Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Kumrat Valley
Region
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Best Visit
May to September for green meadows, open roads and pleasant 15 to 25 degree days, with July to September best for the Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake treks. December to March is snowbound and the upper valley is hard to reach
Highlight
Forest
Access
Open to All
Kumrat Valley
— at a glance
Kumrat Valley is a roughly 35 km ribbon of deodar forest, alpine meadow and rushing river in the Upper Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, cradled by the peaks of the Hindu Kush. The clear Panjkora River runs the length of it, lined by some of the tallest cedar trees in Pakistan, and the valley floor opens into camping grounds that fill with tents through the summer. Above the forest lie the valley's headline sights: the thundering Kumrat Waterfall, the vast high pasture of Jahaz Banda at around 3,100 metres, and the glacial Katora Lake at roughly 4,000 metres, ringed by Spindhor Peak. Reached by a long drive and a final four wheel drive leg from the town of Thal, green and pleasant from May to September and deep under snow in winter, Kumrat is one of Pakistan's great forest and camping escapes.
What to expect
ForestAlpine LakesCampingRiver ValleyTrekking
Photo by Mafu75
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Kumrat Valley?
- Kumrat Valley is in the Upper Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in northern Pakistan, running about 35 km along the Panjkora River through deodar forest at the foot of the Hindu Kush.
- How do you get to Kumrat Valley?
- Drive from Islamabad via the Swat Motorway to Chakdara, then the N-45 through Timergara and Dir to Thal, about 370 to 385 km and 8 to 9 hours. From Thal the last leg to the valley needs a four wheel drive jeep.
- What is the best time to visit Kumrat Valley?
- May to September, when the meadows are green and roads are open, with July to September best for the Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake treks. Winter brings heavy snow and the upper valley becomes hard to reach.
- Do you need a 4x4 for Kumrat Valley?
- Yes, for the upper valley. Normal cars reach Thal, the last town, but the final 20 to 30 km to the camping grounds and the waterfall, and the tracks toward Jahaz Banda, need a sturdy four wheel drive jeep.
- What is Kumrat Valley famous for?
- Kumrat is famous for its tall deodar cedar forests along the Panjkora River, the Kumrat Waterfall, the high meadow of Jahaz Banda, and the glacial Katora Lake. It is one of the best forest camping destinations in Pakistan.
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