No trips found in this category yet. Check back soon!
No hotels found in this category yet. Check back soon!
For visitors looking for accommodation in Shogran, a limited number of properties is typical, unlike what people expect. The land at an elevation of 2362 meters holds a limited number of properties because of the accessibility issues posed by the steep and rugged track from Kiwai and the slow development of properly constructed accommodation offering mountain views. This, in turn, has led to 2 or 3 properties dominating the guest volume, whereas the rest of the market has smaller family hotels and guest houses.
This page captures what lies in Shogran, and the amenities each of the properties offer to help guests make informed decisions before booking in a location where the view from the room is of primary importance.
HospitalityTours.com.pk books Shogran accommodation as part of our complete Kaghan Valley packages from Islamabad. This includes a planned Siri Paye morning departure, a pre-arranged jeep from Kiwai, a named hotel, and the specific room category. Send us your booking dates and your group size via WhatsApp +92 341 111 3777. Contact at the end.
Shogran can be accessed by taking the N-15 Kaghan Valley Kiwai branch jeep track. It is about a 34 kilometre drive from Balakot, and it can take between 30 and 45 minutes to travel from Kiwai to the plateau. Cars can reach the access point to the jeep track at Kiwai and continue onward to the plateau by hiring a jeep. This access restriction means that Shogran has no walk-in tourists. Shogran’s hotels know their guests are committed for the night as they check-in.
The plateau is small and the hotels are located in an even smaller area. The booking that determines if a guest has mountain, valley, or forest facing rooms, is all about location.
Shogran Road, Shogran, Mansehra District. Largest hotel on the plateau.
Shogran’s most well known resort, and the one most guests look for when researching tourism, is Pine Park. Their offerings are on a larger scale than most expect for a mountain plateau hotel. With over 50 rooms, they have a whole range with various categories of standard deluxe rooms and cottages, as well as the block of Swiss Cottages with it’s own grounds and sitting area. The block can be reserved for a family or group together.
The room type which guests tend to review the most is the Makra View Cottage. This is described as waking to the peak from the bed. The Honeymoon Cottage offers a fireplace with a private garden. The resort’s grounds have manicured lawns and rose gardens, as well as a fountain. There are bonfires and evenings with entertainment offered, as well.
In the verified guest reviews, the restaurant receives more negative than positive reviews, and an actual suggestion to eat elsewhere or bring your own food is mentioned in a few reviews. The kitchen offers Pakistani and continental cuisine, so be mindful of the food offerings when you decide whether the meal plan is sufficient for your stay.
TripAdvisor’s rating system places this resort as the first rated in Shogran, due to the combination of size and number of reviews, not because of the quality of the food. The overall rating reflects the quality of the food the best.
This resort is family friendly and focuses on providing the grounds of the Swiss Cottage to families. Communal gardens and outdoor areas are available for groups to enjoy as well and to host their own events. The Makra View Cottage has the peak morning sun for guests who want that in their room.
Shogran, Kaghan Valley. Part of the Arcadian Hotels and Resorts group.
The Arcadian group owns four properties in the Kaghan Valley, including The Peridot in Naran, Riverside at Khanian, The Sprucewoods at Shogran, and The Blue Pines at Murree. Of these, The Sprucewoods at Shogran has the best standard among the properties.
The Arcadian name assures a level of service that smaller independent hotels in the area cannot provide because of their kitchens and room standards; Arcadian guarantees on booking of multiple active properties. This is the ideal choice for corporate groups and foreign visitors who would prefer to stay at a managed hotel versus a family run hotel.
The property has scenic mountain views, a surrounding forest and access to Siri Paye from Shogran.
This property is ideal for foreign visitors, guests attending corporate retreats, couples who would prefer a managed service over large hotel events, and other guests who have previously stayed at other Arcadian properties.
Shogran. Four-star positioning with restaurant, garden and terrace.
Cedarwood is regularly found on the best hotel lists for Shogran. The property has a four-star rating, is positioned near the trails for Siri Paye and the Makra Peak approach, and has a garden and terrace. Aesthetically pleasing views from the terrace are noted in numerous guest reviews.
For travelers wanting direct access to the trail from their rooms and a smaller property than Pine Park, Cedar Wood is the likely choice. Be sure to ask which view, Makra or forest, is directly accessible from the terrace, as some buildings on the plateau can have either.
Shogran. Boutique resort with a focus on restaurants.
In the upper end of the Shogran listings, The Kylix has a focus on restaurants and a boutique style of hospitality. For travelers who are unhappy with Pine Park's food, The Kylix is worth a look. Be sure to ask for the current reviews and room options prior to booking.
