Khewra Salt Mine Tour by Car, from Islamabad or Lahore
Our Khewra salt mine tour from Islamabad puts a car and a professional driver at your door for the whole day. You go down the M-2 into the Salt Range, through the mine and home by evening. From Lahore it is a long day or an easy overnight trip; from anywhere else, we send the car and driver to meet you. Add Katas Raj, Kallar Kahar or Rohtas Fort as you like.
Khewra and the Salt Range: hours and seasons
Last checked
- Mine opening
- Tourist visits paused from August 2026 for the rest of the monsoon. As of 4 October 2026 the reopening date is still to be announced, so ask us when you book.
- Winter fog
- Dense fog can settle on the M-2 in winter, so trips set off late morning, once it lifts. In December 2025 the motorway police advised travelling between 10 am and 6 pm, with the GT Road as the alternative.
- Lilla road
- The Lilla to Jhelum road through Pind Dadan Khan is being rebuilt as a dual carriageway, due for completion by the end of 2026. Expect roadworks on the Lilla side.
- Katas Raj
- Busiest at the Maha Shivaratri festival, when thousands of Hindu devotees come.
Islamabad to Khewra by road: Lilla or Kallar Kahar
There are two ways off the M-2, both onto smaller country roads. The direct way leaves at the Lilla interchange for Pind Dadan Khan, about 24 km east; Khewra is about 6 km north of the town. The scenic way leaves at the Kallar Kahar interchange and follows the road to Choa Saidan Shah, passing Katas Raj after about 24 km. The mine is about 10 km beyond Choa Saidan Shah. Going down by Kallar Kahar and back by Lilla takes in the lake, the temples and the mine without doubling back.
Inside the Khewra salt mine
You go in on foot or by the electric train, which runs to the main junction. The route passes a salt-brick mosque, the pink crystals of the Sheesh Mahal, the Pul-e-Sarat bridge over a brine pond and a salt Minar-e-Pakistan.
Add-ons: Katas Raj and Kallar Kahar
Katas Raj is a complex of Hindu temples around a sacred pond near Choa Saidan Shah. Kallar Kahar, beside the motorway, has a salt-water lake, the Takht-e-Babri, a throne cut from the rock, and its peacocks. Both fit into the same day as the mine on the Kallar Kahar route, so start early. In summer, an early start also puts these open-air stops in the cooler morning.
From Lahore: an early start or a night on the way
From Lahore you drive up the M-2 almost to Kallar Kahar before turning off at Lilla, so a day trip starts early and finishes late. Two days are easier: Khewra and Katas Raj on the first, then a night on the way or in Islamabad. Give the second to Kallar Kahar, Rohtas or the Islamabad sights.
Which car for Khewra
Most small parties take a Toyota Corolla, or a Corolla Altis Grande or Honda Civic for more comfort on the long motorway stretches. A family of six fits the Toyota Prado, and the seven-seat Changan Karvaan, with sliding doors, makes the stops easier for elders and small children.
Cars for a Khewra trip
| Car | Seats | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla GLi / XLi | 4 passengers + driver | Couples and small families on the motorway |
| Toyota Corolla Altis Grande | 4 passengers + driver | A more comfortable ride for a long day |
| Honda Civic | 4 passengers + driver | Business visitors and small groups |
| Toyota Prado | 6 passengers + driver, 4x4 | Families of up to six |
| Changan Karvaan | 7 seats | Families with elders or small children |
| Toyota Grand Cabin | 14-seat listing, high roof; confirm layout | A staff outing or a club |
| Toyota Coaster | 22 seats; confirm layout | A school class or an office outing |
| Hino Bus / Yutong Bus | About 40-50 seats | Whole school years and large groups |
Sample itineraries
From Islamabad
A sample Salt Range loop from Islamabad, adjusted to the road and the weather.
Early morning: Down the M-2
Pickup in Islamabad or Rawalpindi, then south on the motorway to the Kallar Kahar interchange.
Morning: Kallar Kahar
The salt-water lake and the Takht-e-Babri.
Late morning: Katas Raj
The temples around the sacred pond.
Midday: Khewra salt mine
The mine train or the walk through the salt chambers.
Afternoon: Back by Lilla
Through Pind Dadan Khan to the Lilla interchange and north on the M-2.
Evening: Islamabad
Drop-off at your door.
From Lahore
A long day from Lahore.
Early morning: Up the M-2
Pickup in Lahore and north on the motorway to the Lilla interchange.
Late morning: Khewra salt mine
The tunnel, the train and the salt-brick mosque.
Afternoon: Katas Raj
North through Choa Saidan Shah to the temple complex and its pond.
Evening: Home, or a night on the way
Back onto the M-2 for Lahore, or stop for the night and see Kallar Kahar in the morning.
Cars for the trip
Questions people ask
How far is the Khewra salt mine from Islamabad?
About 160 km by the M-2, two and a half to three hours each way in normal traffic. With the visit itself, the trip fills a full day.
Is there a guide inside the mine?
Usually, yes: on the mine train a local guide explains the chambers as you go. For Katas Raj, Kallar Kahar or Rohtas, book a local guide yourself if you want one, and tell us so a seat is kept free.
Can we add Rohtas Fort to a Khewra trip?
Yes, over two days, or as a day trip of its own. Rohtas is about 110 km from Islamabad, near Dina and 8 km off the GT Road. For the loop, see Khewra first and stay a night. Then take the 85 km road from Pind Dadan Khan to Jhelum and stop at the fort on the GT Road back to Islamabad.
What are the Khewra salt mine's opening hours?
Outside the monsoon, 9 am to 6 pm every day, Sundays and gazetted holidays included. If Katas Raj or Kallar Kahar comes first, plan to be inside by early afternoon.
Is the driver's food included in the quote?
Yes. His meals are part of the Khewra quote, and his overnight stay too on a two-day trip. Fuel and parking are itemised. Motorway tolls are extra.
Which vehicle is right for a school trip to Khewra?
It depends on the head count. The current listings show Hino (62 seats, Non-AC), Yutong (47 seats, AC), Coaster 4C (22 seats, AC) and Grand Cabin (14 seats, AC). Confirm the passenger layouts and bags. Send us the numbers and we suggest the vehicle and which way to leave the motorway.
How warm is it inside the salt mine?
About 18°C all year, so it feels cool in June and mild in January. A light layer is enough in winter, and wear comfortable shoes, since part of the visit is on foot.
How can we pay, and what if plans change?
Pay by bank transfer, card, online payment or cash, and a company outing can go on a monthly invoice. Cancelling is free up to 24 hours before pickup, and if the car breaks down on the motorway, we send a replacement.
Book your car
Message +92 311 2847167 on WhatsApp with your date, group size, starting city and any add-ons: Katas Raj, Kallar Kahar or Rohtas. We will quote the whole trip.
Related
- every tour with a car and driver
- the Taxila museum and ruins as another day out
- Islamabad sightseeing by car
- a Lahore city tour with Wagah
- car hire with a driver from Islamabad
- a car and driver from Lahore
- a Hino bus for a whole school year
- the Toyota Coaster 4C for group travel
- the Toyota Prado for a family of six
- notes for foreign visitors on day trips