Road Trip to Hunza: Naran, Babusar Top Zipline, Karakoram Highway and Rakaposhi (Real Costs)
My first trip to Northern Pakistan with a tour group: the overnight coaster to Naran, Lulusar Lake, the Babusar Top zipline at 13,700 ft, 24 hours on the KKH, the Three Mountain Junction and the sky cycle at Rakaposhi, with every price I paid.
By Hafiz Tayyab · 5 October 2026 · 4 min read
This was my first ever trip to Northern Pakistan, and my first trip after getting married. My wife and I joined an 8-day group tour with a tour company, heading for Hunza and Skardu. It was also my first time travelling with a tour company, so I'll tell you honestly how it went, what it cost and what I'd do differently.
Night 1: the long coaster ride to Naran
Departure from the tour company's Faisalabad office was set for 11 PM. The coaster actually left at 12:05 AM. More group members joined in Islamabad, and at Kallar Kahar we changed coasters in the middle of the night.
I was on the back seat for about 12 hours. If you get motion sickness, pick up medicine from a medical store before you leave. I did, and I was glad.
At first light the mountains started, and around 9:30 AM we reached Naran. Breakfast at a hotel restaurant (omelette, paratha, chanay and chai) was included in the package. Naran was packed with jeeps and cars.
Lulusar Lake (11,133 ft)
Next stop was Lulusar Lake at 11,133 feet. The water is very clear and the lake has National Park status. We stayed about half an hour.
Babusar Top (13,700 ft) and the zipline
Between Lulusar and Babusar we hit a heavy traffic jam. From leaving the night before at 11 PM, we finally reached Babusar Top at 3:30 PM.
At 13,700 feet the wind is cold and you can feel the thinner air. I tried the zipline for PKR 1,000, and my wife did a zipline for the first time in her life and got over her fear. Travel builds confidence, for women especially. It shows you the world is bigger than your worries.
A plate of chips at the top cost PKR 300.
One thing that bothered me: litter. Tourist spots in Pakistan get covered in rubbish. Please bring your trash back down, and I hope the government puts more dustbins up there.
Lunch in Chilas
From Babusar Top we came down towards Chilas and had chicken pulao for PKR 550 at a roadside restaurant beside a stream.
The Karakoram Highway to Jaglot
After Babusar the green mountains turn into dry, rocky ones. We were now on the Karakoram Highway (Shahrah-e-Resham), the road that goes all the way to Kashgar in China. The new CPEC section is beautifully carpeted and makes the drive much easier.
At 6 PM we were hoping to reach Jaglot by 8. We arrived at 9:30 PM. Everyone was exhausted after almost 24 hours on the road, so we went straight to sleep at the hotel. Expect some power and voltage issues in this area. Breakfast the next morning was paratha, eggs, chai and lassi, with mountains all around.
What made it easy was the group. By then all of us felt like one family.
Three Mountain Junction
About 20 minutes from Jaglot is the only place in the world where three of the biggest mountain ranges meet:
- Himalaya on the right. The name means "home of snow".
- Karakoram in the middle, the darker mountains. "Kara" means black and "koram" means mountain in Turkish.
- Hindu Kush on the left, stretching into Afghanistan.
Two rivers meet here too: the Gilgit River and the Indus.
Gilgit, Rakaposhi and the sky cycle
After Gilgit city the road follows the river with glaciers in view. We stopped to fill bottles with clean spring water. Then, around a bend, Rakaposhi, the "Queen of Karakoram", appeared. Along the way you can still see traces of the old Silk Road, from the days of horses and mules.
At the Rakaposhi view point market we met Abdul, a tourist from Russia. He said the media shows the wrong image of Pakistan, and that he found it beautiful and peaceful.
There's a sky cycle here, a bicycle on a cable over the valley. Ticket: PKR 1,000. It's the first and only one in Gilgit-Baltistan. Halfway across, my chain came off and I was stuck in the middle. A staff member came across and rescued me. I was very glad I hadn't sent my wife.
From here we went on to Altit Fort. That deserves its own post: Altit Fort Hunza guide.
What everything cost
| Item | Price (PKR) |
|---|---|
| Babusar Top zipline | 1,000 |
| Chips plate at Babusar Top | 300 |
| Chicken pulao lunch, Chilas | 550 |
| Sky cycle, Rakaposhi view point | 1,000 |
| Altit Fort ticket (not in package) | 650 per person |
| Breakfast in Naran | Included in tour package |
Prices from my trip in 2026.
Tips if you're going with a tour company
- Ask what's included. Our breakfast was included, but fort tickets were not.
- Expect delays. Our 11 PM departure became 12:05 AM, and traffic at Babusar added hours.
- Avoid the back seat of the coaster on overnight legs if you can.
- Carry medicine for motion sickness and the altitude.
- Pack warm layers. Babusar Top is cold even in summer.
- Bring cash. Activities like the zipline and sky cycle are paid on the spot.
Watch the full trip episode by episode on Travel with Tayab, and see the whole Pakistan series. Next up: the Khunjerab Pass on the China border.
Watch the episodes
Babusar Top 13,700 FT: Trying Pakistan's Highest Zipline!
19 Sept 2026
24 Hours Non-Stop on Karakoram Highway | Babusar to Jaglot
21 Sept 2026
Where 3 Mountain Ranges Meet! (Karakoram Highway to Rakaposhi)
23 Sept 2026
Trapped on Sky Cycle & Uncovering 1,100-Year-Old Altit Fort Hunza
28 Sept 2026
Overnight Group Tour Coaster to Naran The Honest Road Trip Reality
16 Sept 2026
Arriving in Naran Valley & Trying the Famous Moon Restaurant Breakfast
17 Sept 2026
Trapped in a Coaster for 24 Hours on the Karakoram Highway!
21 Sept 2026
What a Foreign Tourist Really Thinks of Pakistan! (Rakaposhi)
24 Sept 2026Questions people ask
How much is the zipline at Babusar Top?
The Babusar Top zipline ticket was PKR 1,000 when I tried it in 2026.
How high is Babusar Top?
Babusar Top is about 13,700 feet. It gets cold and you can feel the lower oxygen, so go slowly.
Where do the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush meet?
At the Three Mountain Junction near Jaglot, about 20 minutes from Jaglot on the Karakoram Highway. The Gilgit River and the Indus River also meet there.
How much is the sky cycle at Rakaposhi view point?
PKR 1,000. It is the first and only sky cycle in Gilgit-Baltistan. My chain came off halfway and a staff member came across to rescue me, so stay calm if it happens.
How long does it take from Babusar Top to Jaglot?
We left Babusar Top in the afternoon, stopped for lunch in Chilas and reached Jaglot at 9:30 PM. With traffic, the whole day from the night before was close to 24 hours.
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