Bus to Naran: Coaster and Van Options from Islamabad

There is no single scheduled bus service from Islamabad to Naran. Public transport runs in two stages: a bus or van from Rawalpindi's Pir Wadhai terminal to Mansehra, then a local van or coaster up the valley from Mansehra or Balakot to Naran. The vans leave when they are full and run only while the road is open, from about late April to November. The other options are a seat on a tour operator's group coaster, or a seasonal express coach where one is running that year.

This guide explains each stage, where to board, what fares and timings to expect, and how to get around once you arrive.

How public transport to Naran works

Think of it as two journeys:

1. The plains to Mansehra. Mansehra is the main town at the foot of the Kaghan valley and a hub for transport across Hazara. Buses, coaches and vans run there throughout the day from Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
2. Mansehra or Balakot up the valley. From Mansehra's bus stands, and from Balakot, the gateway town about an hour further on, vans and coasters run up the Kaghan road to Kaghan town and Naran.

The second stage is the one that needs planning. It runs on the local system: no fixed timetable, no online booking, and a vehicle that goes when its seats are filled.

Stage 1: Rawalpindi or Islamabad to Mansehra

From Pir Wadhai

The Pir Wadhai general bus stand in Rawalpindi is the city's largest intercity terminal, and the usual place to find buses and vans to Mansehra. It has been upgraded in recent years with air-conditioned waiting rooms, new washrooms and CCTV. Ask for the vans to Mansehra, and whether any are going on to Balakot.

By Daewoo Express

Daewoo Express runs from its Rawalpindi terminal, near EME College, to Abbottabad, and lists a booking office on the main Karakoram Highway in Mansehra. If you would rather travel in a large air-conditioned coach with a fixed departure time, take Daewoo to Abbottabad and a local van on to Mansehra, about half an hour further. Check the current timetable and fare with the company before you set off, since routes and times change by season.

However you go, the journey to Mansehra is on the motorway for most of the way and takes roughly two to three hours, depending on stops.

Stage 2: Mansehra or Balakot to Naran

From Mansehra, vans and minibuses to Balakot, Kaghan and Naran leave from the town's bus stands. The trip to Naran takes about three and a half to four hours, including stops; from Balakot it is about two and a half to three hours.

What to expect:

• Vans leave when full. There is no fixed departure time, so get to the stand early in the day. Even if you wait an hour for the van to fill, you still reach Naran in daylight.
• Arrive in daylight. An early start from Rawalpindi puts you on the valley road in the afternoon and into Naran before dark. Starting late risks a night in Mansehra or Balakot, which is better than riding the mountain road at night.
• Confirm the destination. Not every van goes all the way up the valley. Say "Naran" clearly before your bag goes on the roof.
• Luggage goes on top. Pack in a bag that can take dust and rain, or cover it.
• Seats are tight. Pay for two seats if you want room, especially on a long day.

In spring, before the upper road is fully cleared, the vans may stop short of Naran. In 2025 the road reopened to jeeps before ordinary vehicles, so if you are travelling in late April, check how far public transport is running.

Direct coaches to Naran

A few operators have run through services to Naran in summer. In 2019 Faisal Movers launched an Islamabad to Naran and Hunza route, travelling overnight through the Kaghan valley and over the Babusar Pass. Whether that service runs in a given season, from which terminal and at what time has varied, and listings for 2026 on third-party sites disagree with each other. Check with the company directly before planning around it. Any service that continues over Babusar can run only while the pass is open, from late May until the first snow.

Group tour coasters

For many students and young people, "the bus to Naran" is a tour operator's coaster. Group departures from Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore run through the summer, and three-day packages were listed in 2026 at roughly PKR 14,500 to 17,000 per person with four to a room.

Before you pay, check:

• What is included: transport, the number of nights, which meals, and whether the jeep to Saif-ul-Malook is covered or extra.
• The room arrangement: "shared" usually means three or four to a room.
• The departure time and point, and the time you will be back.

What does the bus to Naran cost?

The vans and coasters up the valley don't publish fares online, and prices in 2026 moved with the cost of fuel. In April 2026 Rawalpindi's Regional Transport Authority approved increases of up to 37 per cent in public transport fares after a fuel price rise, and operators put fares up again in September.

What this means for you:

• Ask at the counter or the van, and pay the fare being charged that day. Agree it before your luggage is loaded.
• Keep small notes. Change can be scarce in the vans.
• Budget more at Eid and on summer weekends, when demand peaks and some operators raise prices.

Even with the 2026 rises, public transport remains by far the cheapest way to Naran for one or two people. For a family of four or more, compare it with a car and driver, which costs more but gets you there in six or seven hours door to door and stays with you for the sightseeing.

Getting around once you are in Naran

There is no public transport to the sights around Naran. The lake and the meadows are reached by local jeep, and the administration fixes the fares. In 2026 the notified return fares from Naran, per vehicle, were:

• Saif-ul-Malook: PKR 5,500 by jeep
• Lalazar: PKR 4,500 by jeep
• Babusar Top: PKR 9,000 by Suzuki Carry or yellow cab, or PKR 12,000 by jeep

Travelling alone or as a couple, you pay the whole fare unless you share with others, so ask at your hotel whether another group is going the same way. Our guide to the Saif-ul-Malook jeep fare explains what the lake fare covers and how to agree the waiting time.

When does public transport run?

Only while the road to Naran is open. Once heavy snow closes it, usually in early December, travel beyond Kaghan town is banned until the National Highway Authority clears the road again in the second half of April. In winter, vans from Mansehra and Balakot go no further than the lower valley.

In July and August, monsoon rain can block the road for hours or close sections for a day or more. If you are relying on public transport, give yourself a spare day at each end. Our guide to whether the Naran road is open or closed explains where to check.

Bus, coaster or car: which should you choose?

• Public vans: cheapest, and fine for students, backpackers and anyone travelling light with time to spare. Least comfortable, and you will need jeeps for everything once you arrive.
• A group tour coaster: easiest for one or two people on a budget who want company and a plan. Less freedom, and you keep the group's timetable.
• A car with a driver, or your own car: the most comfortable for families and older parents, and the only option that also gets you to Lulusar and Babusar without extra jeep fares. Our Islamabad to Naran road guide covers the drive and the stops.

If you would rather have the transport arranged for you, send us your dates and we will suggest what fits your group.

Frequently asked questions