Visited: August 2021 · Current prices checked: October 2026
I have been to Fairy Meadows once, in August 2021, with a group of 10 friends. We started from Faisalabad in a rented Toyota Hiace with a driver, and Fairy Meadows was part of a 7-day trip that also covered Hunza.
The jeep track and the trek are still the same, but prices have gone up a lot since then. This guide covers how to get there, what it costs, where to stay, and what I would pack. Today’s prices come from a driver there who I am still in touch with, and they change often.
Fairy Meadows at a glance: 2021 vs today
| What | August 2021 | Today |
|---|---|---|
| Jeep from Raikot to Tato (a jeep for 5 people) | About PKR 4,000 | PKR 14,000 to 16,000 |
| Horse or mule from Tato | PKR 1,500 to 2,000 | PKR 3,500 to 4,000, after bargaining |
| Hut, per night | About PKR 6,000 (my group of 10 had the whole hut) | About PKR 15,000 |
| BBQ, one leg or chest piece | About PKR 1,000 | PKR 2,000 |
| One roti | I did not note it | PKR 150 |
| Noodles at Beyal Camp | I did not note it | PKR 500 |
| Crowds | Few people knew about it | Packed in May, June and July |
| Package from a tourist company | I did not note it | Around PKR 35,000 per person |
Prices vary almost every day now, so treat these as a guide.
Getting there: parking and the jeep track
We hired a Toyota Hiace with a driver and drove up from Faisalabad. There is parking for cars at Raikot, before the jeep track, so you can leave your vehicle there easily.
From there you take a jeep. In 2021 we hired jeeps for 5 people each, and it cost about PKR 4,000. Today the same ride costs PKR 14,000 to 16,000 a jeep, according to a driver I am still in touch with.
The jeep track is really scary. You will only enjoy the ride if you love adventure. The track is still the same as it was in 2021.
From Tato to Fairy Meadows: hike or ride
After the jeep reaches Tato, you can continue on foot, or hire a horse or a mule. In 2021 that cost PKR 1,500 to 2,000. Today it is PKR 3,500 to 4,000, depending on how well you bargain.
The hike takes about 4 hours in total, with several stops and breaks along the way. It is tiring, so take small steps to save your energy, and keep ORS with you. You will find a midpoint with a canteen where you can get water and snacks.
If you plan to hike from Tato, take two pairs of shoes. If one pair tears or the sole breaks, you can change into the other.
Where to stay: a hut at Fairy Meadows
We stayed in a Greenwood hut. We had the whole hut to ourselves, and all 10 of us fit comfortably, with beds and mattresses. There was also a fire pit inside the hut that works as a heater and keeps the room warm. In 2021 it cost about PKR 6,000 a night. Today it costs about PKR 15,000 a night, according to my contact there.
In the morning you get hot water at the hotel for only a few hours, so wake up accordingly, take a bath, and get some sunshine. New hotels have been built since 2021, but not too many. Even in the busy months you can still find a hotel.
Food: order a day before
At Fairy Meadows you can get daal, sabzi and even BBQ, but you have to tell them a day before. It is expensive. A BBQ leg piece or chest piece costs PKR 2,000 a piece today, and it was about PKR 1,000 in 2021. A single roti costs PKR 150 today.
What to do at Fairy Meadows
- Watch the night sky. It is a view you normally never see in a crowded city like Faisalabad or Lahore.
- Sit by a bonfire. You can buy a bonfire pit with seating. If someone in your group sings or plays the guitar, it makes the night. You may also meet other travellers doing the same, and you can ask if you can sit with them.
- Start the morning slowly. Wake up for the hot water, enjoy the sunshine, and have some kehwa while you wait for breakfast.
Beyal Camp
On the second morning, my friends and I hiked to Beyal Camp. It is about a 1-hour walk from Fairy Meadows, and it is much easier than the hike up from Tato.
Beyal Camp is for people who do not love crowds and want some peaceful time on their own. There is a small canteen where you can get cooked noodles for PKR 500 today, and chips like Lay’s and biscuits.
I have Nanga Parbat photos from Fairy Meadows, from Beyal Camp and from the zero point after it.
No mobile signal: tell your family first
There is no cellular service and no mobile internet at Fairy Meadows. There is a PCO (public call office) where you can make calls, in the evening between 5 and 7. Ask your hotel for the exact PCO hours.
Before you start the jeep track, tell your family that you will contact them as soon as you can.
Best time to go, and crowds
Go between May and August only. In September it gets closed, because snowy tracks make it impossible to reach.
In 2021 very few people knew about Fairy Meadows, so it was not crowded. Today May, June and July are fully packed, but you can still get a hotel.
What the trip cost me
In 2021 I went with 10 friends for 7 days in Hunza and Fairy Meadows. The rental car with a driver, meals, hotels and everything else came to about PKR 24,000 each.
It would cost much more today, because petrol prices have doubled and everything is more expensive. If you want to plan it easily, I recommend buying a package from a tourist company. They still offer a Fairy Meadows plan for around PKR 35,000 per person.
What to pack
- A padded jacket.
- Two pairs of shoes, in case you hike from Tato and one pair gets damaged.
- Common medicines: for constipation and headache, plus ORS or an electrolyte drink. Keep ORS with you on the hike.
What changed since 2021
Prices are almost three times higher than in 2021. The jeep track is the same. A few new hotels have been developed, but not too many. Fairy Meadows is also much more crowded in May, June and July.
Is Fairy Meadows worth it?
Yes, if you love adventure and want quiet nights under a clear sky. The jeep track is scary, there is no mobile signal, and prices are much higher than they were in 2021, so go prepared.
These figures are approximate. I visited Fairy Meadows once, in August 2021. Today’s prices come from a driver there who I am still in touch with, and they change often. Please check before you travel and read my disclaimer. If you went recently and something is different, tell me on the contact page.