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The self-booking of this tour is a nightmare for customers due to two main reasons: people miss out on a stay in Naran because they call and book rooms last minute only to find out rooms are all sold out for the night, or because they go in a saloon car to Saif-ul-Malook (a very popular spot) to see the lake, while a dozen other jeeps pass by them that morning.
This post contains all the details regarding hotel offerings, transport offerings based on the road too, what the package must include before your purchase, and where the list of inclusions runs out.
HospitalityTours.com.pk assigns a hotel and transport package to Naran Kaghan from our Islamabad office. We provide a named hotel, a confirmed room type, a private vehicle from the capital, a rented jeep to the lake and pass runs, and a travel itinerary. Please send your dates and group size via WhatsApp. The contact is at the end of the post.
The four words hotel and transport included in a package offer can mean a variety of things.
When a package lists hotel and transport included, these four words bring about a lot of confusion for people.
On the hotel side: choice of one location or multiple stops throughout the valley; pick a specific room or a room within a given range; choice of breakfast or meals, possibly including dinner; packages where the lodging might be a guesthouse as opposed to a traditional hotel.
On the transport side: options for private or shared shuttle, vehicle choice for the Islamabad to Naran route, and whether the jeep to Saif-ul-Malook is an additional cost and booked on site; also whether you or the service provider cover the cost of fuel and tolls; and whether the operator provides/pay for the driver’s accommodation.
Each of those options should be clearly disclosed to you prior to you signing on the dotted line. If they are not disclosed, that is where you will find the “hidden” fees.
Islamabad to Naran: The N-15 is a paved and continuous road through Mansehra, Balakot, and along the Kaghan Valley. An SUV is more than adequate for this journey, and the travel time is typically 5 to 6 hours. The Islamabad to Mansehra stretch and Balakot to Naran stretch can take as much as 2 hours during peak summer traffic. Given the nature of the Balakot and Naran stretches, I would advise a coaster or a vehicle of similar size for groups larger than 6.
Naran to Saif-ul-Malook Lake. A 9km track along which standard cars cannot safely travel. Also, a 20-25 minute trip each way in a 4x4, which is available locally in Naran. This is the most important transport question for the whole package. The quoted price for the package does not usually include the trip to Saif-ul-Malook Lake in a jeep, and therefore this cost is to be incurred on arrival and is not insignificant. Confirm it before you finalize your travel plans.
Naran to Lulusar Lake. Around 50 km along the Babusar road to the north, and a jeep is required along a track for some part of this route. One could also add this to the same-day trip to Babusar Top.
Naran to Babusar Top. This pass (4,173 m) connects the Kaghan Valley to the Karakoram Highway at Chilas along a road that is better than that to Saif-ul-Malook Lake, and a 4x4 should be adequate for this. Typically, this is open for travel between late June and mid-October.
Naran to Shogran. At around 2,362 m, this place is along the side of the N-15 road and is reached by a side road from the Naran highway. This road is narrow and requires a bit of ground clearance, and is not like the jeep track to Saif-ul-Malook Lake. Shogran can be reached in a capable SUV.
Siri Paye is above Shogran. The traditional way to reach this is on horseback. Jeeps also go part of the way. Confirm with your travel agent how the package includes the journey to Siri Paye.
Naran. Central valley base, at 2,409 meters and with the most accommodations. Pine Park Hotel is the hotel with the most history along the river. Arcadian Riverside consistently receives great reviews. Dream Inn Naran is a guest favorite for midrange hotels. All three are conveniently located near the bazaar and the jeep stand for Saif-ul-Malook.
When considering rooms in Naran hotels, make sure to ask about the river view rooms. It's the difference between the mountain view rooms and rooms that overlook the Kunhar below, and why you stayed in Naran and why you stayed there.
Plan to book these hotels 3-4 months in advance for July and August. Both the Eid holidays and the 14 August weekend fill every hotel in the valley and double their prices.
Shogran. PTDC KPK Tourism's motel is the only confirmed option for Shogran and has a good, reliable view of the mountains. The smaller guesthouses fill in. If you have a confirmed Shogran night as part of your package, make sure to ask for the name of the motel to avoid getting the "a good hotel in Shogran" answer many operators give.
Bahrain. Located in mid-valley, around 1,400 meters elevation, with riverside hotels found on or around the confluence of the Swat and Kunhar rivers. Bahrain appeals to travelers looking to break their drive at a lower, easier-to-acclimate altitude and warmer elevation. It's also appealing to those who do not want to deal with the crowds and enjoy Naran's wooden balconied hotels and the Bahrain craft market. It's more of a first-day overnight stay than a base for the upper valley.
The exact name and location of the hotel, rather than just the town name. In Naran, the difference between the hotels on the river and the others higher up is significant. In Shogran, the difference between the PTDC Motel and the access road guest houses is similar.
Whether the room is a twin or a double is important for couples. Many of the hotels in Naran have a mix of rooms, and for a group the default allocation is twin.
Whether the jeep to Saif-ul-Malook is part of the package or an additional cost. If it is an additional cost, ask for the current price in order to facilitate your budget.
Whether the Babusar run jeep is part of the package. If Babusar Top or Lulusar is part of the itinerary, then the jeep for those specific days should definitely be part of the package.
Whether the cost of fuel and tolls for the main vehicle is included in the total, most real operators include it in the total. Some do not.
