All You Need to Know About Swat Valley:
One of the most beautiful valleys in the northern areas of Pakistan is the Swat Valley. The valley is known as “the Switzerland of South Asia” due to its spectacular natural beauty that is appreciated all over South Asia. It is located in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Swat holds the central position in the northern areas of Pakistan serving as a corridor and base for the other tourist location in the northern areas. Swat has been an important central location for tourism and business in history and modern days. It borders Chitral in the northwest, Dir in the west, Buner in the southeast, and Malakand in the south. Swat also shares its borders with Shangla in the east, Gilgit Baltistan in the north, and Kohistan in the northeast.
The Swat Valley is located 980 meters (3,220 ft.) above sea level and it is surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, lush forests, high mountains, and natural wildlife. In Swat, you will also find some ancient remains such as forts, castles, stupas, monasteries, viharas, petroglyphs, carvings, rock inscriptions, painted shelters, and, stele. Spectacular lakes, springs, beautiful waterfalls, and pleasant weather of Swat make this place a heaven for tourists who are nature lovers.
If we talk about population, Swat is the 15th biggest district of Pakistan. It is mostly inhabited by Pashtuns who make up 90.28 percent of the total population of Swat and the biggest minority living in Swat is the Kohistan inhabitants who cover about 8.67% of the population. One of the most famous tribes in the Swat Valley is the Yusufzai tribe of Pashtuns, the language that is spoken mainly in Swat is Pashto, and the most common dialect of Pashto there is the Yusufzai dialect. The capital of Swat is Saidu Shareef, which was serving as the administrative capital, and the political headquarter since the inception of the State and maintained this status until the merger of the State.
One of the most amazing things about Swat is the locals here are very friendly to tourists. They take good care of the tourists and socialize with them by holding friendly conversations with them. They will tell you all about the glory days and the history of the Swat state if you sit with them.
Places to Visit in Swat Valley:
There are several beautiful locations with breathtaking views and alluring natural beauty in the Swat Valley. These locations look like parts fallen from heaven and in all of these beautiful places, you can also enjoy several adventurous activities which include hiking, trekking, camping, zip lining, and chairlift/cable car riding. These locations are wonderful for you if you are touring Swat for general holidaymaking or honeymoon trips. Following are some of the amazing places you have to visit if you are visiting Swat to make your trip well worth it.
- Kalam:
It is one of the favorite tourist locations in Swat Valley, which is surrounded by spectacular lakes and astonishing views. Kalam is located at a distance of 99 km from Mingora in the northern altitude of Swat valley. For nature lovers and photographers, this place is heaven. There are over 50 spectacular glacial lakes and to explore them you have to trek on the narrow bends and cliffs. If you want to take, a break from your hectic life and want to get rid of your stress then a visit to this place will do that for you.
- Malam Jabba:
One of the most beautiful tourist locations in Swat Valley is Malam Jabba. It is one of the perfect spots to spend your holidays in winter. If you visit Malam Jabba in winter, you can also enjoy the three-day winter festival, which is organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Foundation each year. Malam Jabba also has one of the most beautiful and amazing ski resorts, the Malam Jabba ski resort. The Samsons Group one of the well-known business groups in Pakistan currently owns this resort, which covers an area of 270 hectares and has an 800-meter slope with a maximum slope of 2804 m (9200 ft) above the sea.
In Malam Jabba, you can also enjoy a variety of winter sports, which include skiing, sledding, tobogganing, archery, speed skating, ice hockey, curling, and snow tubing.
- Mingora:
Mingora is the 3rd largest city in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the 26th largest city in Pakistan. It is the entry point and bases camp for all the tourists visiting Swat Valley. It is one of the busiest cities in Swat and the center of cultural, social, and business activities in the valley.
There are several famous and amazing places you must visit while you are in Mingora. Swat Museum, Fizagat Park, Swat wonder world park, Butkara Stupa, and the Mingora bazaar are some of these famous places in Mingora.
