Neelum Valley follows the Neelum River deep into Azad Kashmir, past Keran and Sharda to the meadow village of Arang Kel and the high blue of Ratti Gali Lake. The slow drive up from Muzaffarabad, hugging the river the whole way, is half the trip.
Nearest airport
ISB
Country
Pakistan
Neelum Valley follows the Neelum River deep into Azad Kashmir, past Keran and Sharda to the meadow village of Arang Kel and the high blue of Ratti Gali Lake. The slow drive up from Muzaffarabad, hugging the river the whole way, is half the trip.
Neelum Valley is known for Arang Kel, Ratti Gali Lake, Sharda and Keran. Compare live fares from across Pakistan and search flights to Neelum Valley, or browse hotels and apartments and book with instant confirmation in PKR.
Drive to Muzaffarabad first — roughly 4–5 hours from Islamabad, or about 9–11 hours from Lahore — then follow the Neelum River road up the valley. Lower stops like Keran and Kutton are on paved road, but the last climbs up to Arang Kel and Ratti Gali Lake need a 4x4 jeep (Arang Kel itself is reached by chairlift or a short hike up from Kel). There's no airport in the valley, so Islamabad (ISB) is the nearest and the rest is by road. Carry your CNIC — there are army checkposts, and spots close to the Line of Control can need a permit.
May to September is the sweet spot. Snow clears the higher road by late spring, the valley stays green through summer, and Ratti Gali Lake usually opens up around July once its access track melts out. Winters are cold and snow can close the upper valley, so check road conditions before any late-autumn or winter trip.
Work your way up the river: Keran village facing the far bank across the water, waterfalls around Kutton, historic Sharda with its ancient Sharda Peeth ruins, the meadow-top village of Arang Kel reached by chairlift and a short hike from Kel, and the jeep ride and trek to Ratti Gali Lake. If you have extra days, Kel and the road on towards Taobat are worth the extra hours.
Keran, Sharda, Kutton and Kel have the most guesthouses, riverside huts and small hotels, while Arang Kel has basic wooden guesthouses up top. Rooms are limited and fill fast in peak summer, so book ahead — search stays for your dates on Travel.pk and pay in PKR by card, bank transfer, JazzCash, Easypaisa or your wallet.
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