PinPosts

Tag: naran

  • Shogran or Naran? Which One to Pick After 4 Visits (Crowds, Hotels, Food, Weather)

    Shogran: first week of October in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and May 2026 · Naran: several visits, most recently May 2026 · Last checked: October 2026

    Shogran and Naran are both in the Kaghan side of the mountains, only a drive apart, and most people pick one without knowing much about the other. I have been to Shogran four times and to Naran several times, most recently in May 2026. I prefer Shogran, and this post explains why, who should choose which, and what each costs.

    If you like your own company and not crowds, read the Shogran section first. If you want a base for the Babusar road, Batakundi and Lulusar Lake, Naran makes more sense.

    Shogran vs Naran at a glance

    ShogranNaran
    CrowdsQuiet and peacefulMuch more crowded in general (empty when I went in May 2026, early in the season)
    Best monthOctoberOctober for peace, or April and May to escape the heat of the plains
    Getting thereAbout 6 hours from Islamabad. The road from Kiwai is fully developedOn the main highway. About 12 hours from Faisalabad
    Hotels, per nightLocal hotels PKR 5,000 to 8,000. Spruce PKR 27,000. Cedarwood PKR 24,500 (May 2026)Luxus PKR 14,000 (usual PKR 17,500) in May 2026
    Meal for two with teaPKR 6,000 to 8,000 at CedarwoodAbout PKR 4,000
    Things to doSiri and Paye, Makra Peak, the small bazaar, tea at CedarwoodSaif-ul-Malook, and the road to Batakundi, Lulusar Lake and Babusar Top
    AirClean air, less pollutionNot noted

    If you want quiet, choose Shogran

    If you are an introvert, you will love the peaceful environment in Shogran. Naran is much more crowded. In my experience, Shogran has less crowd, cleaner air and less pollution, and most of the time you enjoy your own company at your hotel with your friends or family.

    I travel in October because the rates are usually lower than in May, June and July, and there is no crowd. My friends and I like quiet places, and Shogran in the first week of October is exactly that.

    One honest note: Naran was almost empty when I went in May 2026, early in the season. But in general it is far busier than Shogran, especially from April to September.

    If you want the Babusar road, choose Naran

    Naran is the better base if you want to drive towards Babusar Top. From Naran it is about 70 km and 2 to 3 hours to the top. It is also the gateway to Batakundi and Lulusar Lake. I think the drive from Naran to Babusar Top is the best part of that side of the mountains. The top itself is only for tea, pakoras and a view.

    Saif-ul-Malook is also near Naran. I have only been once, and I do not like this lake, because it is easy for everyone to get to. A jeep with a driver costs about PKR 5,000 today.

    Cost: where your money goes further

    • Hotels. Shogran has cheap local hotels at PKR 5,000 to 8,000 a night. The two well-known hotels, Spruce and Cedarwood, cost PKR 27,000 and PKR 24,500 in May 2026. In Naran, Luxus cost me PKR 14,000 against its usual PKR 17,500.
    • Food. A meal for two with tea is about PKR 4,000 in Naran, against PKR 6,000 to 8,000 at Cedarwood in Shogran.
    • Activities. The jeep to Siri and Paye costs about PKR 6,000. A jeep to Saif-ul-Malook costs about PKR 5,000.

    Weather and the best months

    October is the best month for the weather in both places, and the nights are colder. April and May are good if you want to escape the summer heat of cities like Faisalabad and Lahore. Always carry a jacket.

    I would avoid Murree and Nathia Gali if you want quiet. In my opinion they are too crowded.

    Which one should you pick?

    • You like quiet and your own company: Shogran, in October.
    • You are going with family: Shogran has a calm setting, and Cedarwood is a good choice for families.
    • You are driving on towards Babusar, Batakundi or Lulusar: Naran.
    • You are on a tight budget: Naran for meals and a local hotel in Shogran for rooms.
    • You want a bonfire night with friends: Spruce or Pine Park in Shogran.

