The best places to visit in Pakistan in winter depend on what you want from the season. For snow, the Galiyat and Murree are closest to Islamabad and Lahore, and Malam Jabba and Naltar are the skiing names. For sunshine, go south: Karachi, the Thar desert, Mohenjo-daro and the Cholistan forts are at their best from November to February. For heritage in mild weather, Lahore and Multan work well, with one caveat about smog.
This guide is organised by type of trip rather than by province, because the winter choice in Pakistan is really a choice between cold and warm. It also says plainly where winter makes travel harder, because a few of the most popular winter destinations have a poor record when the weather turns.
| If you want | Go to | Main catch |
|---|---|---|
| Easy snow for a weekend | Murree, Nathia Gali, Ayubia | Traffic and road closures when it snows |
| Skiing and a chairlift | Malam Jabba (Swat), Naltar (Gilgit) | Malam Jabba is in a district the UK advises against |
| Deep-winter mountains | Skardu, Hunza | Very cold, flights often cancelled |
| Warm, dry days | Karachi, Thar, Mohenjo-daro | Cool nights, little to see for snow lovers |
| Heritage and food | Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur | Smog in Lahore from about November |
Where to see snow without a long expedition
The Galiyat, the pine ridges between Murree and Abbottabad, are the standard answer. Murree, Nathia Gali and Ayubia sit at roughly 2,000 to 2,500 metres, and snow is most likely from December to February, though it does not fall every week and cannot be forecast far ahead. They are a few hours from Islamabad and about five from Lahore, which is why they are crowded the moment snow is reported.
Murree deserves a warning. On 7 January 2022 a heavy snowstorm caught roughly 157,000 vehicles heading up for the weekend, and at least 23 people died in stranded cars, mostly from cold or carbon monoxide from engines left running for heat (Dawn, CNN, Wikipedia). It was not an isolated freak. It is what happens when everyone drives up at once on a road that closes under snow.
If you go for snow:
- Check the forecast and local reports the day before, and leave if a heavy snowfall alert is issued.
- Travel on a weekday if you can. The queue on the road is the real hazard.
- Never sleep in a car with the engine running with the exhaust buried in snow.
- Carry chains or winter tyres, a shovel, blankets and a full tank. Our guide to driving in snow covers the basics.
- Book a hotel in the town rather than planning to drive back late.
Our Murree in winter guide and the wider list of where to see snow in Pakistan go into individual snow spots.
Skiing and winter sports
Pakistan's ski season runs from about December to February, and there are two places most people mean.
Malam Jabba, in Swat at around 2,800 metres, has a chairlift and a short ski slope. Its 2026 chairlift prices were listed at about PKR 1,500 to 2,900, but prices change, so confirm on arrival. This is the one to think about carefully. The UK government advises against all travel to Swat, and on 2 August 2026 a suicide bomber attacked a police station at Kabal in Swat during a peace rally, killing 17. Pakistani families still visit, but read the news and current police advice before setting out, and be flexible. Overseas visitors should check their own government's advice, which can void travel insurance.
Naltar, in Gilgit-Baltistan near Gilgit, is the other established ski area, reached by a jeep road that is often difficult in deep snow. Gilgit-Baltistan is not on the UK's advise-against list, but you still reach it by air or along a road with its own winter problems, covered below. Our skiing in Pakistan guide compares the two properly.
Deep winter in the mountains: Skardu and Hunza
Some travellers deliberately go to the far north in winter for empty valleys and frozen lakes. It suits people who are used to cold and are relaxed about changing plans.
Skardu is best reached by flight from Islamabad, which takes under an hour when it runs. Winter flights are frequently delayed or cancelled by weather, so build in slack days. The alternative, the road from the plains, runs along a route with winter closures and landslide risk, so we would not choose it in January.
Hunza is bitterly cold, with night temperatures well below freezing and snow on the ground for weeks. The apricot orchards are bare, and some hotels close. Those that stay open are usually the larger ones in Karimabad and Aliabad, so confirm heating and power backup before you book. See our Hunza in winter and Skardu in winter guides.
A safety note on the road: the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, through Besham, Dasu and Sazin, is a stretch the UK advises against travelling on. Flying to Gilgit or Skardu avoids it, as does the Babusar route in summer, though Babusar is closed by snow in winter. Foreign-passport holders should check their own advice.
