Things to Do in Swat: Ultimate Trekking Guide

Swat Valley, also known as Swat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. Swat is at an average elevation of 980 meters. This valley has considerably cooler climate with four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

It has lush green forests, alpine meadows and snow-capped mountains. Swat river is passing through the valley. The whole Things to Do in Swat is enclosed by mountains which create its boundary.

This valley served as a major center for Buddhism until 17^th century. After 17^th century, large population became Muslim. After partition, Swat continued as self-governing princely state in Pakistan. In 1969 it became a part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Top Attractions in Swat:

Swat is a popular place among tourists. It has various attractions for them. The most popular among them are Kalam, Malam Jabba, Mingora, Madyan, Fizagart, Saidu Sharif, Murghzar White Palace, Mahodand Lake, Shahi Bagh and Swat Museum.

Top Attractions in Swat

Kalam:

Kalam valley is located in northern part of Swat valley on the bank of Swat river. It is about 2000 m above from the sea level. This valley provides a plateau above the river which is used for farming. Kalam valley has a Humid Continental Climate with an average temperature of 13.4^oc. 

November is the driest month with 15mm of precipitation. July is the hottest month with an average temperature of 24.1 degrees Celsius while January is the coldest month throughout the year with an average temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Malam Jabba:

Malam Jabba is a ski resort and hill station situated in Hindu Kush mountains. Malam Jabba ski resort is owned by Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation. Its ski slope extends to 800m with an elevation of 2804m from the sea level.

Activities at resort include ice skating, riding on chairlifts and skiing. In 2016, a 800m long ski chairlift was inaugurated.

Mingora:

Mingora, a city in Swat, is the center for social, cultural and economic activities. Mingora has a mediterranean climate under koppen climate classifications with an average annual temperature of 19.3 degrees Celsius and 897mm annual average precipitation.

August is the wettest while November is the driest month in Mingora. June is the hottest month with an average temperature of 29.2 degrees Celsius and January being the coldest month with an average temperature of 7.6 degrees Celsius.

Madyan:

Madyan is a famous hill station in Swat, Pakistan. It is also famous for trout fish. This valley has perfect temperature and its major businesses constitute agriculture, hotels and handicrafts. Trout fish and beautiful water streams are major source of attraction for tourists.

Fizagat:

Fizagat also known as Hayatabad is a hill station in Swat. It constitutes the famous Fizagat park which provides basis for tourist attraction. This park was established in 1984. Fizagat park has different sections for women, children and families. This park contains a zoo, cable cars for children, river lifts and boats. Tent towns are situated around the park for provision of accommodation to the visitors.

Saidu Sharif:

The older name of Saidu Sharif was Baligram. In 1835, a Sufi saint Saidu Baba settled here and thus this city was named after it. This city is hub of various official buildings and archaeological sites. 

Saidu Sharif has a hot summer Mediterranean Climate under koppen climate classification with an average annually temperature of 19.3 degrees Celsius. November is the driest month, August is the wettest month, June is the hottest while January is the coldest month in Saidu Sharif.

Marghzar White Palace:

Murghzar White Palace was built by the king Miangul Abdul Wadud in 1940. It is buildup of white marble. Located at an elevation of 7136 feet, this palace is converted in to a tourist resort. This palace contains 24 rooms or royal suites, 2 conference halls and a king’s lobby.

The marble used in construction was brought from Agra, Bronze from Belgium and artisans were brought from Turkey. Lime was used instead of cement for construction. It was first named Swatti Taj Mahal, later Motti Mahal, and now Sufed Mahal (White Palace).

Mahodand Lake:

This lake is situated at highlands of Hindu Kush mountains at an elevation of 2865m. It is surrounded by meadows, forests and mountains. The glaciers of Hindu Kush are the main source which feeds this lake. This lake is accessed by a four-wheel vehicle. It is a famous tourist spot for fishing and boating.

Shahi Bagh:

Shahi Bagh is a beautiful valley in Upper Swat. It serves as a mesmerizing landscape for tourists at an elevation of 10,000 feet. Shahi Bagh seems to be a small island which provides eternal peace and satisfaction. The peaceful water streams beneath mountains give the view of paradise on earth. Its eternal beauty makes it a must visit place for tourists.

Swat Museum:

Swat Museum is situated on the road which connects Mingora with Saidu Sharif. Gandharan statues in this museum depict the lives of Buddha’s. Moreover, this museum contains pre-Buddhist artefacts, traditionally carved Swati furniture, embroideries and jewelry. Swat Museum is a must visit place for history and culture enthusiasts.  

Things to do in Swat with Family: 

There are many things to do in Swat with family which include visiting Swat Museum, exploring Shahi Bagh, trekking to Mahodand Lake and camping at Fizagat Park.

