Naran & Kaghan
Alpine lakes and the Babusar Pass, open for four months a year
Altitude
2,500 m
Worth going
May–Oct
How long to stay
1–3 nights
Getting a signal
Signal in town only — assume none outside it
The Kaghan valley climbs from Balakot to Naran and over the 4,173-metre Babusar Pass into Gilgit-Baltistan. Saif-ul-Malook is the famous lake and deservedly so, though it is far from empty. The pass is the interesting part: open roughly July to September, and the fastest way north when it is.
- Lake Saif-ul-Malook, best at dawn before the jeeps arrive
- Babusar Pass at 4,173 metres, with the whole valley behind you
- Lulusar lake on the way up
- A shortcut to Hunza that saves several hours — when it is open
The honest downsides
- Babusar Pass is closed by snow from roughly October to late June.
- Naran in July and August is crowded and overpriced.
- Saif-ul-Malook is reached by shared jeep on a rough track.
