Photo: Syed Muhammad Baqir Zaidi / Unsplash
Lahore to Naran and Kaghan by car
About 645 km and 10 hours 30 minutes of driving (one long day) from Lahore via the M-2 Motorway and Hazara Motorway. A clean car and a driver who knows the road, at a price you see before you book.
- Distance, about
- 645km
- Driving, about
- 10.5hoursone long day
- Typical trip
- 5days
- Outstation with driver
- Rs 9,500/dayFrom, Honda BR-V
- Roads
- M-2 Motorway, Hazara Motorway, N-15 Kaghan Valley Road
- Best time
- May to October
The route, stop by stop
The usual way our drivers take. On the day, they adjust for traffic, weather and road works.
- M-2 Motorway
- Hazara Motorway
- N-15 Kaghan Valley Road
- LahorePickup at your door: home, hotel, office or the airport
- Chakri service area (M-2)
- Hazara Motorway to Mansehra
- Balakot
- Kiwai
- Kaghan
- Naran KaghanDestination
Before you go
- Best time to go
- May to October. Babusar Pass, beyond Naran, usually opens roughly June to October.
- Road and weather
- Motorway to Mansehra, then a mountain road along the Kunhar river through Balakot and Kaghan. Drive the mountain part in daylight only. Monsoon rain in July and August can bring landslides that close the road for hours. Beyond Naran, the road to Babusar Top is high, cold and narrow.
- Tolls
- Tolls on the M-2 and the Hazara Motorway are collected at the toll plazas (M-Tag on the motorways). They are charged at actual cost on top of the car rate. Check the current NHA rates before you travel.
The Kaghan valley is the classic summer road trip from Lahore: green slopes, the roaring Kunhar river, glacier-fed lakes and cool nights in July. Naran is the base, and with a driver who knows the mountain road, the long drive becomes part of the holiday.
The drive
From Lahore, the M-2 takes you towards Islamabad. Just before the city, the driver switches to the M-1 and then the Hazara Motorway, which runs north past Havelian and Abbottabad to Mansehra. From Mansehra, the N-15 drops into the Kaghan valley at Balakot and follows the Kunhar river up through Kiwai, Kaghan village and on to Naran.
The motorway part is fast. The valley road is slower: allow three to four hours from Balakot to Naran, more on weekends or after rain.
What to see around Naran
- Lake Saiful Muluk: the famous lake above Naran, reached by local jeep.
- Lulusar Lake: a long, quiet lake on the way to Babusar Top.
- Babusar Top: the high pass at the top of the valley, open roughly June to October, with wide views on a clear day.
- Batakundi and Lalazar: green meadows above Naran, a short drive or jeep ride away.
- Shogran: a hill top meadow above Kiwai, reached by jeep from the valley road.
Safety in the valley
- Daylight only on the mountain road. We plan departures so the Balakot to Naran stretch is done before dark.
- Monsoon caution: in July and August, heavy rain can trigger landslides. The driver checks conditions each morning and you keep a spare day in the plan.
- Cold at night: even in July, Naran evenings are cool and Babusar Top can be near freezing. Pack warm layers.
- Cash and fuel: fill up in Balakot or Kaghan, and carry cash because card machines and ATMs are few.
Choosing a car
A Toyota Fortuner or Prado is the best choice for the valley and essential if you plan to cross Babusar. For a summer trip that stays in Naran, a Honda BR-V is comfortable for a family. Groups travel well in a Toyota Hiace or a coaster. Our northern areas guide covers seasons, packing and safety in more detail.
Which car for Naran Kaghan?
Mountain roads reward ground clearance and power. These are the cars we recommend for this trip, with live rates from our fleet.
Representative image Toyota Fortuner
SUVs7 seats3 bags
Outstation with driverfrom Rs 18,000 per dayDriver night stay Rs 1,500 per night
Representative image Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Luxury7 seats4 bags
Outstation with driverfrom Rs 32,000 per dayDriver night stay Rs 2,000 per nightHonda BR-V
SUVs7 seats2 bags
Outstation with driverfrom Rs 9,500 per dayDriver night stay Rs 1,500 per nightToyota Hiace
Vans14 seats8 bags
Outstation with driverfrom Rs 15,000 per dayDriver night stay Rs 1,500 per nightToyota Coaster
Coasters29 seats
Outstation with driverfrom Rs 26,000 per dayDriver night stay Rs 2,000 per night
Sample fleet: cars and prices are placeholders until the real catalog is published.
How outstation pricing works
Four simple rules, the same for every outstation trip. Your quote lists every item before you confirm.
Every 24 hours is one day
Outstation days are counted in 24-hour blocks from your pickup time, not by calendar date. Leave at 6 am Friday, back by 6 am Sunday: that is two days.
The outstation day rate
Trips out of Lahore use each car's outstation rate with a driver. It covers the car and the driver for every 24-hour day.
from Rs 9,500 per dayDriver night stay and food
For every night away from Lahore there is a fixed night allowance that covers the driver's stay and meals, so you never have to arrange them yourself.
from Rs 1,500 per nightFuel and tolls at actual cost
Fuel, motorway tolls (paid by M-Tag) and parking are charged at actual cost, with no mark-up. Your quote explains how they are settled.
Background: Lahore at night. Photo: Wasif Mehmood / Pexels
Get a quote for Lahore to Naran Kaghan
Choose a car and your dates. We confirm the price, the route and the driver on WhatsApp.
- 01Tell us the car, dates and pickup point
- 02We reply on WhatsApp with a clear price
- 03Confirm, and the car arrives on time
Lahore to Naran Kaghan: questions
How long does it take from Lahore to Naran?
About 10 to 11 hours of driving, so most families leave Lahore before dawn and arrive by evening. Some break the journey with a night in Islamabad or Balakot to keep the mountain part in daylight.
When is the best time to visit Naran?
May to October. The road to Naran usually opens in late spring once the snow is cleared, and Babusar Pass beyond it opens roughly from June to October. In winter, the valley above Kaghan is snowbound.
Can your car go up to Lake Saiful Muluk?
The track from Naran to Lake Saiful Muluk is for local jeeps. Our car waits in Naran while you take a jeep up, which is the normal way to visit the lake.
Can we cross Babusar Pass to Chilas on the same trip?
Yes, when the pass is open, roughly June to October. It is a high, cold crossing, so pick an SUV and plan it as a full day in daylight. It also opens up Hunza and Skardu.
How many days should we plan?
Five days is comfortable: a long day up, two or three days for Naran, Saiful Muluk, Lulusar and Babusar, and a day back. Outstation days are counted in 24-hour blocks.