- Home
- Northern Areas Tours
- Naran and Kaghan
Hazara Motorway to the Kaghan Valley
Rent a Car from Islamabad to Naran and Kaghan
A family in G-11 wants three days in Naran before the Babusar road closes for the season. A group of friends from Bahria Town is planning a trip to Saif ul Malook Lake in August. An office team from Blue Area wants a Grand Cabin for a long weekend at Kaghan. This is the trip our Islamabad to Naran rent a car service is built for, pickup at your door in Islamabad or Rawalpindi, one driver for the whole way up and back.
We are a car and driver service, not a tour package. If you are comparing car rental from Islamabad to Naran options against a hotel and transport package, know upfront that Taiba supplies only the vehicle and the driver. Hotel bookings and the local jeep to Saif ul Malook are arranged by you at the destination.
- 270 to 290 kmApproximate distance
- 6 to 7 hrsOn the road
- 2,409 mNaran elevation
- +65 kmOn to Babusar Top
M-15 Hazara Motorway, then N-15 through Balakot
No Self Drive
Every booking on this route comes with our own driver. We do not send a car to Naran without a driver, so there is no licence check and no self drive option to ask about. Our office is in PWD Society, close to the Islamabad Expressway, and our drivers already know the road up through Abbottabad and Mansehra.
WhatsApp or call +92 306 5461192 with your travel date, your group size and how many days you plan to stay, and we will suggest a car and send a quote.
The road up
Distance and Travel Time
M-15 Hazara Motorway, 180 km
- Hasan Abdal
- Havelian
- Abbottabad
- Mansehra
N-15 National Highway, 240 km to Chilas
- Balakot
- Kaghan
- Naran2,409 m
- Babusar Topabout 65 km further
The route runs from Islamabad or Rawalpindi onto the Hazara Motorway, also called the M-15, which covers 180 kilometers from Hasan Abdal to Thakot through Havelian, Abbottabad and Mansehra (Wikipedia, M-15 motorway). From Mansehra the road becomes the N-15 National Highway, which continues 240 kilometers through the Kaghan Valley to Chilas, passing Balakot, Kaghan and Naran along the way (Wikipedia, N-15 National Highway).
There is no single official figure for the exact kilometers from Islamabad to Naran town, so we will not quote one as fact. Based on the M-15 and N-15 route above, expect somewhere around 270 to 290 kilometers, and plan for roughly 6 to 7 hours on the road. The real number on your travel day depends on where in Islamabad or Rawalpindi you start, how much traffic is on the motorway, and how many stops you make through Abbottabad and Balakot.
Naran town itself sits at an elevation of about 2,409 meters, and Babusar Top is roughly 65 kilometers further north (Wikipedia, Naran).
Six vehicles for the valley
Which Car Suits This Trip
Toyota Corolla
A couple or small family, a straightforward trip to Naran town in season
- 4x4
Toyota Revo (4x4)
A group that wants a stronger vehicle, or a trip that may continue toward Babusar Top
- 4x4
Toyota Vigo (4x4)
Similar to the Revo, booked when the Revo is not free
- 4x4
Toyota Prado (4x4)
Early or late season trips, larger groups, or anyone who wants extra comfort on the mountain stretch
Hiace Grand Cabin
A family gathering or a small group heading to Naran or Kaghan together
Toyota Coaster
An office outing or a larger group, this vehicle also runs the Kaghan and Naran road on request
A normal car like the Corolla manages the Naran road well in good weather, in the middle of the season. The Revo and Prado in our fleet are both 4x4, and these are the vehicles we send if the trip pushes on toward Babusar Top, or if you are travelling early or late in the season when the weather can turn. None of our vehicles, including the Grand Cabin and Coaster, go past the point where the road becomes a jeep track. That matters for Saif ul Malook, explained below.
Group trip? See our Grand Cabin and Coaster
Per day, not per km
How Pricing Works
Naran and Kaghan trips are priced per day, not per kilometer. If you are searching for a Naran trip rate, know that the figure changes with fuel prices and with the exact car and number of days, so we do not publish a fixed table here. Message us your travel dates and the vehicle you want on WhatsApp and we will send the figure before you book.
There are two ways to structure the cost. In a lump sum, the company covers fuel, tolls and parking inside the quoted rate. In the pay as you go option, sometimes called “bachat,” you pay these expenses directly as the trip runs. We will explain both and let you pick the one that suits your trip.
