The Wait Is Over! Kandol Lake Is Finally Open After 3 Years | Camping In Wilderness | EP:22

Early in the morning, we started our journey from Hotel Heaven Valley in Utror Bazaar. Our plan for the day was to travel to Kandol Lake and camp at its base camp. We left our extra luggage and unnecessary belongings with the hotel owner and packed only our camping gear, rain suits, and cooking essentials before setting off. First, we had breakfast at Utror Bazaar and bought the essential food items for our journey, including tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, potatoes, green chilies, biscuits, peanuts, bread, mangoes, and other cooking supplies. After completing our shopping, we left Utror Bazaar and started our journey toward Kandol Lake. Kandol Lake had remained closed to tourists for the past three years, and this year, the route was cleared and reopened. We were among the first tourists to visit the lake after it reopened. About 4 kilometers from Utror Bazaar, Utror village ends, where the road splits into two routes. One route leads toward Izmis Lake, while the other goes toward Kandol Lake. To reach Kandol, we first had to cross a stream. After crossing it, a route on the left leads toward Desan Top, while we continued straight toward Kandol Lake. After traveling another 4 kilometers, we reached the Spinkhor Lake Base Camp, which also serves as the base camp for Kandol Lake. The track ahead was still not suitable for motorcycles, so we parked our bikes there. We took our food and essential items with us and handed over the remaining camping equipment to a camp operator at the base camp. From the base camp, we started our hike toward Kandol Lake. After approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes of hiking, we finally reached the beautiful Kandol Lake. I had visited Kandol Lake almost 7 years ago, but that was during the autumn season. This time, the scenery was completely different. The surrounding mountains were much greener, and the lake had significantly more water, making the entire landscape even more beautiful. The total distance from Utror to Kandol Lake is approximately 12.2 kilometers, including around 4.2 kilometers of hiking. The lake is situated at an elevation of approximately 9,500 feet above sea level. Kandol Lake is around 1.5 kilometers long and approximately 700 meters wide, while its exact depth is still unknown. Several trekking routes lead from Kandol Lake toward other beautiful alpine lakes, including Spinkhor Lake, Hetan Ghawt Lake, Dral Lake, and Pari Lake. From Pari Lake, you can also take another route toward Izmis Lake. In the local Gawri language spoken by the Kohistani people, Kandol is called "Payale." When the water level decreases after the snow melts, the shape of the lake resembles a traditional bowl or cup, which is believed to be the reason behind this name. We also had a beautiful reunion at the lake. I met one of the local brothers whom I had seen almost 7 years ago when I visited Kandol Lake before. I recognized him immediately, and surprisingly, he also recognized me. Moments like these make a journey even more special and memorable. We spent some time at Kandol Lake, captured some beautiful drone shots, and enjoyed a cup of tea before starting our hike back down toward Ladu Village, where the base camp was located. After reaching the base camp, we set up our tents for the night. For dinner, we cooked rice and then settled into our tents after a long and tiring day. As we were preparing to sleep in the evening, light rain began to fall. Despite the rain, the night was incredibly peaceful, and we had a wonderful night's sleep in the mountains. And that is how we ended another beautiful and memorable day of our journey at Kandol Lake. If you enjoy exploring the hidden gems of Pakistan, remote valleys, beautiful lakes, hiking, camping, and motorcycle adventures, make sure to subscribe to Travel With Nabeel. #KandolLake #TravelWithNabeel #KandolLakeCamping #UtrorValley #ExplorePakistan Subscribe to Travel with Nabeel to explore more hidden gems across Pakistan. Follow on Social Media: Instagram: instagram.com/@itsnabeel218 TikTok: tiktok.com/@travelwithnabeel Facebook: fb.com/TravelWithNabeel Website: [www.travelwithnabeel.com] For Business Inquiries: [itsnabeel218@gmail.com]