Malam Jabba

Malam Jabba was Pakistan's first purpose-built ski resort, developed with Austrian assistance in the 1980s on a green ridge above the Swat valley. The resort was wrecked in the late 2000s and stood derelict for years, then was rebuilt under a private operator with a new hotel, a chairlift and a season that now runs reliably each winter, including national skiing and snowboarding events. The slope is modest by international standards, a single main piste served by the lift, with equipment hire and instructors on site, and for most visitors it is the place they touch snow sport for the first time. Summer brings a different crowd for the chairlift ride, the zipline that runs across the valley, and cool air among the pines while the plains bake.

What you actually see

• The ski slope - the main piste and chairlift on the ridge.
• The zipline - a long cable ride across the valley, run in summer.
• The rebuilt resort - hotel and facilities restored after years of dereliction.
• Swat panoramas - views over the valley from the top station.

When to go

January and February for the most reliable snow; the season can start in December and run into March. Summer weekends are busy with families escaping the heat. Spring and autumn are quiet, with the lift running at weekends.

Honest expectations

This is one slope, not a ski area: experienced skiers will exhaust it in an hour, and hire equipment is worn. Snow quality is inconsistent and the season short. Weekend crowds queue long for the lift and zipline. The access road is winding and slow. Prices inside the resort are high for the region.

Nearby

Mingora and the Swat museum are below; Kalam lies further up the valley.