Lahore to Naran Road / Drive Guide

Road Trips / Vacations / Hiking / Trekking

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devnmark (Junaid Siddiqui) 2013-04-18 11:15:13 +0500 #1

Hello Pakwheelers,

I am planning to go with my family to Naran this May insha Allah. I will be going on my own car till Naran. Will any frequent tourist to naran guide me the step by step way to Naran from Lahore. Like Start with Lahore Motorway then turn right/left cross this, cross that etc. I shall be very grateful to you. I searched a lot but I couldn't find the best guide. I visited Naran in 2011 but it was with my office colleagues and we were on office bus so I couldn't keep the track of the way.

I shall be very grateful to you.

Wassalam,
Junaid

shk_54 (shk_54) 2013-04-18 13:02:44 +0500 #2

Btw i suggest rather than going in May go in first week of june if u want to see the real beauty of the valley without getting ur car stucked in big glaciers
From Lahore take motorway and exit at Burhan which will come after Rawalpindi
From there take right on GT Road, Your direction would be towards Rawalpindi After travelling 4-6 Kms take left on Karakoram highway that will take you to Abbotabad and then Mansehra,, At Mansehra you better ask someone for the road going to Balakot as mostly first timers dont see the turn and go straight on KKH, once you are on that road, u can reach Naran after crossing Balakot and Kaghan....if u want to go to Shogran u will have to take shogran road from Kiwai which comes after Balakot.. For further details and road conditions check this thread... https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/road-trips-vacations/212878-kaghan-valley-latest-updates-2013-season

culty (culty) 2013-04-25 04:01:27 +0500 #3

Hi devnmark.

you can go in last week of May or 1st week of June,it will be off season , so u can get cheap hotels with good atmosphere, for more info inbox me ur number bualishahid@gmail.com, will guide u in detail, and its heavinly safe to go on car, just keep in mind it has gud tyres and battery.

Shahzad727 (Shahzad727) 2013-04-25 04:50:51 +0500 #4

shk gave u in detailed answer.right time 2 go therre in the m/o june.

waqqasnasir (waqqasnasir) 2013-04-25 05:06:59 +0500 #5

June is prefered for visiting Narran

devnmark (Junaid Siddiqui) 2013-04-28 17:23:57 +0500 #6

Thank you very much for your kind information on PakWheels. Will you please let me know the best but nearest time to go to Naran? I have 2013 model almost brand new car so drive is not an issue as you mentioned.

I just want to have a guide about the way towards Naran. I will start from Motorway to Islamabad and next please guide me in detail. If I start my traveling on 8:00 PM after Maghrib from Lahore (my home), will I be able to reach Naran next day before Maghrib? I don’t want to climb on mountains in dark / after Maghrib, especially when my family will be with me. Please also consider that I will have stays during driving every after 2 to 2.5 hours as I can’t sit more than 2 hours and I have to walk and rest for at least 30 to 45 minutes.

Jazzak Allah

shk_54 (shk_54) 2013-04-28 18:34:27 +0500 #7

devnmark;3851182:

Thank you very much for your kind information on PakWheels. Will you please let me know the best but nearest time to go to Naran? I have 2013 model almost brand new car so drive is not an issue as you mentioned.

I just want to have a guide about the way towards Naran. I will start from Motorway to Islamabad and next please guide me in detail. If I start my traveling on 8:00 PM after Maghrib from Lahore (my home), will I be able to reach Naran next day before Maghrib? I don’t want to climb on mountains in dark / after Maghrib, especially when my family will be with me. Please also consider that I will have stays during driving every after 2 to 2.5 hours as I can’t sit more than 2 hours and I have to walk and rest for at least 30 to 45 minutes.

