Based on: my trips from 2017 to May 2026, including Shogran every October from 2023 · Last checked: October 2026
The best month depends on where you are going. Fairy Meadows only works in summer, Babusar Top opens and closes at fixed times of the year, and Shogran is at its best when most people have gone home. This guide is built from my own trips between 2017 and May 2026, and it tells you which month I would pick for each place.
I have not travelled in November to March, so I say so where it matters instead of guessing.
The short version
- Quiet and cheaper: October, in Shogran or Naran. The weather is at its best, there are fewer people, and the rates are lower than in May to July.
- Empty and early: April and May. Hunza is calm and Naran was empty in May 2026. But Babusar Top may still be closed.
- Fairy Meadows: May to August only.
- Babusar Top: open from around the start or end of May until 15 October.
- Avoid if you dislike crowds: June, July and August.
Month by month
| Period | What is open | Crowds and rates | What I would do |
|---|---|---|---|
| April and May | Hunza is calm. Naran and Shogran are open. Fairy Meadows opens in May. Babusar Top opens around the start or the end of May, depending on the weather, and was still closed in May 2026. | No rush in Hunza. Naran was empty in May 2026 and hotels were available. Rates were lower early in the season. | Go for quiet. Check the road status for Babusar before you leave. |
| June to August | Everything is open, including Fairy Meadows and Babusar Top. | The busiest months. Hunza is too crowded, and Fairy Meadows is fully packed in May, June and July, though you can still get a hotel. Rates are higher than in October. | Go only if you do not mind crowds. This is the Fairy Meadows window. |
| September | Fairy Meadows closes, because the tracks become snowy and people cannot reach it. Babusar Top is still open. | Still part of the main April to September travel season. | Skip Fairy Meadows. Choose Hunza, Naran or Shogran. |
| October | Babusar Top closes after 15 October. Shogran and Naran stay open. Fairy Meadows is not an option. | Fewer people. Rates are lower than in May to July. The nights are cold. | My favourite month. I go to Shogran in the first week of October. |
| November to March | I have not travelled in these months. Babusar Top is closed, and Hunza has to be reached through Besham. You can visit Shogran when it is snowy, but call your hotel first. | I do not know. | Call ahead and check the road status. |
October: quiet, cold nights, lower rates
I have been to Shogran in the first week of October in 2023, 2024 and 2025. I choose October because the rates are usually lower than in May, June and July, and there is no crowd, so I can enjoy the peace. The nights are colder than in May, and the weather is at its best.
The one thing to plan for is Babusar Top, which closes after 15 October. If you are travelling in the first week of October, it is still open. My Shogran or Naran comparison explains which of the two I would choose.
April and May: calm and early
In May 2026 I went with my wife to Shogran and Naran. Naran was empty, hotels were available, and the weather was peaceful. Rates were lower because the season was just starting: I paid PKR 14,000 a night at Luxus in Naran, against its usual PKR 17,500.
The catch was Babusar Top. It opens around the start or the end of May depending on the weather, and in May 2026 it was still closed by snow when I drove up from Naran. The full story is in my May 2026 trip.
June to August: the crowded months
Hunza is too crowded in June, July and August, and Fairy Meadows is fully packed in May, June and July. You can still find a hotel, but rates are higher than in October. If you want to see Fairy Meadows, summer is your only window, so go knowing it will be busy. See how to reach Fairy Meadows for the costs.
Babusar Top: opening and closing
- Closes: every year, after 15 October.
- Opens: around the start or the end of May, depending on the weather.
I check the road status on social media before I leave. TikTok is the best for these updates, and I prefer watching Zunair Kamboh’s updates.
What to carry by season
- A jacket: always, if you travel between October and May.
- Gloves: only if you are going in a snowy month or on a snowy day.
- Cash: there are no ATMs or banks in Shogran.
Quick answers
- What is the best month for northern Pakistan? October, for quiet, cold nights and lower rates.
- When can I visit Fairy Meadows? May to August only.
- When does Babusar Top open and close? It opens around the start or the end of May and closes after 15 October.
- Which months are the most crowded? June, July and August.
Related: Shogran or Naran? · Shogran travel guide · Hunza in 2017 vs 2026 · Things I would skip
This guide is based on my own trips and, where I say so, on my brother’s. Dates depend on the weather, so please check before you travel and read my disclaimer. If you travelled recently and something is different, tell me on the contact page.