Visiting Swat Museum:

Swat Museum is a must visit place during a visit to Swat with family. This museum contains the old statues of ancient Gandharan civilization. Moreover, this museum contains pre-Buddhist artefacts, traditionally carved Swati furniture, embroideries and jewelry. 

Exploring Shahi Bagh:

Shahi Bagh seems to be a small island which provides eternal peace and satisfaction. The peaceful water streams beneath mountains give the view of paradise on earth. Its eternal beauty makes it a must visit place for families.

Trekking to Mahodand Lake:

Mahodand Lake is situated at highlands of Hindu Kush mountains at an elevation of 2865m. It is surrounded by meadows, forests and mountains. Trekking towards this lake gives an opportunity of fishing and boating. 

Camping at Fizagat Park:

Fizagat park has different sections for women, children and families. This park contains a zoo, cable cars for children, river lifts and boats. Tent towns are situated around the park for provision of accommodation to the visitors and families. 

Ideal Season to Explore Swat:

Swat Valley is a mesmerizing and must visit place for nature and adventure enthusiasts. It has different charm in different seasons i.e. Summer season and Winter season.

Summer Season:

Summer season is the best time to explore the stunning beauty and rich culture of Swat. The average temperature of Swat Valley in Summer season is 30 degrees Celsius. This is an ideal temperature for adventure activities like trekking, hiking, rafting, kayaking, fishing and boating. The blooming orchards and lush green meadows add more beauty to it.

Winter Season:

In Winter season, there is a serene charm in the Swat Valley with snow covered peaks. Winter season also offer adventure activities like skiing and snowboarding at Malam Jabba Ski Resort. Moreover, tourists experience cozy guest houses and enjoy traditional dishes around crackling fires. 

Best Hiking Trails in Swat:

Trekking is one of the best things to do in Swat. Trekking season in the Swat valley begins in June and ends in September. The Swat valley has various trekking routes. The difficulty level of trekking routes is easy to moderate. It’s easy for short treks while moderate for long treks. A non-experienced trekker doesn’t face much difficulty while trekking these routes. 

Mankial-Badai-Jaba Meadows:

Jaba Meadows is a high altitude meadow from Badai village. Badai is a beautiful village in at the base of Mankial mountain. There are various shops, a shrine and a mosque in Badai village. At least two hours of hiking is required to reach Jaba Meadows from the Badai village. 

Utror Valley:

Utror is a town in Swat Valley with heavily forested mountains. Kandol Lake passes through the Utror valley. Three to four hours of hiking is required to reach Kandol Lake in the Utror valley from the Kalam Valley. The trekking distance is about 16 km. 

The path towards the Kandol Lake continues along the river on sandy and stony path. For a comparatively easy hike, it is recommended to start as early as possible in the morning to avoid sun. 

Cultural Activities in Swat:

Enjoying cultural activities is very enjoyable things to do in Swat. Swat is a place with immense beauty and unique culture. Swat Tourism & trade festival and Kalam Summer festival constitute local events in Swat. With rich cultural heritage, the people of Swat are much hospitable.

Swat Tourism and Trade Festival:

Swat Tourism and Trade Festival is held at Ushu ground and it lasts for five days. Its basic purpose is to establish peace & harmony and pace up social and economic activities. People across Pakistan travel several miles to participate in this festival. This participation highlights the importance of this festival.

Kalam Summer Festival:

This festival started in 2010 after the prevalence of peace in Swat. This festival is organised by Pakistan Army and KPK Tourism Development Authority and arranged on the pattern of Shandur Polo Festival. It consists of sports events like jeep rally’s and paragliding. This festival happens from July to August.

Cultural Insights and Interaction with Locals:

The people of Swat are generous kind and hospitable. Its traditional values are much familiar with Pashtun culture. The traditional dress of Swati people is Salwar Kameez. The people of Swat are much kind to tourists. They offer dinner to visitors and present their local gifts while the guests leave. This hospitality adds to the cultural enrichment. 

Swat’s Local Delights:

Possessing a rich cultural heritage, Swat owns a large variety of traditional food, handicrafts and souvenirs.

Must-try Local Dishes:

Chapli Kabab:

Chapli Kabab is prepared from the meat of mutton or beef. Various ingredients are mixed with meat to prepare these Kababs with great taste and aroma.

Trout Fish:

Swat Valley is home for trout fish. Swat Trout Fish is famous all over the Pakistan for its terrific taste and perfect texture.

Warjalay aka Chukanr (Green Rice):

It serves as the signature dish of Swat. To prepare this dish, a variety of green leafy vegetables are chopped and then cooked with rice while using salt for taste.

Dum Pukht:

Dum Pukht is prepared from meat of mutton or beef. The meat is cooked in its own fat with other essential ingredients like salt, pepper etc and then enjoyed with tandoori roti.

