the family. Still then, this is the most viable option in my opinion because of various reasons:

Firstly, this is a government owned company which matters a lot around Northern Areas as in remote areas no  private operators have more resources then the government.

Secondly, their staff, and specially drivers, are real experts of Karakoram Highway as most of them are driving there for whole of their life. In comparison to other bus operators, I found their staff more courteous and educated. In fact, you might be surprised to see that they are uniformed and cultured.

Thirdly, not only their buses are generally in good condition, but also they are more informed and have backup arrangements, in case of landsliding, etc.

In short, don't go for any other bus operator, and don't hire something because in most probability the driver will not be used to of the Karakoram Highway which will add significantly to the travel time, unless you hire jeeps, which will be highly expensive.

Besides, if you are going for recreation, then please note that the Gilgit city has not much to offer; it is a dirt commercial town. These are the surrounding valleys which you must be targeting, most notably Hunza. Hunza's main cities Karimabad and Aliabad are further 2-3 hours from Gilgit. So from Gilgit you have to take another transport to reach there. Alternatively, you may ask NATCO as they run direct buses from Rawalpindi to Aliabad which will be very helpful. For that, you may need to contact NATCO office at Pir Widhai and buy tickets in advance. If that's not possible then you may stick to plan A, i.e. Rawalpindi - Gilgit and then take another transport to Karimabad, Hunza.

Hope this will be helpful. Please feel free to email me should you have more questions.

Fairy Meadows: Travel Cost from Faisalabad

Asked

i m ahmad xxx

i m planning to spent 5 days in fairy meadow in md of june 2014.

can u plz help me by sending some material about ur experience in fairy meadows.

we r 4 people from faisalabad/

per head what could be expected cost

waiting anxiously

Replied

Hi Ahmed

Thanks for your email.

Fairy Meadows is a great place and this is the good time to visit.

Before I reply to your question, let me ask if you plan to drive yourself, or will rely on the public transport? In my opinion, public transport is much better unless you people are enthusiastic about self driving.

My these two posts will also be helpful in the meantime:

http://mozumbus.blogspot.com/2012/07/heaven-on-earth-3-days-at-fairy-meadows.html

http://mozumbus.blogspot.com/2012/08/return-journey-fairy-meadows-to-karachi.html

Regards

Muzzammil

Asked

thanks for ur reply

upto chillas or raikot we shall be on our vehicle.

Replied

Hi Ahmad

Thanks again for your email.

If you go your own vehicle then fuel will be your biggest cost. I guess it will be around 20,000, depending upon the route you chose and fuel average of the car.

From Raikot bridge, jeep will cost 5,000 for all of you. You have to hire full jeep no matter how many people you are and the cost includes the return journey as well. You will be paying after returning back.

From the point where jeep will drop you, you have to trek. This will need hiring of porters. 850 for 25 kg. For four people, you may need to hire 2 porters. So including the return it will be 4 x 850 = 3400 ~ 4000

For the night stay 1000 per person per night will be a good assumption, although you can negotiate for better rates. For 3 nights it will 12000 for all of you.

Meals are expensive at Fairy Meadows because it takes a lot of effort to cook food due to high altitude and low pressure. It would be better if you can take some food with you to bring the cost down. Still then it will around 2000-3000 per day for all of you. In all keep 12000 for meals for the whole trip.
 
So these are the main costs I could thought of. Lets summarize that:

1. Faisalabad to Raikot fuel: 20000 (including oil, etc)

2. Jeep: 5000

3. Porters: 4000

4. Night stay: 12000

5. Food: 12000

Total cost: 53000

Per head cost: 13250

You can bring some cost down by taking food and negotiating on accommodation and food cost. But in my opinion, 12000-12500 will be bare minimum.

Also, I have assumed that this is not a rented car, otherwise please add that cost also. Usually 15000 for 5 days. So the per head cost will now be 17000

Hope this is helpful. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions.

Regards

Muzzammil

http://mozumbus.blogspot.com/2012/07/heaven-on-earth-3-days-at-fairy-meadows.html

Kathmandu to Tibet: Genuine Travel Agencies for Overland Trip

In 2013, when I was visiting Nepal with my family, I also thought of making an overland trip from to Tibet - a long time dream.

