Camping in Murree and the Galiyat: A Weekend in the Pines
Pakistan Locals Team
5 August 2026 · 4 min read
At a glance
- Location
- Murree and the Galiyat
- Region
- Punjab
- Best time
- April to October for green camping, December to February for snow
- Duration
- 1 to 3 days
- Altitude
- around 2,000 to 2,900 m
Not everyone has a week and a flight to spare for the far north. The good news is you do not need them. Just an hour and a half from Islamabad, the cool pine forests of Murree and the Galiyat offer some of the easiest, most accessible mountain camping in Pakistan. It is the classic weekend escape from the heat of the plains, and with a little know-how you can trade the crowds of Murree town for quiet forest under the stars.
Murree town vs the Galiyat
Here is the first and most useful tip. Murree town itself is crowded, built-up, and not great for camping. The real magic is in the Galiyat, the string of cooler, greener, quieter hill spots just beyond it: Nathiagali, Ayubia, Dunga Gali, Changla Gali, and Thandiani. These pine-forested ridges are where you want to camp. Use Murree as a passing point, and head for the forest.
The best camping areas
- Nathiagali. The jewel of the Galiyat. Thick pine forest, cool air, and the trailhead for Mushkpuri and Miranjani tops. Lovely forest camping nearby.
- Ayubia National Park. Home of the famous Pipeline walk, a flat, shady forest track, with camping and clean air among the pines.
- Dunga Gali. The start of the Pipeline track, cool and green, with good spots to camp.
- Thandiani. Quieter and higher, with wide views and forest camping away from the crowds.
- Patriata (New Murree). Near Murree, with a chairlift and forest, busier but scenic.
When to go
April to October is the green season, and summer here is blissfully cool when the plains are baking, which is exactly why it is so popular. Come on a weekday if you can, because weekends and holidays get very busy. For a completely different trip, December to February brings snow, and snow camping in the Galiyat is magical for the well-prepared. Watch for rain and fog, which roll in fast.
How to get there
Drive from Islamabad to Murree in about 1.5 to 2 hours on the expressway, then continue to Nathiagali and the Galiyat in another hour or so on a winding forest road. It is one of the most accessible mountain trips in the country, easily done for a weekend or even a long day, though a night under the pines is the whole point.
Things to do while you camp
- The Pipeline walk (Ayubia to Dunga Gali). An easy, flat, shady forest trail, perfect for families.
- Hike Mushkpuri Top or Miranjani Top from Nathiagali for big views over the Galiyat.
- Spot wildlife. Ayubia National Park is home to monkeys, leopards (rarely seen), and plenty of birds.
- Simply breathe. After the plains, the cool pine air is the main attraction.
Camp safely and cleanly
The Galiyat is easy, but a few things matter. Camp on hosted or designated sites rather than randomly in the protected forest; it is safer, cleaner, and respects the national park. Pack for cool, damp nights even in summer. Bring a rain cover, because mountain weather here turns quickly. Carry out all your rubbish, since this forest is loved a little too hard and needs visitors who leave it clean. And book ahead on summer weekends, when everything fills up.
The honest truth
Murree and the Galiyat will never be as wild or dramatic as Hunza or Deosai. But that is not the point. They are cool, green, close, and easy, the perfect first camping trip, a family weekend, or a quick escape from the city heat. Skip crowded Murree town, head into the Galiyat pines, book a proper spot, and you have one of the best-value mountain nights in the country.
Plan a Galiyat camping weekend. Browse campsites and outdoor stays, or explore experiences near Islamabad and the hills. Have forest land near the Galiyat? List a campsite.
Written and fact-checked by the Pakistan Locals editorial team, with local hosts and guides who host stays in the Galiyat. Last updated August 2026. Weather in the hills turns quickly and peak weekends get busy, so book ahead and pack for cold nights.
Sources and further reading
Ready to explore Pakistan with local hosts? Browse trips and experiences on Pakistan Locals, and if you live in the area you can list your own experience or stay. Read our camping in northern Pakistan and family camping in Pakistan next.
Questions people ask
Where can you camp in Murree and the Galiyat?+
The pine forests around Nathia Gali, Ayubia, Thandiani and Donga Gali have campsites and hosted camps within easy reach of Islamabad.
How do you get to the Galiyat from Islamabad?+
It is a two to three hour drive up to Murree and on to Nathia Gali on a paved road, which makes it the closest hill camping to the capital.
When is the best time to camp in the Galiyat?+
Spring to autumn for green forests and mild days. Winter brings snow, which is beautiful but cold for camping.
Is the Galiyat good for first time campers?+
Yes. It is close, green and gentle, with hosted campsites that suit families and beginners.
Pakistan Locals Team
The Pakistan Locals editorial team writes practical, on-the-ground travel guides to Pakistan, researched and fact-checked in consultation with our network of local hosts and guides.