More Information

km m Pakistan Northern Areas - Gilgit to Chitral

0 1500 Gilgit (Many GH) Follow the road West along the river Distances – average of two odometers
53 1800 Singal (GH) Altitudes – Suuntu Vector watch
70 1900 Gahkuch (4xGH) Direction
110 2180 Gupis (3xGH) Until the road is improved the route from Chitral is much harder. It
120 2250 Khalti Lake (2xGH) isn't any steeper, just more consistently up, very few downhills apart
165 2700 Steep climb up switchbacks (1:10) from during the 30km after Muroi. The pass is nearer Chitral. The climb
from Solaspur to the pass would be hell unless your bike is very light
168 3000 Top of climb (GH)
and you have full suspension..it is just too rocky. The hard climbs on
170 2950 Phandur (3xGH)
the Gilgit side are steeper but you get them over with quickly.
175 2960 Metal / Tar road ENDS – some of the dirt road is OK
Road
180 3000 Gulakturi (GH)
Where it is metalled it is generally good. The better surface is on the
184 3100 Steep Climb for 1km (1:9)
Chitral side but it is shorter. There are many places where landslides
185 3210 Teru begins (long thin village) and falling rocks have left holes in the surface.
187 3250 Teru (Excellent rest house) The detour between Mastuj and Saragus is awful. You are riding on
189 3140 Lowest point rocks most of the way (7km/h downhill).
192 3260 Barsat (GH) After Saragus it ca be very dusty but much much faster (15km/h
206 3400 Steep climb begins (1:10 – some rocky parts unridable) downhill) until the Buni junction.
208.5 3640 Plateau starts (track improves a little) Shops
215 3750 Shandur Pass - Camping and water + place to stay below Lots of them along the way, but apart from in Gahkuch, they only
Checkpoint. really sell biscuits and sweets. People grow their own food so shops
219 3720 Plateau ends – steep drop down switchbacks begin. Many parts of don't sell much. Expect to eat biscuits for lunch every day. If you are
this road would be unridable from Chitral. The 'road' is VERY really lucky a shop will sell soft drinks.
rocky. Assume a maximum descent speed of 10km/h for the next Places to Stay
60km. Your hands and shoulders will feel it. There are several guest houses along the way. They are often seasonal
228 3080 Solaspur (GH – very basic) and in November many were closed but someone can nearly always be
234 2920 Brook (2xGH – second one less basic) found to open up. The rest houses should be booked in advance but
255 2410 Mastuj junction. Police C/P. Mastuj and hotels are straight on. The the caretaker isn't going to turn you away unless they are full. A tent
road does a detour left over a bridge on to the worst section of would be useful on the pass and many GH have places to put a tent.
this road – very rocky – Average speed (7km/h). In late 2008 a Food is often basic but nice.
road was being built so that the detour will be unnecessary. It Suggested Timetable
should go through Mastuj when finished. The 2 bridges stop buses Day 1 – Gilgit to Gahkuch (70km) lots of up and down
because they are too flimsy. Jeeps ferry passengers to a new bus. Day 2 – Gahkuch to Khalti Lake (only 50km but Khalti Lake is nice)
269 2360 Saragus. Road now improves and is now less rocky. The dirt Day 3 – Khalti Lake to Teru (65km) – hard day
round here is good dirt! Day 4 – Teru to Brook (48km) – hard day
274 2320 Parwak (GH) Day 5 – Brook to Kuragh (64km) – hard day on rocks
287 2080 Buni junction - Metal road starts again!!!. Go left over the bridge Day 6 – Kuragh to Chitral (66km)
to Buni or straight on to Chitral (3xGH) To make it more interesting you could sleep on the pass (easy with a
298 2025 Kuragh (2xGH) Could camp at Golden Inn tent) and then ride to Mastuj the following day. In mid November it
309 1900 Reshun (GH) was much too cold and the days too short to get to Mastuj. You could
330 1850 Maroi – truck stop cafes also camp before the pass after the Police CP
364 1540 Chitral (many GH) – cross over bridge and turn left for 1km to
reach the main town © 2008 Simon Taylor http://hk-to-uk.blogspot.com