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Murree is located roughly 1 hour away (via the Murree Expressway) from Islamabad at a distance of roughly 30 km. At an average elevation of 2,291 meters, it is well above the sweltering heat of the plains in the summer. It is the closest accessible snow point from the capital, thus making it the country’s most visited hill station for over 170 years.
Murree, like many other popular tourist attractions, has good reason for its popularity in the winter but it is very congested in the summer. A well-structured tour package accounts for both of these reasons.
Although we offer tour packages to Murree from our office in Islamabad, Our packages include a private vehicle, a confirmed hotel in Murree, the Galiyat Extension if that is part of the plan, and timings to reach Murree before the weekend crowd rather than having to endure it. Text us your suitable dates and how many people in your group on WhatsApp. Contact details at the end.
Murree was identified as a potential site for a hill station in 1847 while construction began in 1851. The British Army built it as a garrison for soldiers posted on the frontier of Afghanistan. A permanent town was built in 1853, with the Mall as the main road. From 1851 to 1876, Murree served as the summer headquarters for the colonial government of Punjab, before the headquarters were moved to Shimla.
The Tudor-Bethan and neo-Gothic architectural style on the upper Mall is the only evidence left from that era. Still, the Government of Pakistan retains its summer retreat in Murree. It is believed to derive its name from a word that means "top" and so relates to the area. This is one among several reasons that makes a guided tour a better option than driving independently.
Not a single aspect of this is visible to occupants of a car stuck in traffic, which is one among several reasons that choosing a guided tour over driving yourself, is a much better option.
The Mall. This is the main commercial district of the old hill station and is lined with Victorian-era edifices. It contains shops, restaurants, and a central chairlift. The upper mall offers views toward the surrounding ridges. Visitors spend anywhere from 2 to 3 hours there and buy snacks and souvenirs that are cheaper elsewhere. This is part of the ritual and adds to the enjoyment.
Kashmir Point. Along the northern end of the Mall is a viewpoint, Kashmir Point, where if it is a clear day, you can see the Kashmir Range. The best views are in the early morning before the haze sets in. For visitors who want to experience a traditional Murree Hill Station, a horse ride takes you to some of the other viewpoints.
Pindi Point. A viewpoint and a chairlift station. The chairlift is operational only when it is deemed safe. Like other viewpoints, this one too, on weekends, becomes overcrowded, and standing in line is the main experience. Visits in the middle of the week are advisable. From the top you get a view to the south toward Rawalpindi.
Patriata, or New Murree. About 3 miles southeast of Murree Town at approximately 2,300 meters above sea level and accessible via a different route. Visitors can use a gondola chairlift or cable car to reach Patriata and the Pinnacle View Point, respectively. Unlike the Central Mall, Patriata requires visitors to drive and make an additional stop. The area of Bhurban featuring the Pearl Continental Bhurban hotel is also located on this road.
Bhurban. At approximately 1,800 meters, 11-13 kilometers away from Murree Town. Bhurban is known for itsserialize, located on the same road as Bhurban and a golf course. Bhurban is a quieter alternative to Murree Town and is more suited to families and couples who want to get away to the hills.
The Galiyat Road to Nathia Gali and Ayubia. The route from the main town of Murree continues to the northeast passing through various hill towns of the Galiyat, ending at Nathia Gali at around 2,509 meters and the Ayubia National Park with its chairlift to Ayubia Point. Other stations along the same ridge and nearby include Dungagali, Barian, Changla Gali and Ghora Gali. The walking trails of Galiyat join the peaks of Mukshpuri and Miranjani, which can be accessed as full-day hikes.
Islamabad day trip. You can leave for Murree by 8am, reach by 10am, and do the Mall Road and Kashmir Point until midday. In the afternoon you can visit the Patriata chairlift, and be back in Islamabad by the evening. You can consider this a minimum itinerary for a weekday with good weather. Due to traffic and the chairlift queue, the afternoon activities will be eliminated if you visit on a weekend.
Two-day, one-night package. First day you can go to Murree from Islamabad, and do the afternoon activities at the Mall. Second day you can go to Kashmir Point to do morning activities, and then go to Patriata and Bhurban, and go back to Islamabad from there. Staying one night in Murree allows you to have a stay instead of a rushed day trip.
Seven-day package with Galiyat. First day, go to Nathia Gali, and stay in the Galiyat instead of going to the town of Murree. It is cooler, less crowded, and has good walking trails. Second day, you can go to Ayubia Park, and do the Chairlift, and Changla Gali ridgetop. Third day, drive back to Islamabad, and make a stop at the Murree Mall. This package will give you the best that the Galiyat region offers and keep you out of the Murree Bazaar.
Winter Snow Package. In the winter months, from December to February, travellers from all over Pakistan flock to Murree for a couple of days to enjoy the snowfall. The first snowfall weekend creates a huge demand and blocks the roads and causes vehicles to become stranded. The emergency services are stretched to the limit. A winter package is managed and only operates on weekdays. A hotel is booked and the package has a plan for the activities if the weather is bad and the roads are unsafe.
