Naran sits high in the Kaghan Valley in KP — a summer base for the jeep ride up to Lake Saif ul Malook and the drive over Babusar Top. The town wakes up around May and quietens down as the snow returns in autumn.
Nearest airport
ISB
Country
Pakistan
Naran sits high in the Kaghan Valley in KP — a summer base for the jeep ride up to Lake Saif ul Malook and the drive over Babusar Top. The town wakes up around May and quietens down as the snow returns in autumn.
Naran is known for Lake Saif ul Malook, Babusar Top and Lulusar Lake. Compare live fares from across Pakistan and search flights to Naran, or browse hotels and apartments and book with instant confirmation in PKR.
It's a road trip — there is no airport at Naran. From Islamabad it's roughly a 6 to 8 hour drive via Mansehra and Balakot; from Lahore add the 4 to 5 hours up to Islamabad first. Normal cars handle the main road into Naran, but the tracks up to Lake Saif ul Malook and over Babusar Top are rough, so you switch to a local 4x4 jeep for those sections. The nearest airport is Islamabad (ISB).
Naran is a summer-only town. The road usually opens around May and stays passable until September, sometimes into early October, before snow closes the high passes. July and August are the warmest and busiest, and that's when Babusar Top and Lulusar Lake are most reliably open. Come in winter and the whole valley above Balakot is shut.
The classic outing is the jeep ride up to Lake Saif ul Malook, ringed by peaks with Malika Parbat behind it. Heading north, the road passes Lulusar Lake and climbs to Babusar Top, the pass into Gilgit-Baltistan. Back in town there's riverside walking along the Kunhar, fresh trout to eat, and short hikes for anyone who wants to stretch their legs.
Most people base themselves in Naran town, where the bazaar strip runs from simple guesthouses to a few full hotels near the river. Kaghan and Shogran, lower down the valley, are quieter alternatives if the town feels crowded in peak season. Rooms fill fast in July and August, so book ahead — you can search hotels on Travel.pk and pay in PKR.
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