Islamabad to Soon Valley: Route, Distance and Timing

Soon Valley is about 230 km from Islamabad by Wikipedia's figure, and other guides put Naushera, the valley's main town, at roughly 240 km. Allow three and a half to four hours without long stops: the M2 motorway for the first part, then a road through the hills to Naushera and the lakes. It works as a long day trip but is far more comfortable as an overnight.

This guide covers the road only: which exit to take, what the drive looks like in stages, and what to plan for. For the sights themselves see our Soon Valley guide.

Which route should you take?

There are two usual ways in, and both start on the M2 heading towards Lahore.

Via Kallar Kahar

Guides generally recommend the Kallar Kahar interchange as the entry point. Islamabad to the interchange is about 130 to 138 km, depending on the source, or about two hours. From the interchange to Naushera is about 68 km according to Wikipedia. Other guides quote longer figures for the Kallar Kahar to the valley leg, because the distance depends on which stop you count as the start of Soon Valley. Using Naushera as the reference, it is the shorter and better-known approach.

This route also lets you stop at Kallar Kahar for tea or the lake. Our Kallar Kahar guide covers it.

Via Balkasar and Talagang

The other approach leaves the M2 at the Balkasar interchange and runs towards Talagang, then on the Khushab road. A published guide describes this as the way from Islamabad and Rawalpindi towards Naushera. Talagang is about 62 km from Naushera, per Wikipedia.

Which is better? If you want the quickest line and plan to see the lakes first, use whichever your navigation app prefers on the day, and check both against the time of day. The Kallar Kahar road is the easier one to remember and gives you somewhere to stop.

The drive in stages

1. Islamabad to the M2 and on to the exit. The first section is the motorway. Keep to the speed limit and use the service areas. See our best rest areas on Pakistan's motorways.
2. Exit and turn off. Leave at Kallar Kahar or Balkasar. From here the road is an ordinary district road through villages and hills, slower than the motorway.
3. Towards Naushera. The valley begins as the road drops among low hills. Naushera, the largest settlement, is the hub, and the lakes are within a short drive.
4. To your first stop. Uchali Lake is usually the first stop from this side. Our Uchali Lake guide explains how to approach it.

Timing the day

If you are doing it as a day trip, leave Islamabad before 7 am. That puts you at the first lake by late morning, leaves time for Khabeki and Kanhatti, and gets you back onto the motorway before dark. A return after dark on the hill roads is the main avoidable problem, since signage and lighting are minimal.

If you can spare the night, our 2-day Soon Valley itinerary shows how to split it.

Fuel, food and rest stops

Fill the tank at a motorway service area or at Kallar Kahar before turning towards the valley. The valley has fuel in its towns, but we could not confirm that every stop has a station, so assume none at the lakes. Tolls on the M2 are charged by vehicle class, and the rates change, so check the current rate with the motorway operator and keep some cash for the toll plazas. Food in the valley is basic: tea, snacks and village meals.

For the other direction, see Lahore to Soon Valley.

What to carry

• A full tank and a tyre check before leaving
• Cash for tolls and village shops
• Water and snacks for the leg after the exit
• A downloaded offline map, since signal can drop in the hills
• Warm layers in winter, when the evenings drop quickly

Is it worth driving it in a day?

If you have to, yes, but it means about eight hours on the road for a few hours at the lakes. Two days works much better. Do not try to fit in the Amb temples on a day trip; they need their own half day.

Frequently asked questions