Every summer, roughly 1.5 million tourists visit Naran Kaghan. Of those, perhaps 95% visit the same four destinations: Saif ul Malook Lake, Babusar Top, Shogran/Siri Paye and Naran Bazaar itself. These are magnificent — but the Kaghan Valley has dozens of other destinations that are equally breathtaking and virtually empty of visitors. Here are five of the finest, with practical guidance on how to reach them.
1. Dudipatsar Lake — The Queen of Lakes (4,200m)
If Lake Saif ul Malook is the “Prince’s Lake,” then Dudipatsar is the undisputed queen. Situated at 4,200 metres in a remote glacial basin approximately 35km northwest of Naran, Dudipatsar is widely considered one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the entire Himalayan-Karakoram system — and it receives perhaps 2,000–3,000 visitors annually compared to Saif ul Malook’s 500,000+. The lake is surrounded by permanent snowfields even in August, with dramatically jagged peaks reflected in its extraordinary dark-blue water.
How to reach: The standard route begins at Besal village (3,170m), 65km north of Naran on the Babusar road. From Besal, a 2-day trek covers approximately 22km to the lake (overnight camping at the intermediate camp at Gittidas, 3,800m). The trek is moderate-to-strenuous — no technical climbing but long days with significant altitude gain. NaranTours can arrange a certified guide, camping equipment and packed meals for the Dudipatsar expedition. Best season: late July to early September.
2. Noori Top — At the Roof of Kaghan (5,012m)
Noori Top at 5,012 metres is the highest point accessible on foot in the Kaghan Valley — a challenging mountaineering objective that rewards successful summiters with views of Nanga Parbat (8,126m), the Karakoram range and the entire Kaghan Valley spread out below. The summit stands on the KPK-AJK border, with the Neelum Valley descending steeply on the eastern face.
How to reach: The trailhead is at Jalkhad village (2,800m), 25km north of Naran. From Jalkhad, the approach trek takes 2–3 days via Saral Lake (3,400m) before the steep final push to the summit. This is a serious mountaineering undertaking — experience in high-altitude trekking, proper gear (crampons, ice axe in early season) and a certified local guide are mandatory. Not suitable for casual hikers. Best season: July to September. Register with DC Mansehra before undertaking this trek.
3. Saral Lake — The Mirror in the Mountains (3,400m)
Saral Lake at 3,400 metres near Jalkhad is one of Kaghan’s finest accessible-but-uncrowded alpine lakes — a 4–5 hour day trek from Jalkhad through rhododendron forest and alpine meadows. The lake is roughly circular, approximately 300 metres in diameter, surrounded by grassy banks that in July are carpeted with wildflowers. A small glacier feeds the lake from the north, creating crystal-clear blue-green water.
How to reach: Drive/jeep from Naran to Jalkhad (25km, 30 minutes by 4×4 or taxi). From Jalkhad, the well-established trail climbs steadily through pine forest, opens into a high alpine meadow section, and arrives at the lake in 4–5 hours. Day trek possible with an early start. Best season: June to September. Local guide recommended from Jalkhad village (Rs. 1,000–1,500/day). Truly stunning and virtually uncrowded.
4. Katora Lake — The Teacup Lake (3,900m)
Katora Lake gets its name from the Urdu word for “bowl” or “teacup” — an apt description of this perfectly round glacial lake at 3,900 metres, set in a near-circular rock depression above the Battakundi village. The lake is one of the highest accessible day-trek objectives near Naran and is largely unknown outside serious Kaghan hiking communities.
How to reach: Start from Battakundi village (2,700m), 20km north of Naran. The 3.5–4 hour ascent gains approximately 1,200 metres via a clear but steep trail through successive ecological zones: forest, then rhododendron scrub, then bare alpine meadow, finally the boulder-strewn approach to the lake itself. The views from the lake rim encompass the full Kaghan upper valley including Babusar Top. Best season: July–August. No formal guide required but local knowledge helps with route finding near the summit section.
5. The Upper Sharan Valley — Pakistan’s Finest Cedar Wilderness
Most visitors who make it to Sharan Valley stop at the main clearing (see our Sharan Valley guide). But the upper Sharan Valley — accessible by a further 8km of increasingly rough jeep track or a 3-hour walk from the main clearing — is in a different category altogether. The trees here are older, denser and more magnificent: true old-growth cedar forest where individual trees can measure 3 metres in trunk diameter, their canopies so dense that mid-afternoon feels like dusk beneath them.
The upper valley culminates in a series of beautiful mountain meadows at approximately 2,800–3,000 metres, each one a perfect grassy clearing surrounded by ancient cedars with wildflower borders and a clear stream running through. The contrast between the dark, cathedral-like forest and the vivid green meadows creates a landscape that many visitors describe as the most beautiful they have seen anywhere in Pakistan. Essentially zero visitors reach the upper valley — it requires either a serious trekking mindset or access to a high-clearance jeep and a knowledgeable local driver. Contact NaranTours for logistics.
Planning Your Exploration of Unexplored Kaghan
All five of these destinations require advance planning. Key logistics: Certified local guides are essential for Dudipatsar, Noori Top and Katora Lake (arrange through NaranTours at least 3 days in advance). Camping equipment for multi-day objectives — NaranTours can supply tents, sleeping bags, cooking gear and porter services. Weather window — all these destinations above 3,500m are accessible only in a narrow July–September window; check conditions with local guides before committing. Physical preparation — high-altitude trekking requires cardiovascular fitness; complete a 2-hour uphill walk test at home altitude before attempting any of these routes. Spend at least 2 nights in Naran (2,409m) for acclimatization before ascending above 3,500m.
The reward for the additional effort is unambiguous: landscapes of extraordinary beauty, experienced in near-complete solitude, in a valley that most Pakistani tourists pass through without ever discovering its deepest wilderness.