Balakot to Naran is about 80 km by road up the Kunhar River valley on the N-15, the Mansehra–Naran–Jalkhad road. Guides quote anything from under two hours to three; for planning, allow two and a half to three and a half hours with a tea stop, more in the monsoon or on a holiday weekend. Naran sits at about 2,400 metres, so the drive is a steady climb of roughly 1,400 metres from Balakot.
This page covers only this stretch. For the whole trip from the plains, see our Islamabad to Naran guide, and for the leg before Balakot, Islamabad to Balakot.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 80 km (sources say roughly 80 to 85 km) |
| Drive time | About 2.5 to 3.5 hours with stops; guides quote 1 h 45 min to 3 h |
| Road | N-15, paved, two lanes, narrow and winding in places |
| Vehicle | A normal car reaches Naran town; jeeps are needed above it |
| Altitude | Naran about 2,400 m |
| Usually open | Roughly May to end of September for the upper valley |
What is the route from Balakot to Naran?
There is one road. From Balakot you follow the N-15 north beside the Kunhar River, through Kiwai (the turn-off for Shogran is near here), Paras and Kaghan, and on to Naran. There are no alternatives to choose between, so the decisions are about timing rather than navigation.
Two figures appear often in guides: about an hour from Balakot to Kaghan, and about 45 minutes from Kaghan to Naran. Add them up and you get under two hours, which is what the road gives on a quiet day with no roadworks. It is a best case, not a plan.
How long does it really take?
A quiet weekday morning in good weather is the fast end of the range. The slow end comes from three things:
- Traffic in peak season. Dawn reported long jams on the Balakot–Naran section during the Eid holidays of June 2024, when thousands of vehicles went up together, with roadworks near Paras adding to the delay.
- Roadworks and landslide clearance. Machinery is often working on this road, and traffic waits while it does.
- Slow trucks and buses on a road with few places to overtake.
Our advice is to plan on three hours and be pleasantly surprised. If you are driving up the same day from Islamabad or Lahore, that is a reason to start early: the drive is much easier before the day's traffic builds.
What is the road like?
The road is paved all the way to Naran, and you do not need a 4x4 to reach the town. It is also narrow and winding, with a river on one side and hillside on the other for much of the way, and with limited barriers.
Its condition has varied. Dawn described it as badly broken in 2019, with deep cracks and frequent landslides, and complaints about its state continued during the 2024 Eid rush. It is a road that gets damaged by rain and snowmelt every year and repaired afterwards, so a surface reported as good last season may not be this one. Ask at Balakot, or at your hotel in Naran, what the section ahead is like today.
The monsoon months of July and August bring the highest risk of landslides. After heavy rain in the hills, wait, check and go on the following morning rather than driving through it. Our guide to whether the Naran road is open or closed explains how to check.
One practical tip: stock up in Balakot
Balakot is the last big town on the way. Fill the tank, withdraw cash, and buy water, medicines and snacks there. Mobile signal weakens as the valley narrows, and cash is more use than cards in the upper valley. If you are staying the night before going up, see hotels in Balakot.
Is it safe?
The Balakot to Naran road is not on the UK government's list of areas it advises against, and Pakistani families drive it every summer. The Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, which is a different road, is on that list (advice updated 22 September 2026), and turning off at Mansehra for Balakot keeps you clear of it.
The real hazards here are landslides, rockfall and narrow, busy road. Do not drive it at night, pull over well away from slopes if it is raining, and check local news and police advice before you leave. Overseas visitors should read their own government's advice, because it can affect travel insurance.
What to do at the top
Once in Naran, the places to visit in Naran and the best time to visit Naran will help you spend the time. If you would like a valley with a similar feel and a different road, our Swat Valley guide is a comparison, though the security picture there is very different at present.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Naran from Balakot?
About 80 km by road, with published figures of roughly 80 to 85 km. It is all on the N-15 beside the Kunhar River.
How long does it take to drive from Balakot to Naran?
Allow about three hours. Some guides quote under two hours for the best case, while holiday traffic, roadworks and landslide clearance can stretch it well beyond three.
Can a normal car go from Balakot to Naran?
Yes. The road is paved to Naran town and sedans make the trip in season. Drive slowly, and expect to hire a jeep for Saif ul Malook and other upper-valley destinations.
Is the Balakot to Naran road open all year?
The valley is usually accessible from about May to the end of September. Snow and landslides can close the road above Kaghan outside that season.
Should I drive from Balakot to Naran at night?
We would not. The road is narrow, has drops beside it and few barriers, and landslides are hard to see in the dark.