Be aware that some budget quotes exclude hotel and meals for drivers. These items tend to be added to the daily cost at the destination as an afterthought.
What days meals are included and at which hotel. A package that offers breakfast and dinner at the hotel covers meals at the two endpoints of the day. Lunch at Babusar Top or at Saif-ul-Malook is an additional cost unless the package explicitly states otherwise.
Three itinerary structures with hotel and transport listed:
Three nights, four days from Islamabad.
Day one: Private transport takes you from Islamabad to Naran Hotel. Check-in. Evening market visit.
Day two: Jeep to Saif-ul-Malook Lake; leave at 7 AM from the hotel, return to Naran at noon. Spend the rest of the day at the Lulusar Lake area.
Day three: Drive to Babusar Top, or do a day trip to Shogran and spend the night at a Shogran Hotel.
Day four: Return to Islamabad.
Four nights, five days.
Same as three nights, but with day four: Shogran and Siri Paye on the way to Islamabad; stay at Shogran the night before returning to Islamabad the next day.
Five nights, six days. The most inclusive itinerary.
Day 3, if traveling north, travel the full Babusar Top to Chilas, or rest in Naran with a hike to Ansoo Lake for those fit travelers who want some time to adjust to the altitude. Day 4, overnight in Shogran. Day 5, reach Siri Paye and the Paye meadows. Day 6, travel back to Islamabad.
The three- or four-night standard structure works best for families. The drive from Naran to Babusar Top, 4,173 meters, is steep and fast and may affect altitude for some small children. Plan a morning to rest in Naran if Babusar is on the plan.
For families with very small children, a stop in Shogran will be less taxing at 2,362 meters compared to traveling to the upper valley. The cool air, plenty of meadows, and a mountain climb with horses make it an excellent family vacation and require no travel to Babusar.
The room view in Naran is the next priority when booking; both Pine Park and Arcadian Riverside have these. Once confirmed, book the room type to avoid any hassle when you arrive.
The most useful thing for couples that travel packages arrange is the morning run to Saif-ul-Malook. Arriving at 9 AM before the pack of day trippers shows up and watching the still water and the reflection of Malika Parbat is best enjoyed with the right driver at the right time. It requires a private jeep arranged in advance; however, sometimes a shared jeep from the bazaar stand is sufficient.
A group of 12 or more requires a Coaster for the Islamabad to Naran route and will need a fleet of jeeps for Saif-ul-Malook. Saif-ul-Malook jeeps seat 5 to 8 passengers so that larger groups will require multiple jeeps. This is a logistics problem, and the operators who subcontract without coordinating will find themselves caught. Ask how many jeeps will be at the hotel on the Saif-ul-Malook morning and what happens if one does not show.
Confirm the hotel name and room type, not the town, in writing before confirming the booking.
Confirm if the jeep to Saif-ul-Malook is included in the package or if there will be a charge at the destination.
Confirm if the vehicle for the Islamabad to Naran route is a saloon, SUV, or Coaster. A regular sedan is adequate for the main road, but not for the tracks to the lake. If the same vehicle is used for everything, ask specifically how it manages the jeep sections.
Avoid booking Naran packages for July and August without a minimum of 3 months' advance booking. The worst scenario is the Eid weekends; all hotels are fully booked by then and the rates are doubled from the standard rates.
Do not plan the Babusar Top crossing when the forecast is for rain. The pass road will be more challenging in wet conditions, and the views that make Babusar worth it will be hidden in the clouds.
Make sure to carry cash. ATMs in Naran run out of money with the influx of weekend tourists. Most jeep operators, bazaar shops, and restaurants only accept cash.
Do not plan to return to Islamabad from Naran on a Sunday, particularly in July or August, as it is the worst traffic on this route.
Do you get a hotel and transport with a Naran Kaghan package? Confirm the details of what they mean by hotel and transport. Does this mean a guesthouse and transport? Some packages do offer transport and a guesthouse.
Do you get a jeep for Saif-ul-Malook with a Naran Kaghan package? This varies. Some packages include this, and some charge this separately at the destination. Confirm before you book.
What kind of jeep goes to Saif-ul-Malook Lake? A 4x4 jeep from the Naran jeep stand. Saloon cars cannot manage the track. This is non-negotiable.
What is the best hotel in Naran? Ask for river-facing rooms at Pine Park Hotel or Arcadian Riverside.
How many nights is the right length for a Naran Kaghan package? With 3 nights, you can visit Saif-ul-Malook, Lulusar, and Babusar. With 4 or 5 nights, you can visit Shogran as well, but you would not have time pressure.
Can you do a quick Naran Kaghan trip on the weekend? This is possible for Friday-to-Sunday travel from Islamabad, but the traffic in both directions is the worst you’ll likely see all season. If you can, go Thursday night or Monday.
Do Shogran nights get booked automatically? No, they do not. They are add-ons. Feel free to ask us about one if you want it.
We will give you confirmation of the hotel name and room type, vehicle arrangements for each section, and the jeep arrangement for Saif-ul-Malook prior to any payment. This will be followed by the price along with the inclusions and exclusions.
WhatsApp: +92 341 111 3777
Email: info@hospitalitytours.com
Head office: Office No. 2 & 3, Ground Floor, Parish Rose Plaza, Opposite NUST Gate 4, Sector H-13, Islamabad