In September 2026 the Kalam road is open, but its condition is poor. The last 35 km of the N-95, from Bahrain up to Kalam, still has broken sections left by the 2022 floods, nearly 5 km of them in all, and takes 1.5 to 3 hours. An ordinary car gets through in dry weather if it is driven slowly. Rain is the real problem: a cloudburst in August and a flash flood in September both blocked the road for a time this year.
Beyond Kalam, the road to Ushu and Matiltan is mostly paved, and the tracks to Mahodand, Utror, Gabral and Desan are jeep country. This guide covers the damaged sections, where the slides come down, and what your car can manage.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Bahrain to Kalam | About 35 km, climbing from about 1,430 m to about 2,000 m |
| Time | 1.5 to 3 hours, longer at Eid or after rain |
| Road | N-95 national highway, paved but broken in places |
| Worst sections | Bodai Kamar, Asrait, Hawai and Ramait above Bahrain; Bahrain bazaar itself |
| Ordinary car | Yes in dry weather, driven slowly |
| Main hazards | Landslides and flash floods in the monsoon, snow in winter |
| Beyond Kalam | Car to Ushu and Matiltan in dry weather; jeep for Mahodand, Utror, Gabral and Desan |
What is the Bahrain to Kalam road like in 2026?
The N-95 runs up the Swat valley from Chakdara to Kalam, and the stretch above Bahrain is the narrowest and slowest part. The valley closes in, the road climbs above the river, and it passes through a string of villages where traffic slows to walking pace.
Most of it is paved. The trouble is a series of places where the 2022 flood took the road away and it was only patched to get traffic moving. Four years on, those patches have worn out, and in June 2026 the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government told the federal government that several sections had "further deteriorated" and were a danger to travellers. In practice you drive a decent road, hit a rough, dusty or muddy stretch, often down to one lane, then a decent road again.
The damaged sections, one by one
In June 2026 the provincial government listed seven places on the N-95 that are still critically damaged from the 2022 floods. Five of them are on the Bahrain to Kalam drive or in Bahrain itself:
| Section | Damaged length | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Bahrain bazaar | About 1,150 m | In Bahrain town |
| Ramait | About 300 m | Near Bahrain |
| Hawai, near Ramait | About 360 m | Near Bahrain |
| Asrait | About 590 m | Towards Kalam |
| Bodai Kamar | About 2,100 m | Towards Kalam; the longest |
The other two, at Qandil and at Damlai near Madyan, are further down the valley and much shorter. Together the seven come to about 4.9 km.
Expect broken surface and potholes, dust in dry weather and mud after rain, and single-lane stretches where one direction waits for the other, which is where the queues form at busy times. In places the river runs close below the road.
Is anyone fixing the road?
The N-95 is a federal road, looked after by the National Highway Authority, and its repair has been promised several times. In May 2026 the National Assembly was told that reconstruction of the flood-damaged Kalam road would begin within 90 days. In June the chief minister wrote to the federal government asking for the work to be finished before the end of the tourist season, or for permission for the province to do it itself. In mid-June the federal communications minister approved PKR 1 billion for the Bahrain to Kalam road.
By late September 2026 we had found no report that the main rebuilding work had started, so plan on the road as described here, and check with your hotel before relying on news that it is fixed.
Where the slides and floods happen
The mountainsides above the road are steep and loose, and many side streams cross it on their way to the river. That combination is what closes it.
Two events in 2026 show the pattern:
- 4 August: a cloudburst sent mud and rocks down the slope onto the Kalam to Bahrain road. People on the road ran clear, and one side of the damaged road was repaired to keep traffic moving.
- 5 September: a flash flood in the Mankiyal area of Bahrain made the Bahrain to Kalam road impassable for a time, and the authorities told tourists to avoid rivers and streams.
Closures like these usually last hours rather than days, but not always. In April 2024 landslides after heavy rain closed the road and left tourists stranded until it was cleared.
What to do about it:
- Check before you start the last stretch. Ask at your hotel, in Bahrain, or at the police checkpost whether the road is open.
- Drive it in daylight, and not in heavy rain.
- Never drive into flowing water across the road, even if the car in front did. Wait for it to drop.
- Keep a spare day in any trip in July and August.
