Tag: cedarwood shogran

What Food Costs in Shogran, Naran, Lulusar and Fairy Meadows (2026 Prices)

Eaten here: 2021 to 2026 · Prices checked: October 2026

Food is one of the biggest surprises on a northern Pakistan trip, because prices change a lot from one place to the next. A breakfast can come with the room in one town, and a roti can cost PKR 150 in another. These are the prices I paid or was told in 2026, from Shogran to Fairy Meadows, along with the places I would go back to.

Food prices at a glance

Place	What	Price (2026)
Cedarwood, Shogran	A proper meal with tea for two	PKR 6,000 to 8,000 (plus PKR 1,000 per person if you are not a guest)
Naran	A proper meal with tea for two	About PKR 4,000
Fairy Meadows	BBQ leg or chest piece	PKR 2,000 a piece (about PKR 1,000 in 2021)
Fairy Meadows	One roti	PKR 150
Beyal Camp	Cooked noodles	PKR 500
Hunza (from my brother)	A restaurant meal with tea, per person	About PKR 1,000

Prices vary, and at Fairy Meadows they change almost every day. Treat these as a guide.

Shogran

Breakfast comes with the room at both Spruce and Cedarwood. It is a buffet with fresh juices, toast, eggs made live the way you like, and paratha, puri, channay and halwa. You can ask for a fresh paratha.

For dinner I go to Cedarwood, even when I am staying at Spruce. Spruce has its own kitchen, but the Cedarwood restaurant has breathtaking views. One afternoon at about 3 PM I ordered a sauce pasta and some sandwiches to my room, since they offer room service. That night I went to their dine-in area and ordered chicken karahi with roti and naan, a plate of biryani, and a half bowl of hot and sour soup, because it was raining and cold.

A proper meal with tea for two costs about PKR 6,000 to 8,000 at Cedarwood. It is expensive, but worth it once. If you are not staying there, they charge PKR 1,000 per person extra to visit, and you can also go in the evening just for tea.

The small Shogran bazaar has local eateries with fast food, desi food, coffee and fries. At Siri and Paye you can have breakfast at any of the spots there, such as paratha, egg, daal and roti.

Naran

For desi food, I recommend Moon Restaurant and New Punjab Hotel. A proper meal for two people with tea costs about PKR 4,000, which is much less than dinner at Cedarwood.

Burawai and Lulusar Lake

The Adventurers Resort and Restaurant is in Burawai, right after Batakundi, on the way to Lulusar Lake. It is expensive. I had coffee and fries there, and I have stopped there many times. I do not remember the exact prices, but you can check their menu on their Google Maps listing.

The restaurant at Lulusar Lake has a lake view, and toilets are available. It serves breakfast and lunch, and I am not sure whether it opens at night. For breakfast you can get eggs in different styles with paratha or roti. For lunch or dinner you can get chicken karahi, daal varieties and sabzi, served with roti.

Fairy Meadows and Beyal Camp

At Fairy Meadows you can get daal, sabzi and even BBQ, but you have to tell them a day before. A BBQ leg 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. Prices vary almost every day now.

At Beyal Camp there is a small canteen. Cooked noodles cost PKR 500 today, and they also sell chips like Lay’s and biscuits.

Hunza

My brother tells me that a normal restaurant meal in Hunza in 2026 costs about PKR 1,000 per person, with a full meal and tea included. He says that is more than enough for one person.

My tips for eating well and not overspending

Order BBQ a day ahead at Fairy Meadows. They need to know the day before.
Splurge once at Cedarwood. The views and the dinner are worth the price. Eat the rest of your meals in Naran-style restaurants, where a meal for two is about PKR 4,000.
Take breakfast at the hotel. It is included in the room price at the hotels where I stayed, so you do not pay for it twice.
Carry cash. There are no ATMs or banks in Shogran, and most places in the mountains work better with cash.
Do not shop at the Shogran bazaar unless you really need something. It is better for tea, coffee and fries in the evening.