Shogran. Focus on luxury accommodations.
Glade is a Shogran luxury resort and a new property that benefited from the recent investment in Shogran. Be sure to ask for the room and view prior to booking.
The budget mid-range in Shogran consists of a variety of family hotels and guesthouses that span the years on the plateau without renovation. Travelers for whom cost is more important than finish, or those who plan to spend the majority of their time at Siri Paye, may prefer Hotel Serenity or similar mid-range properties.
When reserving a mid-range accommodation at Shogran, inquire about hot water timings and generator schedules. The weather is cold on the 2,362 meters elevation plateau at night, regardless of the season. Lacking heating is a considerable problem at this elevation.
Government run. The government operated rest house on the plateau.
The PTDC group covers Shogran as a property in their Kaghan Valley portfolio. PTDC is the budget options for Government rest houses which are generally functional and consistently maintained. If you are unable to book the private accommodations for the weekend, then PTDC rest houses are your best option. Check if PTDC Motel is accepting bookings for external tourists before finalizing your travel plans.
The Makra Peak view, looking east across the plateau to the summit at 3,885 meters, is the preferred view. Rooms and cottages on the eastern edge of the plateau face this view. Rooms that face the pine forest, the valley below, or the western ridge do not offer the same experience.
Before you confirm the booking, request the room orientation. Ask if the view is a direct line of sight to Makra or if it is partially obstructed by a forest. Ask if the room faces the lawn or faces the parking. These questions determine whether you will have a pleasant stay or not.
Siri Paye’s main season is May through September. July and August are the busiest months with the plateau becoming full. If you plan a weekday stay over the summer, you must reserve 4 to 6 weeks in advance, and a holiday weekend stay needs 2 to 3 months in reserve.
Autumn colors fill the trees in October with lower occupancy rates and lower prices. The least amount of snow begins to fall at this time, closing Siri Paye’s meadow.
From November to February, 3 to 4 feet of snow cover the ground. However, you can still attend a winter Shogran stay since Pine Park is open over the winter. However, the journey from Kiwai needs a Jeep with the right gear for snow, and you have to have a heater that works at your hotel.
To get your desired category, either Swiss Cottage or Makra View Cottage, Pine Park needs to be explicitly requested. Since the property has many room variations, a generic booking will not place you in one of these categories.
To confirm your booking, check the food quality standards at the hotel if your booking includes meals. Because of the food quality complaints in the reviews, it is a good idea to plan around this issue rather than considering it a one-time complaint.
Confirm with the Arcadian Sprucewoods if the property will be open during the month of your booking. Arcadian is known to answer seasonal requests.
See if any Shogran hotel has heating on for the month you will be visiting; ask this separately if the hotel is open.
Bring cash from Islamabad. There are no ATMs on the Plateau.
Do not go to Kiwai without a confirmed jeep booking. The negotiation on the jeep stand in the morning on a busy day should be avoided by prior booking.
Avoid the 14th of August long weekend and Eid if you don't want to deal with poor track conditions, overcrowding and the higher weekend rates.
Which is the best hotel in Shogran? Pine Park Hotels and Resorts is great for their options of cottages and the Makra view rooms. Arcadian Sprucewoods for managed service. Cedar Wood for a smaller and mid-level property with terraces.
Does Pine Park Shogran have good food? Food gets negative reviews. Bring your own food or eat elsewhere if you care.
What is the view from Shogran hotels? Views of Makra Peak at 3,885m to the east, Musa Ka Musalla in the range beyond, and the Kaghan Valley below. Not every room has a view. Ask for a gaze towards the east or location in the Makra rooms.
Is there a luxury hotel in Shogran? Arcadian Sprucewoods is the most consistently managed property and is the clear luxury choice. Glade Luxury Resort is the new entrant.
Is it possible to stay in Shogran or Pine Park hotels in winters? Other properties can be confirmed for winter. The track from Kiwai to Shogran in heavy snow requires an equipped jeep.
How early in advance should we book Shogran hotels for summer vacations? For weekday bookings, you should plan atleast 4-6 weeks ahead. For vacations during Eid and 14 Aug, you should make your bookings atleast 2-3 months in advance.
Let us know your desired dates, number of guests, if you are looking for a cottage for a family, corporate groups, or blocks of Swiss cottages for a reunion, and we will confirm a specfic room, organize a Kiwai jeep, and a Siri Paye trek.
WhatsApp: +92 341 111 3777
Email: info@hospitalitytours.com
Head office: Office No. 2 & 3, Ground Floor, Parish Rose Plaza, Opposite NUST Gate 4, Sector H-13, Islamabad