Islamabad Day Trips: Taxila, Murree, Rohtas Fort
Advisory as of 31 October 2026. Washington rates Pakistan Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) in its 16 June 2026 update and tells travellers to avoid or reconsider trips to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. London’s Foreign Office, in advice revised on 27 October 2026, leaves Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree and Taxila off its warning lists, yet it warns against all or all but essential travel to a long list of areas elsewhere, among them parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The capital has had major attacks, including the November 2025 court bombing and the 6 February 2026 blast at a Shia mosque in Tarlai, on the city’s edge. Check the US State Department page and the Foreign Office page before booking anything. Plan for police checkpoints, road closures during protests and phone-network cuts, keep away from rallies, and keep your original passport on you.
Sorting the options by province
Islamabad sits on the edge of two provinces, so a day trip decides which advisory applies. Taxila, Rohtas Fort, Murree and Lahore are in Punjab and are not named by the UK FCDO. Khanpur Dam and the Galliyat villages are in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the region the US flags. Swat, Hunza and Gilgit are well beyond day-trip range, and Swat is on the FCDO do-not-travel list.
Taxila
Roughly 35 km northwest of the capital, Taxila has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980 (UNESCO listing ). Foreign visitors pay about PKR 500 at the Taxila Museum, though hours differ between sources, so call or check on arrival. Dharmarajika, Jaulian and Sirkap may charge fees of their own.
To arrange a driver, browse Viator’s Taxila options .
Rohtas Fort
Built between 1541 and 1548 by Sher Shah Suri, Rohtas Fort stands near Dina, around 110 km and two to two and a half hours from Islamabad. UNESCO listed it in 1997 (listing ). Foreign ticket prices are quoted between PKR 500 and PKR 1,500, so ask at the gate.
Murree
This Punjab hill station is about 60 km away, roughly an hour and a half to two hours by road. It fills up on summer weekends. Snow and landslides close the road in winter, and entry bans were imposed in February and March 2025 and again in February 2026.
Khanpur Dam
The dam is in Haripur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Tourism activity there was suspended in October 2024 over jetty disputes. Parasailing accidents happened in 2021, drownings are on record, police control security, and paragliding is banned for security reasons. It is not a recommended default.
Nathia Gali and Mukshpuri
These Galliyat villages are in Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. After snow and landslides, entry bans apply, the latest in February 2026, and crowds surged in April 2026. Check conditions and the advisories first.
Tips
Expect checkpoints on the roads, carry your original passport, and budget for tickets in PKR. Foreigner entry fees are often 5 to 10 times the local price.
Read more: Multi-day trips and Sightseeing .