Quick answers

How much is a meal for two in Naran? About PKR 4,000, with tea.
How much is dinner at Cedarwood? PKR 6,000 to 8,000 for two, plus PKR 1,000 per person if you are not a guest.
Do I need to order food in advance at Fairy Meadows? For BBQ, yes. Tell them a day before.
Is there food at Beyal Camp? Yes, a small canteen with noodles at PKR 500, chips and biscuits.

These prices are approximate and come from my own visits and, where I say so, from my brother. Prices change, so please check before you travel and read my disclaimer. If you ate there recently and prices are different, tell me on the contact page.

October 20, 2026

Spruce vs Cedarwood vs Luxus Naran: My Honest Hotel Review (Prices, Rooms, Food)

Stayed: May 2026 · Last checked: October 2026

In May 2026 I stayed at two hotels in Shogran, Spruce and Cedarwood, and at Luxus in Naran. Booking pages show you photos and a price, but not the things that decide a stay: hot water, heating, breakfast, balconies and staff. This is my honest review of all three.

Disclosure: I paid for all three stays. At Luxus Naran I asked for a discount and told them I would review the hotel, so I paid PKR 14,000 a night instead of the usual PKR 17,500. Spruce and Cedarwood gave me no discount.

The three hotels at a glance

	Spruce (Shogran)	Cedarwood (Shogran)	Luxus (Naran)
Price per night, May 2026	PKR 27,000 (deluxe room)	PKR 24,500	PKR 14,000 (usual PKR 17,500)
Breakfast	Complimentary buffet	Complimentary buffet	Complimentary, same menu
Balcony and view	Own attached balcony for each room	Shared balcony, view of the hotel lawn	Second-floor room with its own balcony and a mountain view
Hot water	24 hours	24 hours	Warm, not very hot
Room heating	None. Extra cost if you want it	None. Extra cost if you want it	I did not check
Wi-Fi	24 hours	24 hours	I did not check
Parking	Yes, with guards at night	Yes, with guards at night	Yes
What I would improve	Staff uniforms and guidance on serving guests	Old furniture and a dated interior	Water temperature

The prices are what I paid early in the season, in May 2026. Rates are higher in the peak months.

Spruce, Shogran

Spruce is the hotel I recommend in Shogran. The rooms are modern, and every room has its own attached balcony, so you get the view without sharing it. A deluxe room cost me PKR 27,000 a night.

The one thing I would improve is the staff. They need proper uniforms and some guidance on how to serve and talk to guests. The rooms and the views are the strong points.

If you are going with friends, Spruce is the better choice. You can enjoy a bonfire at night, which is part of why a group trip here is so enjoyable.

Cedarwood, Shogran

Cedarwood cost PKR 24,500 a night. The rooms feel outdated, with old furniture, and there is no separate balcony. You share one, and it looks over the hotel lawn, which is still worth a look. That is what I would tell them to improve first.

I would take Cedarwood for a family trip, and Spruce for friends. The food is where Cedarwood shines. The restaurant has breathtaking views, and they offer room service.

One afternoon at about 3 PM I ordered a sauce pasta and some sandwiches to my room. At night I went to their dine-in area and ordered chicken karahi with roti and naan, a plate of biryani, and a half bowl of hot and sour soup, because it was raining and cold. The cool wind made it one of the most memorable nights of the trip.

If you are not staying at Cedarwood, they charge PKR 1,000 per person extra to visit. A proper meal with tea for two costs about PKR 6,000 to 8,000. It is expensive, but worth it.

Luxus, Naran

Luxus is a new hotel in Naran, and it was my favourite stay of the trip. My room was on the second floor, with its own balcony and a mountain view.

Breakfast was complimentary, with the same menu as Spruce and Cedarwood. The dining area was better and cleaner than the one at Spruce, in my opinion. Parking is proper, and the staff were cooperative.

I paid PKR 14,000 a night for 2 nights, against the usual PKR 17,500 for a normal room. The hotel was new, the season was just starting, and Naran was empty, so there was room to ask. As I said above, I asked for the discount and told them I would review the hotel.

