Murree and the Galiyat: Which Hill Station, and When
Murree is a hill station about 60 km from Islamabad at roughly 2,300 metres, and the Galiyat is the string of smaller towns along the ridge north of it — Bhurban, Ayubia, Khaira Gali, Nathia Gali, Dunga Gali. They are usually discussed together and they are not the same experience.
This is the most visited mountain area in Pakistan by a very large margin, because it is the closest. That accessibility is the whole proposition, and it is also the source of every complaint about the place.
The useful question is not whether to visit Murree, but which part of the Galiyat suits you and when to go. This page answers that.
We run trips here roughly 30 to 35 times a season, and it is the destination we are asked about most often.
Quick answer
Getting there: around one and a half hours from Islamabad, 6 to 6:30 from Lahore.
Murree: closest, busiest, most facilities. Best for a short family trip.
Bhurban: quieter, better hotels, no bazaar.
Nathia Gali and Dunga Gali: greener, cooler, best for walking. An hour further.
Ayubia: chairlift and forest walks. Good half day.
Best time: April to June and September to October. December to February for snow, with road-closure risk.
Key facts
The numbers that decide most Murree and Galiyat itineraries, in one place.
| Region | Murree: Punjab. Galiyat: mostly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Elevation, Murree | ~2,300 m |
| Elevation, Nathia Gali | ~2,500 m |
| Elevation, Mukshpuri peak | ~2,800 m |
| Distance from Islamabad | ~60 km to Murree |
| Drive time from Islamabad | 1:30 hours |
| Drive time from Lahore | 6 to 6:30 hours |
| Murree to Nathia Gali | ~35 km, around 1 hour |
| Snow season | Typically December to February |
| Mobile coverage | Good throughout |
| Permits | None required |
Last verified: 20 August 2026 · Source: Pakistan Tour Maker operational records
How do you get there?
From Islamabad the Murree Expressway makes this around one and a half hours in normal conditions. From Lahore it is six to six and a half hours via the motorway. Both are straightforward drives on good roads, and this is one of the few mountain destinations in Pakistan where a normal car is fine everywhere you are likely to go.
The Galiyat road continues north from Murree to Nathia Gali, roughly 35 km and about an hour, though it is slower in snow and on peak weekends.
The real constraint is traffic, not distance. On winter weekends and public holidays the Expressway and the approach into Murree can back up for hours. In January 2022 a snowstorm combined with severe congestion caused deaths in stranded vehicles, and the authorities now restrict entry when capacity is reached. Check whether restrictions are in force before setting off on a snow weekend.
Travel midweek if you possibly can. The difference is not marginal — it is the difference between a pleasant drive and four hours in a queue.
When is the best time to visit?
| Period | Conditions | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| March–April | Cool, green, quiet | Our own preference. Everything open, few crowds |
| May–June | Warm below, pleasant here | Busy — this is the escape-the-heat season |
| July–August | Monsoon, frequent cloud and rain | Views often obscured. Landslide risk on the Galiyat road |
| September–October | Clear, cool, quiet | The best walking weather of the year |
| November–February | Cold, snow possible | Peak weekend crowds. Road closures and entry restrictions possible |
Most people come for snow, and snow weekends are precisely when the roads are worst. If you want snow without the queue, go midweek and go early in the day.
Which base should you choose?
| Base | Suits | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Murree town | Short trips, families, first visit, bazaar and Mall Road | Busiest, most commercial, least scenic |
| Bhurban | Better hotels, quiet, valley views | Nothing to walk to; you drive everywhere |
| Nathia Gali | Walking, forest, cooler air | An hour further; fewer restaurants |
| Dunga Gali | Pipeline Track, Mukshpuri, quiet | Very limited facilities |
| Ayubia | Chairlift, day visits | Better as a stop than a base |
The single most useful piece of advice about this region: if you have been to Murree before and found it crowded, the answer is not to skip the Galiyat — it is to stay in Nathia Gali instead. It is a genuinely different place an hour up the road.
Murree itself
Mall Road. The main pedestrian street, shops, food and viewpoints. Busy at all times and extremely busy on weekends. Worth an evening; not worth a day.
Kashmir Point and Pindi Point. Viewpoints at either end of the ridge. Pindi Point has a chairlift.
Patriata (New Murree). About 15 km out, with a chairlift and cable car to a ridge at around 2,300 m. The main organised attraction in the area and popular with families. Expect queues in season.
Bhurban. A few kilometres from Murree, quieter, with the better hotels in the region and a golf course. No bazaar and nothing within walking distance.