Option A
Lump sum
- Car and driver
- Fuel
- M-15 toll
- Parking
All inside the quoted rate
Option B
Pay as you go “bachat”
- Car and driver in the quote
- You pay fuel as you go
- You pay the M-15 toll
- You pay parking
Expenses paid directly on the trip
Fuel, Tolls and Driver Costs
The vehicle and the driver are included in every quote. Which of the two pricing modes above applies decides who pays for fuel, the M-15 toll and parking along the way, and we confirm this with you before the trip starts.
Staying overnight in Naran or Kaghan adds the driver’s food and a place for him to sleep, and this sits outside the vehicle rate. Budget PKR 1,000 to 1,500 a night for this, in line with what other northern area trips from Taiba typically run.
Dates shift every year
Best Time to Go and Road Closures
- Open
- Opens during the month (21 Apr 2026; Babusar around mid July)
- Closed, or not fully open
- Peak, books out quickly
The Kaghan and Naran road closes for winter most years and reopens once the district administration and the National Highway Authority clear the snow and ice. Last season the road was shut from November 2025 and reopened to all traffic on 21 April 2026, with Naran town clearing first and the stretch toward Babusar Top opening in stages afterward (The Express Tribune, Naran road reopens). This is a yearly pattern, not a one time event; the road has reopened for the season in previous years too (The Express Tribune, earlier season reopening).
Babusar Top itself opens later than the Naran road and closes earlier. Wikipedia records the pass as fully accessible only from around mid July until the end of September, with heavy snowfall closing it through winter (Wikipedia, Babusar Pass). Do not assume the Naran road opening date and the Babusar Top opening date are the same. Dates shift by a few weeks every year, so we check the current road status with you before you leave.
If the Road Is Blocked
If a landslide, snowfall or an official closure affects your travel date, message us as soon as you know and we will work out a new date or discuss a refund based on the situation, the same policy that applies across all our northern tours. If your trip is already underway and a closure adds extra days on the road, those extra days are billed at the same daily rate.
Along the valley
Places to Visit
Balakot and Kaghan are the two towns you pass before reaching Naran, and both make a reasonable stop to stretch your legs on the way up. Naran bazaar is the base for the valley, with shops, hotels and the jeep stand for Saif ul Malook Lake.
Saif ul Malook Lake
The last 9 km is jeep only
- Our carIslamabad to Naran bazaar
- Jeep standSwitch to a local 4x4 jeep
- The lake45 minutes to an hour each way
- PKR 2,000 to 2,500One way
- PKR 3,000 to 5,000Round trip
- 6 to 7People per jeep
The last 9 kilometers from Naran town up to Saif ul Malook Lake is a rough, steep track open only to local 4x4 jeeps driven by drivers who know it, and the ride takes about 45 minutes to an hour each way (Nature Adventure Club, Saif ul Malook Lake). Jeep fares from Naran bazaar run roughly PKR 2,000 to 2,500 one way, or PKR 3,000 to 5,000 round trip, seating 6 to 7 people, and these are booked and paid for locally, not through us.
Shogran and Siri Paye
Shogran and Siri Paye sit off the same road, reached from a turnoff near Kawai below Balakot, and getting up to the Siri Paye meadows also means switching to a local jeep for the last stretch. If Shogran interests you, tell us and we can plan a stop at the turnoff, though the jeep portion itself is a separate booking at the location.
Babusar Top
If your dates allow it and the road is open that far, Babusar Top itself is a common extension past Naran, with the Prado or Revo as the right choice for that stretch.
Past Naran the road also passes Batakundi and Lulusar Lake before the climb to Babusar Top. Besal is the village where the trek to Dudipatsar Lake begins, and Lalazar is a high meadow reached by a jeep track, so for those two the last stretch is a local jeep, booked at the location in the same way as the Saif ul Malook jeep.
Are your drivers police verified?
- Every driver is police verified, with his CNIC kept on file.
- None of our drivers have less than 5 years of experience.
- The Hazara Motorway and the Kaghan Valley road through Balakot and Naran are routes our drivers cover regularly, not roads they are learning on your trip.
- No licence and no security deposit are ever asked of you.
Booking Your Naran Trip
Tell us on WhatsApp your travel dates, how many days in Naran or Kaghan, and your group size.
We match a car to the trip, factoring in the season and whether Babusar Top is part of the plan, and send you the daily rate.
A 20 percent advance locks in the booking, with the rest settled as the trip goes.