So I started collected information about the cost and available tours. Usually I like avoiding organized tours and travel agencies and try to plan all the travel myself, not only to save cost but I think it is more fun also. However, Tibet is one place where one needs the help of a travel agency as Chinese immigration laws do not approve of Inexpedient Tourism when it comes to the sensitive yet majestic Tibet.

Unfortunately, at the end of the day we could not make it to Tibet because citizens of Pakistani, along with some other countries, were supposedly not allowed to enter Tibet from Nepal. So my dream is still alive and I keep my fingers crossed for the future!

But in that process, I collected some useful information which might be helpful for those who want to travel overland from Nepal to Tibet. This information is largely good for all nationalities.

1. First thing first, one must needs a travel agent to arrange them a Tibet tour, including the infamous Tibet Permit. Then I discovered that there are ONLY 4 travel agencies in Nepal who actually handle Tibet tours. All other operators ultimately depend on them. These are:

• Eco Trek International (info@ecotrek.com.np)
• Touch Kailash Tours
• Tibet International Travel (tibet@bigfoottreks.com), and
• Tashi Delek Tours (tashidele@mail.com.np)

I contacted 3 of them on the given email addresses and got response. So they were functional.

2. If you are already in Kathmandu then meeting them in person will make more sense. You can google for their addresses, and more information, as I believe all of them are Kathmandu based (beware of spellings as you may find similar names but different companies)

3. Usually travel agencies sell customized trips which are not only expensive but may force one to search for travel companions. The way out is their 'fixed departure' tours which cater for walk-in solo travelers for a lower price and will most probably be nationality friendly.

For more information, following links might also be helpful:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/asia-indian-subcontinent/topics/nepal-from-7th-jan-til-13th-jan
http://www.thelongestwayhome.com/resources/overland/How-to-travel-overland-into-Tibet.html
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/asia-north-east-asia/Tibet/2012-permit-situation-update?page=88
www.cafespinn.com

Travelling to Northern Areas or Kashmir in February

Zohaib asked:

Hi Muzammil,

Is it advisable to travel to Kashmir or northern areas like Naran/Shogran in last week of February? Will everything be frozen? Will there be avalanches and road blocks? Is it useless to go during winter?

Regards,

Zohaib

Muzzammil Replied:

Hi Zohiab. Thanks for your email.

As you suspected, Kaghan valley will be closed for traveling now for blocked roads. As such there is no life around Kaghan valley around winters, and local inhabitants - if there are any - come down to lower mountains. The maximum you may go is Balakot.

On the other hand, Kashmir keeps open in winters; although it will be really cold out there.

Swat might be one option. Mingora keeps open in winters and you can make day excursion to Malam Jabba, which used to be the only ski resort in Pakistan before Swat operations.

Largely depends upon where are you going from, i.e. Karachi or Lahore? and with whom, i.e. family or friends?

For more insights, I find this forum really helpful:
http://www.pakwheels.com/forums/road-trips-vacations/

Hope this will be helpful. Please feel free to contact me if you need further information.

Regards

Muzzammil

http://mozumbus.blogspot.com

Karachi-Guangzhou-Shanghai-Karachi

Asked

Dear Muzamil,

I need to enquire about air ticket from karachi to guangzhou and return from shanghai to karachi. I need ticket price 20 feb is the departure and return 5th march.

BR

Replied

Dear Farooq

Thanks for your email.

Below is what I could find on www.matrix.itasoftware.com.

Hope this is what you are looking for. You can use the above website and refer that to your travel agent or contact the airlines directly.

