The 24-Hour Nightmare: A Detailed Timeline
Our trip to Hunza was planned as a relaxing couple's getaway. We paid 1 Lac PKR to Tour Edge for a deluxe package. Instead, we were subjected to structural mismanagement, theft of accommodation bookings, and life-threatening driving hazards. Here is the exact chronology of what happened:
Lies About the Departure
We strictly booked and confirmed a Thokar Niaz Baig pickup because we reside in Lahore. On the departure day, the coaster was 2 hours late. Suddenly, we were told the pickup was moved to Sabzazar. To cover their tracks, the guide deliberately sent us a location pin for "Officers Colony" to waste our time and shift the blame onto us for being late. Fortunately, as Lahore residents, we knew the geography and caught the lie.
Sub-Contracting Without Consent
Once inside the coaster, we discovered that Tour Edge had secretly outsourced our entire tour to a lower-tier operator, Tour Avenue Pvt Ltd. This is a common tactic where agencies use multiple "sister companies" as shell entities to split accountability and shift blame when customers complain.
Stolen Booking at Joial Gold Naran
The operator delayed the trip by another 2 hours in Islamabad just to pick up a single client. This delay caused us to miss the safety window to cross Babusar Top before nightfall. Instead of rearranging the itinerary or offering a refund, the company skipped our confirmed, pre-paid stay at the premium Joial Gold Naran entirely. They kept our booking money, offered no refund, no compensation, and not a single apology.
Life-Threatening Driver Fatigue
Skipping Naran meant we were forced to endure a continuous, non-stop 24-hour journey from Lahore to Chilas in a third-class coaster with rock-hard seats. This scheduling gamble was brutal for us, but fatal for safety. The driver—who was actually experienced and capable—was pushed beyond human limits by management. By the end of the 24 hours, he was literally falling asleep at the wheel on dangerous mountain cliffs. The company risked everyone's lives to cover up their initial delays.
The Graveyard Hotel Downgrade
In Hunza, the guide attempted to force us into Hunza Elite, a low-rated, isolated hotel located right next to a cemetery. When we stood our ground and insisted on checking into our pre-booked deluxe hotel (The Mulberry), the guide refused to transport us there, stating we had to arrange and pay for our own local transport to get to our actual confirmed hotel. This was a direct breach of our deluxe package agreement.
Attempted Extortion at Babusar Top
On the way back, they skipped the scheduled return rest stay in Chilas. Instead, they stranded the group at an unknown, freezing campsite near Babusar Top. They aggressively demanded that we pay an extra 1,000 PKR on top of the 1 Lac package price to access the tents. We stood our ground and refused to pay a single extra penny. This was followed by another grueling 23-hour non-stop drive back to Lahore.