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Pearl Lake (Mastij Lake)
ExpertSwat & Kalam

Pearl Lake (Mastij Lake)

Difficulty
Expert
Distance
12.4km
Elevation gain
1,896 m
Duration
6h
Best season
May – Oct

The journey

Pearl Lake (Mastij Lake) is a 12.4km expert-level hike in Swat & Kalam. It climbs 1,896 m and takes about 6h.

Trail Statistics

12.4km
Distance
Total trail length
6h
Duration
Estimated hiking time
+1,896m
Elevation Gain
Total ascent
Expert
Difficulty
Trail difficulty level
Multi-day trek
Route Type
Shape of the trail
3,914m
High Point
Highest elevation
-239m
Descent
Total descent

Trail map

Map loads as you scroll

Day by day

This trek is walked over 2 days. Each leg has its own recorded track.

DayDistanceAscentTimeGrade
1Blue Water To Mastij Banda11.0km+1,456m5hExpert
2Mastij Banda To Mastij Lake1.4km+440m1hModerate

Distances are for each leg, not the whole trek.

Elevation profile

Climb over the length of the trail. Tap or drag along it to read elevation and grade.

Elevation2,2653,914 m · +1,896 m gain
0 km6.2 km12.4 km

Weather

Five-day forecast at the trailhead, 2,265 m.

  1. Today

    6°

  2. Tomorrow

    18°5°

    Precipitation 1.3

  3. Sat

    21°5°

    Precipitation 0.1

  4. Sun

    21°6°

    Precipitation 1.4

  5. Mon

    22°6°

    Precipitation 0.6

Expect roughly 11°C colder at the high point (3,914 m), before wind chill. Mountain weather turns faster than any forecast.

Forecast from MET Norway, updated hourly.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Pearl Lake located?

It is tucked in the upper alpine zone of Kaghan Valley, branching off routes near the Babusar / Gitidas region.

How difficult is the trek to Mastij Lake?

It is a moderately difficult high-altitude trek involving loose rocks, stream crossings, and steady ascent.

Does the water actually change colors?

Yes. The water features multi-tonal properties due to shifting sunlight and glacial silt. A straight-on view displays a brilliant turquoise blue, an overhead view turns the lake into a crisp sky mirror, and certain side angles reveal a deep, completely transparent clear blue

Why do non-locals frequently fail to reach the lake?

Many travelers underestimate the terrain and attempt to push through in a single day, which often results in exhaustion or altitude sickness. Experienced regional trekkers on travel forums emphasize that a continuous 7-to-10 hour uphill scramble is highly punishing for non-locals

What is the community-recommended, realistic itinerary?

Rather than rushing, veteran hikers recommend a 3-to-4 day strategic split: Day 1: Start from the Anakar Valley's "Blue Water" point in Kalam, trekking 4 to 5 hours to set up camp at Janshai Meadows or Gujjar Banda. Day 2: Hike up to the base near Mastij Waterfall, utilizing this area as a staging ground. Day 3: Make the steep final push to the lake itself, absorb the views, and track back down to the meadows to camp. Day 4: back to Kalam

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