Regards

Muzzammil

http://mozumbus.blogspot.com

Karachi (KHI) to Guangzhou (CAN) - Thu, Feb 20
	Karachi (KHI) to Colombo (CMB) - Thu, Feb 20
	SriLankan Airlines Limited 184	Dep: 5:20PM	Arr: 9:20PM	3h 30m	Airbus A320	Economy (S)
		Layover in CMB		9h 41m
	Colombo (CMB) to Bangkok (BKK) - Fri, Feb 21
	SriLankan Airlines Limited 882	Dep: 7:01AM	Arr: 11:55AM	3h 24m	Airbus A330	Economy (S)
		Stop in BKK		0h 55m
	Bangkok (BKK) to Guangzhou (CAN) - Fri, Feb 21
	SriLankan Airlines Limited 882	Dep: 12:50PM	Arr: 4:45PM	2h 55m	Airbus A330	Economy (S)
Shanghai (PVG) to Karachi (KHI) - Tue, Mar 4
	Shanghai (PVG) to Bangkok (BKK) - Tue, Mar 4
	SriLankan Airlines Limited 887	Dep: 2:00PM	Arr: 5:55PM	4h 55m	Airbus A340	Economy (L)
		Stop in BKK		1h 5m
	Bangkok (BKK) to Colombo (CMB) - Tue, Mar 4
	SriLankan Airlines Limited 887	Dep: 7:00PM	Arr: 8:55PM	3h 25m	Airbus A340	Economy (L)
		Layover in CMB		16h 10m
	Colombo (CMB) to Karachi (KHI) - Wed, Mar 5
	SriLankan Airlines Limited 183	Dep: 1:05PM	Arr: 4:20PM	3h 45m	Airbus A320	Economy (L)
Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) 68,679.00 Total cost for 1 passenger 68,679.00

Exploring More of Pakistan

Asked

Salam Muzamil Bhai,

I write this email after reading your Travelogues. I am from Karachi and love to travel. Have seen better part of Pakistan. I never visited Balochistan but after reading your trip to Makran Coastal Highway I decided to just go without worrying about law and order scene. It was fruitful and if I had not came across to your blog I would have never knew what I was missing. 

Currently I am craving to see some mountains so I read your Kalash and Fairy Meadows trip. So here I am writing this to get your consultation about the areas to visit and plan efficiently. Brother I have seen Swa & Naran so I plan to see Gilgit Skardu side. Following your footsteps I have joined CS too. Please reply back and if possible please share your cell number.

Thank you again for writing fabulously.

I will be waiting for your reply.

Thanks.

JAVED

Replied

WS Javed and thanks for your kind words. I am pleased to know that my writings cause you to think about exploring more.

If you have been to Swat and Naran, then the next destination must be the Northern Areas. I have visited NA 3 times now; first explored Hunza and Khunjerab, second time visited Skardu and Deosai, and third time visited Kalash and Fairy Meadows. I also suggest you exploring Hunza first. The best time is summers, i.e. May to September.

In Balochistan, I would suggest exploring Makran Coast. If you have your own car, then going a day trip to Kund Malir and Buzi Pass is possible, if you plan well. Winters, i.e. now, is the best time to explore the Makran belt.

So thanks again, and please feel free to contact me when you have a firm plan. I will be there to add value to that.

Regards

Muzzammil

http://mozumbus.blogspot.com

Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru

Asked

Dear Mr. Muzzammil

I saw your message on Pakgrid. I also need some advice. I'm joining UTM, Johor Bahru campus in Feb for my doctorate program in Engineering Education. I think I got a good deal on the airfare (ISB-KL for Rs. 38,500).

I need your advice on the KL-> JB section. Should I take a plane or bus, which is more convenient/economical.

Secondly, can you recommend a low-price but comfy hotel near UTM for the first days of my arrival till I settle in the university hostel?

Thanks,

 

Replied

 

Dear Mr. Azhar

Thanks for your email.

Firstly, I'd suggest to check with the travel agent if there is a possibility to fly ISB-JB, with immigration at Johor Baharu. Even a little bit extra charge, say 5,000, would save you from unwanted hassle with all the luggage.

For air ticket, having a look at matrix.itasoftware.com will be helpful. This website will also be useful for your future travels.

If ISB-JB is not possible then I'd recommend bus over flying/train. The best option would be the Yoyo bus from the airport, KLIA: http://www.journeymalaysia.com/ptaklia.htm

This option will save you from going to KL, which is far away from the airport and will be quite time consuming.

The above website will also be helpful during your stay in Malaysia.

Train and budget airlines, especially Air Asia, may also be useful afterwards.

Regarding accommodation, I'd recommend booking.com which is a trusted resource and provides amazingly flexible filters.

Hope this is helpful.

Best of luck for your future endeavors.
 

Muzzammil