The treks in Kumrat Valley range from a half-hour stroll to the waterfall near Thal to a two-day push to Katora Lake at around 3,500 metres. Almost everything starts with a jeep ride from Thal, because the forest track is too rough and too long to walk from the road. What changes between routes is how far the jeep takes you and how many hours you then walk.
This guide sorts the options by length and difficulty, so you can match a route to the time and fitness you actually have, rather than to what looks best in someone else's photos.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Base for all treks | Thal, Upper Dir |
| Easiest | Kumrat waterfall and Kala Chashma, short walks from the jeep track |
| Moderate | Jahaz Banda, a day trek or one night from Taki Top |
| Hardest | Katora Lake, an extension from Jahaz Banda |
| Season | Roughly June to September |
| Guide | Recommended for Katora Lake and Badgoi Pass |
Short walks near the jeep track
The easiest routes barely count as trekking. From the jeep drop points beyond Thal, it is a walk of a few minutes to Kumrat waterfall and a short stroll from the road to Kala Chashma, the "black spring" that most day-trip jeeps stop at. Both suit families and anyone short on time, and neither needs any trekking gear beyond decent shoes.
Our Kala Chashma guide covers that spot in more detail, including how the jeep ride and the walk fit together.
Jahaz Banda: the standard day or overnight trek
Jahaz Banda is the trek most visitors mean when they say they are trekking in Kumrat. A jeep takes you from Thal up through Lamoti and Jandrai to Taki Top, the roadhead, and from there it is a walk of a few hours through forest and open slopes to the meadow at around 3,100 metres.
Fit walkers can do it as a long day trip, out and back to Taki Top. Most people who want to go on to Katora Lake stay one night at Jahaz Banda instead, in a simple hut or a tent. Our Jahaz Banda trek guide has the full route, timing and camping detail.
Katora Lake: the harder extension
Katora Lake sits above Jahaz Banda, a further climb of three to four hours over rougher, steeper ground to a glacial lake at around 3,500 metres. There is nowhere to sleep at the lake itself, so it is done as a return day trip from a camp at Jahaz Banda, not as a route in its own right.
This is the trek in Kumrat that asks the most of you: altitude, a boulder field near the top, and a path that is not always obvious. Go with a local guide if you have not done a similar climb before. See our Katora Lake trek guide for the detail.
Kund Banda and the meadow below Jahaz Banda
Below Jahaz Banda is a second, lower meadow, sometimes called Kund Banda, with its own waterfall and views back down the valley. It is a shorter, gentler option for anyone who wants to spend a night in the high meadows without the full walk to Jahaz Banda or the climb to Katora Lake, and it can be combined with either as a half-day add-on.
Badgoi Pass: a trek that is also a road
The Badgoi Pass, which links Kumrat to Utror and Kalam in Swat, is usually driven by jeep rather than walked, but it follows the same high, open ground that the meadow treks use and some parties walk sections of it. It is a summer-only route, open roughly from late June or July to October, and needs a 4x4 and, if you are walking any of it, a guide who knows the ground. Our Badgoi Pass guide covers it as a drive.
Choosing a trek for your group
- Half a day, anyone fit enough to walk: the waterfall and Kala Chashma.
- A long day or one night, reasonably fit adults: Jahaz Banda.
- Two days, experienced trekkers: Jahaz Banda plus Katora Lake.
- Families with young children: stick to the short walks near the road; leave Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake for older kids and adults.
Guides, gear and permits
There is no permit system for the Kumrat treks the way there is for some Gilgit-Baltistan routes, but a local guide from Thal is worth hiring for Katora Lake and for Badgoi, where the path is not signposted and the weather turns quickly. Carry warm layers even in July, because Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake are both cold once the sun drops, and take a torch, water and basic first aid, since mobile signal is patchy beyond Thal.
Is Upper Dir safe to trek in?
The UK government's Pakistan travel advice, updated 22 September 2026, advises against all travel to Upper Dir. Pakistani travellers continue to visit Kumrat and trek to Jahaz Banda every summer, but you should check current local news and police advice before setting out, and overseas visitors should check their own government's advice, since it can affect travel insurance. See our plan your trip guide for how we build that check into a trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which Kumrat trek is best for beginners?
Jahaz Banda, done as a day trip to the meadow and back rather than pushing on to Katora Lake. The walk from Taki Top is steady rather than technical.
Do I need a guide for Katora Lake?
Not legally, but it is a sensible idea. The path above Jahaz Banda is not always clear, the ground is loose in places, and weather at 3,500 metres can close in fast.
Can children do any of the Kumrat treks?
The short walks to the waterfall and Kala Chashma suit children. Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake involve several hours of uneven walking at altitude and are better left to older children and adults.
When is the best time to trek in Kumrat?
June to September, once the jeep track and the high meadows are clear of snow. July and August are busiest; September is quieter with cooler nights.
How do I get to the trailhead at Taki Top?
By hired jeep from Thal, the last village on the road, usually arranged through a hotel or camp there. There is no public transport beyond Thal.
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