Ziarat snowfall usually arrives between late December and January, and the snow season runs to about the end of February. There is no fixed date: in recent winters the first snow came on 7 January 2024, on 19 January 2025, and in a heavy spell from 29 to 31 December 2025. The way to see it is to watch the forecast, drive up from Quetta the day after a snowfall rather than during one, and carry chains, because the road can close. In January 2026 more than a hundred tourists were stranded in their cars on the Quetta–Ziarat road.
This guide covers which months to aim for, how to read the forecast, what the road is like in winter, what to carry, and the lessons from travellers who got stuck.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Snow months | Usually late December to February, occasionally into March |
| Most likely month | January |
| Altitude | Around 2,500 m |
| From Quetta | About 125 km, 2.5 to 3 hours in dry weather, far longer in snow |
| Main hazards | Black ice, blocked roads, vehicles stuck on the climb to Ziarat |
| Carry | Snow chains, full tank, warm clothes, food, water, blankets |
| Check before going | PMD forecast, PDMA Balochistan advisories, security news |
| Foreign government advice | The UK advises against all travel to Balochistan |
When does it snow in Ziarat?
Ziarat sits at around 2,500 metres in the hills north-east of Quetta, high enough to get snow in most winters. The snow comes with western disturbances, weather systems moving in from the west that bring rain to the plains and snow to the hills of northern Balochistan, usually for two or three days at a time.
- December: snow is possible in the second half of the month, and some years bring a fall around New Year.
- January: the most reliable month, and the one in which the heaviest falls usually come.
- February: further falls are common, and snow already on the ground lingers in the shade of the juniper forest.
- March: a late fall happens in some years, but it rarely lasts.
The pattern is irregular. Some winters bring several good falls; others are dry until late January and then deliver a great deal at once. The winter of 2025–26 did both: heavy snow on the eve of New Year that drew crowds of visitors, then a severe storm in the fourth week of January that blocked roads across northern Balochistan. Plan your trip around a forecast, not around a date on the calendar.
How to time a trip around the forecast
The Pakistan Meteorological Department publishes forecasts and warnings for western disturbances several days ahead, and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Balochistan issues travel advisories when heavy snow is expected. Between them they give you enough warning to plan.
- Watch the forecast from about a week out. Look for a western disturbance forecast to bring snow to the hills of Quetta, Ziarat and Kalat.
- Aim to arrive the day after the snow stops, not while it is falling. The first clear day brings fresh snow, blue sky and a road that the district administration has had time to clear.
- Avoid driving up during a heavy spell. That is exactly when cars get stuck on the climb and when the road is closed to visitors.
- Go on a weekday if you can. A fresh fall on a Friday or around New Year brings crowds from Quetta, and the traffic on the narrow road is part of the danger.
- Keep your plans flexible. If the forecast shifts, move the trip rather than driving into the storm.
You can check the latest outlook on the Pakistan Meteorological Department's website.
The road from Quetta in winter
The road runs about 125 km from Quetta via Kuchlak and Kach, and climbs steadily through the hills to Ziarat. In dry weather it takes two and a half to three hours. After snow, allow much longer, and expect to queue.
What changes in winter:
- The climb to Ziarat is where vehicles slide and get stuck, particularly on bends and in the shade.
- Black ice forms overnight on wet road surfaces, so the early morning after a clear, cold night is the most treacherous time to drive. The PDMA and district administration spread salt and clear snow with machinery, but they cannot cover every stretch at once.
- Closures. After heavy falls the road can be blocked at several points, and visitors may be stopped from travelling up until it is cleared.
- Short days. In January the sun sets before 6 pm. A car stuck on the climb after dark, in sub-zero temperatures, is a serious situation.
Leave Quetta in the late morning on a clear day, once any overnight ice has had a chance to soften, and plan to be in Ziarat well before dark. If police or officials at a checkpoint tell you the road is closed or advise you to turn back, do it.
Chains, the car and what to carry
A 4x4 with good tyres is the best vehicle for Ziarat in the snow. A sedan can manage a cleared road, but it is far more likely to struggle on the climb or on ice.
- Snow chains that fit your tyres. Try fitting them at home before the trip; learning on a freezing roadside in the dark is miserable.
- A full tank from Quetta, so that you can keep warm for hours if you are stuck.
- Warm clothes for everyone, including hats, gloves and proper footwear, kept inside the car, not in the boot.
