Margala Hills Walking Tours
Travel
& Culture offers guided tours of Margala hills trails on any day of the week.
We have special arrangements for large groups, companies and educational
institutions with proper guides and assistants for the trails.
Islamabad Hiking Trail 2 Tour (2 Kilometers hike one way)
Morning tour starts at 6:30 The tour will start at the Pir Suhawa Trail
point. We will pick you up at your residence your guide will have some
water and sandwiches and will guide you to the hills and bring you back around
10 AM cost Rs. 4800 or US$ 39.00 Per person minimum 2 people required.
For cost and goup arrangements please Click here to send us a message for more information Call
us now at +92-321-2424778
Islamabad Hiking Trail 5 Tour (6 Kilometers Hike)
Morning tour starts at 6:30 The tour will start at the Pir Suhawa Trail
point. We will pick you up at your residence your guide will have some
water and sandwiches and will guide you to the hills and bring you back around
10 AM cost Rs. 6200 or US$ 49.00 Per person minimum 2 people required.
For cost and goup arrangements please Click here to send us a message for more information Call
us now at +92-321-2424778
More details about the Margala waling trails
The Margalla Hills are effectively foothills of the Himalayas ' and are very
easily accessible from Islamabad. However these are quite big, steep hills, and
shouldn't be underestimated if you are planning on a walk up to the top of the
first ridge (ie where the Monal restaurant is) then sturdy footwear, a large
water bottle, and a change of t-shirt are necessary (good chance you'll be
drenched in sweat by the time you get to the top). Between March and November it
is best to start walking in the early morning (before 7.30am, or 6.30am in the
height of summer) as it is uncomfortably hot during the day.
There are many trails to choose from, some of which have been numbered by the
city planners. The more popular walks are Trail 3, Trail 5 and the Zoo Trail.
Google Earth gives a good way to orientate yourself before you set out.
Trail 1 : also known at the E7 or Faisal Mosque trail. Little used, in part
because it is so difficult to find the trailhead. Head to the carpark to the
rear of the Faisal Mosque, and look for a gate with a Margalla Tree Planing
Project sign next to it. Head through the gate, take the first right, then right
again (at a grey concrete box) through a small clearing, and turn left at the
end. Walk north toward a large concrete water storage tank, and walk to the
right of this on to a well defined path (GPS coordinates 33.734112° ,
73.038421°) from here it should be plain sailing. Trail 1 winds its way up to
the ridge, where you can turn right and reach the Pir Sohawa road, near the
turn-off for Talhaar. Takes about 2 hours to get to the top. From Pir Sohawa
road its a 20 minute walk to the Monal restaurant, and you can catch a taxi back
in to town, or head down Trail 3 or the Saidpur village trail.
Trail 2
Zoo trail : Trail 2 begins a little way up Pir Sohawa (just past
the Jungle Shack drinks bar GPS 33.7346° , 73.0545°) or you can start from the
right of the entrance of the Islamabad Zoo. This is a good choice if you are
looking for a 1-2 hour walk the trail leads up to the Daman-e Koh viewpoint
if you want to continue walking a trail up to Cactus Ridge leads from next to
the Police checkpoint near the entrance to Daman-e Koh. From Cactus Ridge you
get a good view of where AirBlue flight 202 crashed.
Trail 3
Begins from Margalla Road, F-6/3 (the junction between Margalla
Road & Ataturk Avenue). It is a little steep and strenuous in the first leg,
which goes up to the Viewpoint and is about a 30 - 50 min. trek. After the
Viewpoint you can continue on for another easy-going 45 - 60 mins and reach the
Pir Sohawa, where you can choose from 3 restaurants for food, The Monal,
Treehouse and Capital View Restaurant. This is the most popular walk, hence
litter levels are high.
Trail 4 :
This is a link trail between Trails 3 and 5
Trail 5 also begins from Margalla Road in F-5 (about 500m down from Trail 3 -
opposite Judge's Enclave) and is initially an easier trail to climb. Trail 5
connects with Trail 3 (via Trail 4) and meets beyond Trail 3's viewpoint. If you
continue on Trail 5 you eventually meet the Pir Sohawa road (33.7675°, 73.0771°)
although it is possible to get lost on Trail 5 and veer too far east. Don't try
Trail 5 without a GPS or a friend who has done it before. From the top of Trail
5 it is 1.5km to the top of Trail 3 hence you can do a loop, taking 3 4
hours.
Siadpur trail - follow the river through the village (including ducking
though some back alleys) and you'll emerge in a valley and a trail that leads up
to the Monal restaurant - and hence you can easily do a loop coming down Trail
3. Siadpur trail isn't much used so it largely free of litter.
Bari Imam trail for the more adventurous this is a good hike. Drive to Nurpur Shahan (east of the government
complex beyond the end of Margalla Road) head to a road junction at 33.7457°, 73.1050° and turn left, until you reach a
turnoff for a small guesthouse at the start of the trail (33.7569°, 73.1135°).
The walk starts with steps leading up to the Bari Imam cave, then you can
continue up the steep hill behind, then traverse round to the Pir Sohawa road,
where there are a few cafes and a hotel (33.7843° , 73.1107° it is about 5km
from here to the Top of Trail 3 if you follow the road). You can return down the
valley back to your starting point. Beware however that you pass into Khyber Paktunkwa on the walk and you may have to charm yourself pass some policemen.
Both Trail 3 & Trail 5 have large maps and guidance boards placed at the
entrance
Cost : Click here to send us a message for more information Call
us now at +92-321-2424778
To book now please fill out our
contact form with pickup place number of people and phone number, Well get
back to you in 24 hours with confirmation. You can pay cash on the day of the
tour.
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