Kumrat Valley by Bike: Route, Road Stretches and Advice

A Kumrat Valley bike trip is easy as far as Thal and hard after it. The road from the motorway up through Chakdara and Dir is paved, narrow and winding, and any ordinary motorcycle can ride it. Beyond Thal the surface turns into a rocky track with stream crossings, and that last stretch decides whether the trip is fun or a long wrestle with the bike.

Riders do make it on small bikes. Reports from riders mention 100cc, 125cc and 150cc machines completing the route, and locals use CG-125s. This guide covers the road stretch by stretch, what to expect on the track, and when it is wiser to leave the bike at Thal and hire a jeep.

Can you ride a bike to Kumrat Valley?

Yes. Rider accounts say the trip is doable on common 125cc and 150cc bikes, and that bikes cope with broken surfaces better than a low car does. Other guides say the final stretch needs a 4x4, which is true for cars and vans, because a bike is not blocked by a boulder or a ruined shoulder in the same way.

That does not make it easy. Reports describe the section beyond Thal as a track, not a road, and as slippery after rain, with rough stone sections after the Kala Pani pond. Expect to ride slowly, to put a foot down often, and to walk the bike through some crossings.

The route in stretches

Islamabad or Peshawar to Chakdara

Take the motorway and the road north to Malakand and Chakdara. This is the easy part, and it is where you should save energy, because the day gets harder. Our Islamabad to Kumrat Valley guide and Peshawar to Kumrat guide cover timings.

Chakdara to Dir and Thal

The N45 north of Chakdara is paved but narrow, with long climbs and a lot of truck traffic. One 2026 guide gives about 100 km from Chakdara to Thal and around three hours. Riders sometimes describe Dir to Thal as a further 75 km or so. Treat both as approximate and plan a full afternoon. See Dir to Kumrat for the road through Sheringal.

Fill the tank in Dir. Guides say fuel stations are limited past Dir, and there is no petrol in the valley, so carry a small spare container if your bike's range is short.

Thal to Kumrat

From Thal the road runs alongside the Panjkora River. It is unpaved and narrow in places, with stream crossings and boulders. In high-water months, parts of it can be tricky, and rain makes the surface slippery. Reports give 1.5 to 3 hours for this stretch in a vehicle, and a bike should be no faster than that on a rough day.

Our Kumrat road condition guide keeps the details of recent conditions.

Bike or jeep?

Take the bike if you are an experienced off-road rider, your bike is in good order and you are travelling light. Leave it at Thal and hire a jeep if any of these apply:

• You have a passenger who is nervous on rough ground.
• It has rained in the last day or two, or the river is high.
• You are on a very small engine and carrying luggage.
• It is your first time on a track like this.

Jeeps wait at Thal, and one 2026 guide quotes about PKR 8,000 to 9,000 for a basic return trip. There is no official rate, so agree the price before you go. See our jeep fare guide. A riding group can also split the difference: ride up in good weather and keep the jeep as an option.

What to carry on a bike

• A puncture kit, a spare tube and a pump, because there are no repair shops past Thal.
• Waterproofs, as rain changes the track.
• Cash, because there are no ATMs in the valley.
• A downloaded offline map, as mobile coverage is weak and unreliable.
• A tow strap or rope for crossings.

If this is part of a longer ride, our guides to bike tours in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a 125cc bike tour of the northern areas give more route ideas, and the experiences page lists more ways to see the north.

Is a Kumrat bike trip safe?

The ride goes through Upper Dir, where the UK government advises against all travel, and along the N45 between Mardan and Chitral, which it also advises against. Attacks in 2026 include one at Laram Top in Lower Dir on 16 July in which three police officers were killed.

Pakistani riders still make this trip in summer. Check local news and police advice before you leave, do not ride after dark, and keep to the main road. Foreign-passport holders should read their own government's advice first, because it may say not to go and can void travel insurance. See is Kumrat Valley safe.

Frequently asked questions