Naran Kaghan Valley Guide (2027): Lake Saif-ul-Malook, Lalazar and When the Road Opens

Naran Kaghan is the mountain valley closest to Islamabad: a day's drive up the Kunhar River to Naran, at about 2,400 m, with Lake Saif-ul-Malook (3,224 m) a jeep ride above the town. It is a summer destination, roughly May to September, and the road beyond Naran climbs through Lulusar Lake to Babusar Top (4,173 m), the boundary with Gilgit-Baltistan. That top is open only in summer, and the dates move with the snow.

Where is the Kaghan Valley?

It is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. You drive from Islamabad through Balakot and up the Kaghan Valley to Naran. Our road-journey itinerary names the route as north through Abbottabad and Mansehra into the Kaghan valley, following the Kunhar River to Naran.

What are the main places?

Lake Saif-ul-Malook (3,224 m). The most famous lake in Pakistan: a turquoise glacial lake with snow peaks around it, reached by jeep from Naran. It is at its best at dawn, when mist rises off the water. The local legend gives the lake its name: a fairy princess fell in love with a prince here. On our trip it is a jeep up and a boat ride.

Lulusar Lake and Babusar Top (4,173 m). Day 3 of our tour goes to Lulusar and the high Babusar Top for pass views and photo stops. It is cold and windy even in summer, so bring warm layers. The stops are brief.

Lalazar Meadows (about 3,200 m). One of the finest alpine meadows in Pakistan according to our package text, carpeted with wildflowers in July and August.

Shogran (about 2,300 m). A green plateau above the valley, reached by jeep track, with views of Musa ka Musalla (4,080 m). Our tour stops at Shogran on the drive back to Islamabad on day 4.

The Kunhar River. It runs beside you for most of the drive, and our itinerary calls the riverside hotel in Naran its base.

When does the road to Naran and Babusar open?

Treat every date as a range. Snow decides, not the calendar, and nobody can promise a date a year ahead.

Stretch	Our published window	Source note
Naran Kaghan tour season	May to September	Tour file
Babusar Pass	Roughly June to September	Babusar tour FAQ
Babusar Pass (regional guide)	Late May to October	Best-time guide

The UK Foreign Office makes the same point in its Gilgit-Baltistan paragraph: the Babusar Pass is liable to close due to snowfall. It adds that the N15 highway between Chilas and Babusar is inaccessible at some times of the year, and that landslides frequently block roads, so you should use experienced local drivers in clear weather.

If the top is shut on your dates, we will plan an alternative with you, or refund in full — your choice.

What is the best month for Naran Kaghan?

For the lakes and Lalazar, July and August, when the meadows are in flower. For the Babusar crossing, mid-summer is the safest bet because it is the most settled stretch of a short season. Our wider seasonal planning is in the best time to visit Gilgit-Baltistan guide.

What does a four-day Naran Kaghan trip look like?

Day 1 is the drive from Islamabad through Balakot to a riverside hotel in Naran, at 2,409 m. Day 2 is the jeep up to Lake Saif-ul-Malook for a boat ride beneath the peaks. Day 3 goes to Lulusar Lake and the high Babusar Top at 4,173 m. Day 4 is the drive back to Islamabad with a stop at Shogran.

Three nights are in Naran, so you do not repack every day, and you sleep at about 2,400 m with the high stops as day outings. The lake and the pass are on rough jeep tracks, so choose a trip with a driver who does them often.

What do you do after Naran?

You have two good options. Turn back to Islamabad via Shogran, which is what our 4-day tour does. Or carry on over Babusar Top to Chilas on the Indus and the Karakoram Highway, with Nanga Parbat in view on a clear day, and Gilgit by evening, which is our 2-day road journey. From Chilas, the road to Nanga Parbat's Fairy Meadows begins, and our Islamabad to Fairy Meadows route guide covers that approach.

From Gilgit it is about two hours to Hunza, or a longer day to Skardu.

How hard is it?

Easy to moderate. The Naran Kaghan tour is described as easy and family-friendly, with short walks at the lakes. Saif-ul-Malook and Babusar are on rough jeep tracks, and no trekking is required. At the top of Babusar, some people feel breathless or light-headed, so we keep the stop short and sleep low in Naran.

Is it safe to go?

Read the live advice. The UK Foreign Office page we read on 8 November 2026 lists a number of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa areas under its warnings, and it separately advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas. It also notes emergency measures in the province since 11 October.

Our tour files recommend standard travel insurance with medical cover, and a standard tourist visa. That wording belongs to these pages only. Ask your insurer whether your policy covers the route in writing.

Ready to go? The 4-day Naran Kaghan Tour is from $180 per person in a group of seven to ten, with all ground transport, local 4×4 where the track needs it, three nights in a Naran hotel, breakfast and dinner, and a local guide. The 2-day Babusar Pass Road Journey is from $180 per person in a group of four to six (the best rate on that package), a private car and driver from Islamabad to Gilgit with a night in Naran. Naran Kaghan needs a 10% deposit (minimum $50) with the balance on arrival, and the Babusar journey has the balance on the day of departure. More itineraries are in our Pakistan tours list.

Frequently asked questions

When does Babusar Pass open?

Usually only in summer, roughly June to September in our own FAQ and late May to October in our regional guide. The dates move with snow, and we confirm the road before each departure.

How high is Lake Saif-ul-Malook?

3,224 m, reached by jeep from Naran.

How many days do you need for Naran Kaghan?

Our tour takes four days from Islamabad: Naran, Saif-ul-Malook, Lulusar and Babusar Top, then back via Shogran.

Is Naran Kaghan good for families?

Yes. The tour is easy and family-friendly, with short walks and plenty of stops.

Can I drive over Babusar Pass in my own car?

We don't advise a first-time visitor to. Our Babusar journey describes the road as paved but steep and narrow in places, and we use a driver who knows the pass.

Written by Zulfiqar Ali, founder of Karakoram Venture.