Through the Kaghan Valley to Lulusar Lake

From Islamabad the road climbs into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Kaghan Valley, one of the most popular summer escapes in Pakistan. Our guests drove up with Bilawal through green hills, clouds and roadside tea stalls, all the way to Lulusar Lake near the top of the valley.

The drive up the valley

The road follows the Kunhar River through Balakot and Kaghan to Naran, the valley’s main town. In summer the hillsides are thick with pine and deodar, mist sits low over the river in the mornings, and small dhabas along the road serve fresh paratha, pakoras and plenty of chai. It is a road worth taking slowly, with stops at viewpoints along the way.

• Naran is a good base for one or two nights
• Lake Saif-ul-Malook, above Naran, is a short jeep ride away
• Evenings are cool even in July, so pack a warm layer

Lulusar Lake

Beyond Naran the valley opens out and becomes wilder. Lulusar Lake sits right beside the road at around 3,400 metres, a long, still lake ringed by bare mountain slopes. It is the source of the Kunhar River that you follow all the way up the valley. Most people stop for only a few minutes, but it is worth walking along the shore while the light changes on the water.

On to Babusar Pass and beyond

From Lulusar the road climbs to Babusar Pass, at over 4,000 metres the gateway between the Kaghan Valley and Chilas on the Karakoram Highway. The pass is usually open only in the summer months, roughly June to September, depending on snow. For travellers heading to Hunza, it turns the trip from Islamabad into an unforgettable mountain crossing.

Plan your trip

Read our Naran Kaghan valley guide and Babusar Pass road trip guide, or see the Naran Kaghan tour. We arrange private transport, hotels and an English-speaking guide. Book a tour or ask us on WhatsApp.