Skiing in Pakistan: Naltar, Malam Jabba and the Real Season
Pakistan has two working ski areas: Naltar, above Gilgit, run by the Pakistan Air Force, and Malam Jabba in Swat, with a chairlift and a Pearl-Continental hotel. Both are small, with a main lift and a few runs, and the season runs roughly from late December to February, with snow that varies from year to year. Naltar is the country's oldest ski area and has hosted international FIS races; Malam Jabba is easier to reach and stay at. Backcountry ski touring exists for experts, but there's no regular heli-skiing.
Naltar, Gilgit-Baltistan
Naltar is Pakistan's oldest ski area, set among pine forest at the head of a side valley above Gilgit, with its base at about 2,900 m. The Pakistan Air Force owns and runs it, and a chairlift donated by the Swiss resort of Villars has carried skiers since about 2015. It has hosted national championships and international FIS races: in 2019 the Air Force's International Karakoram Alpine Ski Cup drew 38 skiers from 12 countries. Pakistan's Olympic skier Muhammad Karim, the country's flag bearer at four Winter Olympics, grew up in the valley.
Naltar is about 35–40 km from Gilgit: a paved road to Nomal, then a steep 4x4 track up the valley, one to two hours in all. The lodge and slopes belong to the Air Force, so winter access needs arranging in advance; ask us before you plan a trip around it.
Malam Jabba, Swat
Malam Jabba is in the Swat valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, about 280–310 km by road from Islamabad, with its top station at about 2,800 m. The original resort was destroyed by militants during the Swat conflict in the late 2000s. It was rebuilt, and a new 800 m double chairlift opened in September 2016, serving two runs of about 800 m. A Pearl-Continental hotel sits at the resort, and ski hire and instruction are available on site.
It is the easier of the two to plan: a road you can drive in a day from Islamabad, a hotel at the slopes, and lessons for beginners. Expect crowds of day visitors at weekends, and check your government's travel advice for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before you book.
When to go
Plan for late December to February, with the most reliable snow from January to mid-February. Snow varies a lot: the 2015 national championships at Naltar were postponed from January to February for lack of it, and in 2017 the international races planned for Naltar moved to Malam Jabba because of the weather. Check conditions a week before you travel.
Beyond the resorts: touring, Chitral and Kashmir
Experienced ski tourers come for the Karakoram itself: foreign guiding companies run spring backcountry trips in Hunza, and in May 2024 three skiers made the first ski descent of Great Trango on the Baltoro. Locals ski too: Madaklasht in Chitral has its own ski club and a snow-sports festival, and Azad Kashmir held a winter sports festival with slalom races at Toli Peer in February 2026.
Heli-skiing in Pakistan amounts to a single organised event, in 2013 from Skardu, and a few luxury agencies' marketing claims. There is no regular heli-ski operation, so treat any offer with care.
Gear, lessons and costs
Bring your own boots at least, and your own skis or board if you can. Rental equipment exists at both areas, but quality varies and sizes run out. Malam Jabba offers instruction on site; at Naltar, coaching comes through the Air Force and the ski federation. Lift and hire prices change from season to season and aren't reliably published, so confirm them before you go.
Make a winter trip of it
Skiing in Pakistan works best as one part of a winter journey north. Skardu's flights keep running in winter, the valleys are empty and white, and upper Hunza plays ice hockey on frozen ponds when the cold allows. Our Winter Skardu Retreat and our Skardu-in-winter guide cover the rest of the season.
Pine forest, coloured lakes in summer and Pakistan's oldest ski slopes in winter.
Open →Skardu in the white season: frozen lakes, empty valleys and warm rooms.
Open →December to February in Baltistan, honestly: cold, flights and what's open.
Open →The gateway town for Naltar, an hour or two below the slopes.
Open →Questions, answered
Can you ski in Pakistan?
Yes. Pakistan has two working ski areas: Naltar, above Gilgit in Gilgit-Baltistan, run by the Pakistan Air Force, and Malam Jabba in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with an 800 m chairlift and a Pearl-Continental hotel. Both are small and best from late December to February.
When is the ski season in Pakistan?
Roughly late December to February, with the most reliable snow from January to mid-February. Snow varies from year to year, so check conditions shortly before you travel.
How do you get to Naltar ski resort?
Drive from Gilgit to Nomal on a paved road, then take a 4x4 up the steep track to Naltar: about 35–40 km and one to two hours in all. The Pakistan Air Force runs the ski area, so arrange access before you go.
Is there heli-skiing in Pakistan?
Not as a regular service. A one-off heli-ski event ran from Skardu in 2013, and some luxury agencies advertise it, but there is no established heli-ski operation.