Based on: my trips from 2017 to May 2026 ยท Last checked: October 2026
I have travelled to northern Pakistan every year since 2017, and the things I would skip are as useful to know as the places I would go. This is not a list of bad places. It is a list of things I would not spend my time, money or sleep on again, and what I do instead. These are my own opinions, based on my own trips.
1. Driving 23 hours in one go
In 2021 my group drove from Faisalabad to Chilas in about 23 hours of driving, in a rented Hiace. It was a very long drive, and I do not recommend doing the same.
Instead: Faisalabad to Naran or Shogran takes about 12 hours, which is a full day by itself. If you are with family, especially with kids, avoid driving at night. If you are with friends, leave around 1 AM and you will be there by about 12 PM. The full route is in my Faisalabad to Naran guide.
2. Saif-ul-Malook, if you want quiet
I have been to Saif-ul-Malook only once in my life, and I do not like this lake, because everyone has easy access to it. A jeep with a driver costs about PKR 5,000 today.
Instead: spend that time and money on the drive from Naran towards Babusar Top, which is my favourite part of that side of the mountains, or on a full day at Siri and Paye from Shogran. This is only my opinion. If you want a famous lake that is easy to reach, it is a fine stop.
3. Sleeping in Batakundi
The hotels in Batakundi do not have proper electricity. You get a single light bulb at night and low voltage. You will not find peace there, so I never book a room in Batakundi.
Instead: use Batakundi for a break only. If you want to sleep before Babusar, stay in Naran, where I stayed at Luxus. Also remember that there is no mobile network from Batakundi onwards until you reach Chilas or Jaglot.
4. A room at the Adventurers Resort
The Adventurers Resort and Restaurant is in Burawai, right after Batakundi. I have stopped there many times for coffee and fries, and the surrounding views are great. But I would not book a room. There is nothing around it, and it looks scary at night. It is also expensive.
Instead: stop for a coffee in the daytime and keep driving. You can check their menu on their Google Maps listing.
5. Eating at Kiwai
Kiwai is where the road to Shogran starts. I do not stop there for food or a meal. The only reason to do that is if some condition stops you from reaching Shogran.
Instead: drive on to Shogran. The road from Kiwai is fully developed now, and you can go in your own car. Have dinner at Cedarwood, or at the eateries in the Shogran bazaar. My full plan is in the Shogran travel guide.
6. Shopping in the Shogran bazaar
Shogran is very small. In the evening the bazaar is nice for local eateries, with fast food, desi food, coffee and fries. But I do not buy anything there unless it is something I need or something I badly want.
Instead: walk through for tea or fries, and spend the rest of your evening at your hotel with your friends or family.
7. Fairy Meadows in September or October
Fairy Meadows is a summer place. In September the tracks become snowy and people cannot reach it, so it effectively closes. Go between May and August only. In those months it is also fully packed, but you can still get a hotel.
Instead: if you want to travel in October, which is my favourite month, choose Shogran or Naran. They have the best weather, fewer people and lower rates. See how to reach Fairy Meadows if you go in summer.
8. Waiting at Babusar Top, or going after 15 October
Babusar Top closes every year after 15 October. It opens again around the start or the end of May, depending on the weather. In May 2026 it was still closed by snow when I drove up from Naran.
When it is open, half an hour at the top is plenty. There is not much to do except have tea, eat pakoras and enjoy the view of the valleys and mountains.
Instead: check the road status before you leave. I watch social media for it, mainly TikTok, and I prefer Zunair Kamboh’s updates. If you are going to Hunza after mid-October, you have to go through Besham, and my brother found the road on that side still in bad condition. See my May 2026 trip for more.
9. Khunjerab Pass, if you have asthma
I went to the Khunjerab border on my first visit to Hunza in 2017. The oxygen level there is low, you can only stay for about 10 to 15 minutes, and the change in air pressure can give you a headache. If you have asthma, do not go. I am not a doctor, so talk to yours if you have any medical condition.
Instead: if you do go, keep paracetamol with you. If you skip it, spend the time at Attabad Lake, Hussaini Bridge, and Eagle’s Nest at dawn or dusk.
10. Murree and Nathia Gali, if you want quiet
In my opinion Murree and Nathia Gali are too crowded if you want peace.
Instead: Shogran in October, or Naran early in the season. Shogran has less crowd, cleaner air and less pollution, and I have been going back there for four years. See my Shogran or Naran comparison.
What I would never skip
- A full day at Siri and Paye, and the hike to Makra Peak if you can.
- One dinner at Cedarwood, even if you stay at Spruce. The restaurant has breathtaking views.
- The drive from Naran towards Babusar Top.
- Spruce in Shogran, for the balcony in every room. See my hotel review.
- A jacket and some cash. The nights are cold, and there are no ATMs or banks in Shogran.
Quick answers
- What would I skip first? Sleeping in Batakundi.
- Is Saif-ul-Malook bad? No, but it is my least favourite stop, because it is so easy to reach.
- When does Fairy Meadows close? In September, because of snowy tracks.
- When does Babusar Top close? After 15 October.
- Who should skip Khunjerab Pass? Anyone with asthma.
These are my own opinions, based on my trips from 2017 to May 2026. Prices and conditions change, so please check before you travel and read my disclaimer. If you disagree or went recently and saw something different, tell me on the contact page.