National park · Pakistan
Kirthar National Park
Enter Kirthar NP: pay Rs 800 at Karchat or Khar gate, drive 4x4 to the centre, hike the Ranikot Fort trail in Oct–Jan; avoid monsoon July‑Aug.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
3,087 km² (1,192 sq mi)1,192 sq mi (3,087 km²)
approximate
Established
1974
Best months
Oct–Jan
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 5Check your own government travel advice for Pakistan befo…
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Pakistan ↗Check your own government travel advice for Pakistan before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Pakistan ↗Get the visa only through the official online system (visa.nadra.gov.pk); some areas need a separate permit (NOC) or police registration.
- Pakistan ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to the provinces you will visit before you rely on it.
At a glance
- Country
- Pakistan
- Area
- 3,087 km² (1,192 sq mi)1,192 sq mi (3,087 km²)
- Park covers about 3,087 km² of arid hills and valleys; exact boundary varies with recent extensions (check).
- Established
- 1974
- Best months
- Oct–Jan
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Karachi
Kirthar National Park offers rugged mountain scenery, wildlife such as ibex and urial, and the historic Ranikot Fort; access requires a 4 × 4 and a guide for most trails, making it a destination for off‑road adventure in cooler months.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1974.
Size and age
3,087 km² (1,192 sq mi)1,192 sq mi (3,087 km²) · national park since 1974
Park covers about 3,087 km² of arid hills and valleys; exact boundary varies with recent extensions (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Karachi.
Why go
- Vast arid landscape with rugged hills, wildlife such as Sindh ibex, urial and chinkara.
- Historic Ranikot Fort, one of the world’s largest forts, lies inside the park.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebGo
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecBest
- Marearly monsoon, roads get muddy
- Aprmonsoon risk
- Mayrainy, heat
- Junrainy, hot
- Julmonsoon peak
- Augmonsoon peak
- Seppost‑monsoon, cooler
- Octcool, dry
- Novcool, dry
- Deccool, dry
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sindh ibexAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Urial (wild sheep)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Chinkara gazelleAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Indian foxAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Jungle catAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Karachi
Drive north on M‑9 (Super Highway) to the Karchat turn‑off, then 4x4 on unpaved road to Karchat centre; or take M‑10 to Khar via Karachi Northern Bypass, road is paved.
3–4 h
Open the page →
From Hyderabad (Pakistan)
Take M‑9 north to the Karchat turn‑off; 4x4 required for final stretch.
2–3 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Karchat visitor centre | Gate, basic guesthouse, access to Ranikot Fort and central mountain trails. | Open with entry ticket; guide required for hikes. |
| Khar visitor centre | Gate, guesthouse, access to Hub Dam bird‑watching area. | Open with entry ticket; guide required for off‑road routes. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate centre of the park.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | PKR 800 | person | check |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Guided hike permit or guide
Park rules
- Guide required
- All hikes beyond the visitor centre area must be done with a licensed guide.
- 4x4 vehicle
- Access roads are unpaved and steep; a 4‑wheel‑drive vehicle is mandatory.
- Camping
- Only allowed in park guesthouses; wild camping prohibited.
- Fires
- Open fires not allowed; use provided stoves only.
- Litter
- Carry all rubbish out of the park.
Where to stay
In the park
Wildlife Guesthouse – Karchat
Basic cottages, generator power, Rs 800 per night.
In the park
Wildlife Guesthouse – Khar
Similar basic accommodation, Rs 800 per night.
Safety
Heat and dehydration medium
Vehicle breakdown high
Remote isolation medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Visitor centres reachable by car; trails are steep and rough, not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Hire local guides employed by Sindh Wildlife Department.
- Do not litter; pack out all waste.
- Stay in park guesthouses to support community employment.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Kirthar National Park?
The entry fee is Rs 800 per person at the Karchat or Khar gate (check).
What are the best hikes in Kirthar National Park?
The moderate Ranikot Fort trek and the harder central mountain trail from Karchat are the most popular; both need a guide.
When is the best time to visit Kirthar National Park?
Cool, dry months October to January are best; February is still good, while July‑August are monsoon‑affected and harder to travel.
Do I need a 4x4 vehicle to reach the park?
Yes. All access roads are unpaved and steep; a 4‑wheel‑drive vehicle is mandatory.
Are there accommodations inside the park?
Two wildlife guesthouses at Karchat and Khar offer basic cottages for Rs 800 per night.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go