The Galiyat is the string of small hill stations on the forested ridge between Murree and Abbottabad, at roughly 2,250 to 2,750 metres. Nathia Gali is the largest and busiest, Dunga Gali is the base for the best walks, Ayubia and Khanspur are quieter and more spread out, and Thandiani, on its own road above Abbottabad, is the highest and emptiest. For a first trip of one or two nights, Nathia Gali or Dunga Gali suits most people.
The galis look alike on a map, but they are not interchangeable. This guide explains how they differ, which one fits which kind of trip, and what to expect from the area as a whole.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | The ridge between Murree (Punjab) and Abbottabad (KP), about 50 to 80 km north-east of Islamabad |
| Main hill stations | Nathia Gali, Dunga Gali, Ayubia, Khanspur, Changla Gali, Khaira Gali, Bara Gali; Thandiani on a separate road |
| Altitude | About 2,250 m (Khanspur) to 2,750 m (Thandiani) |
| Highest point | Miranjani, 2,992 m |
| Road entry points | Barian from the Murree side, Harno from the Abbottabad side |
| Protected forest | Ayubia National Park, 3,312 hectares |
| Busiest times | Summer weekends, Eid, 14 August, the first snowfall |
What is the Galiyat?
Gali is the local word for a saddle or pass between two hills, and the Galiyat (also written Galyat or Galliat) is the belt of these saddles along the ridge that divides the Punjab plains from the Hazara hills. The British developed several of them as summer stations in the second half of the 19th century. Nathia Gali became the summer headquarters of the administration in Peshawar, Khaira Gali and Bara Gali were summer quarters for mountain batteries based in Rawalpindi, and Changla Gali housed an army musketry school.
Almost all of what people mean by "the Galiyat" today lies in Abbottabad district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Murree, at the southern end of the same ridge, is in Punjab and is sometimes counted as part of it, but it is a different kind of place: a town rather than a scatter of small resorts.
Two bodies shape a visit. The Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) looks after roads, towns and development, and put visitor numbers above a million in 2024. The forest core, Ayubia National Park, is run by the KP Wildlife Department, which manages the three main walking tracks.
How the galis differ
Nathia Gali: the main town
Nathia Gali, at about 2,400 metres, is the largest of the galis and the one most people mean when they say they are going to the Galiyat. It has the most hotels, from small rooms in the bazaar to the DoubleTree by Hilton, and the most restaurants. The cedar-wood St Matthew's Church, the Governor House and the trail up Miranjani, the highest peak in the area, are all here.
The drawback is the crowd. The bazaar is a single stretch of road, and on summer evenings and weekends it jams.
Dunga Gali: the walkers' base
Dunga Gali is 3 km from Nathia Gali towards Murree, at about 2,500 metres. It is smaller and quieter, with fewer places to eat, but it sits at the start of the two most popular walks in the area: the almost flat Pipeline Track to Ayubia and the climb to Mushkpuri. The national park's headquarters is here too. Our Dunga Gali guide covers both trailheads and where to stay.
Ayubia and Khanspur: spread out and quieter
Ayubia was formed by joining four older resorts, Khaira Gali, Changla Gali, Khanspur and Ghora Dhaka, and named after President Ayub Khan. For decades its draw was Pakistan's first chairlift, but the lift has been closed as unsafe since October 2021 and had not reopened by September 2026. Today Ayubia is mainly the far end of the Pipeline Track, with a small bazaar and picnic spots.
Khanspur, at about 2,250 metres, is lower and quieter again, with a handful of hotels and a University of the Punjab hostel. It suits people who want a few days of forest and cool air rather than a bazaar.
Changla Gali and Khaira Gali: on the way through
Changla Gali lies on the road about 16 km from Murree and was once the headquarters of the British army's Northern Command School of Musketry. Khaira Gali, at about 2,350 metres, is a small settlement nearby. Most visitors pass through both, stopping only for tea.
Bara Gali: towards Abbottabad
Bara Gali, at about 2,350 metres, is on the Abbottabad side of Nathia Gali and is best known as the summer campus of the University of Peshawar. It is calmer than Nathia Gali, with little of its own to see.
Thandiani: the highest and quietest
Thandiani, at about 2,750 metres, is a separate hilltop reached by its own road from Abbottabad rather than along the ridge. It is more thickly forested and far less built up than Nathia Gali, with wide views towards Kashmir and Kaghan, and a set of government camping pods. Treat it as its own trip; our Thandiani guide covers the road and where to stay.