- Blankets, water and food for at least a day.
- A torch, a small shovel and a tow rope.
- A power bank and your phone fully charged. Signal is patchy in the hills, and mobile internet in Balochistan has been suspended for days at a time.
- Any regular medicines for the whole group.
Lessons from stranded travellers
On 23 January 2026 a severe snowstorm hit northern Balochistan. Dozens of tourist vehicles heading for Ziarat were stranded on the Quetta–Ziarat road, with more than a hundred people trapped in their cars in the snow and freezing temperatures. The PDMA rescued 30 tourists from six vehicles stuck on the climb to Ziarat, and moved them to safety. Across the region, more than 20 people were injured in snow-related road accidents, and the authorities asked people to avoid unnecessary travel. At Khojak Top, on the road to Chaman, the temperature fell to minus 12 °C.
In the days that followed, Ziarat's district administration cleared snow from the town's link roads with tractors and salt so that residents could move again.
What those days teach:
- The trouble comes on the way up. Most people were stuck on the road, not in Ziarat. The drive, not the town, is the risky part of a snow trip.
- People set out into a storm that had been forecast. Driving up while heavy snow is falling is the single biggest mistake.
- Ordinary cars without chains block the road for everyone. One car stuck on a bend can stop a whole line of traffic behind it.
- Rescue takes time. Machinery and rescue teams were deployed quickly, but the road is long and the storm was region-wide. Be prepared to wait hours, warm and fed, in your own car.
- Advice to stay at home is meant seriously. When the PDMA or the district administration says don't travel, the trip can wait a few days.
Staying in Ziarat when it snows
Ziarat is a small town with a limited number of hotels and rest houses, and it fills quickly after a well-publicised snowfall. Book before you leave Quetta, and ask how the rooms are heated and what happens if the gas or the power fails during a cold spell.
If you are staying the night, drive back to Quetta the next day around midday, not first thing in the morning when the road is at its iciest. Our guide to places to visit in Ziarat covers the Residency, the juniper forest and the viewpoints, most of which are at their most striking under snow.
Security and closures
Snow is not the only thing to check. Ziarat district has seen serious violence recently: in July 2026 militants attacked a police post guarding the Mangi Dam project in the district and killed dozens of police officers. Over Eid in 2025 the administrations of Quetta, Ziarat and Harnai closed recreational spots to visitors on security grounds, and tourist entry to Ziarat and Harnai was curbed again in 2026.
Pakistani families still make the trip for the snow, but check the news and ask whether visitors are being allowed up before you set out. For overseas visitors, the UK's Foreign Office travel advice for Pakistan advises against all travel to Balochistan, which can void travel insurance.
Is a snow trip to Ziarat worth it?
For families in Quetta, yes: it is the nearest real snow, and a day under snow in the juniper forest is something few places in Pakistan can offer. The trip works best as a short, flexible outing timed to a forecast, with a proper car and a willingness to turn back.
For anyone travelling from Karachi or Lahore just to see snow, it is a lot of risk and effort, with a flight or long road journey to Quetta before you even start the climb. Murree and the Galiyat or Malam Jabba are far easier to reach, and our round-up of where to see snow in Pakistan compares the options. If you want help choosing a winter trip that suits your group, start with our trip planning page.
Frequently asked questions
Does it snow in Ziarat?
Yes, in most winters. Snow usually falls between late December and February, with January the most likely month, though some winters are dry until late January.
When is the best time to see snowfall in Ziarat?
January gives the best chance. Watch the forecast and arrive on the first clear day after a western disturbance has brought snow, rather than driving up while it is still falling.
Is the Quetta–Ziarat road open during snowfall?
It is cleared after snow, but heavy falls can block it at several points, and visitors are sometimes stopped from going up until it is clear. Check with the district administration or PDMA Balochistan before setting out.
Do I need snow chains for Ziarat?
Carry chains that fit your tyres whenever snow is forecast or lying on the road, and know how to fit them. A 4x4 with good tyres is the safest choice in winter.
How cold is Ziarat in winter?
Nights are well below freezing in January, and the wind makes days feel colder. During the storm of January 2026, temperatures in northern Balochistan fell to minus 12 °C.
Is it safe to go to Ziarat for snow?
The snow itself is manageable with the right car and timing. The risks are the road in a storm and the security situation, so check both before you go and keep all driving to daylight.
