The best road trip tips for northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, whether you are driving to Naran, Swat, Kumrat or Chitral, come down to preparation: get the car serviced before you leave, fill up whenever you pass a fuel station rather than waiting until the tank is low, and slow right down on blind curves. Done properly, the drive is manageable in an ordinary car.
This guide covers what to check on the car before you go, where fuel and mechanics thin out, what to expect at checkposts, and how mountain driving here differs from a motorway.
Get the car ready before you leave
Have the car serviced a few days before departure, not the morning you leave, so there is time to fix anything that turns up. At minimum, check:
- Brakes and tyres, including the spare. Mountain roads mean long descents in low gear and more braking than a motorway trip.
- Oil and coolant levels, topped up and checked again partway through a long trip.
- Headlights and wipers, since fog and rain arrive with little warning above 2,000 metres.
- A basic tool kit, jump leads and a tow rope, especially if you are driving beyond the larger towns.
Our guide to what to pack for northern areas in summer has more on what to carry in the car itself, and our travel guide covers seasons and road conditions in more detail.
Fuel: fill up more often than you think you need to
Main towns along these routes, including Balakot, Mansehra, Mingora and Dir, have normal fuel stations, and Naran itself has a petrol station in the bazaar. Beyond the last town before a valley narrows, pumps thin out fast: side valleys such as upper Kaghan beyond Naran, the Kumrat road beyond Thal, and the higher stretches around Chitral can go a long way without one.
The simple rule is to fill the tank at the last proper town before you turn off the main road, even if the gauge still shows half full, and to carry a spare can of fuel if your plan includes a side valley or jeep track.
Mechanics and breakdowns
Every district headquarters and most of the larger bazaar towns, such as Balakot, Mingora, Dir and Chitral town, have basic mechanics who can handle common problems: punctures, brake issues, minor electrical faults. Once you are in a side valley, that support disappears, and a breakdown can mean waiting for a lift back to the nearest town.
If your car is older or you are not confident in its condition, consider hiring a local driver instead, particularly for the roughest legs such as the jeep track beyond Thal into Kumrat, or joining a tour where the vehicle and driver are part of the package, such as our own trips further north.
Checkposts: what to expect
Police and security checkposts are a normal part of travel through KPK, more frequent in Malakand division (Swat, Dir, Chitral) than in Hazara. At most, you will be asked to slow down, and sometimes to show ID for everyone in the car. Keep CNICs, or passports and visas for foreign nationals, within easy reach rather than packed in a bag in the boot, and keep the pace friendly and unhurried. Officers are used to tourist traffic and a checkpost rarely takes more than a few minutes if your documents are ready. For more on this, see our guide to CNIC and checkposts in KPK.
Mountain driving: what is different
Roads in the Kaghan, Swat and Dir valleys are narrower, steeper and windier than most drivers are used to, and the basics matter more here than on a motorway:
- Slow down on blind curves and sound the horn before them; oncoming traffic, including buses and loaded trucks, often takes the middle of the road.
- Use a low gear on long descents rather than riding the brakes, which can overheat on a long mountain drop.
- Don't overtake on a bend or a bridge. Wait for a straight, visible stretch.
- Avoid driving after dark on any road you don't know. Fog, unlit vehicles and poor surfaces are far more dangerous at night.
- Check the forecast before you leave, and be ready to change plans in the monsoon (roughly July and August), when flash floods and landslides can close a road with little warning, including on routes that are normally simple.
A note on current advisories
Northern KPK covers a wide range of districts, and not all of them carry the same advice right now. As of September 2026, the UK government advises against all travel to Swat, Upper and Lower Dir, and several other districts in Malakand division, and against all but essential travel to some neighbouring ones. Gilgit-Baltistan and the main Kaghan valley route to Naran are not on that list. Before setting out, check which district your specific route passes through and read current local news and police advice, and if you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's guidance as well. Our guide on is KPK safe for tourists has more detail by area.
Frequently asked questions
Can an ordinary car handle roads in northern KPK?
Yes, on the main routes to Naran, Swat and Dir, which are paved. Side valleys and the last stretch into places like Kumrat need a 4x4, and a normal car should stop at the point the road turns rough.
How often should I fill up on a KPK road trip?
Fill up at the last proper town before turning into a side valley, even if the tank is not low, since fuel stations become rare once you leave the main road.
What documents do I need at checkposts?
Your CNIC for everyone in the car, or passports with valid visas for foreign nationals. Keep them accessible rather than packed away.
Is it safe to drive at night in northern KPK?
It is best avoided on unfamiliar mountain roads. Poor lighting, fog and unpredictable traffic make night driving considerably more dangerous than the same route in daylight.
When is the riskiest time to drive these roads?
The monsoon months of July and August, when sudden rain can trigger landslides and flash floods with little warning. Check the forecast each morning and be ready to delay.