The driver reaches your address in Islamabad or Rawalpindi on the day you asked for.
Peak season, from June through August, books out quickly, so a few days’ notice helps secure the car and driver you want. A CNIC, NICOP or passport copy is needed to book.
Cancellation and Refund
Cancel at least 4 days before your travel date for a full refund.
Areas We Cover for Rent a Car Islamabad to Naran
Pickup
- Blue Area
- F-6
- F-7
- F-8
- F-10
- F-11
- G-9
- G-10
- G-11
- DHA
- Bahria Town
- PWD Society in Islamabad
- Saddar
- Chaklala in Rawalpindi
Destination
- Naran
- Kaghan
- Balakot
- Babusar Top when the road is open
Planning more of the north? See Northern Areas Tours, or a shorter hill trip on Islamabad to Murree.
Why Choose Taiba for Naran and Kaghan
A driver who has already made this trip, through Abbottabad, Mansehra and Balakot, not someone finding the road for the first time with you in the car.
A real office you can visit. Shop #3, Shahzaib Plaza, near Habibi Restaurant, PWD Society, Islamabad.
Every car is insured, and a breakdown inside the city gets a replacement within 1 hour, at no cost to you.
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 16 Google reviews.
Open 24 hours, for an early departure or a late return from the valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to rent a car from Islamabad to Naran?
It depends on the vehicle, the number of days and whether you choose the lump sum or pay as you go pricing mode. Message us your dates on WhatsApp and we will send the exact rate.
How far is Naran from Islamabad, and how long does the drive take?
Expect roughly 270 to 290 kilometers and about 6 to 7 hours, using the Hazara Motorway and then the N-15 through Balakot. The exact time depends on your starting point and traffic on the day.
Can a normal car like a Corolla make it to Naran?
Yes, in season and in good weather. For trips continuing toward Babusar Top, or for early or late season travel, we send the Revo or Prado, both 4x4.
Is fuel included in the price?
It depends on the pricing mode you choose. In the lump sum option, fuel and tolls are included in the quoted rate. In the pay as you go option, you cover these directly as the trip runs. We confirm this with you before booking.
Do I need a 4x4 jeep for Saif ul Malook Lake?
Yes. The final stretch from Naran town to the lake is only open to local 4x4 jeeps, booked at Naran bazaar for around PKR 2,000 to 2,500 one way. Our vehicles drop you at the jeep point; the jeep itself is a separate local booking.
Is the Naran and Kaghan road open right now?
The road usually closes for winter and reopens in spring, though the exact dates shift each year. We check current road status with you before every departure, so you know before you leave, not after.
Who pays for the driver’s food and stay if we go overnight?
The customer. On the Naran and Kaghan route this typically runs PKR 1,000 to 1,500 a night, on top of the vehicle rate.
What happens if the road is blocked by a landslide or snowfall during our trip?
We tell you as soon as we know. If the trip runs longer because of a closure, the extra days are billed at the same daily rate as the rest of the booking.
Is a Grand Cabin or Coaster available for a group trip to Naran?
Yes, both travel this route for a family or office group, within the same road limits as our other vehicles, meaning no jeep tracks.
Other Routes from Islamabad
Planning a longer trip north? The same driver and car can cover more than one destination. Ask us on WhatsApp to combine routes.
- Islamabad to Murree and Nathia GaliThe closest hill station, reached on the Murree Expressway.
- Islamabad to SwatThe Swat Motorway to Mingora, Bahrain and Kalam.
- Islamabad to Muzaffarabad and Neelum ValleyThrough Murree and Kohala into Azad Kashmir.
- Islamabad to HunzaThe Karakoram Highway through Besham, Chilas and Gilgit.
See all destinations on our Northern Areas Tours page, or compare our cars with driver and the Grand Cabin and Coaster.
Need a car in the city before or after the trip? See car rental in Islamabad with driver, our budget cars or luxury cars.
Going further north on the Karakoram Highway? See Islamabad to Skardu and Islamabad to Gilgit.
One driver, up and back
Plan Your Naran or Kaghan Trip
For a car and driver from Islamabad or Rawalpindi to Naran and Kaghan, WhatsApp or call +92 306 5461192 with your travel dates and group size.
Taiba & Friends Motors Rent a Car
Shop #3, Shahzaib Plaza, near Habibi Restaurant, Block A Sector A PWD Society, Islamabad, 46000, Pakistan
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
Last updated: