Get Smart - Fly your vacation in First Class FOR FREE

Travelling is not only fun anymore - it is something that only smart tourists can enjoy flying across countries in the first class almost FOR FREE.

Now don't tell me you do not believe what I am saying because there a re people out there who plan their trips by taking advantage of their accumulated miles flown over a period of time. Of course, such free rides and travels require planning, foresight, knowledge about how one can utilize the accumulated miles flows and of course extra time.


Scott Keyes (pictured above), who is a writer and just 28 years old is one of those many smart guys who can plan their vacations and travels by just spending a few dollars - which in fact are peanuts as compared to regular air tickets.

Scott is planning a 20,000 miles trip spanned over 21 flights and 13 destinations - and you know what? He will pay hardly anything, with all flights and hotels already covered thanks to airline miles and credit card points !!

As reproted by the Daily Mail, Scott will make stops in Mexico, Nicaragua, Trinidad, St. Lucia, Grenada, Germany, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Lithuania, and Finland - and the trip took him between 10 to 15 hours to plan and cost him 136,500 frequent flyer miles.

Being a writer and now an expert of cheap travelling, Scott has already written two eBooks detailing his strategies: How to Fly for Free and How to Find Free Flights.

So if you want to make your travelling adventurous and are a frequent traveler, read more about how to travel for almost free before planning your next vacation at Daily Mail

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Beware of Air Travel Hazards - Fly Safe

Most of the tourist traffic around the world take place by air. Each year millions of travellers and tourists go for distant destination to enjoy their vacation and see lands and meet people they have never met before - or else meet the same people again for they leave lasting friendship tales. 

But in their pursuits they often face unwanted tragic accidents - mostly fatal as there are hardly any survivors after a deadly air crash.

So what to do? Abandon travelling? No way - most travellers would cry out. Yes one should not be afraid of travelling by air as mostly the air travel is safe. However, one should read the two diagrams below very carefully while planning a travel destination:

The above diagram shows which areas or countries are hazard prone and also lists aircraft which have met most accidents in yester years. There is also a list of 'bad months' - perhaps most important as the weather effects have a direct bearing on the safe travel up in their air.

Choosing a seat is also very important for survival in case of an air crash. See below:

The safety record of airlines from 1990-2008 shows which airlines have had accidents more than others. Try to avoid these airlines. But one can never tell as even sometimes brand new aircraft of some of the best airlines have gone down crashing for a very minor maintenance fault or a bird hit.

Do give a consideration to the factors and analysis above and fly safe.

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The awe-inspiring Kaghan Valley - the other Switzerland

If there is ever a heaven on earth, it is the awe inspiring Valley of Kaghan with its lush green meadows stretched to miles, surrounded by snow clad mountains, abundant in deep blue waters of natural lake with reflections of snow covered mountains in their lap. This beautiful valley can be easily equated with those of Switzerland. Located in the district of Mansehra of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan, the Kaghan Valley is a hub of tourists attraction in summers and of adventurers, trekkers and mountaineers in winters. 

The beauty of the valley is added up by the roaring Kunhar River that flows through the entire length if the valley, which stretches out to some 155 kilometers. The valley generally rises from an elevation of 650 meters (roughly 2,134 feet) to 4,710 meters (13, 690 feet) at Babusar Pass. 

The other beautiful lakes of the area are Dudipatsar Lake, the Ansoo Lake, the Lulusar Lake and many more that I talked about in my earlier post "The Spectacular Virigin Lakes of Pakistan."

One can reach the valley and upward journey starting from Islamabad and reaching Abbottabad and onwards to Balakot through Manshera. One can conveniently rerach Naran in cars but for any offshoot journey, jeeps will have to be hired as the cross country move is through rugged and hairraising mountain tracks which only the local drivers can negotiate.

I have myself been up to Naran and the Lake Saif-ul-Muluk, but here I am sharing some of the spectacular compositions by my Flickr friend Khurrum Siddiqiui who had been to some of the most awe inspring places and meadows of the Kaghan Valley. Below are some of the photos along with his running commentry as he saw the heaven on earth from its very close quarters.

Moving towards the Horse Valley, Kaghan

Taken from on the way of Dudipat Lake Kaghan Valley Pakistan at 25,June 2010 - One of the most beautiful landscape I ever seen .really full of lush green meadows and lot of flowers. its outstanding combination of the nature. Whole valley is really worth seen. Galma is 6 km from Baisel where u can have some food stuff.and after that Mulla ke basti which is 1 hour before the dream lake Dudipat. The whole valley called Purbi Naar valley which is also called horse valley

Taken from Dudipat Lake,upper Kaghan Valley 

After 2 years effort i was able to see its real beauty. Dudipatser lake the most beautiful lake of Kaghan valley(according to locals too),18 km from baisel this lake has a magical beauty that every one forget his tiredness after looking it. at the height of 12,830 feet this lake is really worth seeing. 

Frozen Dudipatsar Lake

Its the most beautiful lake of Kaghan Valley(according to locals too)at the height of 12,800 feet above sea level this lake has magical beauty that a person really surprised to see it.God has made it really worth seen. Baisal is the staring point of track,2 to 3 hour track is a little bit difficult but after that alpine meadows which have their own beauty.Gulma is 6 Km from Baisal where u can get some food stuff like tea etc. After that Mulla ke Basti where u have to spend night.There is a small hotel and u can also avail tents there to spend the night. From Mulla ke Basti u have to 1 hour track more to reach the lake.

Video of frozen Dudipatsar Lake

Lake Saif-ul-Muluk

The major tourist attraction of the valley is the Lake Saif-ul-Muluk, located at an altitude of 10,578 feet (3,224 m) above the sea level with the towering Malka Parbat overlooking it. The water of this over a mile in diameter oval shaped lake is spectacularly clear with a slight green tone. The lake derives its name form the folk tale— the Qissa Saiful Muluk—about a romance between a Persian prince and a fairy princess. 

The lake is accessible by a 14 km road from Naran during the summer months. On foot the trek from Naran to the lake takes about 4-6 hours. The water is clear with a slight green tone. The clarity of the water comes from the multiple glaciers all around the high basin which feed the lake.

 

Panoramic View of Lake Saif-ul-Muluk

Lulusar Lake

Lulusar is group of mountains near the Naran. It is famous for the large lake situated there which is a popular tourist attraction. The word "sar" means "top" or "peak" in Pashto. It is located at at a height of 11,200 ft (3,410 m) above sea level.

The lake is the main source of the Kunhar river, which flows through the entire Kaghan Valley through Jalkhand, Naran Valley, Kaghan, Jared, Paras and Balakot until it joins the Jhelum River. The lake is 48 kilometers away from Naran, on the Naran-Babusar road. Lulusar marks the historic place where 55 participants of the 1857 war of independence were arrested.

The lake is much bigger than other lakes around the valley, and is surrounded by snowcapped hills, making it a natural tourist attraction. From Gittidas, the Naran-Babusar road, one of the highest in the world, goes through the Babusar Pass to Gilgit. In the summer, when the water reflects its surroundings like a mirror, a large number of both domestic and international visitors make the lake a destination stop.

A jeep can be hired from the Naran Valley to visit the lake. From Naran town, Lulusar can be reached in approximately 3 hours. Jeeps can be hired from Naran which will take you to Basel from where one can visit the Lulusar in approximately 30 minutes. There is a road being built around the lake which will link the Naran/Basel to Chilas. The same road also leads to Babusar Pass.

Taken from Paye Meadows,Kaghan Valley

Heavy clouds around Makra Peak

Manna Meadows is really beautiful place full of natural beauty

Manna Meadows is 8,000 feet above from sea level located right of the Makra Peak. Its lush green meadows where u can get the many aspects of natural beauty.Best season to come this place is August when u can find out hundred of flowers at the meadow.Overall its good place if u want to explore the whole valley then this track is best for you.From Manna meadows you can track to Shogran also which is at least 3 hours from here.You have to pass Peerang Village.There is also a forest rest house. At least four hours' tough hiking from Paye Meadows is required to see the beauty of Manna Meadows.

Sri Paye

Sri Paye is a beautiful hill station of Kaghan valley where nature is at its bloom.Near about 1 hour jeep driver though thick forest we can reach at this place.Sri paye is almost 10500 feet above sea level and very beautiful place where u can see the beauty of Sri, paye meadows and then Makra mountain which is the main actraction of Sri Paye.

