Murree and Naran Snow Trip Checklist: NDMA's 15 Rules for Travellers in Pakistan, From Anti-Skid Chains to Hotel Heating
NDMA's 15 rules for a snow trip to Murree, Naran, Swat or Gilgit-Baltistan: anti-skid chains, a car check, a full tank, supplies and a hotel with heating.
Short answer: Before a snow trip to Murree, Galiyat, Naran, Kaghan, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Neelum or Gilgit-Baltistan, NDMA asks you to check the PMD forecast and motorway police updates, carry anti-skid chains, get the car checked, keep the tank full, pack warm clothes, food and a power bank, and confirm that your hotel has heating. NDMA lists 15 rules for travellers. We have set them out below as a checklist in the order you would use them.
The rules are in NDMA's weather advisory of 10 November 2026, which forecasts snow on the mountains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan until 14 November. We read them on page 3 and 4 of the 9 page PDF, item 3a(3), "Travelers/Tourists are advised to". They are written for officials, so we have put each one in plain words. We have also marked the three that cause the most trouble in practice.
Check the weather and the road before you leave
NDMA's first rule is to check PMD weather forecasts, NDMA advisories and National Highways and Motorway Police updates before planning a trip to snow areas. Its second is to avoid travel during heavy snowfall, snowstorms, blizzards and avalanche warnings, and to put the trip off until conditions improve.
This is the rule people skip most. A clear morning in Islamabad says nothing about Kaghan at 4 pm. Check the evening before and again on the morning you leave. Our guides show how to check PMD's tourist forecast for Murree, Kalam or Hunza and how to check if a motorway is open or closed.
Fit anti-skid chains and get the car checked
NDMA asks travellers to carry anti-skid chains for their tyres, naming Murree, Galiyat, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kaghan, Naran, Neelum Valley and Gilgit-Baltistan. Anti-skid chains are metal or fabric nets that wrap around the tyre and grip packed snow and ice. Practise fitting them once at home. Fitting chains for the first time on a cold, dark slope is hard.
NDMA also asks for a vehicle check before you go: tyres, brakes, battery, engine oil, coolant, heater, headlights and wipers. Cold weather finds a weak battery first. Batteries that work fine in Lahore often fail after a night at minus temperatures.
| Car check NDMA lists | Why it matters in snow |
|---|---|
| Tyres and anti-skid chains | Grip on ice and packed snow |
| Brakes | Long downhill roads to and from Murree and Naran |
| Battery | Cold weakens batteries overnight |
| Engine oil and coolant | Coolant must not freeze |
| Heater, headlights and wipers | Warmth, and seeing in snow and fog |
Pack supplies and keep the tank full
NDMA's supply list is: warm clothing, blankets, food, drinking water, medicines, a first aid kit, torches, batteries, and fully charged phones or power banks. It also says to keep enough fuel in the vehicle. If the road closes, you may wait in the car for hours, and the heater runs on that fuel.
For clothes, our winter packing list for Murree, Naran and Hunza sets out three layers and ten items.
Drive slowly and park away from slopes
On snowy roads NDMA's driving rules are short and clear. These are the ones to follow behind the wheel:
- Prefer an experienced local driver who knows mountain roads in winter.
- Keep a safe distance, drive slowly, and avoid sudden braking, speeding up or sharp turns.
- Do not overtake on snow-covered roads, and do not drive without enough visibility.
- Use fog lights where needed and follow traffic police instructions.
- Do not park on roadsides, narrow passages, avalanche-prone slopes or where snow or rocks may fall.
- If stranded, stay in the vehicle, keep the exhaust clear and run the heater only in spells with air coming in.
- Do not leave the car where it blocks snow ploughs or rescue vehicles.
Rule 6 can save your life. A buried exhaust pipe fills a closed car with carbon monoxide. Our guide to what to do if you are stuck in snow in your car explains it step by step.
Book a hotel with heating and stay off the glaciers
NDMA asks travellers to confirm hotel bookings before leaving, and to check that the hotel has heating, emergency exits and basic supplies. Call the hotel and ask what heats the room. A gas heater or coal stove in a closed room is a carbon monoxide risk, which the same advisory warns about.
The last rules are about leaving the road. NDMA says to avoid trekking, hiking and camping during heavy snow, extreme cold and avalanche warnings, and to stay off glaciers, snow-covered slopes, frozen lakes and frozen streams. Ice on a lake in Naran or Neelum can look solid and still break. Finally, follow the instructions of the local administration, traffic police and rescue teams on closures, diversions and evacuations.
In an emergency call Rescue 1122. On national highways and motorways, the motorway police helpline is 130.
Common questions
Do I need snow chains for Murree?
NDMA advises anti-skid chains for Murree, Galiyat, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kaghan, Naran, Neelum and Gilgit-Baltistan in snow.
Is it safe to travel to Naran in November 2026?
NDMA forecast mountain snow in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until the morning of 14 November 2026. Check PMD and road updates before you go, and wait if snow is heavy.
What should I check in my car before a snow trip?
Tyres, brakes, battery, engine oil, coolant, heater, headlights and wipers, according to NDMA.
Can I walk on a frozen lake in the north?
No. NDMA tells tourists to strictly avoid frozen lakes, glaciers and snow-covered slopes because of hidden cracks and unstable ice.
Who do I call if I am stuck in snow?
Rescue 1122, or the motorway police on 130 on national highways.
How many travel rules does NDMA list?
15, in item 3a(3) of its advisory dated 10 November 2026.
Sources: NDMA Weather Advisory F.2(E)/2026-NDMA dated 10 November 2026, item 3a(3), pages 3 and 4, on ndma.gov.pk. Last checked 12 November 2026.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
