The main hill stations in KPK are the Galiyat above Abbottabad (Nathia Gali, Dunga Gali, Ayubia, Changla Gali and Khanspur), Thandiani, Shogran in the Kaghan valley, and Malam Jabba and Miandam in Swat. The Galiyat are the closest to Islamabad and by far the busiest. Thandiani is higher and much quieter, Shogran is the natural stop on a Naran trip, and Malam Jabba is the one with a ski slope and a five-star hotel.
All of them are cool in June and July, when the plains are close to 40 °C, and most of them get snow in winter. What separates them is distance, crowds, how many rooms there are, and, in Swat's case, the security picture. This guide compares them side by side.
| Hill station | Altitude | From Islamabad | Rooms | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathia Gali and the Galiyat | About 2,400 m | 80 to 90 km, 2 to 2.5 hours | Plenty, from guesthouses to a DoubleTree by Hilton | A weekend, families, first-timers |
| Thandiani | About 2,750 m | About 3 hours via Abbottabad | Few, plus government camping pods | Quiet, views, fewer people |
| Shogran | About 2,360 m | About 212 km, 5 to 6 hours | A cluster of hotels on the plateau | Meadows, a stop on the way to Naran |
| Malam Jabba | Up to about 2,800 m | About 6 hours via Mingora | A Pearl-Continental and smaller hotels | Skiing, a comfortable hotel at the snow |
| Miandam | About 1,800 m | About 6 to 7 hours via Mingora | A handful of hotels | A quiet side valley in Swat |
What counts as a hill station in KPK?
The British built summer stations on the ridges above the plains to escape the heat, and the Galiyat and Thandiani are hill stations in exactly that sense: pine ridges with old bungalows, a church and walking paths. Today the term also covers mountain resorts in bigger valleys, such as Shogran, Malam Jabba and Miandam. Kalam, at about 2,000 metres at the head of Swat, is more a valley town and a base for lakes; see our guide to places to visit in Kalam.
The Galiyat: Nathia Gali, Dunga Gali, Ayubia and Khanspur
The Galiyat are a string of small resorts along the ridge between Murree and Abbottabad. Nathia Gali, at about 2,400 metres and roughly 32 km from both towns, is the centre, with a bazaar, the old wooden St Matthew's Church and forest walks in every direction. Dunga Gali and Ayubia lie a few kilometres towards Murree, joined by the level Pipeline Track through the forest, and Khanspur sits below them at about 2,250 metres. Changla Gali is the first you reach coming from Murree.
The Galiyat are the easiest mountains in the province to reach, 80 to 90 km from Islamabad on the Murree Expressway and then along the ridge road, about two to two and a half hours in normal traffic. They also have the widest choice of rooms, and they fill up first at Eid and on long weekends.
A few things to know:
- Walks. The Pipeline Track is the family walk. The climb to Mushkpuri from Dunga Gali is steeper and takes a proper morning.
- The Ayubia chairlift was shut in 2021 on safety grounds and was still closed in 2025, so don't plan a day around it.
- Crowds. Saturday traffic on the ridge road can add hours. Go on a weekday if you can.
- Winter. The Galiyat are the nearest snow to Islamabad, and heavy falls close the roads for a day or more at a time.
Our guide to the Galiyat goes through each resort in detail.
Thandiani
Thandiani stands at about 2,750 metres, some 37 km north-east of Abbottabad, on a ridge of its own. It was a British station too, but it never grew the way Nathia Gali did. That is its appeal: the forest is thicker, the crowds are thinner, and on a clear day the views are wide.
The drawbacks are the flip side of that. There are far fewer places to stay, the road up from Abbottabad is slow, and after a heavy winter fall it can stay blocked for days. The KP tourism authority runs a set of camping pods at Thandiani, which are a good budget option if you book ahead; see our guide to KP camping pods for how they work.
Thandiani suits couples and families who want the Galiyat's cool air without the Galiyat's traffic, and who don't mind simple rooms.
Shogran and Siri Paye
Shogran is a green plateau at about 2,360 metres above Kiwai, in the lower Kaghan valley, some 34 km from Balakot. Behind the hotels, a jeep track climbs to the meadows of Siri Paye, with a small pond and, on a clear morning, Malika Parbat across the valley. Most families spend a night or two here on the way to or from Naran.