Makra Peak - 12,847 feet above sea level

If you happen to be in Pakistan, don't miss visiting the Kaghan Valley and travelling its entire length including its off shoot destinations. The Valley is really a heaven on earth, or a second Switzerland, if I may say so. 

Photos/Commentary Courtesy: Khurrum Siddiqui

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Travel, Travelers and Traveling

Pakistan is a tourists haven – for its beaches, vast spread deserts and lush green plains and snow covered mountains that includes some of the highest pinnacles of the world. The overall weather remains generally hot and dry for most part of the year. Therefore, for a cool vacation, the travelers move north to hill stations and mountains during scorching summers of the plains, while some venture to trekking and mountain climbing further up north.

For majority of the people, Murree Hills and the surrounding areas is the best. Each summer, people as far as Karachi throng the area and enjoy the cool summer holidays (more than the Summer Holidays of Cliff Richard). The areas close by include the “Galiyat” of Changla and Nathia and of course Bhurbun with its lush green Golf Course and a spectacular PC Bhurban.

Ayubia some 26 kilometers from Murree is in fact a combination of four mini resorts namely Khairagali, Changlagali, Khanspur and Ghora Dhaka, spread over an area of 25 kilometers were developed in the 60s and given the name of Ayubia.  Ayubia was the first resort in Pakistan where cable lift were introduced and had been the only of its own kind till the development of Patriata.  There are riding trails, hiking places and picnic spots in abundance around the area. The chair lifts take the nature lovers up to the summit of the nearby range for a panoramic view of the forested hills. Patriata, some  25 km from Murree has been developed as an alternative to old tourist resort of Ayubia.  There is chairlift and cable car system which takes visitors up to Patriata Ridge in two stages from Gulehra Gali.  The first stage is by chair lift up to Patriata Bazaar.  From here visitors transfer to cable cars for the ride up to Patriata Ridge.  A restaurant has also been established. Further plans include development of a wildlife park at the mid-station.

Those who still want to venture beyond Murree and surrounding areas have a plenty of choice. In fact Rawalpindi/Islamabad provide a base for up north journey to beautiful valleys of our north which include Hunza, Gilgit, Swat, Kaghan, Chitral and Skardu valleys.  Naran, 22 kilometres from Kaghan serves as the base camp for the Kaghan Valley. From here one can go to several picturesque lakes, valleys and peaks hiring a jeep or horse. Nestled in the foot steps of 5,190 metres high Malika Parbat (Queen of Mountains) is the awe inspiring "Lake Saiful Malook" (pictured above) at 12,000 feet above sea level is a breathtaking site in the entire valley which has a touch of the unreal about it. The scenic beauty has no parallel in the world. One can go boating on the lake and hear the local legend about Prince Saiful Malook. Moving up to the Babusar Pass, and located just before the final grade to Babusar Top is the breathtaking Lulusar Lake.

Those reaching Skardu must not miss out the vast stretches of the Deosai Plains – perhaps the highest plains of the world. One hears of deserts in plains but never at the foothills of 18,000 feet high snow covered mountains. Skardu Valley is one such place which is carpeted in fine ash white sand through which greenish blue in winter; grey as tarnished silver in summer, the Indus snakes lazily between wind-ribbed sand dunes.

However, the fun lies atop the snow covered mountain peaks of Hindukush, Karakoram and Himalyan ranges – one can get to see the meeting point of all three mountain ranges on way to Gilgit. Karakoram peaks have nicknames that evoke fear and passion: "Savage Mountain" for K2, "Killer Mountain" for Nanga Parbat (8,125 meters) "Shining Wall" for Gasherbrum IV (7,929 meters) and "Bride's Peak" for Chogolisa (7,665 meters), which is the feminine analogue for Chogori, K2, its neighbour and wife in local folklore. The Trango Tower is the highest rock pinnacle of the world rising to 6,257 meters/ 20,857 feet. Rugged, un-scalable and challenging. Many climbers have returned unsuccessful owing to its almost vertical climb.

One can go on and on to describe the place for travelers and tourists that abound the north of Pakistan. This is the beginning – please follow my future blogs to know more about the cultural and natural heritage that make Pakistan as of the very unique countries in the world.

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