Naran & Kaghan Valley

Naran sits at 2,409 m at the head of the Kaghan Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the main hub for the valley's adventure activities and the base from which Lake Saiful Malook (3,224 m), Lulusar Lake, Babusar Top (4,173 m), and the Kunhar River rapids are all reached. The valley is one of Pakistan's most visited adventure corridors, drawing trekkers, rafters, and family holidaymakers May through September.

GPGreenPak Field GuidesSourced from PTDC · 2 min read

Why go

✦Base for Lake Saiful Malook (3,224 m)
✦Babusar Top at 4,173 m, Karakoram viewpoint
✦Kunhar River white-water rafting
✦Lulusar Lake and the upper meadows

Lake Saiful Malook

The jewel of the Kaghan Valley, a glacial lake at 3,224 m ringed by permanent snowfields and the 5,000 m peaks of the Malika Parbat massif. Reachable by jeep or a 3-hour walk from Naran, it is one of the most visited high-altitude lakes in Pakistan.

Babusar Top

At 4,173 m, Babusar Top is the pass at the head of the Kaghan Valley, a Karakoram view across the ridgeline into Gilgit-Baltistan on one side and the green Kaghan below on the other. The drive from Naran takes 1.5-2 hours.

Kunhar River Rafting

The Kunhar River runs the length of the Kaghan Valley and offers commercial white-water rafting in sections near Kaghan and Naran, Grade II to III on most commercial runs, with Grade IV sections for experienced paddlers.

Planning tip

When to go, May to October; Babusar Top and upper valley open June to September only.

Getting there, Drive from Islamabad via Abbottabad and Balakot, about 7-8 hours to Naran in the summer season. Alternatively, drive from Mansehra on the Kaghan Valley road.

Allow, 2-3 days minimum to cover Saiful Malook, Lulusar, and Babusar Top; a week for a full valley exploration.

What to do

◆Base for Lake Saiful Malook (3,224 m)

◆Babusar Top at 4,173 m, Karakoram viewpoint

◆Kunhar River white-water rafting

◆Lulusar Lake and the upper meadows

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