Jazzak Allah

I guess u didn't read my post above I told u step by step instructions on route..
Don't leave at Maghrib time Naraan is not 24 hrs drive from Lahore
I usually leave at 1 am in night and reach Naraan between 12 pm to 1 pm I.e. in 11 to 12 hrs that also includes 1.5 hrs stop for tea at motorway, breakfast at mansehra and fuel, provided there is no land slide or any blockage on road
but as u said ull have more stops so u may take 2-4 hrs more so even if u start ur journey at 10 pm u can easily reach Naraan in afternoon OR u can leave in afternoon, night stay in abbotabad and leave early morning from abtd to Naraan if u want to have less hard drive...
As far as car is concerned at least I will not take my 2013 model car there bcoz no matter how gently u drive ur car, it will must hit from under at 4-5 places ... So think about it and if possible take 2-3 yrs old but FIT car

kazimriaz (kazimriaz) 2013-04-29 09:48:22 +0500 #8

i am planning to go to Naran with my Family after couple of days, after thinking a lot i decided to go on local convince as i feel that i am not enough good driver in such situations, i feel more comfortable to join with someone who is traveling to Naran with his family, if i go now what will be conditions out there and what places can be opened to visit in Naran area.
Your feedback will be very helpful for me.</SPAN>

Bruit (Bruit) 2013-04-29 10:34:13 +0500 #9

Devnmark, Buddy as SHK_54 said, take motorway North towards Islamabad/Peshawar, just keep on motorway once you CROSS Islamabad Exit/Interchange; Burhan should be the third interchange after Islamabad (Fatih Jang is I guess first, Brahma Bahtar is 2nd and Burhan is third interchange), once you get out of the Burhan Toll-plaza, take the G.T road towards Rawalpindi/Hassan Abdal. Once in Hassan Abdal, that's where KKH starts, the signboards clearly states Abbotabad (You shouldn't miss it), after an hour or 2 on KKH (Depends on your speed/traffic) you'll enter Mansehrah ask someone to guide you towards Balakot road. Once on that road, you can clearly see milestones for Kaghan/Naran...

While in Naran, do visit the hotels on Jheel-Road and see if you can negotiate hotel price. The location of these hotels are much much better than those in bazar.

I was there 6th-9th June last year, the weather and all were just perfect.

Naran and surroundings are as safe as Lahore including the route itself.

Any other help needed PM me.

Hassan

Wanderlust (Wanderlust) 2013-04-29 16:37:23 +0500 #10

Route has been adequately defined by other posters on this thread. Let me share my experience of last year with my family and you may tailor according to your physical and driving capabilities:

We started from Lahore @ 11 pm via motorway.
20 minutes stopover at Kallar Kahar and continued on Peshawar Motorway.
Exit at Burhan Interchange and continued on GT road
Left turn on GT road for KKH towards Abbottabad. You have to be watchful as this turn can be missed
It will be still dark and zero traffic so you can swiftly move towards Abbottabad.
Just before dawn, I was having my car refuelled at a gas station in Abbottabad.
At sunrise, I was on Mansehra bypass with little traffic. Asked policeman and he indicated the right turn toward Balakot
Mountain region started and it was day light now.... still peaceful on the road.
Had a stopover of about two hours just before Balakot for prayer, breakfast and for relaxing on the bank of Kunhar river.
Sun was up the mountains when we continued our final push for Naran
Non stop driving until just about 10km before Naran where we spotted a nice stop for soft drinks and pakoray (for 45 minutes stop)
Reached Naran at 11:30 am.

I hope this helps

devnmark (Junaid Siddiqui) 2013-04-30 08:53:24 +0500 #11

Thank you very much everybody for your replies. Now I know the way towards Naran and insha Allah I will visit in the end of May or early June as most of you people suggested that June will be the best but it will start the peak season so rents will be sky high. Anyways ..... AGAR AYYAASHII KERNI HE TO THORA BUHUT PESE KHARACH KERNE PARTE HAIN .....

It was too funny to me when somebody told me about Google Earth ...................... and see the way towards Naran from Google Earth ............ LOLZZZZ ...... But the information you people provided ....... it doesn't have any replacement for that so Thank you very much once again ........

Wanderlust (Wanderlust) 2013-04-30 10:49:43 +0500 #12

If you can go by 3rd or 4th week of May or during Sep then dont go during "on" season. There will be no AYYAASHII but sheer "peerh" and a lot of "cheekayn".... at every nice spot there will be brigade of people. At lake saiful malook, there were at least 200 jeeps if not 500.