The road from Kiwai up to the plateau is steep and narrow. Many people leave their car at Kiwai and take a local jeep, especially after rain, and a jeep is the only way to Siri Paye. Shogran is at its best from May to October; it gets heavy snow in winter, when the road up is often jeep-only. Our Shogran guide covers the jeep ride and the hotels.
Malam Jabba
Malam Jabba is the only hill station in the province built around skiing. The resort sits about 40 km above Saidu Sharif in Swat, with a ski slope of roughly 800 metres whose top is at about 2,800 metres. The original resort was burned by militants in 2008; it has since been rebuilt, and the Pearl-Continental Malam Jabba now stands at the slopes.
In summer it is a cool retreat with pine forest and walks; from about late December to February, when the snow is good, it is a ski resort, and the Swat Snow Festival was held here in February 2026. The final climb from the main Swat road needs chains or a 4x4 after fresh snow. Our Malam Jabba guide covers skiing, the chairlift and when the slopes open.
Miandam, Shangla Top and the rest
Miandam is a side valley off the main Swat road, at about 1,800 metres and roughly 55 km from Mingora. It is lower and gentler than Malam Jabba, with terraced fields, orchards and a few hotels, and it suits people who want two quiet nights rather than activities.
Further up Swat, Madyan and Bahrain are river towns rather than hill stations, and Kalam is higher and colder. The road above Bahrain is still badly damaged from the 2022 floods and was cut again by a flash flood in September 2026, so allow extra time for anything north of it.
Two more names come up:
- Shangla Top, the forested pass on the road from Swat to Besham, is a stop rather than a place to stay, with snow in a good winter.
- Sheikh Badin, an old hill station in the hills between Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan, is now part of a national park. It lies in the province's southern districts, where security advice rules out leisure travel at present.
Which hill station should you choose?
| If you want... | Go to |
|---|---|
| A weekend from Islamabad with the family | Nathia Gali, Dunga Gali or Ayubia |
| Quiet, a view and simple rooms | Thandiani |
| Meadows and a first taste of the Kaghan valley | Shogran and Siri Paye |
| Skiing, or a five-star hotel in the snow | Malam Jabba |
| A calm couple of nights in Swat | Miandam |
The Galiyat are the safe default: closest, most rooms, and easy with children or older parents. Shogran makes most sense combined with Naran in summer. Malam Jabba and Miandam are worth the longer drive only if you are going to Swat anyway and have read the current security news.
If you want help choosing, or a plan built around your dates, send us your trip details.
Is it safe to visit these hill stations?
The Galiyat, Thandiani and Shogran are in Abbottabad and Mansehra districts, which are not among the areas the UK government's travel advice warns against, and they see very large numbers of Pakistani visitors every summer. The everyday risks there are mountain roads, crowds and winter snow.
Swat is different. On 2 August 2026 a suicide bomber attacked a peace rally at the Kabal police station, across the river from Mingora, killing 17 people, and the UK government advises against all travel to Swat and all but essential travel to Shangla. Pakistani tourists still visit Malam Jabba and Miandam, but check local news and current police advice before you set out, keep to the main roads and travel in daylight. Overseas visitors should know that their government's advice may say not to go, and that travelling against it can void travel insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best hill station in KPK?
For most people, Nathia Gali and the Galiyat, because they are close to Islamabad, open all year and have the most places to stay. Thandiani is the better choice if you want quiet, and Malam Jabba if you want to ski.
Which hill station is closest to Islamabad in KPK?
The Galiyat. Changla Gali is the first you reach from Murree, and Nathia Gali is about 80 to 90 km from Islamabad, two to two and a half hours by car without weekend traffic.
Which KPK hill station is highest?
Of the places people stay, Malam Jabba's ski slope tops out at about 2,800 metres and Thandiani sits at about 2,750. The highest points in the Galiyat, such as Mushkpuri and Miranjani, are summits you walk up rather than stay on.
Do KPK hill stations get snow?
Yes. The Galiyat, Thandiani, Malam Jabba and Shogran all get snow, usually between late December and February. Heavy falls close roads, so carry chains and book a room before you go.
Is Thandiani better than Nathia Gali?
It is quieter, higher and less built up, but it has far fewer rooms and a slower road. Choose Thandiani for peace and views, and Nathia Gali for convenience and choice.