- Mahudand Lake:
It is one of the most beautiful places in the Swat valley. This lake attracts many local as well as foreign tourists with its breathtaking and astonishing views. Mahudand Lake is a glacial lake located in the Usho Valley of Kalam. This lake is frozen in winter and unreachable due to road blockage so the best time to visit this spectacular lake is midsummer. You can find a variety of flora and fauna and enormous fishes in this lake.
- Saidu Sharif:
The administrative center and the capital of the Swat district are one of the other places you should add to your visit to Swat valley. The capital is named after the prominent leader, Saidu Baba. There are several archaeologic sites in Saida Sharif which include the Royal Palace, the Tomb of Saidu Sharif with the Swat Museum, and much more. Swat Museum displays antiques of Gandhara art as well as different Buddhist Stupas. Now you can reach Saidu Shareef by air as PIA has started conducting flight operations from Islamabad to Saidu Sharif Airport for the tourists.
Where to Stay in Swat Valley:
In Swat, you will find many luxurious and good hotels, as it is one of the most advanced and modern tourist locations in the northern areas of Pakistan. You can easily find an affordable and comfortable hotel after you reach the Swat Valley. Some of these hotels are very good to stay in which can make your trip to swat more amazing.
- Serena Hotel, Swat:
Serena Hotel is located in the capital of Swat, Saidu Sharif and it is one of the most luxurious hotels in the region. The Serena Hotel provides a variety of accommodation types from suites to rooms and you can stay in any one of them according to your budget and comfort. Following are the accommodation types you can avail yourself in Serena Hotel
· Standard Room
· Deluxe Room
· Jasmine Suite
· Heritage Suite
· Royal Heritage Suite
You can make reservations in any of them before you reach Swat by depositing 100 USD, which can be paid online. You can enjoy the breathtaking view of the mountains from any of the rooms at Serena Hotel.
Price Range: Starting from PKR 16,000 per day
Address: Saidu Sharif, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Contact: +92 (946) 711637-41
Additional Services: Free Wi-Fi service, Air-conditioned Rooms, Electric Kettle, Towels, Bathrobe, and slippers, 7 am – 11 pm room service, Cable TV Safe and Minibar Arrival, Fruit basket Iron, and Hairdryer.
- Shelton’s Rezidor, Swat:
This hotel is recommended by many tourists. According to many people’s reviews, this hotel is exceptional in comfort and service. Shelton’s Rezidor is located on the highway in Mingora. You can enjoy the gorgeous and alluring views of Swat’s Valley from any part of this hotel.
Following are the rooms where you can enjoy your stay in Shelton’s Rezidor.
· Deluxe Twin Room
· Deluxe Double Room
· Deluxe Family Suite
Other than this variety of rooms, the food, and other additional services are also amazing in this hotel.
Price Range: Starting from PKR 8,000 per day
Address: Fizagat Park Mingora, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Contact: 0946-813006-08
Additional Services: Free Wi-Fi, Air Conditioning, Flat Screen TV, Room Safe, Coffee/Tea station, Room Service, Laundry Service, Free Parking, Free Buffet Breakfast
- Pearl Continental Hotel, Swat:
It is a five-star hotel located in one of the most beautiful places in the Swat valley, Malam Jabba. A little expensive but an ideal place for adventurers and nature lovers. You can reach PC Hotel, Swat from Islamabad in just 4 hours by car. Some of the amazing activities you can enjoy during your stay at Pearl Continental Hotel, Swat include Skiing, Zip lining, Ice skating, Hiking, and Trekking. There are 42 standard, family, and deluxe rooms in this hotel where you will be very comfortable with your stay.
Price Range: Starting from PKR 28,700 per day
Address: Malam Jabba Road, Malam Jabba, Pakistan.
Contact: +92 (946) 111 505 505, 888 700
Additional Services: Temperature control, Bathroom supplies, Hairdryer, Safe Desk with chair Iron and ironing board available on request, Room service, Free bottled water, Mini-fridge Room, Telephone Wi-Fi, Flat-screen TV with Cable/satellite channels.
What to eat in Swat Valley:
Swat traditional cuisines are not the only favorite of the locals but also famous among the visitors and tourists of this place. Following are some of the delicious dishes you have to taste during your visit to Swat.
