A Galiyat 3-day itinerary works best as two nights and three distinct bases of interest: day one on the Nathia Gali ridge and the Pipeline Track, day two on Mushkpuri and the Bara Gali side with Samundar Katha lake, and day three on the road up to Thandiani, the highest and quietest hill station in the group. It adds Bara Gali and Thandiani to our 2-day Galiyat itinerary, and it finishes with a drop through Abbottabad onto the Hazara Motorway.
Three days is enough to do the Galiyat without rushing. Allow a car and driver or your own vehicle, because the best stops are on side roads that public transport does not serve well.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Nights | Two, both in Nathia Gali, or the second in Abbottabad |
| Day 1 | Drive up, Dunga Gali, Pipeline Track to Ayubia |
| Day 2 | Mushkpuri Top (morning), Bara Gali and Samundar Katha (afternoon) |
| Day 3 | Thandiani, then Abbottabad and the motorway home |
| Best months | May to September for clear weather; snow can close roads December to February |
| Thandiani altitude | About 2,750 m |
| Bara Gali altitude | About 2,350 m |
| Fitness | Moderate; the Mushkpuri climb is the hardest part |
Before you go
Most people come from Islamabad, which is roughly three hours away on a clear day by the Murree route, and a little more at weekends. Our guide to the drive from Islamabad to Nathia Gali compares the Murree and Abbottabad approaches. If you are visiting between December and March, read about driving in Galiyat snow first, and see the best time to visit Nathia Gali if you have flexibility.
Book your first night in advance for any weekend or holiday. There are dozens of hotels in Nathia Gali, and our list of Nathia Gali hotels covers the choices.
Day 1: Drive up, Dunga Gali and the Pipeline Track
Leave Islamabad early so you reach the ridge before lunch. After checking in, spend the afternoon on the Pipeline Track, the old water-pipe path through pine forest that links Dunga Gali with Ayubia. Published guides put it at about 4 km each way and mostly flat, so it suits families. Our Dunga Gali guide and the Ayubia National Park guide cover the park offices and wildlife, so we won't repeat them here.
Have an early dinner and an early night. Day two starts with a climb.
Day 2: Mushkpuri in the morning, Bara Gali after lunch
Morning: Mushkpuri Top
Mushkpuri, at about 2,800 metres, is the Galiyat's best-known climb. Guides describe a hike of several hours that is steep in places. Start by 7 am, because haze usually builds by late morning and the views fade. If your legs are tired from Day 1 or the weather is cloudy, the other classic climb is Miranjani; our Miranjani Top guide explains how it compares.
Afternoon: Bara Gali
Bara Gali is a quiet hill station on the Murree to Abbottabad road at about 2,350 metres, around 24 km from Abbottabad and 40 km from Murree. It began as a summer cantonment for British mountain artillery and is now the summer campus of the University of Peshawar. It lies inside Ayubia National Park, so the interest is the forest and the cool air, not shops.
Samundar Katha lake
From the Bara Gali area a side road of roughly 6 to 10 km (sources differ) leads to Samundar Katha, a small man-made lake opened to the public in 2019. People come for boating, a short zipline, horse rides, fishing and camping.
Go with modest expectations. A 2021 report in Youlin Magazine found the lake small, the water low after the rains, and the site short of toilets and electricity, and it said management had passed from the Forest Department to a private contractor. Things may have changed since, so treat it as a pleasant detour of an hour or two, not the reason for the trip. The last stretch is a rough dirt track, so take care in a low car and do not go in wet weather.
Day 3: Thandiani, then home
Thandiani sits at about 2,750 metres and is the highest of the Galiyat hill stations. It is not on the Murree to Nathia Gali ridge road. You reach it from Abbottabad: roughly 31 to 37 km from the city (sources vary), about 90 minutes of metalled but winding road. Online figures put the journey from Nathia Gali at around 50 km via Abbottabad, so leave by 8 am.
At the top you find thick forest, cooler air than anywhere else on this trip, and on a clear day views towards the Pir Panjal range, the Kaghan and Kohistan mountains and, far below, the Abbottabad plain. Thandiani began in the colonial period as a missionary sanatorium, and guides mention a historic church there. By published accounts it has limited electricity and water, which is why it stays quiet. Read our Thandiani guide for pods and winter access, and Abbottabad to Thandiani for the road.
Have a late lunch at the top or in Abbottabad. Then join the Hazara Motorway for Islamabad, about two to three hours without traffic.
Where to stay for the two nights
- Nathia Gali both nights is the simplest. You unpack once and drive to Bara Gali and back on Day 2.
- Nathia Gali, then Abbottabad shortens Day 3 by a good 40 minutes but means moving bags on Day 2 evening.
- One night at Thandiani is possible in the forest department pods or small hotels, but it adds an extra day to the plan and demands advance booking.
Is it safe?
Abbottabad and the Galiyat are not on the UK government's list of areas it advises against, but the roads to the north are. The UK advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, and against all travel to a wide stretch of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This itinerary stays on the Galiyat ridge, the Abbottabad road and the Hazara Motorway, and should not be extended north to Mansehra or Besham without checking current advice. Check the weather and local news before you leave, and ask your hotel about the road.
Who is this itinerary for?
It suits families and friends who like walking, cool air and forest more than shopping, and who have a car. It is a poor fit if you hate winding mountain roads, if the weather is poor or if you have only two days; in that case the 2-day plan covers the essentials. If you want something longer and higher, our experiences page lists the other trips we run.
Frequently asked questions
Is three days enough for the Galiyat?
Yes. It lets you do the Pipeline Track, Mushkpuri, Bara Gali and Thandiani at an easy pace with two nights.
How far is Thandiani from Nathia Gali?
Roughly 50 km by road via Abbottabad according to online guides, about two hours with stops. It is not reached along the ridge.
How far is Samundar Katha from Bara Gali?
Sources give 6 to 10 km. The last stretch is a rough dirt road, so expect 25 to 30 minutes from Nathia Gali.
Can I visit Thandiani in winter?
Heavy snow can block the Thandiani road for days. Check conditions in Abbottabad before setting out.
Where should I stay?
Nathia Gali for both nights is simplest. Thandiani itself has a few small hotels and government pods, which need booking ahead.
