Babusar Pass

Babusar is the highest point on the road that connects the Kaghan valley with the Karakoram Highway, and crossing it is the scenic alternative to the long haul up the Indus gorge from Besham. The road climbs from Naran past Lulusar lake and up through bare alpine pasture to the pass at 4,173 metres, where a marker, a few stalls and usually a crowd of photographing motorists mark the top. Northward the view opens towards the Nanga Parbat massif on clear days, and the road drops steeply through switchbacks to Chilas in the hot Indus valley, a descent of nearly three kilometres in altitude. The pass is snowbound for most of the year and typically opens from late June or July to September, sometimes closing early. Weather at the top changes quickly and snow can fall in August.

What you actually see

• The pass marker - the summit point at 4,173 metres with stalls and viewpoints.
• Alpine pasture - open grazing country on the southern approach.
• Nanga Parbat views - the massif visible north on clear days.
• The descent to Chilas - switchbacks dropping into the Indus valley.

When to go

July to September, the only reliable window; opening dates shift each year with snow conditions and the road closes at short notice. Early morning gives the best chance of clear views before cloud builds. Traffic is heaviest at weekends.

Honest expectations

The pass is often crowded with cars and stalls at the top, which surprises people expecting solitude. Altitude sickness affects visitors who drive up quickly from Naran. Weather closes the road without warning. There are no fuel stations near the top and services on the Chilas side are limited.

Nearby

Lulusar Lake is on the southern approach; Naran and the Kaghan valley lie below.