Shogran and Siri Paye in 2 days

In dry weather some private cars do manage the climb from Kiwai, but it is steep and narrow, with tight hairpins, and it turns slippery in rain and snow. The Balakot administration lists Kiwai to Shogran and Shogran to Siri Paye as jeep routes, and we use local jeeps for both. Your bags go up with you, and the car waits at Kiwai.

The jeep track to Siri Paye is usually open from about May to October and is closed by snow in winter. Shogran itself can be reached for most of the year, but heavy snow can block the climb from Kiwai for days at a time. July and August bring monsoon rain, when landslides can close the Naran road or the jeep tracks for a few hours or longer. We check the track with Shogran the day before you travel.

Not on a two-day trip. Makra is 3,885 m, and the climb from Paye takes about four hours on steep ground; there have been fatal accidents on it in bad weather, especially thick fog. With an extra night in Shogran we can arrange it for fit walkers with a local guide, in settled summer weather. It is not for children or for anyone uneasy on steep slopes.

Yes, with some care. Once you are on the meadows the walking is gentle, and you can do as much or as little as you like. The jeep rides are bumpy and the drops beside the track are steep, which some older passengers find uncomfortable. Siri Paye is close to 3,000 m, high enough for breathlessness on slopes, so anyone with a heart or lung condition should ask their doctor before booking.

Even in the peak months of June to August, Shogran ranges from about 3 °C at night to 20 °C in the day, and it is colder on the meadows. Bring a warm jacket, a hat, a rain jacket and shoes with grip for wet grass. The valley is usually under snow in winter. Carry cash, a small first-aid kit and any regular medicines with you.