Snowfall 2023: Day TRIP to Murree and Nathiagali

“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” — Aristotle.

It is fascinating to watch live snowfall 2023 on one of the beautiful hiking tracks in Nathiagali, Pakistan.

Before jumping on a snow hike in Nathiagali, let’s figure out some strategic planning to achieve the goal of a day trip to Murree and Nathiagali.

1. Weather forecast

Planning  a perfect trip starts with the weather forecast of the area so that you can decide about clothing, food, transportation etc. Weather also plays a vital role in travel time due to factors impacting driving conditions. Murree and Nathiagali being closer to Islamabad is a good pick for a day trip.

The calculation on how to forecast snowfall 2023 is simple:

The window of opportunity falls in between mid-December to mid-February. Usually whenever it rains in Islamabad during this timeframe, it becomes the best time to visit Murree and Nathiagali to catch live snowfall 2023 and enjoy fresh snowflakes.

2. Why Murree and Nathiagali?

With tons of recreational and tourists attractions in Pakistan; Murree and Nathiagali stands out quite competitive due to following factors:

• Nearest hill station from capital Islamabad.
• Easy to approach with good infrastructure.
• Budget friendly : Yes, it is quite pocket friendly as you can plan a day trip to Murree and Nathiagali. Snowfall 2023 is not going to last forever. Just pack up your bag and lace up your hiking boots.
• Drive from Islamabad is approx. 80 kms to reach Nathiagali.
• Day trip is easily managed with adequate planning.

3. Start early morning

Early morning is the best time to start with lesser traffic and calm drive. As it is perfectly said; “early bird catches the worm”, comes out to be a deciding factor to observe live snowfall 2023 in Murree and Nathiagali. Winter sunrise usually starts at 6 a.m. Starting journey around sunrise is the suitable time to go for a day trip to Murree and Nathiagali.

4. Clothing and shoes

Clothing in layers is the best approach to go out in snow covered area. Wearing pajamas under your jeans is absolutely recommended as the temperature significantly drops during winter rain and snowfall.

Hiking boots with tough outsole, insulation , waterproofing support and lightweight is recommended. Most specifically; if you are looking forward to have some walk and hike in snowfall 2023, don’t miss the opportunity and plan your trip before its too late.

5. Food and snack items

“There is no sincerer love than the love of food”. The love of food is an eternal affair, one cannot deny its significance. Best practice is; take your food along in your bag as it saves a lot of time with all the checkboxes marked in terms of safety.

Its not a good idea to get food poisoning due to poor hygienic conditions in local Dhaba and hotels in the area. Dry fruits, nuts, dates and chocolates are some good choices for snack. These items are power bank of energy with all the safety concerns being addressed.

6.  Vehicle selection and condition

To go on a travel destination with harsh weather conditions having steep hilly drive, it is necessary to pick the right vehicle.

Following are some key points to consider for vehicle selection:

• 4×4 vehicle with snow chains is the best option.
• Good tyres with low air pressure is recommended for hilly area like Nathiagali to observe live snowfall 2023.
• Water radiator should be tested before starting your travel harsh hilly areas. Coolant is recommended to minimize car heating up issue.
• Strong battery is recommended.
• Fill the fuel tank full as the high intensity of tourists approaching the area during snowfall 2023 can cause traffic delay and running out of fuel in the middle of mountains is not so good idea.
• One can approach Murree and Nathiagali on a motorbike, but on an overcast day having higher chances of rain the roads become slippery, so It’s better to avoid motorbike ride during snowfall 2023.
• Use of heater should be limited as it causes carbon monoxide (lethal odorless gas) to develop inside the car cabin, resulting in loss of consciousness which is fatal causing slow death. Keep the window half open while car heater is turned ON.
• Keep extra water bottles in the car in case of emergency.
• Avoid overtaking and keep the speed slow during snowfall 2023.

7. Traffic Bottleneck

Barakahu is the bottleneck area for commuters going towards Murree. It is just before the Murree expressway toll plaza or even if you are looking forward to use old murree road, you still need to cross barakahu. Best practice is to pass the area early morning.

Another bottleneck is witnessed at Jheeka Gali just before Murree entrance, but with good planning of local administration having adequate traffic wardens and snow clearing machinery; snowfall 2023 is going smooth.

8. Heavy snowfall 2023 in Muree or Nathiagali

Both Murree and Nathiagali receive adequate snowfall every year. Nathaigali being the deeper area does have good coverage and better chances to witness heavy snowfall 2023. Also for hiking enthusiasts Nathiagali is a better choice, as it has marked trails like pipeline track, Mushkpuri track and Miranjani track. All these hiking trails are frequently traversed with reasonable security and visitor information desk facilitating tourists.

9. Ayubia chairlift is non-functional

Chairlift in Ayubia National park around Nathiagali is temporarily closed due to maintenance, so it’s a better idea to go directly to Nahtiagali without wasting time and fuel to witness snowfall 2023. As per locals; chairlift is non-functional since 12 months and there are little chances for its recovery in near future.

10. Best time to return from Murree and Nathiagali

It’s a good idea to leave the area before sunset to reach Islamabad on time. Tourists having kids with them should start their return journey not later then 1600 hrs. Driving at night becomes difficult and with rain along the way could be disastrous due to fog developing up on your windscreen.

• And, what’s the point of staying late when you had witnessed snowfall 2023 with a target to return back Islamabad on same date.

Conclusion

With good planning and proper assessment your trip to Murree and Nathiagali becomes calming, relaxing and enjoyable to witness snowfall 2023. We wish you a safe trip and best of luck! Please don’t hesitate to ask questions , we love to hear from you.