Kumrat Valley – A Complete Travelers Guide

Kumrat Valley is the untouched paradise of Pakistan. The valley is located in the Kohistan region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is remote and isolated in the mountains at the foothills of the Hindu Kush Range. The river flows from the Hindu Kush Range into the valley.

The pine forest is straight from a fairy tale. The lush green meadows, mountains lakes, and singing streams surrounding you. Once you reach Kumrat Valley there are places around you that can visit including Kumrat Abshar, Kala Chashma (30 mins), Shehzor Lake (6-hour trek), and DoJagga Point.

Islamabad – DIR – Thal Bazar – Kumrat valley

Islamabad – Dir:

The first part of your journey is to reach Dir which is 7 hours from Islamabad. You can choose between taking your own vehicle, public transport or hire a vehicle. The route from Islamabad starts at M1 motorway and then onto the Swat Expressway till Chakdara. At Chakdara you can choose to go via Kalam or directly to Dir and reach Thal.

• Chakdara to kalam 6 hours and then a few hours to Thal in only 4×4. This is the rough but scenic route.
• Chakdara to Thal via Dir (Many people choose this route as it is fully metalled and is the shortest route)

Dir To Thal Bazar (3 hours Journey):

At Dir public transportation will start in the morning around 8 am. So, plan accordingly to reach Dir at the right time if you choose to travel in public transport. The road condition at this point is not bad. Public transportation (Bus and Vans) and car rentals are the options. People can also get sharing cabs to the Thal Bazar.

If you choose to bring your own vehicle you can skip this stop and directly go towards Thal. Most people stop here to stretch and have food before going further ahead.

Thal to Kumrat:

Thal to Kumrat is 2 and a half hour journey in Jeep. At Thal Bazar, you will need to switch to a 4X4 off-road vehicle as the route is very rough. Cars will not survive this part of the journey. Most people leave there car at Thal Bazar and hire a Jeep.

Kumrat Valley Map

Kumrat Valley:

Once you reach the beautiful Kumrat Valley you can choose the best spot to camp. Locals have placed many camps in the best locations alongside the Panjkor river with an amazing view of the valley. 

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Places to See and Things to do

Kumrat Valley has many amazing locations for you to explore the most famous are:

• The Kumrat waterfall 5 minutes from the camping area,
• Kala Chashma an hour hike (shorter if you drive there)
• Do Jagga 3 hour trek (Do Jagga leads to two treks, the name Do Jagga literally means two places)
  • The first trek goes towards Shahzore Lake which is a 9-hour trek
  • The second trek goes towards Kundol lake, easier to access from Kalam valley.
• Apart from these you can go for a hike in the Pine Forest and trek alongside the Panjkore River.

Jahaz Banda

Many people relax and explore the Kumrat valley before leaving for the Taki Top and trek to Jahaz Banda Meadow. It is an amazing lush green valley perfect for camping.

To get to Jahaz Banda you will have to come back to Thal and take a 2 and half hour hours jeep road towards Takai Top / Taki Top. From there, it is a 3 hours trek to Jahaz Banda. Accommodations are similar to Kumrat Valley. To reach the mesmerizing Katora Lake you will have to trek for another 3-hours. It is a glacial lake at the height of 11,500 ft (3500m). This part of the trek is very steep and difficult.

Can Families and Girls go to Kumrat Valley?

Absolutely Yes. Since most Pakistani travel with the family to only girl – friendly places which means places with the availability of washrooms, toilets, and decent stay facilities. These facilities are available at Kumrat’s main valley and many families travel till Kumrat or go for a day trip. But many girls now go for camping and trekking experience. Here is Hafsa Asad vlog on an all-girls trip during the summer season.

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Accommodation:

Since the Kumrat Valley is very remote and only recently tourists have started to visit the area, there are no hotels or guest houses. The only form of accommodation is camping and fiber huts (container rooms) with washrooms. You can take your own camp. OR you can stay in one of the camping sites installed by the locals. the fee per night is PKR 500 to 700 but this might change as the number of tourists increases the demand. The Camps are also placed at the Kala Chashma region but these are fewer in number.

Food stalls and Dhabas will provide food, tea, and snacks. Some might be costlier at Kumrat Valley. You can cook your own meal or bring your own material and get it cooked.

Transporation

As mentioned above the route Dir is on a metalled road. But for the last part of the journey, starting from Thal Bazar 4X4 is recommended. The road is unpaved and very rough. Once you reach the valley you will need to cross the offshoots of the river and muddy route due to frequent rain. During the summer when the influx of tourists is high. Vehicles are available on every point and you will be able to take 4X4 till Kala Chashma. Rates to hire the vehicle from Thal Bazar to Kumrat is PKR 2500 for a 2-hour journey but this is subject to change.

You leave your car Thal Bazar and hire 4×4 vehicles there and give them your return time and date.

WiFi and Mobile Connectivity

The region doesn’t have great mobile connectivity but weak signals are available at specific points from where you can make calls. 2G Mobile data will connect which means you will be able to send and receive WhatsApp messages. No Wifi in the valley.