    Quick answers

    • Is Shogran quieter than Naran? Yes, much quieter in general.
    • Which is cheaper? Naran for food. Shogran for rooms if you choose a local hotel.
    • Which is better in October? Shogran. It has the best weather and the fewest people.
    • Do I need a jeep for Shogran? No. The road from Kiwai is fully developed.

    Related: Shogran travel guide · Shogran, Naran and Babusar Top in May 2026 · Spruce vs Cedarwood vs Luxus Naran · Food prices in Shogran and Naran

    This comparison is based on my own visits. Prices and crowds change, so please check before you travel and read my disclaimer. If you visited recently and something is different, tell me on the contact page.

  • Faisalabad to Naran and Shogran by Road: Route, Tolls, Rest Stops and Timing

    Drove it: May 2026 (own car, daytime) and 2021 (rented Hiace, to Chilas) · Last checked: October 2026

    Almost every route guide to northern Pakistan starts from Islamabad. If you live in Faisalabad or Lahore, you have to reach Islamabad first, and that is where many people lose time. I drove from Faisalabad to Naran and Shogran in May 2026, and in 2021 I drove all the way from Faisalabad to Chilas. This is the route, the tolls, the rest stops and the timing that worked for me.

    Tolls, prices and travel times change, so please check before you go. I say where a figure comes from my own trip and where it comes from a guide or a news report.

    The route at a glance

    1. Faisalabad to Islamabad, through the Islamabad toll.
    2. M-1 towards Hassan Abdal (you join the M-1 after the M-2), through the Hassan Abdal interchange toll.
    3. M-15 (Hazara Motorway) to the Mansehra interchange.
    4. Stay on the M-15 to New Balakot City.
    5. Local roads from there to Naran or Shogran.

    From Faisalabad to Naran or Shogran you need about 12 hours. From Islamabad to Shogran it takes about 6 hours.

    Distances from travel guides, not from my odometer: Islamabad to New Balakot is about 175 km, New Balakot to Naran is about 106 km, and Naran to Babusar Top is about 70 km.

    Tolls

    The tolls I paid were the Islamabad toll and the Hassan Abdal interchange toll. After the Mansehra interchange you are on local roads, with no more tolls.

    Toll rates change often. News reports said that from July 2026 a car pays about PKR 1,430 for the full Lahore to Islamabad M-2 and PKR 700 on the M-1. What you pay depends on where you join and leave. I could not find a current M-15 rate, so check the latest rates before you leave. Sources: Profit and ProPakistani.

    Where to stop

    If you are driving from Faisalabad or Lahore, make your first stop at the Bhera rest area. Skip Islamabad, and stop next at the Mansehra rest area.

    At Mansehra, skip the city. Keep going on the M-15 until you reach New Balakot City. From there you can take the city route, which avoids the traffic in Mansehra city. New Balakot is a newer shortcut, and in my experience few people know about it.

    Balakot city is a good place for a break. There are restaurants all the way where you can get a proper meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner, depending on your travel time.

    Fuel stops

    • Bhera rest area
    • Chakri
    • Islamabad
    • Mansehra interchange
    • Balakot city
    • Naran
    • Gilgit, along the Karakoram Highway, if you go further north

    In May 2026 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.

    When to leave

    If you are travelling with family, especially with kids, avoid driving at night. I went with my wife and drove in the daytime the whole way.

    If you are going with friends, leave around 1 AM and you will be at your destination by about 12 PM.

    Nothing went wrong on my 2026 trip. My Toyota Vitz, a small Japanese car, handled the whole route without trouble.

    Mobile signal on this route

    • Shogran: full 4G. The hotel Wi-Fi is on 24 hours, but keep your 4G ready in case the Wi-Fi is slow.
    • Siri and Paye: no cellular service.
    • Batakundi and beyond: no network until you reach Chilas or Jaglot.
    • Fairy Meadows: no cellular service. There is a paid wireless PCO that works for about 2 to 3 hours in the evening. Ask your hotel about it.
    • Hunza: on my trips in 2017 and 2021, only SCOM worked. Coverage changes, so check before you go.