Luxury Helidor. The Pearl Continental Bhurban is the luxury player at Bhurban. Like other hotels in this tier, you can expect golf courses, restaurants, spa services, pools, and decades-old service. It is also slightly outside of the town area. The quality of the hotels in town and along the mall in Murree are far inferior to PC Bhurban. PC Bhurban offers a nice escape for guests looking to avoid the bustle of the Murree hills bazaar.
The Radisson Blu is newer and located on the Murree hills with contemporary room design. Make sure to confirm the operating status and room availability before making any commitments.
Mid-range. The Brightlands Hotel is another legacy property. It is situated on the Mall and has consistently good service. The Cecil Hotel is also an old property with a good location and colonial style architecture.
If you venture out to the newer hotels in Nathia Gali and the other towns in the Galiyat, you can find good mid-range pricing with even better views of the hills than many of the options in Murree.
Budget. The Galiyat government-managed PTDC Motels provide basic guest accommodations at the Nathia Gali and Galiyat stations. The guest rooms are functional, but the set up is not designed for a comfy stay. The accommodations are sufficient for travelers that want to take advantage of the hills more than the honeymoon suite.
Murree currently has the highest visitor to infrastructure ratio of any Pakistani tourist destination. The Expressway has improved the access road, but the town remains narrow, the parking is almost non-existent, and on holiday weekends the roads into and out of Murree turn into nightmarish hour-long queues.
Eid holidays, the August 14 weekend, and the first snowfall of the year draw visitation during the week. In the summers the days from Friday to Sunday are much busier than the weekdays.
Tuesday and Wednesday of July mean an almost empty mall, short lines for the chairlift, and dining at your choice of the better restaurants, whereas Saturday of July provides the exact reverse.
The package must contain the name of the hotel and the room type. There is a large disparity between a named hotel with a confirmed room and “a good hotel in Murree.”
The package must mention whether the chairlifts at Patriata and Ayubia will be included in the package or if they will be an additional cost at the destination. There are fees to enter both of these.
Tours including Bhurban or Galiyat should also be mentioned. Staying on Murree's Mall is very limited, and driving to Murree is a small portion of what the area truly offers.
I 1. vehicle type
Murree's roads can accommodate any car on a weekday, but during heavy rain or snow, pile-ups on the road caused by rear-wheel-drives without chains, block the road.
package
What happens if the heavy snowfall or rain closes the road on your travel day? A responsible package specifies the postponement or rescheduling terms.
Murree has offerings at every age range suitable for family travel. The central section of The Mall has enough level ground for pushchairs. There are also a couple of rides (a chairlift and gondola) suitable for children at both Pindi Point and Patriata respectively. Horse riding is a great activity that all family members can do together. PC Bhurban with its pool, resort and golf course, is a good relaxed family resort option.
In winter, make sure to confirm with the hotel booking you have in mind if there is heating and hot water provision.
A corporate day trip or offsite to Murree or Galiyat can be organised for groups of up to 30. Galiyat PTDC and hotels in Nathia Gali can arrange small group lunches and the ridge walk activity. PC Bhurban also takes care of large corporate groups and has meeting and conference facility provision.
Ask for a weekday itinerary if there is any flexibility available. This is the single biggest impact item to consider if you go to Murree.
Ask what hotel specifically and research it. Many of Murree's hotels are not what the photographs on booking websites depict.
Check weather conditions when you are about to depart Islamabad for winter travel. The Punjab government will issue advisories when Murree road access is limited. Check those advisories are valid. Don't listen to your hotel's claim that the road is defiantly fine.
Avoid same-day return from Murree to Islamabad on a Sunday in summer or after snowfall. The bottleneck and long queues are not on the road going up, they are on the return road from Murree to Rawalpindi.
Ask details on your travel date if the chairlifts are open. They are closed for regular maintenance and for bad weather. If you purchased a Murree holiday package with Pindi Point chairlift as main activity, have an alternative ready.
Murree is thirty kilometres northeast of Islamabad on the Murree Expressway and it takes about one hour to reach in good traffic conditions. Summers add a burden of two to three hours. The best time to go to Murree is in Spring, April or May, to avoid the summer rush. October and November are preferable for a trip with cool weather and autumn leaves while snowy weather with a strong preference for weekday trips is December to February. Summers on weekdays are also good. If you wait to go to Murree until summer weekends, be prepared for a lot of people and a lot of heat.
Murree is the shopping and main commercial hill station. The Galiyat runs northeast from Murree to the Nathia Gali and beyond and is more remote and quieter with better walking.
Can you do a day trip to Murree from Islamabad? On weekdays, yes, you can. On holiday weekends, the traffic gets worse and longer day trips become quite the pain.
Where is PC Bhurban? it is located 11-13 km away from the Murree town and is in the same range of hills. It is not a part of the Murree mall town.
Book your Murree package
Give us your preferred travel dates, the size of your group, and whether you want a day trip, overnight stay or a three day Galiyat package. We will send you the hotel name, a confirmation of your vehicle as well as your chairlift and schedule before finalizing anything.
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Email: info@hospitalitytours.com
Head office: Office No. 2 & 3, Ground Floor, Parish Rose Plaza, Opposite NUST Gate 4, Sector H-13, Islamabad