Lakes of Northern Pakistan: Which Are Worth the Drive

A practical ranking of the north's high lakes by road access, scenery and the season that suits them best.

Attabad and the Gojal valley: the easiest big scenery

Attabad Lake sits on the Karakoram Highway past Hunza, about two hours by road from Karimabad and roughly 13 hours from Islamabad if you drive straight through. The lake formed in 2010 when a landslide blocked the Hunza River, and the drowned road and submerged village edges still show under the turquoise water. Boating runs from the roadside jetties in summer. Guesthouses cluster at Gulmit and Passu nearby. Rooms in the area typically sit in the low-to-mid range by Pakistani standards, with a handful of comfortable boutique options in Gulmit charging more.

May to October is the window; by November the highway north of Hunza can close without notice. The trade-off is crowds in July and August, when domestic tourists arrive in force and the highway past Chilas slows badly. I would book Gulmit over the lakefront itself: quieter, better food, and twenty minutes from the water. Skip the roadside photo stops on the KKH and instead take the short walk above Passu to see the lake and the Cathedral peaks together.

Saiful Muluk: the classic, and its limits

Saiful Muluk lies at about 3,200 metres above Naran in Kaghan Valley, reached by a steep 10-kilometre jeep track from Naran bazaar, or on foot in around four hours. The lake is genuinely beautiful in clear weather, ringed by snow in June, and the legend attached to it gives the place a pull that few others in the country match. Jeep seats are usually shared and cheap; the track is rough and not for private cars. Naran has the widest range of hotels in the valley, from basic road-facing rooms to a few mid-range places with heating.

The problem is volume. From late June to early September the jeep stand and the lakeside paths are packed, and litter is an issue. Come in the first half of June, when the Babusar road may still be closed but the lake is accessible and quiet, or in late September after the crowds go. I would not attempt it as a day trip from Islamabad; the drive via Mansehra and Balakot takes six to seven hours each way. Book two nights in Naran and go up early.

Rama and Sheosar: for travellers with their own transport

Rama Lake sits near Astore in Gilgit-Baltistan, at roughly 2,600 metres, reached by a side road off the Astore valley about two hours from the town. It is small, pine-fringed and far less visited than Saiful Muluk, with a forest rest house and basic camping. Sheosar Lake is higher and wilder, on the Deosai Plains above Skardu at around 4,100 metres, reachable by jeep from Skardu in three to four hours when the plains are open, usually mid-July to mid-September. Neither has hotels worth the name; you stay in Astore, Chilam or Skardu and drive out.

These two reward people who have hired a jeep and a driver, which in Skardu costs more than a shared wagon but gives you control over timing. Deosai weather turns fast; snow in August is possible. I would pick Rama over Sheosar if time is short and you are already on the Astore road, and Sheosar only if you have a full clear day and a vehicle booked the night before. Skip both if you are relying on public transport.

Where to base yourself and when to go

Most lake trips in the north start from Islamabad or Peshawar, and the booking data on this site reflects that: searches from those two cities dominate. Fly Islamabad to Gilgit when seats are available, which saves a long day on the KKH, then work north from Hunza. For Kaghan, drive from Islamabad via the Hazara Motorway to Mansehra and on to Balakot. Book hotels in Islamabad for the night before an early departure, and again on the way back; rooms there are plentiful and cheaper than anything in the valleys.

Best months overall are May, June and September. July and August bring monsoon landslides to Kaghan and heavy domestic traffic to Hunza. Carry cash, since card machines are rare outside the main towns, and confirm road status locally before setting out, as closures on the KKH and the Babusar road are common. My own ranking for a first trip: Attabad, then Saiful Muluk, then Rama, then Sheosar. Book accommodation before you leave the city; reliable heating and hot water matter more than lake views.

Questions, answered

Do I need a permit to visit these lakes?

No permit is needed for Attabad, Saiful Muluk, Rama or Sheosar. Foreign nationals should carry passports for checkposts in Gilgit-Baltistan, where details are recorded. The Naran route through Kaghan is open to all travellers without paperwork.

Which lake is easiest to reach from Islamabad?

Saiful Muluk, via the Hazara Motorway to Mansehra and Balakot, then Naran, is the shortest run at six to seven hours plus the jeep track. Attabad is roughly thirteen hours by road. Flying to Gilgit cuts the northern journey considerably.

When do the high lakes open?

Saiful Muluk is usually accessible from late May to October. Attabad and Hunza are reachable from spring to autumn, with winter closures possible on the Karakoram Highway. Sheosar on the Deosai Plains generally opens mid-July and closes in mid-September.

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