    In 2021 we drove further: Faisalabad to Chilas in 23 hours

    In 2021 my group went from Faisalabad to Islamabad, then took the Hazara Motorway to Mansehra, then Mansehra to Naran, Naran over Babusar to Chilas, and from Chilas on to Fairy Meadows. We drove from Faisalabad to Chilas in about 23 hours of driving, in a rented Hiace. I do not recommend doing that in one go.

    Quick answers

    • How long from Faisalabad to Naran or Shogran? About 12 hours.
    • Which tolls? Islamabad and Hassan Abdal, then the M-15 to Mansehra. Check the current rates.
    • Where should I stop? The Bhera rest area first, then the Mansehra rest area, then Balakot.
    • When should I leave? In the daytime with family. Around 1 AM with friends.
    • Is a small car enough? Yes. My Toyota Vitz had no trouble.

    Related: My May 2026 trip to Shogran and Naran · What a northern Pakistan trip costs · Shogran travel guide

    These figures are approximate and based on my own drives in 2021 and May 2026. Tolls and conditions change, so please check before you travel and read my disclaimer. If you drove it recently and something is different, tell me on the contact page.

  • Shogran, Naran and Babusar Top in May 2026: Road, Hotels, Food and Costs

    Visited: May 2026 · Also: Shogran for the past 4 years, Babusar Top in 2021, Batakundi and Lulusar in 2021, 2024 and 2025 · Last checked: October 2026

    In May 2026 I spent 7 nights in Shogran and Naran with my wife, in our own car, a Toyota Vitz, and drove towards Babusar Top. I have been visiting Shogran for the past four years, and I drove over Babusar in 2021, so I know this route well. This post covers the roads, the hotels, the food, what I spent, and when Babusar Top opens and closes.

    Disclosure: I paid for all my 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. The other hotels in this post gave me no discount.

    What the May 2026 trip cost me

    We were two people, we travelled for 7 nights, and we started from Faisalabad. I spent about PKR 35,000 on fuel, at peak fuel prices. Everything together, including hotels, food and shopping, came to about PKR 150,000.

    Hotel rates were lower than usual because the season was just starting, and a new Luxus hotel had just opened in Naran. Expect to pay more in the peak months.

    The road: then and now

    When I saw it around 2020, the road to Naran was still under development. Today it is very smooth. It is clean, and it is a proper highway for travel.

    In May 2026 everything was super smooth, but the road had not been properly cleared because of snow. My Toyota Vitz, a small Japanese car, handled the drive smoothly and did not struggle anywhere.

    Shogran: you can drive up now

    I have visited Shogran for the past four years. My 2026 visit was in May, because I went with my wife. Otherwise, October is likely the best month to go, with cosy weather, especially if you are with friends.

    The road from Kiwai to Shogran has been developed for the past two years, so you can take your own car now. You do not need a jeep to reach Shogran.

    For Siri Paye, I always stay at Shogran and take a jeep from there the next morning. Some people used to park at Kiwai and take a jeep from there. I have never done that, and I do not think many people park there anymore, as of 2026.

    Where I stayed in May 2026, and what it cost

    HotelPlacePer night (May 2026)What I noticed
    SpruceShogranPKR 27,000 (deluxe room)Modern rooms. Each room has its own attached balcony.
    CedarwoodShogranPKR 24,500Older furniture and interior. No separate attached balcony.
    LuxusNaranPKR 14,000 (usual PKR 17,500)My favourite place to stay.

    Spruce had the more modern rooms, and each room had its own balcony. Cedarwood felt older, with old furniture and no separate balcony. Luxus Naran is my favourite place to stay.

