The Neelum Valley starts about 130 km from Islamabad at Muzaffarabad — 3 to 4 hours' drive. From there the valley road runs another 90 km (3–4 hours) to Keran and roughly 135 km (5–6 hours) to Sharda: short distances, slow beautiful kilometres.
| Distance | ≈ 130 km to Muzaffarabad; ≈ 220 km to Keran |
|---|---|
| Drive time | 3 – 4 h to Muzaffarabad; 6 – 8 h to Keran |
| Road | Highway to Muzaffarabad; paved but slide-prone valley road after |
| Best months | May – October |
| 4x4 needed? | Not for the main road; yes for Ratti Gali's track |
Islamabad → Muzaffarabad≈ 130 km · 3 – 4 h
Via Murree Expressway and Kohala, along the Jhelum.
Muzaffarabad → Kutton / Keran≈ 70 – 90 km · 2.5 – 4 h
The Neelum road proper begins; checkpoints ask for CNIC.
Keran → Sharda≈ 45 km · 1.5 – 2 h
Riverside villages the whole way.
Sharda → Kel≈ 20 km · 1 – 1.5 h
Trailhead for Arang Kel; road narrows.
Local hosts run trips to Neelum Valley with drivers who do this road every week — transport, stays and the jeep tracks handled, booked direct with the people who live there.
Muzaffarabad, the valley gateway, is about 130 km (3–4 hours). Keran is roughly 220 km total at 6–8 hours; Sharda takes a full day's driving.
Pakistani citizens need CNICs for the checkpoints. Foreign nationals currently require an NOC and are turned back without one.
Yes to Keran, and generally to Sharda and Kel in fair weather, driven patiently. The Ratti Gali track and beyond-Kel sections are local-4x4 territory.
Snow restricts the upper valley roughly November to March, and monsoon slides can interrupt the road in July–August. May–October is the reliable window.