Getting Around Kalam

We (7 adults and 3 children) wanted to travel together so we rented a 12-seater Toyota van. Must say we got a decent deal: PKR 2,500 per day with driver; you pay for fuel. Here are a few tips for would-be travelers:

** Select a diesel vehicle. Diesel is cheaper and more readily available in Pakistan than petrol (~ PKR 38 per litre as opposed to PKR 58 per litre). It also gives you more mileage per litre.

** The road after Mardan is in poor state. So select a vehicle that has high road clearance. A 4x4 off-road vehicle is ideal as you can take it up to Ushu, Utrot, Lake Mahodand etc. Also make sure it has comfortable seats and a video system for kids to watch cartoons on!

** Try to avoid traveling late at night because if your vehicle breaks down, you might be stranded for quite some time. And, of course, you don't want to miss the scenery by traveling at night!

** Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operates three flights a week from Islamabad to Saidu Sharif. Flight time is 40 minutes. Please visit http://piac.com.pk for more information. From Saidu Sharif you can then rent a vehicle for Kalam.

Below is the breakdown of our 10+ hour journey from Islamabad to Kalam:

** 15:30: Onto Motorway for Burhan from Islamabad.
** 15:55: Burhan exit.
** 16:05: Harro toll plaza.
** 16:12: Kamra
** 16:26: Attock bridge
** 15 min break
** 16:50: Jahangira
** 17:00: Nowshera
** 17:11: Risalpur
** 17:25: Mardan
** 17:40: Takht Bai = Bad road begins
** 18:00: Shergarh
** 18:15: Dargai
** 10 min break
** 18:40: Malakand mountains
** 19:15: Batkhela
** 19:45: Churchill Post
** 20:00: Swat checkpost
** 20:15: Barikot
** 15 min break
** n/a Saidu Sharif
** 21:00: Mingora
** n/a: Madyan
** 10:50: Bahrain
** 01:15: Kalam