The only thing I would improve is the hot water. It is not very hot, because they adjust the water temperature in each room to a standard warm. If you want a hot shower, ask the staff before you shower, or check the water temperature first.

What all three have in common

Breakfast. All three include a buffet in the room price. You get fresh juices, toast, eggs made live the way you like, and paratha, puri, channay and halwa. You can ask for a fresh paratha.
No room heating at Spruce or Cedarwood. You pay extra if you want it.
Wi-Fi. The Shogran hotels have Wi-Fi 24 hours, but keep your 4G ready in case the hotel internet is slow.
Parking and security. There is proper parking, and at Spruce and Cedarwood guards look after the vehicles at night.

Which one should you choose?

Friends: Spruce. Pine Park is the other hotel in Shogran I would recommend for a group, but this review covers only the hotels where I stayed.
Family: Cedarwood, for the lawn, the restaurant and the quieter setting.
Best value: Luxus Naran, especially early in the season.
Tight budget: a local hotel in Shogran costs about PKR 5,000 to 8,000 a night. You can bargain, but only by about PKR 500.

Quick answers

Which hotel in Shogran has the best views? Spruce, because every room has its own attached balcony.
Is breakfast included? Yes, at all three.
Is there heating in the rooms? Not at Spruce or Cedarwood. You pay extra.
Is there hot water? 24 hours at Spruce and Cedarwood. At Luxus it is only warm, so ask first.

These details are from my stays in May 2026. Prices and facilities change, so please check with the hotel before you book and read my disclaimer. If you stayed recently and something is different, tell me on the contact page.

October 20, 2026

Shogran Travel Guide: Road, Siri and Paye, Hotels and Food (After 4 Visits)

Visited: first week of October in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and May 2026 · Last checked: October 2026

I have been to Shogran four times: in the first week of October in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and in May 2026 with my wife. Shogran is a very small place, and it has changed a lot in these years. The road is developed, the hotels are better, and prices have roughly doubled.

This guide covers how to get there, where to stay and eat, how I do Siri and Paye, the best month to go, and what to carry.

Shogran at a glance

Shogran quick facts	Details
Best month	October. It has the best weather and fewer people.
Time from Islamabad	About 6 hours
Road from Kiwai to Shogran	Fully developed. No jeep needed.
Jeep from Shogran to Siri and Paye	About PKR 6,000
Local hotel, per night	PKR 5,000 to 8,000, depending on location and room type
Spruce (deluxe room) or Cedarwood, per night	PKR 27,000 at Spruce and PKR 24,500 at Cedarwood (May 2026)
Dinner for two at Cedarwood, with tea	About PKR 6,000 to 8,000
Mobile signal	None at Siri and Paye. Full 4G at Shogran.
ATMs or banks in Shogran	None. Carry cash.

What changed since my first visit

The road. The road from Kiwai to Shogran has been developed for the past two years. You can take your own car now, and you do not need a jeep.
The hotels. The hotels are better now. New hotels are still being built, because it is easy to reach Shogran in your own vehicle.
The prices. Prices are about double what they were. For example, friends who stayed in Shogran in 2022 told me a room cost about PKR 4,000. The same kind of room now costs about PKR 8,000.

Getting there

From Islamabad to Shogran it takes about 6 hours. The road from Kiwai to Shogran is fully developed, so you can drive all the way up in your own car.

I have never parked a car at Kiwai, so I do not know what it costs. I do not think many people park there anymore, as of 2026.

Siri and Paye: how I do it

I always stay at Shogran to rest. The next morning I take a jeep from Shogran to Siri and Paye. It costs about PKR 6,000, and I spend the whole day there.

If you can, hike to Makra Peak as well. It is the top at that point. It takes about an hour to reach Makra Peak from Paye Meadow.

The hike is a long walk, and honestly it is a little difficult. But the view from the top is worth it.

