Babusar Top Temperature by Month: Highest, Lowest and Snow

Babusar Top is a cold place even in summer. At 4,173 metres, the pass between Naran and Chilas has typical daytime highs of about 11 to 12°C in July and August, and nights that hover around freezing in the same months. From November to April daytime temperatures stay below zero, and winter nights fall below minus 15°C.

There is no weather station on the pass, so any monthly figure is an estimate. The table below is modelled data for the summit, worked out from reanalysis records for 2015 to 2024 and adjusted to 4,173 metres. Treat it as a guide to what is normal, not a forecast: a single clear day in July can reach the high teens, and a storm can bring snow in any month.

Babusar Top temperature by month

The figures below are average daytime highs and night-time lows, rounded to the nearest degree. Real days vary by several degrees either side, and gusty wind makes the top feel colder than the number.

Two things stand out. First, only July and August have a night low above freezing on average, and even then only just. Second, June and September are close in daytime temperature but not in what surrounds you: June has snow banked beside the road and September has bare ground, which is why the two trips feel different.

How much colder is it than Naran or Gilgit?

Air cools by roughly 6 to 7°C for every 1,000 metres you climb, so the summit is about 10 to 12°C colder than Naran on the same day, before wind is counted. Chilas, on the far side, is far lower and much hotter in summer, so the descent towards Gilgit-Baltistan can feel like driving into another season.

That is why the number on your phone in Naran is a poor guide. Look up the forecast for the pass itself, not for the town, and assume the top will be colder and windier than what the forecast says for the valley floor.

Time of day matters as much as the month

On a July day the summit is usually at its best between mid-morning and early afternoon, when the sun has warmed the ground but cloud has not built up. Early morning is very cold, often close to freezing even in midsummer. Late afternoon brings the cloud, the wind and the risk of showers.

If you are crossing from Naran to Chilas, start early enough to be at the top before midday. If you are making a day trip to the summit and back, the same rule applies, and it also keeps you off the road after dark.

The highest and lowest temperatures

In the modelled data the warmest days on the summit reach about 17 to 18°C, in July and August. Those are the exceptions rather than the norm, and they need clear sky and still air.

The lowest values sit around minus 30 to minus 34°C on the coldest winter nights. That is not a range anyone drives through: the road is closed to traffic at that time of year. Dawn's report on the closure in October 2023 quotes the Diamer administration saying that night temperatures at Babusar Top usually go below minus 15°C in winter, which fits the model.

Real conditions on any day are colder than the average suggests once wind and cloud are counted. Do not plan your clothing around the daytime high alone.

Summer: what it actually feels like

July and August are the months most people go. Starting from Naran, at roughly 2,400 metres, you climb about 1,800 metres in a few hours, and the change is sharp. It can be a warm morning at Lake Saif ul Malook or in the town and a cold wind with cloud at the summit.

Expect these on a typical July day:

• Bright sun and cold shade. The sun is intense at this altitude, and a cold breeze cancels the warmth.
• Afternoon cloud and showers. Weather builds later in the day, so go up in the morning if you can.
• Rain at the top can be sleet or snow. A shower that is rain in Naran can fall as sleet at the summit.

Short stops are comfortable in a fleece and a windproof layer. A long picnic is not, unless you carry a proper jacket.

Spring and autumn: the shoulder months

June is when the pass is often just opening, with the top still cold and snow banked along the road. Most of the day is below 10°C, and nights drop below freezing. Dawn reported travellers being urged to take care on 31 May 2026 because of continuing snowfall and one-way stretches on the Naran road, just after it reopened following the winter closure.

September is clear and cold, with fewer visitors. By October the summit average is around 1°C by day and minus 9°C at night, and early snow can close the road, as happened on 15 October 2023, when dozens of travellers were stranded before being rescued to Chilas, and again in late October 2024, when traffic was stopped after heavy snowfall between Batakundi and the top.

For the closing and opening dates of the road, see our post on whether Babusar Top is open or closed.

Winter: why nobody drives it

From about November the average day high is below zero, and heavy snow accumulates on the high road. The route is closed to vehicles for several months each year, with traffic diverted to the Karakoram Highway. The road is cleared again by the National Highway Authority before the season resumes.

Nobody should attempt the pass in winter conditions. Reports of stranded travellers in October 2023 show how quickly conditions can change even before the road has formally shut.

What to wear and carry by month

• June and September: a warm jacket, a hat, gloves and a windproof shell. Waterproof shoes if the road is wet.
• July and August: a fleece and a windproof layer, plus sunglasses and sunscreen. A light hat is worth having.
• October: winter jacket, gloves and a hat, snacks, and a full tank. Turn round if snow starts.
• Every trip: water, a phone charged before you leave Naran, and a plan for the road being blocked. Signal is patchy on the top.

For wind and gear in more detail, see our guide to Babusar Top weather.

Is it safe to go?

The Naran to Chilas route over Babusar is not on the UK government's list of areas it advises against, and it is the option that avoids the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, which the UK does advise against. Pakistani travellers use it in summer. Check local news and current police advice before you set out, and note that foreign-passport holders should check their own government's advice, because it can affect insurance.

The pass has its own risks: sudden weather, rockfalls, glacier crossings on the road and long drives after dark. The Naran administration advised in 2026 that travel after 6pm is hazardous in bad conditions, and the guidance is the same in principle for every trip.

Is it worth going up, and when?

For the temperature and the views, July, August and the first half of September are the sensible window. June suits people who accept cold and possible snow. October is beautiful but should be treated as a gamble, with a return plan.

If anyone in your group struggles with cold or altitude, go early, stay short, and keep a warm layer for each person. Our seasons guide puts Babusar next to other high routes.

Frequently asked questions