The name Siri Paye means "lake" and "high grazing ground": in Hindko, the local language, siri is a lake and paye a high pasture (The News on Sunday, 2025). It is a pair of high meadows about 6 km above Shogran in the Kaghan Valley, at close to 3,000 metres. Siri, the lower one, has a small lake; Paye, the upper one, is an open grassy shelf under Makra Peak with views across to Malika Parbat. Most people go up by local jeep from Shogran, a rough 45 minutes to an hour at PKR 5,500 return per jeep (2026), and fit walkers can hike it in about three hours.
It sounds like the dish siri paye (head and trotters), but the place name has nothing to do with it. This guide covers what you actually find there, the jeep and the hike, when the weather gives you the view, and whether it is worth the trip.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Distance from Shogran | About 6 km by jeep track |
| Altitude | Paye at about 2,900 m; Shogran below at 2,362 m |
| Jeep, Shogran to Siri Paye | PKR 5,500 return per jeep (2026) |
| Jeep, Kiwai to Siri Paye | PKR 8,000 return per jeep (2026) |
| Jeep time | 45 minutes to an hour each way |
| On foot from Shogran | About 2.5 to 4 hours up |
| Best months | June to September, with June and September the clearest |
| Best time of day | Early morning |
Weather now in Naran 2,409 m
Live weather loads here.
When it snows: Snowbound from about December; November is the last month you can usually drive in, and the road reopens late in April. More on the seasons
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), updated every 30 minutes. Mountain weather changes fast: check again before you set off.
What Siri Paye is really like
The setting is the reason to go. The meadows open out above the forest line, the grass runs up towards the ridge, and on a clear morning Malika Parbat and the snow peaks of the valley stand right in front of you, with Makra Peak rising directly above Paye.
It is also busier and more built-up than the photographs suggest. A November 2025 article in The News on Sunday described the meadow as dotted with kiosks, dhabas and swings, crossed by jeep and horse tracks, and noted that satellite imagery shows few structures until 2020 and a surge of unregulated building after 2022. Litter is a real problem, and there is no proper rubbish collection.
So go with the right expectations. You will find tea, snacks and horses for hire at the top, and on a summer weekend you will not have it to yourself. For quiet, go early on a weekday, or walk away from the jeep stop across the meadow.
The lakes
Siri Lake is on the way up, in the lower meadow. Paye Lake lies in the upper meadow below Makra Peak. Both are small, more pond than lake, and early in the season they can still be partly frozen. On a still morning the reflection of the peaks in Paye Lake is the classic photograph; by the afternoon, with wind and cloud, it is just a pond.
Going up by jeep
Almost everyone goes by jeep. The track from Shogran is unpaved, steep and bumpy, and after rain it turns to mud. Expect 45 minutes to an hour each way and a hard ride for anyone with a bad back.
- Fares. The 2026 fixed fares are PKR 5,500 return per jeep from Shogran and PKR 8,000 return from Kiwai. They are per jeep, not per person. Our Shogran jeep fare guide explains waiting time and the cheapest combination.
- Your own car. Plan on leaving it in Shogran. The Kaghan Development Authority barred private tourist vehicles from the Siri Paye road in 2022 after a fatal accident.
- Agree the waiting time before you set off. An hour or two at the top is enough for most families.
- Go early. A jeep at 7 or 8 in the morning gets you there before the crowds and while the view is still clear.
Walking up from Shogran
Walking is the better way to arrive if you are fit. The simplest route is to follow the jeep track, which climbs steadily through the forest and out onto the open meadow, and is hard to lose in good visibility. Allow about two and a half to four hours up, depending on your pace and how many stops the children need.
A good compromise is to ride up and walk down. You get the views in front of you all the way, it is far easier on the lungs, and you only need the jeep one way; agree that fare in advance, since there is no notified one-way rate.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Altitude. Paye is higher than Naran. Walk slowly, drink water and don't let children race uphill.
- Stay near the track. Cloud can come down quickly and the upper meadow looks the same in every direction in fog.
- Start early, so you are walking down before any afternoon storm.
When the weather gives you the view
The meadows are at their best from June to September. June has snow on the high peaks and fresh grass; July and August are the greenest but also the wettest, when monsoon showers and thunderstorms roll in, often in the afternoon, and the track is at its muddiest. September is usually drier and clearer.
May and October are possible but uncertain. Snow can linger on the upper meadow into late spring, and autumn storms bring early snow.
Time of day matters as much as the month. Cloud often builds over the peaks by late morning, so the clearest views are usually the first ones. If you are staying in Shogran, go up first thing after breakfast rather than after lunch.
Winter is a different matter. In December 2024, more than 400 students and teachers were caught by the heaviest snowfall of the season on Siri Paye and had to be rescued overnight by Rescue 1122 and the Kaghan Development Authority after the track was blocked. Don't go up to Siri Paye in winter without a local driver's clear go-ahead and a close eye on the forecast. Our guide to Shogran in winter has more.
What to do at the top
- Walk to Paye Lake and across the upper meadow, away from the kiosks.
- Hire a horse for a short ride around the meadow; agree the price and duration first.
- Photograph Malika Parbat and Makra in the morning light.
- Climb towards Makra Peak. The summit is a serious day's hike from Paye, not something to add on a whim; our Makra Peak trek guide explains what it involves.
- Camp, if you have your own gear and a settled forecast. Nights are cold even in July.
Whatever you do, take your rubbish back down with you. The meadow has no system for dealing with it.
Is Siri Paye worth it?
Yes, if you go early and at the right time of year. The view from Paye on a clear morning is one of the best you can reach so easily from Islamabad, with no walking required if you don't want it.
It is less rewarding at midday on an Eid weekend, when cloud has covered the peaks and the meadow is full of jeeps. It is also a rough ride for anyone with back or neck problems, and a steep climb for anyone who struggles with altitude or heights. If that is your group, Shogran's own meadow and the forest walks around it are a gentler alternative.
For the full picture of Shogran itself, see our Shogran valley guide, and for fitting Siri Paye into a longer journey, our trip planning page.
Frequently asked questions
What does Siri Paye mean?
In Hindko, the language spoken around Shogran, siri means lake and paye means a high grazing ground, so the name describes the lake in the lower meadow and the pasture above it. It is not named after the food dish siri paye.
How far is Siri Paye from Shogran?
About 6 km by a rough jeep track, which takes 45 minutes to an hour each way by jeep and around two and a half to four hours on foot.
How much is the jeep to Siri Paye?
In 2026 the fixed fare is PKR 5,500 return per jeep from Shogran, or PKR 8,000 return per jeep from Kiwai. The fares are per vehicle, not per person.
Can a car go to Siri Paye?
Plan not to. Private tourist vehicles were barred from the Shogran to Siri Paye road in 2022 after a fatal accident, and the track is rough, steep and muddy after rain.
What is the best time to visit Siri Paye?
June to September, early in the morning. Cloud often covers the peaks by midday, and July and August bring monsoon showers.
How high is Siri Paye?
The upper meadow, Paye, is at about 2,900 metres, and the meadows are often described as close to 3,000 metres. Makra Peak above them is 3,885 metres.
Is Siri Paye open in winter?
The track is often blocked by snow, and in December 2024 more than 400 students and teachers had to be rescued from Siri Paye after heavy snowfall. Only go in winter with a local driver's go-ahead.
