Guide to Kumrat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A quick guide to visiting Kumrat Valley, one of the top places to visit in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. Includes information on getting to Kumrat Valley in KPK using public or private transportation, and gives tips on where to stay once in Kumrat Valley.

Friends described Kumrat Valley as a “heaven on earth.” The remote valley is relatively popular with local tourists from KPK, but is mostly a secret from other Pakistani tourists. Few foreigners ever visit Kumrat.

I recently ventured to Kumrat from Kalam in Swat Valley, though for a far shorter time than planned (read on to learn why). In the name of helping out future travelers, here’s a guide on traveling to Kumrat Valley. The guide includes info on how to get to Kumrat Valley and where to stay in Kumrat Valley.

A bit about Kumrat Valley

Kumrat Valley is located in the Upper Dir district of KPK. The nearest town to the valley is Thall. Thall is around 45 km from Kumrat Valley and is used as the launching point for trips to Kumrat Valley. Thall is perhaps one of the most conservative places in Pakistan, so make sure to behave appropriately when you visit.

The Panjkora river, which originates in the Hindu Kush mountains, runs through Kumrat Valley, and the valley is incredibly lush and green.

Kumrat Valley is mostly known for its beautiful deodar forest. The large deodars give Kumrat a fairytale-like ambiance. Unfortunately, many of the large deodar trees in Kumrat Valley and the surrounding areas are quickly disappearing, as their wood is used for warmth and cooking by locals.

Below you can find more information on getting to Kumrat Valley.

How to get from Kalam to Kumrat Valley

The village at the entrance to Kumrat Valley is named Thall. It’s a small village with very basic amenities.

Thall, Pakistan

To reach Thall from Kalam in Swat Valley, you must first go to Utrar, a village about one hour from Kalam. You can take a shared taxi from Kalam’s main bazaar to Utrar. They leave when full. I aimed to leave early, and our taxi left around 7:30 in the morning. The shared taxi costs 150 -200 Rs per person, depending on how many people they manage to squeeze in the car.

From Utrar bazaar, shared Jeeps to Thall leave when full (10 passengers), and cost 500 – 700 Rs per person. If there is limited demand, the driver will ask if you want to go anyway, but you’ll have to pay a higher price. The driver charged 1,000 Rs each with three people.

The Jeep stand in Utrar

The driver from Utrar to Thall is bumpy but gorgeous. You’ll cross a 3,000m+ mountain pass dividing Swat Valley from Upper Dir district before descending into forested mountains and hills. The drive takes roughly four hours, and if you make the drive during the travel season, there will be a few small shops and makeshift tea houses along the way.

One of several pretty villages en route to Thall

Where to stay in Thall

When you arrive in Thall, it’s best to stay there for the day to organize onward travel and supplies. However, it’s possible to make it into Kumrat Valley on the same day. There’s one official hotel, Hotel Green Hills, off of the main road running through Thall Bazaar.

Jeep ride into Kumrat Valley

How to get from Thall to Kumrat

To get from Thall to Kumrat, you need to hire a Jeep with a driver. Prepare for a bumpy ride. Depending on how far into the valley you want to be brought, a Jeep should cost 2000 – 4000 Rs.

It will be more if you want the driver to pick you up a few days later. It will take an hour or two to drive through the narrow valley to the point where the mountains open wide again. You’ll pass an army checkpoint along the way. Make sure to bargain, and be clear as to where you want to be dropped off and picked up.

Hello, paradise.

Where to stay in Kumrat Valley

There are plentiful tent camps in Kumrat during season, and generally, offer similar facilities at similar rates. When I visited in late September (the offseason), the tent camps were still standing. Not all of them were manned, though. I was quoted 200 Rs per night for a tent. However, a bunch of local boys were charged 800 Rs for their tent. Bargain hard.

Simple tent camps in Kumrat Valley

Basic food amenities are available at the tent camps, and there are small convenience stores every once in a while. Options are limited (and costly, of course), so bring your own food and snacks if you can.

Getting from Thall to Dir and Chitral

If you want to head out towards Dir from Kumrat—ideal if Chitral and the Kalash Valleys are next on your itinerary—shared taxis leave for Dir from the main Thall bazaar, close to where the turnoff for Kumrat is. The ride should take 6 to 8 hours depending on the driver, and seats are around 300 Rs per person.

Foreigners and women in Kumrat Valley

And so I arrive at the problematic part of the journey to Kumrat Valley.

Kumrat Valley sees very few foreigners (if any), let alone foreign girls. I was told I could only stay the night if I slept in the army guest house ($25/2,500 Rs per night) or had a local companion.

The army and our driver said it was not safe for me to be in the valley. Apparently, local men can’t control themselves when they see a girl not completely covered in a black veil, and because it was off-season, it was “dangerous” for me to sleep in an otherwise unoccupied tent camp. Typical mentality about female travel in Pakistan, I’m afraid.

I wasn’t allowed to stay in Kumrat Valley in the end.

If you’re a boy, a group of boys, or are traveling to Kumrat during high season, you should be allowed to sleep in the valley. Otherwise, prepare to argue with the army about what you are and aren’t allowed to do. If you are a couple or a group of girls, bringing a guide can save you a lot of hassle.

Guides for Kumrat and other valleys

If you’re looking for a guide, I recommend Aslam. I enlisted his services when we trekked to Kandol and Spinkhor lakes in Swat Valley. He lives near Kalam, speaks good English, and has a lot of love for Kumrat Valley. His number is 03139473399, and he can show you around Kalam as well. He charges 1500 – 2000 Rs a day, more for overnight stays.

Although I couldn’t see much of Kumrat Valley, what I did see was gorgeous. If you’re hoping to go off the beaten track, this is a great place to do it. If you’ve been to Kumrat Valley, do share your experience in the comments. The more information, the merrier!

Don’t miss our post on safe travel in Pakistan for more info on the current security situation!