Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake: The Ultimate 2024 Guide

Pakistan has a lot of famous treks (hello K2!), but there’s one hidden in the upper reaches of Dir District that very few travellers know about.

Tucked away in a remote part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province lies a pristine valley and a secluded alpine lake that, save for animal herders, sees little traffic.

Sound interesting? Let us introduce you to Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake, one of Pakistan’s hidden gems. 

If you want to do some epic hiking in Pakistan, this is one that you don’t want to miss. Read on for our complete guide to Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake. 

Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake: Overview 

• Location: Upper Dir district, Kyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan 
• Length: 12 km return (Taki Banda to Jahaz Banda only); further 9 km return from Jahaz Banda to Katora Lake 
• Time: 2 – 3 days 
• Elevation: Jahaz Banda – 3100m; Katora Lake – 3500m
• Season: May – October
• Type: Out and back 
• Walking options: Independent and guided
• Sleeping: Camping or hotels
• Gateway Town: Thal 
• Start: Taki Banda 
• Difficulty: Moderate to demanding 
• What to expect: Spectacular alpine scenery, a mountain-fringed meadow and a stunning glacial lake 

What is Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake

Jahaz Banda is a beautiful alpine meadow surrounded by massive snow-capped mountains. Think of a lush green pasture with towering peaks looming over it. 

Sounds idyllic right? Wait, there’s more. 

Katora Lake sits a few hours, and a further 500m in elevation, beyond Jahaz Banda. The lake, which is bowl-shaped (katora means ‘bowl’ in Pashto), is a high alpine lake that shines a brilliant shade of turquoise (if the sun is out). 

The two are still relatively unknown and off-the-beaten-track (for Pakistan, which is admittedly, pretty off-the-beaten-track in general).

Where are Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake

Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake are located in the Upper Dir District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province in Western Pakistan. 

The closest town to Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake is Thal, while the closest big city is Dir. 

Both Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake are situated at high elevations – 3100m and 3500m respectively, but not as high as some of the other popular treks in Pakistan.

Meaning, this is a great hike if you are trying to acclimate to altitude in Pakistan. Want to move on to some bigger treks after? You can always consider a tour to Nanga Parbat base camp or even K2 base camp!

Read: 10 Reasons to Travel to Pakistan in 2024

How to get to Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake 

The Jahaz Banda trailhead starts from a place called Taki Banda. This is just a smattering of shepherd’s huts and an area for parking cars. The nearest town is Thal, 16 km away. 

To get to the Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake trailhead at Taki Banda, there are two steps. 

First, you need to get to Thal

To get to Thal, you have three options:

Coming from Dir and Mardan, you can get a shared taxi to Thal. This should be relatively straightforward to arrange. 

Coming from Swat, you need to cross the Badogai Pass. This is a gnarly, yet stunning pass connecting Dir and Swat Districts. As a side note, it was actually built by the Taliban when they were around KPK as a means to get between the two districts and avoid the Pakistani military. 

To this day I still consider the Badogai Pass as one of the craziest roads I have ever been on. The pass is over 3300m and the road is mostly offroad (unpaved). It’s very beautiful, and by riding on it you feel as if you are on top of the world. There’s nothing quite like and the journey across the pass is a highlight in itself.

While beautiful, the Badogai Pass is not for the faint of heart, as the road is extremely narrow, with no shoulder to speak of and a huge drop down to the valley floor. 

In the summer months, there is supposed to be one daily shared jeep that leaves from Utror, goes over the Badogai Pass and finishes in Thal. If you want assistance arranging this, the staff at Hotel Heaven Rose have been known to offer assistance in the past.

If this hasn’t started, you can always hire a private jeep yourself. The streets in the centre of Kalam are literally swarming with jeeps for hire. 

Once you are in Thal, you need to get to Taki Banda

From Thal, it’s 16 km to Taki Banda. The road is pretty rough, so it’s essential to get a jeep (4WD) to take you. Luckily, it’s pretty easy and straightforward to hire a jeep in Thal. Jeeps can be hired from the Thal Bazaar. Expect to pay somewhere around 5000 PKR for the jeep.

The trip should take around 1.5 hours. (Yes, the road is that bad). 

Once you have finished your hike, to get back to Thal, you have two options:

1. Hope there’s a jeep going back to Thal that you can get a ride in; or 
2. Hire your original jeep for both days and pay for the driver to sleep overnight. This should cost between 10,000 PKR and 12,00 PKR. 

Where to next? Read: The Ultimate Guide to Rakaposhi Base Camp

What is the best time to visit Jahaz Banda

The best time to hike to Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake is between June and September. During this time, the weather will be at its warmest and you have the best chance of sunny, clear days. 

You can also hike to Jahaz Banda in late May and October, but the weather will be more unpredictable and much cooler. We visited Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake in late May and were caught in a snowstorm! 

Explore more beautiful lakes: The Ultimate Guide to Kel Suu Lake Kyrgyzstan

Do I need a guide to trek to Jahaz Banda?