Which gali should you choose?
| If you want | Choose |
|---|---|
| Restaurants, a bazaar and the widest choice of hotels | Nathia Gali |
| To walk straight from your hotel onto the trails | Dunga Gali |
| An easy forest walk with children or older parents | The Pipeline Track, staying in Dunga Gali or Nathia Gali |
| A summit hike | Mushkpuri from Dunga Gali, or Miranjani from Nathia Gali |
| Quiet, with less traffic | Khanspur, Bara Gali or Thandiani |
| The widest views and the fewest people | Thandiani |
| Snow with the least trouble reaching your hotel | A hotel on the main road in Nathia Gali |
| A chairlift ride | Not Ayubia for now; try the Patriata chairlift near Murree instead |
On a first visit, stay in Nathia Gali or Dunga Gali, because everything else is a short drive away. If a quiet night matters more than a choice of restaurants, stay a little way out rather than in the Nathia Gali bazaar.
Getting there and getting around
There are two ways in. From Islamabad, most people take the Murree Expressway and join the Galiyat road near Murree, entering the KP side at Barian. From Peshawar or the motorway, the natural approach is through Abbottabad, climbing past Harno and Bagnotar. Our guide to the drive from Islamabad to Nathia Gali compares both routes and their timings.
Barian and Harno matter beyond the map. In heavy snow and after landslides, the district administration closes the Galiyat to tourist traffic at these two points, as it did in March 2025 and again in February 2026. If the police there turn you back, the road beyond really is closed.
Once you are on the ridge, the galis are close together, and most are within half an hour's drive of Nathia Gali in normal traffic. On a summer weekend the bazaars in Nathia Gali, Dunga Gali and Barian become bottlenecks, so park once and walk where you can.
When to go
Each gali follows the same seasons, just a degree or two apart. May and June, and mid-September to November, are the most comfortable and most reliable months. July and August bring monsoon mist, rain and landslides on the roads. From December to February, and some years into March, snow can close the roads for days at a time; in late January 2026 heavy snow cut power and mobile signal across the area and left visitors confined to their hotels.
Our guide to the best time to visit Nathia Gali goes through the seasons month by month, and if you are going up for the snow, read our advice on driving in Galiyat snow first.
Who the Galiyat suits, and who it doesn't
The Galiyat is at its best as a one- to three-night break from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar or Abbottabad. It suits families, couples and anyone who wants cool air, real forest and walks that start close to the hotel, without a long drive on mountain roads.
It does not suit people expecting big mountain scenery. There are no glaciers or high lakes here, and the far snow peaks appear only on the clearest days. Nor does it suit anyone who wants peace on a summer Saturday in Nathia Gali, when the traffic can take longer than the walk you came for.
If you want quiet, go midweek or choose Thandiani or Khanspur. If you have a week rather than a weekend, the Galiyat is better as one night on the way to Naran or Hunza than as the whole trip. If you would like help deciding how it fits into your plans, send us your dates and we will suggest a route.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Galiyat?
The Galiyat is the chain of small hill stations on the ridge between Murree and Abbottabad, including Nathia Gali, Dunga Gali, Ayubia, Khanspur, Changla Gali and Bara Gali, with Thandiani on a separate road. Most of it lies in Abbottabad district, KP, around Ayubia National Park.
Is the Galiyat in KP or Punjab?
Almost all of it is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Murree, at the southern end of the same ridge, is in Punjab, and the road crosses into KP at Barian.
Which is the best gali to stay in?
Nathia Gali for the most hotels and restaurants, Dunga Gali for walkers, and Thandiani or Khanspur for quiet. For a first visit, Nathia Gali or Dunga Gali is the easiest choice.
How many days do you need for the Galiyat?
Two days covers Nathia Gali, the Pipeline Track and one summit walk. Add a day if you also want Thandiani, which is reached by a separate road from Abbottabad.
What is the highest point in the Galiyat?
Miranjani, at 2,992 metres, reached by a trail from Nathia Gali. Mushkpuri, at about 2,800 metres, is the second highest.
Is the Ayubia chairlift open?
No. It was closed as unsafe in October 2021 and had not reopened by September 2026, although the provincial government said in July 2026 that it would run again soon. Check locally before making the trip for it.