I am planning for a trip after elections INSHALLAH as my eyes are still searching for the same naran of 1994 that was peaceful. May be I will get the same feeling during "off" season.

devnmark (Junaid Siddiqui) 2013-04-30 11:00:03 +0500 #13

I think in 3rd or 4th Week, roads will not be fully opened, I am afraid as per my last year research and also last year threads suggest that in end May there is still possibility that road will be blocked. I don't want to spoil my trip ... I am hoping that there will be good news from tourists regarding road conditions and so I could go in mid of May or as soon as possible.

I know what you are taking about regarding rush during peak season but I don't have other choice but to go as early as possible becasue in July Ramadhan will start and in August / September rainy season starts and I don't want to risk my family's life ....

shk_54 (shk_54) 2013-04-30 11:05:31 +0500 #14

Luckily i have had chance of seeing Naraan two times in very less crowd, last year Start September and in May 2011

Wanderlust (Wanderlust) 2013-04-30 11:17:33 +0500 #15

Cool. Please share your experience. Thx

shk_54 (shk_54) 2013-04-30 12:18:23 +0500 #16

In May 2011, season has just started and we had to cross many glaciers between Kaghan-Naraan, weather was chilly at night and room rates were very reasonable however we could not go ahead of Naraan as road was closed after 3-4 kms from Naraan.. Lake saifulmuluk jeep track was also closed and we had to walk on ice to get there and see the lake frozen...one bad experience was that since it was season start expired cold drinks, water, snacks were being sold every where in ans around valley...
Last year we intentionally chose end end august and sep start bcoz. of 2011 experience, and were able to see shogran, naran, jhalkad, lake lulusar, saifulmuluk and lalazaar... it was rainy but fortunately it didnt rain when we were going to naraan and when we were coming back.. however slight rain used to be during night.. we went approx. two weeks after eid and we came to know that one week before us Naraan was crouded like murree and room rates and jeep rates were sky high.. but we were fortunate to find peace when we went there

ranasherdil (ranasherdil) 2013-04-30 15:06:09 +0500 #17

From 1st June, TDCP Bus from Rawalpindi to Naran will be started.

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For cost cutting you can also reside in camps. Families also reside in camps. These camps are already installed in secure camp villages. You may hire Rs. 500 or less also in peak season also.

M.rehman786 (M.rehman786) 2013-06-01 09:10:19 +0500 #18

Wanderlust;3852744:

Route has been adequately defined by other posters on this thread. Let me share my experience of last year with my family and you may tailor according to your physical and driving capabilities:

We started from Lahore @ 11 pm via motorway.
20 minutes stopover at Kallar Kahar and continued on Peshawar Motorway.
Exit at Burhan Interchange and continued on GT road
Left turn on GT road for KKH towards Abbottabad. You have to be watchful as this turn can be missed
It will be still dark and zero traffic so you can swiftly move towards Abbottabad.
Just before dawn, I was having my car refuelled at a gas station in Abbottabad.
At sunrise, I was on Mansehra bypass with little traffic. Asked policeman and he indicated the right turn toward Balakot
Mountain region started and it was day light now.... still peaceful on the road.
Had a stopover of about two hours just before Balakot for prayer, breakfast and for relaxing on the bank of Kunhar river.
Sun was up the mountains when we continued our final push for Naran
Non stop driving until just about 10km before Naran where we spotted a nice stop for soft drinks and pakoray (for 45 minutes stop)
Reached Naran at 11:30 am.

I hope this helps

Dear Wanderlust,

Would you pls so nice of you if you could help to find the right pat from Abotabd to Mansehra ?? YOu said Mansehra bypass, how to differenciate between by pass and mansehra old road ??

Or is that the same road goes to Mansehra which is called GT road on which we will be going to abbotabad from hasan abdal ?? I mean this same road will go to mansehra ??

Also pls confirm if there is some shortcut road to by pass abbotabd city traffic ??

Bundle of thanks dear.

ranasherdil (ranasherdil) 2013-06-01 15:02:55 +0500 #19

Get some help

cheema123 (cheema123) 2013-06-24 16:23:56 +0500 #20

Helo friends I want to go naran with my family from lahore in the first week of July in my own car corrola Gli 2011
Plz give me the details. Can I go on CNG?what the hotels condition and rates waiting for Ur help