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Tag: fairy meadows

  • How Much Does a Northern Pakistan Trip Cost? 10 Friends in 2021 vs a Couple in 2026

    Trips: August 2021 (Hunza and Fairy Meadows) and May 2026 (Shogran and Naran) · Last checked: October 2026

    I have done two very different northern Pakistan trips. In August 2021 I went to Hunza and Fairy Meadows for 7 days with friends, a group of 10. In May 2026 I went to Shogran and Naran for 7 nights with my wife. They cost very different amounts, and the gap shows how much has changed. This post puts the real numbers side by side.

    All figures are approximate and in PKR. I did not keep receipts, so I do not have a category-by-category split for either trip. Where a number is my own estimate, I say so.

    The two trips at a glance

    August 2021May 2026
    Who10 friendsMe and my wife
    WhereHunza and Fairy MeadowsShogran, Naran and the road towards Babusar
    Length7 days7 nights
    Started fromFaisalabadFaisalabad
    VehicleRented Toyota Hiace with a driverOur own Toyota Vitz
    Petrol, per litreAbout PKR 170About PKR 414
    Total costAbout PKR 24,000 per person (about PKR 240,000 for the group)About PKR 150,000 for two, including hotels, food and shopping

    The 2021 trip: 10 friends and one Hiace

    We hired a Toyota Hiace with a driver for the whole week. It cost about PKR 8,000 a day, which is about PKR 56,000 for 7 days. Petrol was about PKR 170 a litre.

    Fairy Meadows was not popular yet, so hotels and food there were cheap. We paid about PKR 4,000 for a jeep for 5 people from Raikot to Tato, PKR 1,500 to 2,000 for a horse or a mule, and about PKR 6,000 a night for a hut that all 10 of us had to ourselves. A BBQ piece cost about PKR 1,000.

    Counting everything, the trip cost about PKR 24,000 per person, which is roughly PKR 240,000 for the group. Sharing one vehicle, one hut and the fuel between 10 people is what kept it so low.

    The 2026 trip: two people and our own car

    In May 2026 I went with my wife for 7 nights in our own Toyota Vitz. We started from Faisalabad, stayed in Shogran and Naran, and drove towards Babusar Top, which was still closed by snow.

    Petrol was about PKR 414 a litre. I spent about PKR 35,000 on fuel for the whole trip, from Faisalabad to every place we visited. Everything together, including hotels, food and shopping, came to about PKR 150,000. That is about PKR 21,000 a night for two people.

    Hotels were the biggest cost. A deluxe room at Spruce in Shogran cost PKR 27,000 a night and Cedarwood cost PKR 24,500. In Naran I paid PKR 14,000 a night for 2 nights at Luxus, against its usual PKR 17,500. The season was just starting and the hotel was new, and I asked for a discount and told them I would review the hotel. I explain this in my hotel review.

    Food and jeeps were smaller costs. A proper meal for two with tea cost about PKR 4,000 in Naran and PKR 6,000 to 8,000 at Cedarwood in Shogran. The jeep to Siri and Paye costs about PKR 6,000, and a jeep with a driver to Saif-ul-Malook costs about PKR 5,000.

    How prices changed since 2021

    What2021Today
    Petrol, per litreAbout PKR 170About PKR 414
    Hiace with a driver, per dayAbout PKR 8,000I did not hire one in 2026
    Fairy Meadows jeep, for 5 peopleAbout PKR 4,000PKR 14,000 to 16,000
    Horse or mule from TatoPKR 1,500 to 2,000PKR 3,500 to 4,000
    Fairy Meadows hut, per nightAbout PKR 6,000About PKR 15,000
    BBQ piece at Fairy MeadowsAbout PKR 1,000PKR 2,000
    Local room in ShogranAbout PKR 4,000 (2022, from friends)About PKR 8,000
    The same 10-person, 7-day tripAbout PKR 240,000About PKR 600,000 (my own estimate)

    Most of these prices have gone up two to four times. The Fairy Meadows jeep went up the most, from about PKR 4,000 to PKR 14,000 to 16,000. The PKR 600,000 figure is my own estimate of what the 2021 group trip would cost today, not a quote.

    Why the cost per person is so different

    • Group size. In 2021, one vehicle, one hut and every tank of fuel were shared by 10 people. In 2026, two people carried every room and every litre of fuel.
    • The vehicle. In 2021 we hired a Hiace with a driver. In 2026 we used our own car, which is cheaper for a small group, and we could stop wherever we liked.
    • The hotels. In 2026 I stayed in some of the best hotels in Shogran. In 2021, prices in Fairy Meadows and Hunza were low.
    • The prices. Everything, from petrol to a roti, is more expensive now.

    How to keep a trip like this affordable

    • Go in October. Rates are usually lower than in May, June and July, and there is no crowd.
    • Drive your own car. It costs less than hiring a vehicle for a small group, and you can stop where you like.
    • Share the big costs. A jeep seats 5 people, and a group can share a hut or a hotel room.
    • Choose a local hotel in Shogran. They cost PKR 5,000 to 8,000 a night, against PKR 24,500 to 27,000 at Spruce and Cedarwood. You can bargain, but only by about PKR 500.
    • Eat in Naran. A meal for two is about PKR 4,000, against PKR 6,000 to 8,000 at Cedarwood. I still think one dinner at Cedarwood is worth it.
    • Think about a package for Fairy Meadows. Tourist companies still offer a plan for around PKR 35,000 per person, which is simpler than arranging everything yourself.
    • Check rates at the start of the season. I paid PKR 14,000 instead of PKR 17,500 at a new hotel in Naran in May.

    Quick answers

    • How much did the May 2026 trip cost? About PKR 150,000 for two people for 7 nights, including hotels, food and shopping. About PKR 35,000 of that was fuel.
    • How much did the 2021 trip cost? About PKR 24,000 per person for 10 friends over 7 days.
    • Is October cheaper than May? In my experience, rates in October are lower than in May, June and July.
    • Why is there no full breakdown? I did not keep receipts, so I only give the numbers I am sure about.

    Related: How to reach Fairy Meadows · Shogran travel guide · Shogran, Naran and Babusar Top in May 2026

    These figures are approximate and based on my own trips in August 2021 and May 2026. 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.

  • How to Reach Fairy Meadows: Jeep Track, Trek, Huts and Costs (2021 vs Today)

    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

    WhatAugust 2021Today
    Jeep from Raikot to Tato (a jeep for 5 people)About PKR 4,000PKR 14,000 to 16,000
    Horse or mule from TatoPKR 1,500 to 2,000PKR 3,500 to 4,000, after bargaining
    Hut, per nightAbout PKR 6,000 (my group of 10 had the whole hut)About PKR 15,000
    BBQ, one leg or chest pieceAbout PKR 1,000PKR 2,000
    One rotiI did not note itPKR 150
    Noodles at Beyal CampI did not note itPKR 500
    CrowdsFew people knew about itPacked in May, June and July
    Package from a tourist companyI did not note itAround 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.