    If I had to choose one place to sleep in Shogran, I would choose Spruce.

    Where to eat in Shogran and Naran

    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 with tea for two people costs about PKR 6,000 to 8,000. It is expensive, but worth it. You can also just go in the evening for tea.

    Naran: for desi food, Moon Restaurant and New Punjab Hotel are good choices. A proper meal for two people, including tea, costs about PKR 4,000.

    Naran and Saif-ul-Malook

    Naran in May was peaceful. It was empty, hotels were available, and the weather was calm, with no crowd.

    I have been to Saif-ul-Malook only once in my life, and I do not like this lake, because it is easy for everyone to get to. If you want to go, a jeep with a driver costs about PKR 5,000 today.

    Batakundi and Lulusar Lake: where to stop

    Batakundi: there is no special sight to stop for, and I never stay there. The hotels in Batakundi do not have proper electricity: you get a single bulb at night and low voltage. I would not book a room there, because you will not find peace at that place. It is only somewhere to take a break on the way.

    The Adventurers Resort & Restaurant: in Burawai, right after Batakundi on the way to Lulusar Lake, you can stop for coffee or tea. It is new, and most people who have not travelled beyond Naran since 2023 do not know about it. It is expensive. I had coffee and fries, and I have stopped there many times. I would not book a room there, because there is nothing around it and it looks scary at night. You can check their menu on their Google Maps listing.

    Lulusar Lake: there is a restaurant with 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. From Lulusar it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to reach Babusar Top.

    Babusar Top in May: still closed

    I knew Babusar Top was closed before I left. I still wanted to enjoy the long drive, so I drove from Naran towards Babusar. The road was not fully open because of snow, and I could not reach the top.

    Only the drive to Babusar Top is mesmerizing for me, not the top itself. Next time, whether I go will depend on my mood.

    It is about 70 km from Naran to Babusar Top, and it takes 2 to 3 hours.

    What Babusar Top is like (my 2021 visit)

    You can easily stay for half an hour. There are views of valleys and mountains far away, and there is not much else to do. Have a cup of tea or coffee, eat some pakoras, and enjoy the view.

    When does Babusar Top open and close?

    • Closes: every year, after 15 October.
    • Opens: around the start or the end of May, depending on the weather.

    In May 2026 it was still closed, so do not count on the first days of May.

    I check the road status on social media before I leave. TikTok is the best for these updates, and I prefer watching Zunair Kamboh’s updates.

    How we went in 2021: Faisalabad to Chilas

    In 2021 my group went from Faisalabad to Islamabad, then took the Hazara Motorway to Mansehra, then Mansehra to Naran, Naran to Babusar, Babusar to Chilas, and from Chilas on to Fairy Meadows.

    We drove from Faisalabad to Chilas in about 23 hours of driving, in a rented Hiace. I do not recommend doing that in one go.

    Fuel, signal and what to pack

    Petrol stations on the way: Bhera rest area, Chakri, Islamabad, Mansehra interchange and Balakot city. Naran also has fuel stations. Gilgit has them too, on the Karakoram Highway.

    Mobile signal: there is no network at Batakundi and beyond, until you reach Chilas or Jaglot. In Hunza, SCOM was the only SIM that worked on my trips in 2017 and 2021. You can recharge it with Nayapay or at local mobile shops. Coverage changes, so check before you go.

    What to pack: a jacket is a must if you travel between October and May.

    Is this drive worth it?

    Yes. The road is now smooth and comfortable, and you can drive to Shogran in your own car. Naran was quiet in May, and the drive from Naran towards Babusar Top is the best part. The top itself is only for tea, pakoras and a view, so check the road status before you leave, because Babusar Top was still closed by snow in May 2026.

    Related: How to reach Fairy Meadows · Shogran travel guide

    These figures are approximate and based on my May 2026 trip, my visits to Shogran over the past four years, and my 2021 trip over Babusar. Prices and road conditions 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.