Will my car make it to Kalam?
Yes, in dry weather, if you drive slowly. Sedans and hatchbacks from Lahore and Islamabad reach Kalam every summer. The things that decide whether yours will cope are ground clearance, load and the driver, more than the badge on the bonnet.
- Low cars, fully loaded, scrape. On the broken sections, let passengers walk a short stretch if the car is bottoming out, and take the potholes at a crawl.
- Tyres and brakes matter more than engine size. Have them checked before you leave home.
- After rain, the mud patches are slippery and a car with low clearance can get stuck. A higher SUV is a real advantage then.
- In winter, after fresh snow, drive only with a 4x4 or snow chains and someone who knows how to use them.
If nobody in the group has driven mountain roads, hire a car with a local driver. Our Islamabad to Kalam route guide covers the whole drive from the motorway, and our travel guide has general advice on driving in the north.
Roads beyond Kalam
Kalam is where the paved road ends for most visitors, and where most people change into a jeep. What each road out of town is like in 2026:
| From Kalam to | Distance | Surface | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Water, Anakar | About 4 km | Short side road off the Utror road | Car in dry weather |
| Ushu | About 8 km | Mostly paved | Car in dry weather |
| Matiltan | About 11 km | Mostly paved | Car in dry weather |
| Mahodand Lake | About 35 to 40 km | Rough track with stream crossings beyond Matiltan | Jeep or high-clearance 4x4 |
| Utror | About 16 km | Narrow and rough in places | Jeep advised |
| Gabral | About 20 km, past Utror | Rough | Jeep |
| Desan Meadows | Up the hill behind the town | Steep, unpaved track | Jeep |
The provincial government has been rebuilding the 34 km road to Mahodand since 2024 and now lists the work as complete, but reports from the 2026 season still describe the stretch beyond Matiltan as a rocky, narrow track with fords. Our Mahodand Lake guide covers the drive in detail.
You are allowed to take your own vehicle on these roads: in May 2026, after locals stopped tourists' coasters on the way to Mahodand, the police registered a case against around 30 people and officials said visitors are free to use their own transport. For the rough tracks, though, a local jeep and driver is usually the better choice. Our Kalam jeep fare guide has the 2026 rates.
Winter and the monsoon
The road is open all year, but two seasons change it. July and August bring the monsoon rain behind most slides and flash floods. December to February bring snow: the road above Bahrain can be blocked for a day or more after heavy snowfall, and the tracks to Mahodand, Desan and the upper valleys close for the winter. Our guide to the best time to visit Kalam goes through the year month by month.
Should you drive it yourself?
If you have driven mountain roads before, your car is in good order, and you are going between June and September with a spare day, drive. The broken sections are slow and tiring, not frightening.
If this would be your first mountain drive, if heavy rain is forecast, or if you are travelling at Eid, when the single-lane sections turn into long queues, hire a driver who knows the road. Or choose lower Swat, covered in our Swat Valley guide, which you reach without the Bahrain to Kalam stretch at all.
Frequently asked questions
What is the road condition from Bahrain to Kalam now?
Open, but broken in several places. In 2026 about 4.9 km of the N-95, mostly between Bahrain and Kalam, was still damaged from the 2022 floods, with rough, single-lane stretches. Allow 1.5 to 3 hours for the 35 km.
Can a normal car go to Kalam?
Yes, in dry weather and driven slowly. Low, heavily loaded cars scrape on the broken sections, and after rain the mud patches are hard going without ground clearance.
Can I drive my own car to Mahodand Lake?
The road through Ushu to Matiltan is mostly paved, and ordinary cars manage it in dry weather. Beyond Matiltan the track is rough with stream crossings, so most visitors hire a jeep in Kalam.
Is the Kalam road open in winter?
Usually, but heavy snow can close the road above Bahrain for a day or more. Go only with a 4x4 or snow chains, and keep spare days.
Is it safe to travel to Kalam?
On 2 August 2026 a suicide bomber attacked the Kabal police station in Swat, near Mingora, killing 17 people, and the UK government advises against all travel to Swat. Pakistani visitors still drive to Kalam every summer; check local news and police advice before you set off. Overseas visitors should know their government's advice may say not to go, which can void travel insurance.