I do not stay at Kiwai for food or a meal. The only reason to do that is if some condition stops you from reaching Shogran.

What the day looks like. You can have breakfast at any of the spots there. You can easily get paratha, egg, daal and roti.

The rest of the day is for the mountain views and the walks in the valleys, which are breathtaking. Enjoy the walk, and enjoy your own company, or your friends and family.

There is no cellular service at Siri and Paye, so you will have no screen time. Come back before sunset. The jeep track is muddy, and your full 4G coverage comes back once you reach Shogran.

Where to stay in Shogran

Spruce. This is the one I recommend. It has more modern rooms, and each room has its own attached balcony. A deluxe room cost PKR 27,000 a night in May 2026, early in the season.

Cedarwood. It cost PKR 24,500 a night. It feels older, with old furniture and no separate balcony. I go there for dinner instead (see below).

Cheaper local hotels. There are cheaper options for people who do not want luxury. These local hotels have rooms for about PKR 5,000 to 8,000 a night, depending on their location and the type of room. You can bargain, but only by about PKR 500.

If you plan to visit when it is snowy, call the hotel first and ask if it is open. You can find the numbers for Spruce, Pine Park and Cedarwood on Google.

Where to eat in Shogran

Spruce has its own kitchen, but for dinner I prefer to go to Cedarwood. Its restaurant has breathtaking views. If you are not staying there, they charge PKR 1,000 per person extra to visit. A proper meal for two people, with tea, costs about PKR 6,000 to 8,000. It is expensive, but worth it. You can also go in the evening just for tea.

An evening in Shogran

In the evening, walk to the small bazaar. You can enjoy the local eateries, with fast food, desi food, coffee and fries.

Do not shop for anything at the bazaar unless you need it or want something badly. Shogran is very small, so most of the time you will enjoy your own company at your hotel, with your friends or family.

Best months to visit

October is the best month. It is colder than May, the weather is at its best, and there are fewer people. From April to September it is easy to reach, but it is likely to be crowded.

I go in October every year because the rates are usually lower than in May, June and July. There is no crowd, so I can enjoy the peace. We like quiet places and we do not like crowds.

You can also visit when it is snowy if you love snow. Just call ahead to check that your hotel is open.

What to carry

A jacket. Always carry one. The weather changes at night, so it keeps you warm.
Gloves: only if you are visiting in a snowy month or on a snowy day.
Cash. Most places now accept bank transfers, but there are no ATMs or banks in Shogran, so keep cash with you.

How I would plan 2 days in Shogran

Day 1. Drive up from Islamabad (about 6 hours), check in, walk to the bazaar in the evening, and have dinner or tea at Cedarwood.
Day 2. Take the jeep to Siri and Paye in the morning (about PKR 6,000), have breakfast there, walk the valleys, and hike to Makra Peak if you can (about an hour from Paye Meadow). Be back in Shogran before sunset.

Quick answers

Do I need a jeep to reach Shogran? No. The road from Kiwai is fully developed.
Do I need a jeep for Siri and Paye? Yes. I take one from Shogran for about PKR 6,000.
Is there an ATM? No. Carry cash.
When is the best time? October.
Can I visit in snow? Yes, but call your hotel first.
Is there mobile signal at Siri and Paye? No. Full 4G comes back at Shogran.
Is Shogran or Naran quieter? Shogran.

Shogran or Naran?

If you are an introvert, you will love the peaceful environment at Shogran. Naran is much more crowded than Shogran.

Naran was quiet when I went in May 2026, early in the season, but in general it is far busier. If you want calm and your own company, I would choose Shogran.

Is Shogran worth it?

Yes. It is a small, calm place, and the road makes it easy now. Go in October if you can, stay at Spruce, spend a full day at Siri and Paye, and keep an evening free for tea at Cedarwood.

These figures are approximate and based on my four visits to Shogran. Prices change, so please check before you travel and read my disclaimer. If you went recently and something is different, tell me on the contact page.

October 20, 2026