The Kumrat Valley jeep fare in 2026 is roughly PKR 8,000 to 10,000 for a day trip from Thal into the forest, Kumrat waterfall and Kala Chashma and back. The price is for the whole jeep, not per seat, so six people sharing pay about PKR 1,500 each. Staying in the forest overnight, going up to Jahaz Banda, or crossing from Kalam costs more, and every fare rises at Eid.
These are asking prices advertised by operators and travel guides in 2025 and 2026, not quotes. There is no official rate card in Thal, fares move with the season, the weather and the crowd, and one driver's price can differ from the next. Use them to plan and to recognise a fair offer when you hear one.
| Jeep hire from Thal (2026) | Typical asking price, per jeep |
|---|---|
| Day trip: forest, Kumrat waterfall, Kala Chashma and back | About PKR 8,000 to 10,000 |
| Drop at a forest camp, collect next day | About PKR 14,000 |
| Two nights in the forest, with drops and pick-ups | About PKR 18,000 or more |
| Taki Top for Jahaz Banda, back the next day | About PKR 10,000 to 13,000 |
| Kalam to Kumrat over Badgoi, day return in a Prado | About PKR 29,000 |
| Eid and peak weekends | Expect more |
How much is a jeep from Thal for a day?
The standard hire is a day out and back: Thal to the main camping area, a stop at Kumrat waterfall, on to Kala Chashma where most jeeps turn round, and back to Thal by late afternoon. In 2026 this is advertised at roughly PKR 8,000 to 10,000 per jeep.
That price normally covers the jeep, the driver and fuel for the route you agree. It does not cover food, and it does not cover extra stops you add on the day, such as going on beyond Kala Chashma towards Dojanga. If you want those, ask for them in the price before you set off.
A jeep shared by six people at PKR 9,000 works out at PKR 1,500 each, which is why groups of friends find Kumrat cheap and couples find it expensive. If you are only two, ask your hotel whether another small group is heading up the same morning.
Staying in the forest: drop and pick-up fares
If you want to sleep at a riverside camp rather than in Thal, you need the jeep twice: a drop on the first day and a pick-up on the next. Don't pay for two separate day trips. Ask for a single price that covers both.
In 2026 a one-night arrangement is advertised at around PKR 14,000, and two nights at around PKR 18,000 or more. Prices climb with the vehicle: a Prado or Land Cruiser for three days and two nights was listed by one operator at about PKR 27,000. Agree the pick-up time, and whether the driver goes back to Thal in between or stays up in the valley.
Our guide to where to stay in Kumrat compares sleeping in Thal with the forest camps, which is the choice that decides whether you need one jeep fare or two.
Jeep to Jahaz Banda
Jahaz Banda is a separate run on a separate track. From Thal the jeep climbs through Lamoti and Jandrai to Taki Top, the roadhead about 16 km away, taking one to one and a half hours. From there it is a walk of three to four hours to the meadow.
Because almost everyone spends at least one night at Jahaz Banda, the usual arrangement is a drop at Taki Top and a pick-up there the following day or the one after. In 2025 and 2026 this has been advertised at roughly PKR 10,000 to 13,000, with some package quotes higher. A one-way drop has been quoted at around PKR 5,000, but you then have to find a jeep coming down. Our Jahaz Banda trek guide covers the walk and the timings.
Crossing from Kalam over the Badgoi Pass
If you arrive from Swat, you can cross the Badgoi Pass from Utror, near Kalam, straight down to Thal. This is a long mountain crossing rather than a valley run, and it is priced like one: one Kalam operator's 2026 list asked about PKR 29,000 for a day return from Kalam to Kumrat in a Prado, and about PKR 39,000 with a night in Kumrat. The pass is open only in summer. See our guide to crossing from Kalam to Kumrat via the Badgoi Pass for the route and season.
How jeep hire works in Thal
Jeeps wait around Thal bazaar, and your hotel or camp can usually call one for you. A few things are worth agreeing before you get in:
- The exact route and stops. Name them: the camping area, Kumrat waterfall, Kala Chashma. "Kumrat" on its own can mean just the first stretch of forest.
- Waiting time. How long the driver will wait at the waterfall and at Kala Chashma.
- The return. Same day, or a pick-up on a later day, and at what time.
- The number of people. Operators typically advertise room for about seven. Don't overload a jeep on a track like this.
- The total price, all in. Fuel, the driver's time and any overnight costs, so there is nothing to argue about at the end.
It helps to settle this the evening before, when drivers are not busy, rather than at 8 am when everyone else is doing the same. A short message on WhatsApp confirming the route and price avoids misunderstandings. Pay in cash, and carry enough: you should not count on an ATM beyond Dir.
At Eid and on peak weekends, fares rise and jeeps run out early. If your dates are fixed to a holiday, ask your hotel to book a jeep for you in advance.
When will your own car do?
As far as Thal, usually yes. An ordinary car can reach Thal in dry weather if it is driven slowly on the broken valley road. You don't need a jeep until Thal.
Beyond Thal, only a proper 4x4. The track into the forest is rocky and unpaved, with stream crossings and short steep pitches, and it turns to mud after rain. Sedans, hatchbacks and crossovers should stay in Thal; the occasional low car that gets through is not a reason to risk your sump or your gearbox.
A high-clearance 4x4 of your own, such as a Prado or Land Cruiser, can manage the forest track in dry weather if the driver has done stream crossings before. Even then, many people take a local jeep: the drivers know which crossings are running high that week, and you don't spend the day with your own car's underside on your mind. After heavy rain or at Eid, a local jeep is the better choice for everyone.
Our guide to the Kumrat road condition describes the valley road and the track stretch by stretch.
Is it worth hiring a jeep?
For almost everyone, yes. The forest is the reason to go to Kumrat, and a jeep is the only practical way into it unless you have a capable 4x4 and the experience to drive it. Split between four to six people, the fare is modest next to what you spent getting to Thal.
It is harder to justify for a couple on a tight budget. In that case, share a jeep with another group, stay in Thal, and take one well-planned day trip rather than paying for drops and pick-ups. For the whole trip budget, including rooms and fuel, see our Kumrat trip cost guide, or send us your dates and we will price a route for your group.
Frequently asked questions
What is the jeep fare from Thal to Kumrat?
In 2026, roughly PKR 8,000 to 10,000 per jeep for a day trip to the forest, Kumrat waterfall and Kala Chashma and back. It is more if you stay overnight in the forest, and more at Eid.
Is the Kumrat jeep fare per person?
No. Jeeps are hired for the whole vehicle, so the fare is shared by everyone in it. Six people splitting PKR 9,000 pay PKR 1,500 each.
How much is a jeep from Thal to Jahaz Banda?
A drop at Taki Top and a pick-up the next day has been advertised at roughly PKR 10,000 to 13,000 in 2025 and 2026. The last part to the meadow is on foot.
Can I take my own car to Kala Chashma?
Only in a high-clearance 4x4, in dry weather, with a driver used to stream crossings. Ordinary cars should be parked in Thal.
Do jeep fares go up at Eid?
Yes. Fares rise and jeeps are in short supply at Eid and on peak summer weekends, so book through your hotel in advance if your dates are fixed.
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