Babusar Top Motorcycle Ride
The high pass linking the Kaghan Valley to the Karakoram Highway, a summer-only shortcut to the north at 4,173 m, and how to time it right.
Babusar Top is the scenic back door to the north. Instead of grinding up the lower Karakoram Highway from Islamabad, many bikers come up the Kaghan Valley through Naran, past Lulusar Lake, and over the Babusar Pass at 4,173 m to drop onto the KKH at Chilas. It is one of the most rewarding high-pass rides in Pakistan.
It is also strictly seasonal. The pass is snow-closed for much of the year and only reliably open in high summer, and the top is cold and exposed even in July. Getting the timing and the fuel right is the whole game.
| At a glance | Babusar Top |
|---|---|
| Pass height | Babusar Top: 4,173 m (13,690 ft) |
| Route | Naran → Lulusar Lake → Babusar Top → Chilas (KKH) |
| Season | Roughly July to September (snow-closed otherwise) |
| Surface | Paved to the top; can be rough/patchy near the pass |
| Connectivity | Little to none above Naran |
| Difficulty | Intermediate: altitude, cold, weather at the top |
The route over the pass
- Naran → Lulusar Lake (~48 km): the climb up the Kaghan Valley past the lake, gaining altitude steadily.
- Lulusar → Babusar Top (~25 km): the final push to the pass and its viewpoint over the Kaghan and the peaks beyond.
- Babusar Top → Chilas (~65 km): the descent onto the Karakoram Highway, from where Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu open up.
When Babusar Top is open
The pass is generally open from around July to September and closed by snow the rest of the year. Early and late in that window it can close temporarily after a storm, so confirm the current status before you commit to the crossing.
Take the bike over the pass in the morning where you can. Afternoons bring cloud, wind and the chance of rain or sleet at the top even in midsummer.
Don't gamble the pass late in the day or late in the season. If Babusar is closed, the alternative is the long way round via the lower KKH. Plan for that possibility.
Fuel, signal and offline maps
Fuel the bike up in Naran before you climb and again at Chilas on the far side; there is nothing dependable in between, and the round trip to the top burns more than the distance suggests. Carry reserve fuel.
Coverage disappears above Naran and stays gone over the pass and down to Chilas. Download the Kaghan-to-Chilas corridor before you leave Naran so navigation and your route keep working. Apex Rider stores it all on the device for exactly this kind of no-signal crossing.
Frequently asked questions
When is Babusar Top open for motorcycles?
Babusar Top is generally open from around July to September and snow-closed the rest of the year. Even in season it can close briefly after a storm, so bikers should check the current status before committing to the crossing.
How high is Babusar Pass?
Babusar Top sits at about 4,173 m (13,690 ft), the highest point on the Kaghan Valley road linking Naran to Chilas on the Karakoram Highway. It is cold and exposed at the top even in midsummer.
Is there fuel or signal on the Babusar route?
Fuel is in Naran and Chilas with nothing reliable in between, so carry reserve fuel on the bike. Mobile coverage disappears above Naran, so download the route for offline navigation first. Apex Rider keeps the maps on your phone.
Ride it with Apex Rider
Every route on this page runs through the same dead zones: patchy carrier coverage, long fuel gaps and fast-changing mountain weather. Apex Rider is the offline-first motorcycle navigation app built for exactly this kind of bike trip. Download your whole tour before you lose signal and keep turn-by-turn navigation, your route, points of interest and the last weather forecast on the phone with the radio off. Add crash-detection SOS, live crew tracking and a maintenance garage for the long haul.
Crash detection, SOS and live tracking need a signal to reach your contacts or emergency services. Across much of northern Pakistan there is none. Treat them as a backup and carry a satellite messenger for remote legs.