Dao Khan is a forest hamlet in Azad Kashmir's Leepa Valley, about 4 km beyond Reshian and 71 km from Muzaffarabad, sitting at around 2,490 metres. It is the easiest overnight stop on the way into Leepa, reachable by ordinary car rather than only by jeep, and it works as a destination in its own right for the view alone.
This guide covers what Dao Khan actually offers, where to stay, and how it fits into a wider Leepa trip.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | About 2,490 m |
| From Reshian | About 4 km |
| From Muzaffarabad | About 71 km |
| Access | By car or jeep from Reshian |
| Accommodation | Government rest houses; tented accommodation added in peak summer |
| Best for | An overnight break, forest walks, views over the valley |
Why visitors stop at Dao Khan
Dao Khan sits in pine forest a few hundred metres above Reshian, high enough to give open views over the surrounding ridges without the steep jeep-track driving that the rest of the route into Leepa involves. Because it is on the paved stretch out of Reshian, it is reachable by a normal car with a careful driver, which makes it the natural place to break a long first day from Islamabad or Muzaffarabad rather than pushing on into the valley itself after dark.
It is also simply a pleasant place to be: quiet, wooded, and noticeably cooler than the valley floor below, with the kind of calm that comes from being a stop on the way rather than a destination most people are rushing to leave.
Where to stay
Government rest houses run by the AJK Tourism and Archaeology Department and the AJK Forest Department are the main accommodation at Dao Khan, and they should be booked ahead through the relevant department rather than turned up to on spec. In peak summer, when demand outstrips the rooms available, the AJK Tourism Department has previously supplemented the rest houses with tented accommodation. Expect simple, functional rooms rather than a resort: this is a government rest house in a forest hamlet, not a hotel. Our Leepa Valley hotels guide covers Dao Khan alongside the guesthouse options further into the valley.
What there is to do
Dao Khan is not a place with organised activities; its appeal is the setting. A short walk through the surrounding pine forest, time spent simply taking in the view over the valley, and an early night before the drive on into Leepa are what most visitors actually do here. If you arrive with daylight to spare, walking a little way along the road toward the ridge gives a wider view than staying at the rest house itself.
Dao Khan as a base versus pushing on
Some visitors treat Dao Khan purely as an overnight stop on the way to Leepa village; others, particularly if time is short or the weather has closed in, are happy to spend most of their trip at Dao Khan itself rather than continuing over the ridge. Both are reasonable. If your goal is the rice terraces and the wooden houses at Nokot and Leepa, Dao Khan is a stopover; if you mainly want forest, views and a break from the drive, it can be the destination.
Our two-day Leepa Valley itinerary uses Dao Khan as the first-night stop before a full day in the valley proper.
Getting there
Dao Khan is reached from Reshian, the gateway village where most Leepa visitors register and, for onward travel, either continue by car on the paved road or switch to a hired jeep. The short climb from Reshian to Dao Khan is one of the easier stretches of the whole route in, paved and manageable for a normal car. Our guide to reaching Leepa Valley covers the full drive from Islamabad, and our Leepa Valley road condition guide sets out which stretches beyond Dao Khan need a 4x4.
Is Dao Khan worth stopping at?
Yes, for almost anyone driving into Leepa. It breaks a long day well, it is one of the few places on the route bookable in advance, and the setting is worth the stop regardless of what else is on your itinerary. It suits visitors who want a straightforward overnight far more than it suits anyone looking for restaurants, shops or organised activities, since there is essentially none of that here.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Dao Khan from Reshian?
About 4 km, on a paved stretch of road manageable by ordinary car.
Can you stay overnight at Dao Khan?
Yes, in government rest houses run by the AJK Tourism and Archaeology Department and the AJK Forest Department, which should be booked ahead. Tented accommodation has been added in peak summer when rooms run out.
Is Dao Khan the same as Leepa village?
No. Dao Khan is a separate forest hamlet above Reshian, roughly 30 to 40 km short of Leepa village by road, and is commonly used as an overnight stop on the way in rather than the final destination.
What is there to do at Dao Khan?
Mainly the setting itself: forest, quiet and views over the surrounding ridges. It is not set up with organised activities, shops or restaurants.
Do you need a jeep to reach Dao Khan?
No, the road from Reshian to Dao Khan is paved and manageable by ordinary car. A jeep becomes more useful, or necessary, on the stretches beyond it toward Leepa village.
