A jeep safari in KPK usually means one of four high routes: Badgoi Pass between Kalam and Kumrat, Shandur Pass between Chitral and Gilgit, Babusar Pass between Naran and Chilas, or the old jeep track over Lowari Top between Dir and Chitral. They are very different trips, from a full day's rough 4x4 track to a wide, mostly paved mountain road, and picking the right one matters more than the vehicle you hire.
At a glance
| Route | Connects | Altitude | Season | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badgoi Pass | Kalam (Swat) – Kumrat (Upper Dir) | About 3,523 m | July to October | Rough 4x4 track, no tarmac |
| Shandur Pass | Chitral – Gilgit-Baltistan | About 3,700–3,800 m | June to October | Graded gravel and jeep track |
| Babusar Pass | Naran – Chilas | 4,173 m | Late May to November | Paved most of the way, gravel near the top |
| Lowari Top | Dir – Chitral | About 3,118 m | June to November for the old pass; tunnel is open year-round | Jeep track over the top; tunnel bypasses it |
Badgoi Pass: Kalam to Kumrat
Badgoi is the rough option. It links Kalam and the Utror valley in Swat with Kumrat valley in Upper Dir, over a track with no metalled surface at all. Expect four to six hours or more of low-gear driving, river crossings that depend on the day's snowmelt, and a real chance of mud or a landslide after rain. Snow blocks it from around November to June, so it only really opens for July to October, and even then it is worth confirming locally rather than trusting an old blog post or map estimate.
This is a route for an experienced 4x4 driver, ideally with a local guide who knows the current state of the track, not a first mountain drive. Most people who do it treat it as the adventurous link between Kalam and Kumrat rather than a there-and-back sightseeing trip.
Shandur Pass: Chitral to Gilgit-Baltistan
Shandur is the scenic option, and the only one of the four that crosses from KPK into Gilgit-Baltistan. The road from the Gilgit side is broad and mostly smooth even where unpaved; the climb up from the Chitral (Mastuj) side is narrower and rougher. At the top is the Shandur Polo Ground, one of the highest polo pitches in the world and host to the Shandur Polo Festival each July, when the plateau fills with tents and spectators for a few days.
The pass is open roughly June to October and needs a capable 4x4 rather than a normal car, particularly on the Chitral side. Outside the festival window it is a quiet, wide-open high plateau rather than a technical drive.
Babusar Pass: Naran to Chilas
Babusar is the easiest of the four and the most heavily used, since it is the main road link between Kaghan valley and the Karakoram Highway at Chilas. It is paved for most of its length, with gravel only near the very top, and ordinary cars manage it in summer, though a 4x4 is still more comfortable on the final stretch. It opens once snow clearance finishes, usually late May, and closes again by November; even in season it is often restricted to daylight hours only, roughly 7am to 6pm, so plan to be off the top well before dusk.
Lowari: Dir to Chitral
The Lowari Tunnel, opened in 2017, now carries most traffic between Dir and Chitral year-round, which is why Chitral no longer cuts off completely in winter the way it used to. The old jeep track over Lowari Top, at around 3,118 metres, is still there above the tunnel and is driveable by 4x4 in summer for the views, but it is not a practical way to reach Chitral quickly and is blocked by snow for roughly six months of the year.
Is it safe to drive these routes?
Babusar sits inside Mansehra and Diamer districts and is not affected by the current UK travel advisory. Badgoi and Lowari are a different picture: Kalam and Utror lie in Swat district, and Kumrat and the Dir side of Lowari lie in Upper Dir, both places the UK government currently advises against all travel to, alongside the N45 road from Mardan to Chitral city. On 2 August 2026 a suicide bomber attacked a police station in Kabal, Swat, killing 17.
Pakistani travellers continue to visit Swat, Kalam and Kumrat in large numbers, and local jeep and tour operators keep running trips through the region. If you are planning a Badgoi or Lowari safari, check recent local news and current police advice before you set out, and know that a foreign passport holder's own government may advise against the trip, which can affect travel insurance.
Which route suits you
If you want an easy, well-marked drive with scenery and no real technical challenge, Babusar is the obvious choice, and it can be combined with a longer Karakoram Highway trip toward Gilgit or Hunza. If you want a genuine off-road adventure and have the vehicle and driver for it, Badgoi delivers that, provided you go in season with local advice. Shandur suits travellers timing a trip around the polo festival or wanting the highest, widest plateau of the four. Lowari's old jeep track is really a detour for its own sake now that the tunnel exists, worth doing only if the drive itself is the point.
For planning a longer trip that includes any of these routes, see our guide to planning a trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which jeep safari route in KPK is easiest for a first-timer?
Babusar Pass, since it is mostly paved and manageable in an ordinary car in summer, with a 4x4 only helping on the final stretch.
Do I need a 4x4 for Badgoi Pass?
Yes. It is an unpaved track with river crossings and no realistic option for a normal car.
When is Shandur Pass open?
Roughly June to October, with the Shandur Polo Festival usually held in early July, when the plateau is at its busiest.
Is the Lowari jeep track still used if the tunnel exists?
Yes, but only by choice. The tunnel is the practical year-round route between Dir and Chitral; the old track over the top is a scenic detour open only in summer.
Are Badgoi and Kumrat safe to visit right now?
They sit in areas the UK currently advises against all travel to. Pakistani visitors still travel there regularly, but check current local news and police advice before setting out, and be aware that advisories from your own government can affect travel insurance.
