Planning for a trip to Naran, KPK, Pakistan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naran_(town)
When: The best time to plan a trip to Naran area is June to August.
How: There are plenty of websites that offer varied tour options including Transport / Hotels / Jeep Rides with advanced payment option. If you are unfamiliar with the routes or do not want to drive; then these tours are the best bet. But remember that these tour buses are usually cramped up Coasters / HiACE vans that might not be very comfortable for travel with kids that would require frequent stop overs.
Hotels. Other than Tour managers, HOTELS.COM and BOOKINGS.COM give you a fair idea on the hotel deals available in the area. During the high season expect Rs.5,000 - 6,000 for a 1-2 star hotel and between Rs. 12,000 to 16,000 for a 3 star hotels depending on room size. (NO; there are no 4 star hotels in the area even though some hotels falsely claim so). All these rates from High Season of summer of 2019. Few of the top hotels are:
1. Millinium Inn Hotel
https://goo.gl/maps/YEiNveBTA67mNyLS7
2. Swiss Wood Cottage
https://goo.gl/maps/RyAJiJ2Djd5mAorf7
3. Maisonette Hotels & Resorts
https://goo.gl/maps/jJRLeem3UW1w43tA8
4. Arcadian Peridot
https://goo.gl/maps/qsTpHFbqstMQdJ2u6
These hotels will ask for advance payment (at times 50%) for making reservation through online transfer or payment at their office at major cities across Pakistan.
Getting There
By road is the only option to go to Naran. Unfortunately no Air Travel is available to get there. From Islamabad it is approximately 278 KM (dont get too excited for less distance as it will take approx 7 Hrs during low traffic hours and 10-11 Hrs during rush hours).
Best way from Islamabad is to take M1 (North) then take E35 (Hazara Expressway) and N-35 to Havelian - Abbottabad - Mansehra - Balakot -
Kaghan - Naran.
Road from Islamabad till Exit from Hazara Expressway (Approx 106 KM) will be the most delightful part of the journey (driving wise). After exit; expect a single road with lots of traffic coming from both ways till you cross Balakot.
Spoiler Alert: Expect heavy traffic jams at Abbottabad (Approx 1.5 Hrs to cross) and Mansehra (Approx 2 Hrs to cross)if you are traveling through these towns between 9 am and 10 pm.
PRO TIP: Leave Islamabad really early (not later than 4 am) so that you have crossed Mansehra by 8 am to avoid all the traffic jams. This will make your total travel till Naran under 7 Hrs. If you start off late then expect travel time to be in excess of 10 Hrs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balakot
Naran Bazaar is a narrow road which is supposed to be ONE_WAY only with return traffic coming through the bypass however,
like all places in Pakistan you will
find traffic coming both ways making the narrow road jammed most of the day
(till late night).
Lulusar Lake
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lulusar
Lulusar Lake a serene place to spend sometime with breath taking views. It is 50 KM from Naran but will take only 50 min to get there as the road is excellent.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babusar_Pass
 |
| Naran |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naran_(town)
When: The best time to plan a trip to Naran area is June to August.
How: There are plenty of websites that offer varied tour options including Transport / Hotels / Jeep Rides with advanced payment option. If you are unfamiliar with the routes or do not want to drive; then these tours are the best bet. But remember that these tour buses are usually cramped up Coasters / HiACE vans that might not be very comfortable for travel with kids that would require frequent stop overs.
