Jahaz Banda to Katora Lake | A Challenging Hike in Upper Dir Kumrat | Episode 20

Episode 20 Jahaz Banda to Katora Lake A Challenging Hike in Upper Dir, Pakistan After exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Kumrat Valley in the previous episode, we had planned to visit Kundal Lake the next morning. But heavy rain continued throughout the night, and by morning, the water level of the Panjkora River had risen significantly. Considering the weather and river conditions, we decided to change our plan and head towards Jahaz Banda instead. Unfortunately, the entire video footage from our journey to Jahaz Banda was lost. If you would like to watch that part of the journey, you can find the complete Kumrat to Jahaz Banda travel video on my travel partner Travel With Nabeel's YouTube channel. The next morning at Jahaz Banda, I decided to make my way towards Katora Lake. I had previously visited Jahaz Banda in 2016 and 2019, so returning here after several years brought back many memories. After breakfast, I left Nabeel Bhai at Jahaz Banda and started my hike towards Katora Lake at around 9:00 AM. Several other tourists and families were also making their way towards the lake. The trail from Jahaz Banda to Katora Lake is approximately 4 km or slightly more. Along the way, you reach Mini Katora, where visitors can also cross the lake by boat. Taking the boat can save around 40–45 minutes of hiking. I arrived early in the morning, before enough tourists had gathered to fill a boat, so I decided to take the old trail—the same route I had used during my previous visits. From Mini Katora onwards, the trail becomes rocky, steep and physically demanding. But as you climb higher, the views become increasingly spectacular. On one side, the beautiful Mini Katora comes into view, while on the other side you can see the surrounding mountains and waterfalls flowing from the Jahaz Banda–Katora Lake area. After navigating several steep and challenging sections, I finally reached Katora Lake after around two and a half hours of hiking. I arrived at the lake at approximately 11:00 AM. Only two groups had reached before me—one was already preparing to return, while another was still enjoying the lake. After arriving, I bought some cold drinks, biscuits and energy drinks from the local hotel and spent some time taking in the incredible surroundings. I also walked towards the opposite side of the lake to experience the scenery from a different perspective. By around 1:00 PM, it was time to wrap up this part of the journey. Located in Upper Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Katora Lake is one of the region's most beautiful and well-known mountain lakes. The area around Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake also connects to several other beautiful destinations, including Azmus Lake, Azmus Banda and Badgoi Pass. For this episode, my journey ends at Katora Lake—but the adventure is far from over. In the next episode, I will take you back to Jahaz Banda, where I will show you its breathtaking landscapes, high-altitude meadows, clouds, mountains and the incredible natural beauty surrounding this remarkable destination. The journey continues… Location: Upper Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Kumrat valley. Route: Jahaz Banda → Mini Katora → Katora Lake Hiking: Approximately 4+ km Hiking Time: Around 2.5 hours Katora Lake Arrival: Around 11:00 AM Journey Started: Around 9:00 AM #JahazBanda #KatoraLake #KumratValley #walkswithsami #pakistantravel FOLLOW WALKs WITH SAMI YouTube: ‪@S_walks‬ Facebook: Walks With Sami Instagram: @walk_with_sami TikTok: @walkswithsami1