The Galiyat — the part most people skip
North of Murree the road runs through pine forest to a series of smaller towns. It is cooler, greener, considerably quieter, and it is where the actual walking is.
Nathia Gali. At about 2,500 m, the main Galiyat town. Small bazaar, church, forest on all sides. The obvious base if you want to walk rather than shop.
Pipeline Track. A flat, easy forest path between Nathia Gali and Dunga Gali, roughly 4 km along an old water pipeline. Suitable for almost anyone, including children and older relatives. The best short walk in the region by a distance.
Mukshpuri. A two to three hour climb from Dunga Gali to around 2,800 m. Steady rather than technical, and a genuine hill walk with views at the top.
Miranjani. Higher and longer than Mukshpuri, from Nathia Gali. A full half day for reasonably fit walkers.
Ayubia National Park. Chairlift, forest, and connecting trails. Good half day, popular with families.
What tends to disappoint
The crowds and traffic are the complaint, and they are justified on peak weekends. The commercialisation of Murree town surprises people expecting a hill station from old photographs. And the snow — many people drive up specifically for it, arrive when there is none, and find the same crowds anyway. Snow is not guaranteed on any given weekend.
Snow, and the honest version
Snow is the reason for most winter visits and it is worth being realistic about. It typically falls from around December to February, but timing varies year to year and there is no way to guarantee it on a particular date.
What is close to guaranteed is that if snow does fall on a weekend, the roads will be extremely busy and entry restrictions may be applied. Vehicles get stranded. This is not a hypothetical risk — it has caused deaths.
If you want snow: go midweek, leave early, carry chains or travel with a driver who has them, keep the fuel tank full, and be willing to turn back. If conditions look bad, turning back is the correct decision and not a wasted trip.
Where should you stay?
Accommodation across the region ranges from very basic to genuinely good, and prices swing more sharply between weekday and weekend than anywhere else you are likely to travel in Pakistan. The same room can cost several times more on a snow weekend.
Book ahead for any weekend in winter, and for the whole of May and June. Turning up without a booking on a peak weekend means either paying a large premium or driving back down.
Is Murree worth it?
Depends entirely on what you are comparing it to.
For a weekend from Islamabad or Lahore, yes — nothing else gives you pine forest and cool air within a couple of hours, and the Galiyat walking is genuinely good. For families with small children or elderly relatives, it is the easiest mountain trip in the country.
For a week-long holiday, no. If you have five days or more, Swat is greener and more varied, Naran has the high lakes, and the far north is a different order of scenery altogether. Murree is a short break, not a destination in itself, and treating it as one is why some people come away disappointed.
And if you have flown into Pakistan from abroad specifically for the mountains, Murree is not what you came for. Go north.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Islamabad to Murree?
Around one and a half hours on the Expressway in normal conditions. On winter weekends and public holidays, traffic can add several hours and entry restrictions may be applied.
When does it snow in Murree?
Typically December to February, but timing varies each year and snow cannot be guaranteed on a particular date. Snow weekends are also the busiest and most difficult for road access.
Murree or Nathia Gali — which is better?
Nathia Gali if you want forest, walking and quiet. Murree if you want the bazaar, more facilities, and a shorter drive. If Murree felt too crowded on a previous visit, Nathia Gali is the answer rather than avoiding the region.
Is Murree good for families with young children?
Yes, it is the easiest mountain trip in Pakistan for families. Patriata, Ayubia and the Pipeline Track are all accessible without any real walking.
What is the Pipeline Track?
A flat forest path of about 4 km between Nathia Gali and Dunga Gali, following an old water pipeline. Easy enough for children and older relatives, and the best short walk in the Galiyat.
Do I need a 4x4?
No. A normal car is fine throughout the region in ordinary conditions. In snow, carry chains or travel with a driver who has them.
Is Murree worth visiting for a week?
No. It is a two or three day break. For a week, Swat or Naran offer considerably more, and the far north more again.
How far is Nathia Gali from Murree?
About 35 km, roughly an hour, and slower in snow or peak traffic.
Planning a Murree or Galiyat trip?
We run 2 to 4 day trips to Murree, Bhurban and the Galiyat from Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, with transport, verified hotels and sightseeing included.
See Murree tour packages Message us on WhatsAppRelated reading: Things to do in Murree · Where to stay in Murree · Where to stay in Nathia Gali
Last updated: 20 May 2026 · Written and verified by Abrar Hussain, Pakistan Tour Maker.
Pakistan Tour Maker is the international division of Click Pak Tourism Services, a Government of Pakistan licensed tour operator (Licence No. 9780), operating since 2013.