Naran & Kaghan — The valley of the Kunhar.

Deep green water of Lulusar Lake beneath snow-streaked slopes in the Kaghan Valley

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The valley of the Kunhar.

Photo: Shahzaib Damn Cruze / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Kaghan Valley is formed by the Kunhar River and runs for some 96 miles by road, its slopes forested with deodar and pine beneath peaks of up to 17,000 feet.

Naran is its main summer town. Above it the road continues past Lulusar Lake toward Babusar, which is normally open only in the warmer months.

River: Kunhar
Length by road: 96 miles
Peaks to: 17,000 ft
Generally visited: June to September
Coordinates: 34.906° N, 73.649° EView on a map

Seasons are general guidance. Mountain roads and passes open and close with the weather; check locally before travelling.

What draws people here

Lulusar Lake
Lake Saiful Muluk
Kunhar River
The road toward Babusar

Planning a visit

Getting there: There is no airport; use Islamabad International. Drive the Hazara Motorway to Mansehra, then the N-15 through Balakot and Kaghan to Naran, roughly 250 to 280 km and six to seven hours.
How long to allow: Two to three days.
Good to know: Beyond Naran, the road over the 4,173-metre Babusar Pass to Chilas is closed by snow, usually from November until late May or June. The valley is at its best from May to September.

General guidance, checked in September 2026. Visa rules, permits, flights and mountain roads change; confirm with official sources or a licensed operator before you book. We do not sell travel.

Sources

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