Lakes in Dir and Kumrat: Katora, Shahzore and Others

The lakes in Dir that travellers can reasonably plan around are two: Katora Lake, a glacial lake at about 3,500 metres above Jahaz Banda, and Shahzore Lake, reached on foot from Dojanga in the upper Kumrat valley. Both are in Upper Dir, both need a trek, and neither is a roadside stop. Several lakes that people connect with Dir, such as Mahodand and Bashigram, are in Swat.

That makes the honest answer to "full list" shorter than the title suggests. This guide sets out what is verifiable about each lake, where sources disagree, and how to choose between them.

Katora Lake

Katora Lake is an alpine glacial lake in the upper reaches of Jahaz Banda, in Kumrat Valley, Upper Dir. Its surface elevation is given as 11,500 feet, about 3,500 metres. The name means "bowl" in Pashto, after its shape.

The route runs up from the end of the jeep road, over the meadow at Jahaz Banda, which sits at about 3,100 metres, and on to the lake. The walk from the jeep road to Jahaz Banda is generally given as two to four hours, and from there to the lake about three to four hours, though one guide says two to three. The sensible conclusion is to allow most of a day each way and to treat Katora as an overnight trek, not a day trip.

The lake is fed by snowmelt and glaciers, so it can be partly frozen or snow-ringed early in the season. Our Katora Lake trek guide covers the route in detail, and our Jahaz Banda trek guide covers the meadow and the first half of the walk.

Shahzore Lake

Shahzore (also written Shahzor) Lake lies in Kumrat Valley on the Dir-Chitral side. Dawn reported in 2019 that it is about 10,000 feet above sea level and a two-hour walk from the Dojanga area, with the first 20 to 25 minutes on a mountain track and then a smoother path through wildflowers.

That is the shortest account. A trekking guide describes the route differently: about 10.7 km one way from Dojanga, around four hours to Shahzore Kharr Lake at about 3,266 metres, and a further two hours to Shahzore Lake proper. Another source puts the lake at about 11,900 feet. We cannot reconcile these, and some of the difference may be down to which lake people mean, since there is a lower Shahzore Kharr and a higher lake. Ask the guide in Thal or Dojanga which one is being discussed, and how long the walk takes at your pace.

The walking is described as easy in gradient but long. The same guide recommends carrying camping gear and staying overnight, so that you start early and are back before dark, because black bears are said to live in the woods and come out at night. Guides are available from Thal. Dojanga has a summer campsite.

For the base, see our Dojanga meadows guide.

What about Dojanga?

Dojanga is a point in the valley, reached by going further into Kumrat past Kala Chashma. It is a meadow and campsite and the start of the walk to Shahzore, not a lake itself. It appears in lists of lakes because it is the starting point for one.

Lakes people confuse with Dir

Three well-known lakes get attached to Kumrat in search results, and none of them is in Dir.

• Mahodand Lake is in the upper Usho valley, about 40 km from Kalam in Swat.
• Bashigram Lake is in Swat, east of Madyan, at about 3,500 metres.
• Kundol Lake and Daral Lake are in Swat as well.

If your plan is a lake in Swat, our lakes in Swat guide is the right place. A route called the Badgoi Pass links Kalam and Kumrat, and our Kalam to Kumrat guide explains it, but it is a rough mountain route and not a way to see Mahodand on the way.

When can you reach the lakes?

All of these are high-altitude walks, and the usable window is short. Most guides give June to September, and one gives June to October, with October offering fewer people and autumn colour but colder nights and a higher chance of early snow. Heavy winter snow closes the valley road, roughly November to March. Check the conditions locally with your jeep driver before you commit to a trek, because a wet spell can change a route quickly. Whatever the month, start walking early: afternoon cloud and thunderstorms are common in the high Hindu Kush in summer, and a stream that is a stepping-stone crossing in the morning can be harder to cross later in the day. Carry a rain layer, a warm layer and enough food and water for the whole walk, because there is nothing to buy on the trail.

Is it safe?

Kumrat is in Upper Dir, where the UK government advises against all travel, and it also advises against the N45 from Mardan to Chitral city, which covers the approach through Dir and Thal. Recent attacks in the wider region include Laram Top in Lower Dir on 16 July 2026, when three police officers were killed.

Pakistani visitors still go to Kumrat in summer, and the more usual dangers on the trails are weather, river crossings and altitude. Check local news and police advice before you set out, trek with a local guide, and tell someone your plan. Foreign-passport holders should read their own government's advice first, as it may say not to go and can void travel insurance. See our Kumrat safety guide.

Which lake should you choose?

• Choose Shahzore if you want a lake without a very hard day, are comfortable camping at Dojanga, and have two days.
• Choose Katora if you want the higher, more dramatic lake and can give it two to three days with Jahaz Banda on the way up. The treks in Kumrat Valley guide compares the walks.
• Choose neither if you have a weekend, small children, or no wish to camp. Spend the time in the forest and at the waterfall instead, and see the Kumrat Valley overview and our destinations page for the rest of the area.

Frequently asked questions