13 Days Riding Experience on Karakoram Highway

Naran

A Naran Kaghan tour follows the Kunhar River up the Kaghan Valley to Naran, the summer base for Lake Saiful Muluk, Lulusar Lake and the Babusar Pass. The valley opens to visitors from late spring to early autumn, when the snow clears from the high road north towards the Karakoram Highway.

Why visit Naran

Naran sits at about 2,400 metres in the upper Kaghan Valley, in Mansehra district. In summer the town fills with visitors, the Kunhar River runs beside the main street and glacial lakes lie within a short jeep ride. For road trippers it is also the southern gateway to the Babusar Pass, a popular summer route from Islamabad to Chilas and the Karakoram Highway.

Places to visit in Naran

  • Lake Saiful Muluk: a glacial lake at 3,224 metres, one of the highest in Pakistan, reached by jeep from Naran and tied to the old folk tale of a prince and a fairy princess.
  • Batakundi: open meadows about 15 km beyond Naran on the road to Babusar.
  • Lulusar Lake: the source of the Kunhar River, lying beside the road at well over 3,000 metres inside Lulusar-Dudipatsar National Park.
  • Babusar Pass: the 4,173-metre pass at the head of the valley, with wide views before the road drops towards Chilas.

Best time to visit Naran

  • May: the road to Naran usually reopens in the first half of the month, though snow can still block the higher lakes and the pass.
  • June to September: the main season, when the Babusar road is normally open. July and August bring the biggest crowds.
  • Late November to April: heavy snow and temperatures below freezing close the upper valley.

Mountain conditions change quickly, so check the Naran weather forecast and road reports before driving above the town.

How to get to Naran from Islamabad

The journey is about 280 km. The Hazara Motorway gets you past Abbottabad in around two hours, and after Mansehra the N-15 climbs through Balakot and Kaghan on a narrower, slower road. Plan on seven to eight hours in total, and set off early to reach Naran in daylight.

Naran on our tours

Naran features on our 13 Days Riding Experience on Karakoram Highway, a guided ride through the mountain roads of the north. See more motorbike tours for other routes, or pair Naran with the rest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Plan your Naran Kaghan tour

Tell us your dates and we will build a private Naran and Kaghan itinerary with a driver who knows the valley road, stays near the river and a day set aside for the lakes.