Tours to Naran & Kaghan
Ready-made itineraries that visit this destination.
Hotels in Naran & Kaghan
Vetted stays in and around this destination.
Naran & Kaghan
The Kaghan valley runs roughly 155 km from Balakot up to Babusar Top, with Naran as its main town at about 2,400 m. It is the closest proper mountain valley to Rawalpindi and Islamabad — around seven hours by road — which makes it the default first trip north for most Pakistani families and the busiest destination we operate.
The road up the valley
From Rawalpindi the route runs through Abbottabad and Mansehra to Balakot, where the valley proper begins, then follows the Kunhar river up through Kawai, Shogran, Kaghan and finally Naran. It is a long day but a single one, which is the valley's biggest advantage over Hunza or Skardu. The road is paved to Naran and beyond; the stretch over Babusar Top to the Karakoram Highway is paved too but only open in summer.
Lake Saif-ul-Malook
Saif-ul-Malook sits at about 3,224 m, roughly 9 km above Naran, and is the reason most people come. The track up is unpaved and is done by local 4x4 jeep — a bumpy forty-five minutes each way — or on foot in around three hours for walkers. The lake is at its clearest early in the morning before the day's jeeps arrive, and it holds ice into June. Go at first light if you want the reflection of Malika Parbat without a crowd in it.
Lulusar, Babusar and Shogran
Beyond Naran the road climbs past Batakundi and Burawai to Lulusar Lake, the source of the Kunhar, and then to Babusar Top at about 4,173 m, where the valley meets the Karakoram Highway near Chilas. That crossing is the reason Naran is often combined with Hunza in one loop. Lower down, Shogran and the Siri Paye meadows above it are a popular overnight in their own right, reached by jeep from Kawai and often visited on the way up or back.
When to go and where to stay
Naran's season is roughly May to September; snow closes the upper valley in winter and Babusar typically opens only from late June to September. July and August are peak, and Naran on an August weekend is genuinely crowded — Eid holidays especially. Hotels range from very basic to comfortable riverside properties, with rates rising sharply in peak weeks. Travelling midweek or in early June and mid-September gets you the same valley at a fraction of the price and traffic.
Travelling with family in Kaghan
Kaghan is the valley most Pakistani families choose for a first mountain trip, and it accommodates that well: the drive is a single day, Naran has doctors and pharmacies, mobile coverage is decent, and the sights are close together. The two things to plan around are altitude and the jeep tracks — Saif-ul-Malook at 3,224 m can leave small children and elderly travellers breathless, and the ride up is rough. Booking a private jeep rather than a shared one, and going early before the queues, makes the difference between a good day and a long one.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most.
How far is Naran from Islamabad?+
How do I get to Lake Saif-ul-Malook?+
When is Babusar Top open?+
When is the best time to visit Naran?+
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