BarSwat
Swat is dense with beautiful places — pick wrong and you waste days driving past gems. These are the 20 places you absolutely must see, ranked by combined beauty, accessibility and time-to-impact.
35 km from Kalam by jeep. Crystal-clear alpine lake at 9,500 feet, surrounded by pine forest. The most-photographed spot in Swat.
The crown jewel of Swat. River, pine forests, alpine meadows, and the gateway to Mahodand, Ushu, Utror and Gabral.
Pakistan's premier ski resort with cable car, zip line and chair lift. Open in summer too.
Summer palace of the Wali of Swat, built entirely of white marble. Now a heritage hotel.
Riverside town with colourful bazaars and the famous Bahrain bridge over the meeting of two rivers.
Bazaar of shawls, sweaters and Swati handicrafts. The handicraft capital of upper Swat.
Quiet hill station with terraced fields and cottages. Loved by writers and honeymooners.
Dense pine forest on the road to Mahodand — like a fairytale in autumn.
Hidden side valley north-west of Kalam with green meadows and wooden hut villages.
Famous for trout fishing and Kandol Lake trek base camp.
A 6-hour trek from Utror or 3-hour jeep + 2-hour walk. Glacier-fed alpine lake.
3-4 hour trek from Bahrain. Less crowded alternative to Saif-ul-Malook.
Royal garden in Bahrain area, popular with locals.
The best Buddhist art collection in northern Pakistan.
2,200-year-old Buddhist stupa built by Emperor Ashoka.
27-metre-tall Buddhist stupa near Ghalegay.
Riverside picnic park near Mingora — perfect for families.
Multi-tiered waterfall near Mingora — easy walk.
The heart of Swat. Try chapli kabab, shop for shawls, get the real city feel.
Old capital of the State of Swat with the Wali's main palace and the museum.
Mahodand Lake — its combination of alpine scenery, accessibility (via jeep) and photo appeal is unmatched in the valley.