- Swat Chapli Kabab:
They are a special variety of kebabs prepared with the meat of mutton or beef. This special dish of Swat is so delicious, which makes it the most famous cuisine of the Swat. The ingredients used in making Chapli Kebabs are flour mashed eggs, ginger, coriander powder, garam masala, red chili powder (according to taste), baking powder, lemon juice, cumin seeds, paprika, salt, coriander leaves chopped tomatoes, onions, and oil. You will start drooling if you pass by the sizzling Chapli kababs as they are being prepared.
- Swat Trout Fish:
Swat is one of the biggest breeding grounds for trout fish in Pakistan. Locals of Swat make one of the tastiest trout fish and you will be stunned by the taste of the trout fish serve in the food places in Swat Valley. So, if you ever visit Swat do not forget to experience this delicious cuisine of the valley.
How to Reach Swat Valley:
These days getting to Swat is much easier and you can easily reach Swat by air or by road. If you are coming to Swat by road then Swat Motorway is the best option for you. It is the easiest and most comfortable road to reach Swat. Swat Motorway is linked with two major cities, Islamabad and Peshawar. You can reach it in 3 hours by car at Swat from Islamabad. The distance between Islamabad and Swat is around 230 kilometers. The travel distance between Swat and Islamabad is around 157 km. You can also travel to Swat by air. In the previous year, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) started flight operations from Islamabad to the Saidu Sharif Airport for tourists and citizens.
How Many Days to Stay in Swat Valley:
There is so much to explore and so many adventures to enjoy in the beautiful valley of Swat so it is recommended to you stay at this spectacular place for at least 5 days.
Weather in Swat Valley:
The weather in Swat is quite pleasant and moderate but sometimes it can be extremely warm. One of the most amazing and surprising things about Swat is that sometimes when you are traveling inside Swat valley you can experience four seasons in one day. The weather varies from one region to another region in this small valley. The best time to visit this beautiful piece of land is from mid of March till the end of November. However, if you like to travel in winter then you should visit Swat between December and February and enjoy some fun and adventurous games.
Reviews of Swat Valley:
These are the most recent reviews people have shared on social media about Swat Valley:
- “The breathtaking view of the famous hill station of Swat called, “Malam Jabba”. Malam Jabba (also Maalam Jabba, Urdu: مالم جبہ) is a Hill Station and ski resort in the Hindu Kush mountain range nearly 40 km from Saidu Sharif in Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. Situated a the height of 10,000ft. Malam Jabba, Swat, Pakistan
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“Amazing views and the walk upto the water which took an hour was well worth it. I would recommend taking a 4×4 as we didnt had difficulty reaching the car park. Once in the car park it took us an hour of walking to reach the waterfall. Also take your own water and food for the hike. Weather in August was amazing and didnt feel hot at all.”
“In order to see Kalam valley in winters you need to take Jeeps 4*4 from Behrein around 3 hours however it is approximately 30 KM.”
- “It is a place where you can enjoy beautiful show capped mountains, river and magnificent forest.”
- “Swat is one of the best destination in Pakistan Lush green ,fruit orchid , nice local food , lakes and river are the main attractions Swat is also famous for Buddha archaeology sites Trout fish is very tasty cooked in local style.”
- “Very scenic and beautiful location. Presently a star level hotel is under construction. Other non rated good hotel available in the vicinity. It may take up to 2 hours up from Madian Road. Present road condition is poor. All type of transport even normal cars can access in fair weather with little care. However, during rains not recommended for cars for flowing debris and stones etc and on road flooded dips etc.”
Average Cost:
A standard 3 days tour package costs PKR 35,000 and above per person.
Final Verdict:
Swat Valley is truly heaven on earth and who would want to miss out on that? We promise the views will make you weep and cry. If you have an adventurous spirit or if you are a person who loves nature and travel then you should add the Swat Valley to your travel bucket list right now. The breathtaking views, the spectacular glacial lakes, and the scariest but fun and adventurous games will make your visit worthwhile and you will fell in love with this valley.
