Soon Valley Guide: Lakes, Gardens and Sakesar

Soon Valley, also called Soon Sakesar Valley, is a 56 km stretch of farmland and lakes tucked into the western Salt Range in Khushab district, framed by Sakesar peak at its southern end. It combines saltwater lakes with resident and migratory birds, a landscaped garden built around a spring, a small shrine with its own bathing ponds, and a forested drive to the highest point of the Salt Range, all within a loop that fits comfortably into a day from Islamabad or a relaxed overnight trip. This guide takes the valley's main stops in a sensible route order and covers distances, timings and what each one offers.

Getting to Soon Valley

Most visitors reach Soon Valley by road from Islamabad, a drive of around 230 km that takes 3.5 to 4 hours depending on the route taken through Sargodha or via Khushab. There is no railway or scheduled flight into the valley, and no public transport that covers the stops themselves, so a private car, whether your own or hired with a driver, is the only practical way to see more than one place in a day. Naushera is the valley's largest town and a reasonable base if you want to break the trip rather than do it in a single long day. Fuel up before leaving the motorway corridor, since stations become sparser once you turn off towards the valley.

A route through the valley

Entering from the Islamabad side, a natural order for a day covering the main sights runs as follows:

1. Uchali Lake, usually the first stop, is the largest of the valley's saline lakes and part of the internationally recognised Uchhali Complex wetland, important for wintering birds including the threatened white-headed duck. Our guide to Uchali Lake covers the birds, the viewpoints and camping options nearby in detail.
2. Daep Sharif, reached from Kufri village or the main road with a short walk of about a kilometre to its ponds, is a smaller stop worth a detour if you have the time.
3. Khabeki Lake, roughly a kilometre wide and two long, sits quietly a short drive from Uchali and has its own conservation and information centre.
4. Kanhatti Garden, about 10 km from Khabeki, is a landscaped garden built around a natural spring, with shaded walking paths and a small camping area with basic facilities.
5. Sakesar, the valley's southern high point and the highest peak in the Salt Range, closes out the day with a forested drive and wide views, though the actual summit is a restricted Pakistan Air Force base. Our Sakesar guide covers the drive, the walking trails below the base, and what is and isn't open to visitors.

Depending on where you enter and how much time you have, this order can run in reverse or be split across a day and a half, but it keeps the driving between stops sensible rather than doubling back across the valley.

Lakes and wetlands

Soon Valley's three main lakes, Uchali, Khabeki and Jahlar, together form the Ramsar-listed Uchhali Complex, designated in 1996 for its importance to migratory waterfowl arriving from Siberia and Central Asia each winter. Water levels and bird numbers vary from year to year with rainfall, so a winter visit gives the best chance of seeing the migratory species the complex is known for, while a spring visit trades birds for greener surroundings.

Gardens, shrines and forest

Kanhatti Garden and Daep Sharif give the valley a gentler, greener side away from the open lakes: shaded paths, spring-fed water and, at Daep Sharif, small bathing ponds tied to local tradition. Above them, the forest road up Sakesar is the valley's most physically different stretch, climbing through pine and olive woodland that is unusual for this part of the Salt Range, with the temperature noticeably cooler than on the valley floor.

Where to stay

Soon Valley suits a day trip from Islamabad more often than an overnight stay, but options exist if you want to slow the pace down: TDCP runs a property in the valley, and a handful of private guesthouses have opened around Naushera in recent years. Facilities are modest compared with better-known tourist areas, so book ahead rather than assuming a room will be available, particularly around weekends and public holidays when day-trippers from Islamabad and Sargodha fill the valley's few options.

When to visit

October to April is the most comfortable stretch, avoiding the Salt Range's hot summer, when temperatures on the valley floor regularly climb into the high 30s and low 40s°C. Within that window, winter (November to February) is best for birdwatching at the lakes, while spring (March–April) brings wildflowers and the greenest scenery of the year. Summer is not impossible, since Sakesar itself stays noticeably cooler than the valley, but expect the lower stops to be uncomfortably hot by mid-morning.

Is Soon Valley worth the trip?

For anyone interested in wetland birdlife, quiet scenery away from Pakistan's more crowded tourist routes, or a full day that mixes lakes, gardens and a forested peak, yes. It rewards a full day rather than a rushed pass-through, and the distance from Islamabad or Lahore is enough that it makes more sense as a planned trip, ideally combined with Kallar Kahar or Katas Raj on the way, than as an afterthought on a shorter journey.

If your time is limited to half a day, prioritise Uchali Lake and Kanhatti Garden over trying to fit in Sakesar as well, since the drive up the mountain alone takes a meaningful chunk of the day. Our trip-planning guide can help you decide how much of Soon Valley fits into a wider Salt Range itinerary.

Frequently asked questions