Absolutely not! The trail to Jahaz Banda is pretty straightforward and can be followed easily. 

That said, there are plenty of people in Thal who can arrange a guide for you, should you wish. 

If you would like to arrange a donkey or pony to carry your gear, there are ample opportunities to do so. There should be people milling around at the start of the track who will ask you, in addition to en route. 

Looking for another epic hike? Read about the Ak Suu Traverse in Kyrgyzstan

Trekking to Katora Lake is significantly more challenging. You can go without a guide, but you must be prepared to navigate as the path is unclear at times. You can always ask at one of the hotels for directions, or see if someone will guide you there. 

If you’re lucky, there may be a shepherd going that way that you can follow. 

What to Expect at Jahaz Banda 

Weather

Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake both sit at high altitudes (3100m and 3500m respectively), so it can get quite chilly during the peak season and during the shoulder season, it can be downright cold. 

We recommend packing good cold-weather gear – see our packing list below. 

Accommodation

There are a number of hotels at Jahaz Banda, so you do not need to have your own gear to be able to do this trek. The prices are around 1000 – 1500 PKR. 

If you would like to camp, the meadow is wide and flat, so there are tons of great camping spots. You can also rent camping gear from many of the hotels at Jahaz Banda if you don’t have your own. 

Water

There is no need to carry a lot of water for the hike, as there are lots of spots to fill up your water bottle along the way. We recommend carrying a water purification device to treat any water you get. 

Additionally, there is a tap near the hotels at Jahaz Banda where you can fill your water once you reach the meadow. 

Food

There are a number of hotels at Jahaz Banda that will be able to whip you up a meal if you don’t want to carry your own food.  There are also several stalls (tuck shops) selling basic things like coffee, drinks and naan if you just want to supplement what you have. 

If you pack your own food, instant noodles can be found everywhere in Pakistan and are an easy meal. Hard-boiled eggs, nuts and dried fruit are excellent options as well. 

Rubbish

Pack it out, folks! Make sure to bring a bag to collect your garbage and take it out with you.

Please, please do not throw your rubbish out on the trail or on the meadow. 

When we visited Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake, we were very upset with the amount of rubbish on the trail. Please don’t be a dickhead and leave trash behind. 

Safety 

As long as you are prepared for the weather and physically fit, there are no major safety issues for the trek to Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake. 

Do make sure you bring adequate clothing (including proper footwear) and gear (if camping). Also, be sure to monitor any effects of altitude. 

In addition to the people who run the hotels, there are many shepherds at Jahaz Banda. They are all very friendly and will most likely want to come to talk to you or offer you a chai as an act of hospitality. This is Pakistan after all! 

Hiking is still an adventure activity, so make sure you’re covered! Use the box below to get a quote from our favourite provider, SafetyWing

Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake: The Trail

The hike to Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake is split into two sections:

Section 1: Taki Banda to Jahaz Banda 

The first section is from Taki Banda to Jahaz Banda. This section is 6 km (12 km return) and takes approximately 3 – 4 hours to go up and 2 – 4 hours to go down. The trail is moderate and follows a clear path the entire time. 

For approximately the first 1 km, the trail follows a jeep track, before swinging into the woods. You stay in the forest for the next couple of kilometres. You will pass a few tuck shops that are set up where you can buy drinks and snacks. 

Once you leave the woods, you’ll have stunning valley views. 

Then you really begin to climb and gain some elevation. 

On this leg, you’ll have to cross a few streams, but these are minor – you won’t be fording any rivers here. If it is raining, do note that the trail can get very slippery and muddy. 

You can’t actually see Jahaz Banda until the very end, as the view is obstructed by the curve of the hill you have to climb. This makes the arrival all the more breathtaking.

Once you reach the top of the hill, you’ll arrive at a picture-perfect meadow. Welcome to Jahaz Banda. 

Section 2: Jahaz Banda to Katora Lake 

This section is 4.5 km (9 km return) and should take 4 – 6 hours return. 

This section is best done as a day walk, as there are no places to camp at Katora Lake. Leave your stuff behind at Jahaz Banda and walk to Katora Lake with a day pack. 

The trail starts off quite gently as you move up a series of very green valleys. 

About halfway, there is a small lake you have to cross. There will be boat operators who will take you across for a small fee. You can skirt the edge of the lake, but note that that terrain is quite shingly and this will increase your time substantially. We also would not recommend trying this option if you are not experienced. 

After you have crossed the first lake, the challenge begins. At this point, you will start to rapidly gain elevation. If it’s late spring / early summer, there will likely be snow. 

Near the end, you will reach a rock face which you have to scramble up to reach Katora Lake. 

At Katora Lake there is a small chai hut. You can get chai and some snacks here. 

From Katora Lake, you can either return to Jahaz Banda and spend another night there (recommended), or make your way down to the trailhead at Taki Banda.

What to Pack for Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake

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