Suggestion for trip to naran kaghan valley from karachi with family

[Farry1]

hi,

I am very first time to plan family trip to northern areas through own car that would be expected to go in last week of this month.
Me, wife with infant and 3 kids are looking to explore naran valley but no have exactly how to explore the best, so that's why here to ask support from experts to make my visit enjoyable and less hassel

I have a plan something like that we started journey from karachi while night staying at relatives home
first Sukkur than multan/faisalabad and islamabad
Now need an advise from islamabad to naraan, I have one week from Islamabad onward so:
1- what are the places of kagan naran areas that i can see safely with family especially with infant
2- does travelling through my own car is safe for me with kids as i am first time drive on hills area
3- Does google map's support me as i am use to of google map while traveling to anywhere to get easy access
4, what are the recommendation of night stay places and hottle guidance
5. further guidance to make my trip more good and ejoyable

pls advise

[zuhaibhyder767798]

hi,
1. Day 1, Islamabad to Kiwai, park your car, and book a jeep upto Shogran, book a hotel and enjoy.
Day 2. visit Siri Paye in morning, then drive back to Kiwai, take your car and go to Naran (night stay).
Day 3. visit straight to Babusar top, it will took 4 hours (one side) if you enjoy your ride with short breaks on beautiful places in between, came back and stay in Naran, one more suggestion you can alslo stay in Batakundi (14kilometer after Naran) for second night, as it is very scenic place and luxury hotels are available, only telenor simm works there.
Day 4. you can visit to Lalazar (it is in batakundi) by Jeep, from batakundi they will charge you 2500, came back to naran and visit Saifulmalook by Jeep, from naran they will charge you 2500 to 3500.
Day 5. you can came back to Islamabad. If you have one more day then from Abottabad you can go on Nathia Gali road and night stay there and came back to islamabad next day.

2. as far as driving skills are concerns, if you drive slow and gently you will have no problem in hilly areas, just be careful on blind turns as most public vehicles double cross on blind turns, so just use horn as precautionary measures.
in naran few places need some heart to cross water streams, i recently went naran, from naran to batakundi there is one place where upto 1300 cc cars stuck in water stream but there are persons who will pushed the car till you cross that place, hopefully till the time you visit they will clear the road, i visited on 5 june.
i've seen civic cross that place easily due to its power (1800 cc)
My suggestion is to take atleast 1000cc car. however Mehran Boss also has no issue

3. Download offline google maps, as after naran you will not have internet, GPS will work only.

4. you can search on google you will find luxury to normal hotels, choose according to your bugget. In batakundi "Magnum Hotel" and "Regal Inn" are nice luxury hotels with 3500 to 5000 per night for 3 bed, do bargain

5. I've shared possible trip itenarary above in point 1.

[Farry1]

Many thanks for your detailed guidance, its seem quite good plan

Does ride on jeep is safe for infant with 3 kids who 3 to 7 year old, but have wish to see mentioned points
also the moon soon season is started does this effect while driving, i have Corrola 2012 1300cc
further appreciated if time to In or Out for the places for safe side and to avoid rush

[zuhaibhyder767798]

Welcome.

Ride on jeep is safe, when i went siri paye i had one baby age 4 year and one of age 2 years, no issue with kids. however few babies have issues while riding on car as well, for that i keep Gravinate syrup with me, before starting a trip give this syrup to child which have problem
better to leave Islamabad at 3AM, you will reach mansehra at 5AM, sunrise/day light time is 4:20AM , this is just to avoid hot weather during travel. i always do the same.
with this itinerary you are able to go to siri paye on same day,

During last visit i reached Naran at 2 PM without any hurdle, I've heard to reach Naran before 3PM because almost 10, 15 kilometre ahead of NARAN a DAM is being constructing and one traveller stated that after 3PM that 30 minute patch face traffic jam and will require 3 hour to cross. i think if you are travelling on weekdays then you won't face any issue.

I prefer to left for Babusar Top as early as possible to avoid rush near Glacier areas, because at few places one car can pass at a time, so traffic jam can be faced. Traffic only faced while going towards babusar, because on coming back it will be already 5pm or 6 pm, and after 4 PM no one is allowed to go to babusar from naran side.

Currently there were glacier on SaifulMalook road, hence tourists faced lot of traffic jam during day, but by the time you visit it will be all ok, on clear road saiful malook is only 1 hour ride from naran. to avoid rush and enjoy calmness you can leave early .

[Farry1]

Thanks again

hmm 3AM is quite early for kids:slight_smile: I will plan to leave in week days but try to manage as early in morning,
well where to be parked the car in kiwai it is safe with some luggage.
further what about the lulusar lake
and brother you have suggested two ride on day 4 it seems that kids may avoid 2nd ride if I could escape any one so which one and what would be the alternate...

[zuhaibhyder767798]

yes but travelling in hot day is also not a good option, this time i left islamabad at 7AM and reach naran at 2PM, with few short breaks, and AC was on through out NARAN.
yes Lalazar can be skipped, but you can manage it on day 5 as well if you want to visit, you can check my youtube video on road condition and Lalazar Top
Do subscribe this channel, i will also upload new video of my visit of Naran today Inshallah.

BataKundi to Lalazar

Coming back from Lalazar to Batakundi

[Farry1]

What about you suggest from babusar top to Hunza through own car

[zuhaibhyder767798]

Yes that's also a good ride
But be careful while going down from babusar top on chillas side, keep your car in second gear, don't use breaks much, otherwise break will heat up because it is continuous slope of 30 minutes almost.
Road from Chilas to Raikot Bridge is not in good condition, it is bumpy and have some unpaved paches, it will take almost 1 hour 30 minutes to cross, after Raikot Bridge Road is in excellent condition.

[Farry1]

How are the roads i heared that naran is jam packed and hotels too due to crowded