Hotels. Other than Tour managers, HOTELS.COM and BOOKINGS.COM give you a fair idea on the hotel deals available in the area. During the high season expect Rs.5,000 - 6,000 for a 1-2 star hotel and between Rs. 12,000 to 16,000 for a 3 star hotels depending on room size. (NO; there are no 4 star hotels in the area even though some hotels falsely claim so). All these rates from High Season of summer of 2019. Few of the top hotels are:
1. Millinium Inn Hotel
https://goo.gl/maps/YEiNveBTA67mNyLS7
 |
| Millinium Inn Hotel Lobby on each floor |
 |
| Millinium Inn Hotel Room |
2. Swiss Wood Cottage
https://goo.gl/maps/RyAJiJ2Djd5mAorf7
 |
| Swiss Wood Cottage |
3. Maisonette Hotels & Resorts
https://goo.gl/maps/jJRLeem3UW1w43tA8
4. Arcadian Peridot
https://goo.gl/maps/qsTpHFbqstMQdJ2u6
These hotels will ask for advance payment (at times 50%) for making reservation through online transfer or payment at their office at major cities across Pakistan.
Getting There
By road is the only option to go to Naran. Unfortunately no Air Travel is available to get there. From Islamabad it is approximately 278 KM (dont get too excited for less distance as it will take approx 7 Hrs during low traffic hours and 10-11 Hrs during rush hours).
Best way from Islamabad is to take M1 (North) then take E35 (Hazara Expressway) and N-35 to Havelian - Abbottabad - Mansehra - Balakot -
 |
| Motorway |
Road from Islamabad till Exit from Hazara Expressway (Approx 106 KM) will be the most delightful part of the journey (driving wise). After exit; expect a single road with lots of traffic coming from both ways till you cross Balakot.
Spoiler Alert: Expect heavy traffic jams at Abbottabad (Approx 1.5 Hrs to cross) and Mansehra (Approx 2 Hrs to cross)if you are traveling through these towns between 9 am and 10 pm.
PRO TIP: Leave Islamabad really early (not later than 4 am) so that you have crossed Mansehra by 8 am to avoid all the traffic jams. This will make your total travel till Naran under 7 Hrs. If you start off late then expect travel time to be in excess of 10 Hrs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balakot
 |
| Balakot |
From Balakot till Naran you will
see a scene like this every 500 meters (where ever water is flowing over the
road):
 |
| Road condition at several places from Balakot till Naran |
Naran Bazaar is a narrow road which is supposed to be ONE_WAY only with return traffic coming through the bypass however,
 |
| Naran Bazaar |
Places to Visit from Naran
Saif-Ul-Maluk Lake
Saif-Ul-Maluk Lake
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Saiful_Muluk
Saif-Ul-Maluk lake is approx 9 KM from Naran but will take around 1 to 1.5 Hrs over a broken (but wide) jeepable track only. DO NOT TRY TO TAKE YOUR CAR THERE IN ANY CASE. Jeep will cost Rs. 3,000 (year 2019) for the round trip where the driver will wait for you for a couple of hours at the lake while you go sight seeing. The Jeep can accommodate 5 adults (other than the driver). BEWARE: This Jeep ride is not intended for the faint hearted.
Saif-Ul-Maluk lake is approx 9 KM from Naran but will take around 1 to 1.5 Hrs over a broken (but wide) jeepable track only. DO NOT TRY TO TAKE YOUR CAR THERE IN ANY CASE. Jeep will cost Rs. 3,000 (year 2019) for the round trip where the driver will wait for you for a couple of hours at the lake while you go sight seeing. The Jeep can accommodate 5 adults (other than the driver). BEWARE: This Jeep ride is not intended for the faint hearted.
EXPECTATIONS FROM SAIF-UL-MALUK
 |
| Expectation |
 |
| Expectation |
 |
| Expectation |
WHAT YOU SEE AT SAIF-UL-MALUK
 |
| Reality |
 |
| Reality |
 |
| Reality |
Lulusar Lake
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lulusar
Lulusar Lake a serene place to spend sometime with breath taking views. It is 50 KM from Naran but will take only 50 min to get there as the road is excellent.
 |
| Lulusar Lake |
 |
| Lulusar Lake |
 |
| Natural fridge on the way |
Babusar Top
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babusar_Pass
 |
| Babusar Top |
Jhomar Set adds a festive and celebratory ambiance, creating an immersive experience for everyone gold jhoomar tikka
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