A Trip to Naran, Kaghan Valley

During the summer of 2019, from 08th June to 13th June 2019, we made a trip to the Naran-Kaghan valley. We were a group of 5 families, around 22 peoples including men, women and children.

We started our trip from Karachi on the morning of 08th June 2019 from Cantt Station Karachi. Unfortunately, since this was the 3rd day of Eid ul Fitr vacations, we were not able to get any AC train booking and had to settle on whatever options were available, it was 3 economy compartments in Rehman Baba Express. This turns out to be a fatal mistake since the travelling from a non-AC train in the peek of summer turned out to be lethal. Though we suffered alot but Alhamdulillah, we all reached to Rawalpindi Cantt station safe and sound, next morning.

On cantt station our ride, a 25 seater AC/Heating coaster was waiting for us with driver, which we've already booked through our tour operator (HKH Adventure Club Karachi). After setting up, we headed to a near by hotel (Hotel Burj Al Hateem) in Rawalpindi to get freshed up as the train travel have already consumed all our strengths and patience.

We quickly took bath, changed cloths and had our breakfast at a near by hotel in Rawalpindi. From there we started our journey towards Balakot, which was our first overnight stop. On the way we stopped at a popular spot, "Neelam Point". Sitting in the water of river Neelam which comes from Kashmir, this spot is very famous for it's sitting arrangements and Trout.

It was a very delightful and refreshing location specially for the kids. We moved on from Neelam point after sun sets and reached at Balakot in night. The weather in Balakot was very nice and the hotel (Hotel Mountain Track) was also good, we were all too tired by the time and felt to sleep immediately.

In the following morning we visited the near by river Kunhar which was on walking distance from out hotel. It was very cold and fast, all that melting water coming from glaciers were too refreshing to look and feel at.


We filled our tummies with yummy breakfast made by hotel and move to next stop Kiwai, Shogran and Siri & Paya Medows. We stopped at the Kiwai waterfall for some refreshment. From there the ride to Shogran, Siri and Paya medowes are through 4x4 jeeps.

The ride in the Jeep to Paya medows was horrendous and hence unforgetable. However the views and scenaries from the top of Paya medows were breathtaking. We hop onto horses and went as far as the base camp of Makra peak at Paya meadows.

After spending 3 to 4 hours there we climbed down the Paya medowes to Kiwai and from there started towards the next stop in our Journcy, "Naran". There were lots of good scenaries, glaciers and waterfalls in between.

We reached at Naran, late night and stayed in our hotel, here we have 2 nigh stays. The hotel (Hotel Lucky Inn) has very beautifull view and located just under the footstep of the way to the majestic lake Saif ul Malook. There is no electricity and Gas in Naran and Generators, Gas Cylinders and Wood are the only available sources. The weather in Naran, Kaghan is very unpredictable. The night we reached there it was a pleasant weather, suddenly it started raining and in the morning we had severe cold weather with heavy fog.