Lamb with Spanish:

Lamb with Spanish is an excellent combination of meat and vegetables. It’s a healthy dish with good nutritional value.

Famous Handicrafts and Souvenirs:

The handicrafts created by the talented artisans of Swat are procured by tourists from all around the world and are famous worldwide. Some famous crafts are:

Woolen:

Woolen craft is the most famous in Swat. Woolen blankets also known as “Sharai” locally is worn by men while woolen shawls are worn by women. In order to enhance the texture of fabric, cotton is blended with wool.

Rugs:

Rug also known as “Lamsay” in the local language is made from sheep’s wool. The molded wool is later on placed on a straw mat and water is sprayed on it. It is then dyed in beautiful colours and the straw mat is folded and ready to use.

Embroidery:

It’s an ancient art of the Swati people which they inherited from the artisans of Gandhara. ‘Nekpikheli’ is a gorgeous embroidery work which is classified into three categories which are golden lacework, cotton thread work and silken work.

Woodcarving:

Woodcarving is the most celebrated craft of Swat. Gandharan civilization produced the finest pieces of crafts. Stones were carved to make the statues of Buddha’s. With the passage of time, natural landscapes replaced statues and woodcarving replaced stone carving. This art of woodcarving transferred from one generation to the other.

Braids:

Braids locally known as ‘Bachookay’ are made from strips of cotton and silk by professional artisans. These braids are decorated with gemstones, pearls and jewels.

Accommodations at Swat:

Swat region is the most popular and one of the most visited destination in Pakistan. A large number of local and foreign tourists visit Swat every year. There are various hotels and resorts which provide accommodation for these tourists. The most famous among them are:

Grand Cottages Kalam:

It’s a nice accommodation opportunity located in the heart of Kalam. The price for a two-person room starts from $30. Guests have a beautiful view of the Kalam city while staying in this hotel.

Maria Hotel and Resorts:

It is the most suggested resort to stay in Kalam. They offer distinctive services to their guests. It’s a luxury accommodation which charges $64 for a two-person room. 

Gawalmandi Serenity:

Gawalmandi Serenity is located on the main mall road, Kalam. It offers comfy yet elegant rooms to their guests which provide an amazing view of mountains through windows. The price for a two-person room starts from $25.

Rock City Resort:

Rock City Resort is located on Kalam road Fizagat, Swat. It’s the largest resort in Swat which provides luxury accommodation to guests. Price for a two-person room is $54.

Golden Star Hotel:

Golden Star Hotel is situated on tehsil road Kalam. Guests enjoy amazing scenery while staying in this hotel. The price for a two-person room starts from $25.

Travel Tips for Swat Valley:

There are various things to be considered to ensure a safe and successful tour. Visitors must do proper planning before leaving. They must set a budget, plan their activities, choose the right destination, pack smart and light and they must search for discount keeping in mind their destination, budget and activities.

Travelers must have packing essentials with them. These essentials include cameras, clothes, jackets, deodorant, headphones, sunglasses, medication, chargers, hair brush and comb, shampoo, dental floss and aid kit etc.

Visitors must follow some tips and procedures to ensure the safety of their tour. To ensure safety, they must have first aid kit with them, research their destination, secure travel insurance, emergency contacts information, choose a safe accommodation, prepare kids in advance, evacuation plan and securing the valuables.

Customized Tour Packages in Pakistan:

The three main types of tour packages in Pakistan are independent, group and customized tour. In an independent tour, the travelers choose their destination and perform activities by themselves. While a group tour is managed by a tour guide.

The tour guide chooses the destination by himself and list the activities that will be performed in a tour. On the other hand, a customized tour is planned by taking in to considerations the preferences and needs of the individuals or a group.

Various tour packages are available for families in Pakistan. Customized family tour packages are organized and planned by families themselves. Families plan to visit specific places and activities to be done for their enjoyment and satisfaction.

Adventurer treks and tours the best travel company which offers tour packages for Swat. This company provides visitors with the best facilities available and ensures the safety of tour.

Their extensive options of Swat Trip Packages can offer you all the advice you need to make your travel arrangements smooth and satisfying, whether you’re planning a trip to Swat from Lahore, Karachi, or any other location in Pakistan. So don’t waste your time and Book your trip now with their Swat Tour Packages.

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Conclusion:

Swat is renowned as “Switzerland of the East”. It is a paradise on earth. Swat comprises of glaciers, lush green valleys, rivers, landscapes and snow-capped mountains. It also serves as hub for various adventure activities like rafting, kayaking, skiing, trekking, hiking and camping.

Swat serves as home for Trout fish. Besides this, Swat has rich cultural legacy and history. It’s natural beauty, rich culture and history makes it a must visit place for tourists.