Warm winter escapes: Karachi, Thar and Sindh
If you want sun, the south is at its best while the north freezes.
Karachi averages roughly 19 °C in January, with daytime highs around 26 °C and nights about 12 °C. That is comfortable for the beaches, Clifton and Manora, and the sea breeze is far more pleasant than in the summer heat. Evenings can feel cool when a northerly wind comes through.
The Thar desert and Nagarparkar in Tharparkar are best from November to February. In Nagarparkar, January averages about 24 °C by day and 10 °C at night. Camping under clear skies is at its most comfortable in these months. Check our Tharparkar weather guide before planning.
Mohenjo-daro and the Indus valley sites are much easier in winter than in the heat of the summer, when the plains of Sindh reach the high 40s. A winter trip to Sindh can combine Karachi, Thatta, Mohenjo-daro and Sehwan. Sindh north of Nawabshah is on the UK's advise-against-all-but-essential list, so check current advice for that part of the route.
Heritage in mild weather: Lahore, Multan and Cholistan
Winter is the best time for walking cities. Lahore's Walled City, the Fort and the Badshahi Mosque are pleasant from mid-November to February, with daytime highs in the low 20s, and it is when food streets are at their liveliest. The catch is smog. Air quality in Lahore is often poor from about November to January, so check the daily air quality reading and be ready to move plans indoors. If you are choosing between winter destinations for this reason, our Lahore in winter guide is the one to read.
Multan and Bahawalpur have similar weather and far fewer visitors. The Cholistan Desert Rally, which starts near Derawar Fort, was scheduled for 11 to 15 February in 2026, and the dates shift from year to year. Derawar Fort itself is an easy trip out of Bahawalpur in winter and hard work in summer.
Winter trips that we would not plan
A few popular winter ideas are less sensible than they look:
- Balochistan, including Quetta and Ziarat. The UK advises against all travel to Balochistan. Snowfall in Ziarat draws local visitors, but we do not suggest it as a leisure trip.
- Swat, Kalam and Kumrat in deep snow. Roads close, and Swat carries the security advice above.
- Chitral and Kalash. The UK advises against the road from Mardan and the Kalash valleys. Chitral is reached in winter by a flight that is often cancelled.
- Neelum valley near the Line of Control. The UK advises against travel within 10 miles of the Line of Control, and AJK has had serious unrest in 2026.
Which winter trip suits you?
For a couple of nights with children, Nathia Gali or Ayubia, midweek, with a booked hotel, is the sensible snow trip. For adults wanting real cold and empty valleys, Skardu or Hunza with a week of flexibility. For a warm break with culture, combine Karachi with Sindh, or spend a few days in Lahore, Multan and Bahawalpur. If you are unsure, the when to go guide shows how the seasons stack up across the country, and our Skardu and Deosai tour runs in summer, when the road and the plateau are open.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best place to visit in Pakistan in winter?
It depends on what you want. For easy snow, the Galiyat and Murree; for real winter mountains, Skardu and Hunza; for warm sunny days, Karachi, Thar and Sindh. Lahore and Multan suit heritage trips in mild weather.
Where does it snow in Pakistan?
Snow is most reliable in the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan and the Hindu Kush, and falls in the Galiyat, including Murree and Nathia Gali, in colder spells from about December to February. It is not guaranteed on any given weekend.
Is Murree safe in winter?
It is fine in normal conditions, but heavy snow can strand thousands of cars, as it did on 7 January 2022 when at least 23 people died. Check forecasts, avoid weekends when snow is expected, and do not sleep in a car with the engine running.
Which places in Pakistan are warm in winter?
Karachi, Thar and Nagarparkar, Mohenjo-daro and much of southern Punjab have mild, dry days from November to February, with cooler nights.
Can I visit Hunza in winter?
Yes, but it is very cold and some hotels close. Confirm that your hotel is open and has heating and backup power, and expect flights to Gilgit or Skardu to be delayed by weather.
Is Malam Jabba open in winter?
The resort operates in the ski season from about December to February. It is in Swat, where the UK advises against all travel and where a bombing killed 17 people on 2 August 2026, so check current local advice before going.
