Naran vs Kumrat is a choice between two very different trips. Naran is a large, established bazaar town with famous lakes and a mountain pass close by, reached on a fully paved road but crowded for most of the summer. Kumrat is a Deodar forest valley in Upper Dir, quieter and greener, but the road in is rougher and the last stretch needs a 4x4.
Both sit at similar altitude and both are summer favourites for people leaving Islamabad, Lahore or Peshawar for a few days. Here is how they compare on the road, the crowds, the stays and the scenery.
| At a glance | Naran | Kumrat |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Upper Kaghan, Mansehra district | Upper Dir district |
| Altitude | About 2,409 m | Roughly 2,300 to 2,400 m |
| From Islamabad | About 280 km, 7 to 9 hours | About 370 km, around 9 hours |
| Road | Paved throughout | Metalled to Dir; rough track and river sections beyond Thal need a 4x4 |
| Character | A busy riverside bazaar | Deodar forest along the Panjkora river |
| Headline sights | Saiful Muluk, Lulusar, Babusar Top | Jahaz Banda, Katora Lake, forest waterfalls |
| Season | Roughly May to September | Roughly May to October |
Getting there
Naran is a full day's drive up the Hazara Motorway and the N-15 through Balakot and Kaghan, around 280 km and 7 to 9 hours from Islamabad. The road is paved the whole way, so the drive is manageable in an ordinary car, though the last approach into the bazaar is often slow with traffic.
Kumrat takes longer and asks more of the vehicle. The route runs via the M-1 and the Swat Motorway to Chakdara, then the N-45 through Dir to Sharingal and Thal, roughly 370 km and about nine hours from Islamabad. The stretch through Dir is metalled and fine for a normal car; from Sharingal to Thal it turns into a dirt track that is manageable but slow, and beyond Thal into the valley proper you need a 4x4, with the final section taking one and a half to three hours depending on the season and recent rain.
Crowds
Naran is one of the busiest towns in the Kaghan valley. In peak summer weeks and over Eid, the bazaar and the jeep queue for Saiful Muluk can add hours to what should be a short outing.
Kumrat is quieter, largely because the road keeps the numbers down. It is not empty, and weekends in July and August draw a steady stream of campers and day-trippers, but it does not reach Naran's level of congestion, and it is easy to find a quiet stretch of forest or riverbank even in season.
Where to stay
Naran has a long strip of hotels and guesthouses on the river, from basic rooms to larger properties, so there is almost always something available even late in the day.
Kumrat's accommodation is more limited: a smaller number of hotels and guesthouses around Thal, plus organised camping along the river, which is how many visitors choose to stay. Book ahead in peak season, since there is less spare capacity than in Naran.
Scenery
Naran's landscape opens up the higher you go: bare slopes, glacial lakes and the wide alpine bowl around Lulusar and Babusar. It suits people who want big open views and a mountain pass reachable by road.
Kumrat is the greener, softer valley, with tall Deodar forest running along the Panjkora river and meadows and lakes such as Jahaz Banda and Katora Lake a trek or jeep ride further in. It suits people who want to walk among trees and camp by a river rather than drive to a headline viewpoint.
Is it safe to travel to Kumrat?
Kumrat sits in Upper Dir district. As of September 2026, the UK government's Pakistan travel advice advises against all travel to Upper Dir. Pakistani families continue to travel to Kumrat in large numbers through the summer season, and the valley itself has not had the kind of incident that has affected other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2026. Even so, check current local news and police advice for the Dir road before you set out, and if you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice: travelling against it can void your travel insurance.
Which should you pick?
- You want big lakes and a mountain pass with an easy drive: Naran.
- You want forest, a river and a quieter camp: Kumrat, if your vehicle and your patience can handle the last stretch of road.
- You are short on time or nervous about rough roads: Naran is the more forgiving choice.
- You want to camp: Kumrat's riverside camping is a bigger part of the experience there than in Naran.
- You are travelling with young children or a car unsuited to rough tracks: Naran, or hire a 4x4 and driver locally in Dir if Kumrat is the plan.
If forest is what draws you but you want an easier road, our Kumrat vs Kalam comparison looks at a similar valley reached from the Swat side. For planning help with either route, see our travel planning page.
Frequently asked questions
Which is easier to reach, Naran or Kumrat?
Naran. The road is paved the entire way from Islamabad, while Kumrat's last stretch beyond Thal is a rough track that needs a 4x4.
Do I need a 4x4 for Kumrat?
For the final section beyond Thal, yes. The road as far as Dir and on to Thal is manageable in an ordinary car outside heavy rain.
Is Kumrat safe to visit?
Kumrat is in Upper Dir district, which the UK government currently advises against all travel to. Pakistani visitors continue to go in large numbers; check current local advice before you travel, and foreign-passport holders should check their own government's guidance.
Which is quieter, Naran or Kumrat?
Kumrat, mainly because the harder road keeps visitor numbers down. Naran is one of the busiest towns in the Kaghan valley through summer.
Can I visit both on the same trip?
Not easily. There is no direct road between them, and the return route from one to reach the other adds a full day of driving, so most people treat them as separate trips.
When is the best time to visit Kumrat?
Roughly May to October, similar to Naran, with July and August the busiest and the forest at its greenest.
