@ TC2009, From Kewai, you go about 300-500 meters towards naran, when you see a sign posted up showing a narrow partly mettled road / track towards shogran, going up diagnolly right. Its not dangerous at all, but describing dangerous is different for every one! Its just a narrow hilly track!
Depending on what you are driving, it will mostly be 1st gear, and some 2nd gear, mainly because its steep incline. Its narrow, so when another vehicle comes from other direction mostly one of you will have to stop so other can pass, occasionally one may have to reverse a bit if you are on a steep bend / curve. Although its steep, but saw plenty Mehrans, and even a suzuki Dabba up there. Just keep an eye on your temp needle just in case as mostly going in first gear. Turning off-ac may not be bad idea, when you get up that high it will be fairly cool anyway. Keep 30 minutes in mind for 7-8 km, can be even longer if you get stuck behind a load hauling truck etc. You may see plenty Toyota Coasters taking up passengers (I did), they go slow and steady.
Shogran to Siri and Paye is a non-mettled / katcha track. Its 8-9 km track. Its very uneven, rough and you need good clearance in your vehicle. 4X4 is strongly recommended. Also if its raining, it becomes muddy very easily and very slushy and slippary so even 4X4 is not advisable, till it dries a bit as track has very deep ruts and fairly steep. You can hire local jeeps easily at Shogran.
Finally Mansehra bypass is tricky, going from Abootabad, its not sign posted. All I can guide you is when you are about to enter mansehra town, you will come across a Y junction, just before that (you may have to reverse 50-100 yards), On your right side you will see a katcha road at 90 degree, that katcha road goes downwards for about 50-100 yards and turns left and joins a mettled road. This is the bypass road and nice new clean road it is. It has beautiful views once you reach the mountain top, you can see whole mansehra town from top. On the way back I think its properly sign posted. Anyway this bypass crosses from right side going towards balakot and obviously crossing from left on return.
Hotels, you will have to take your chances in Naran, its jam packed bacause of impending Ramazan. Do go to PTDC, they often get last minute cancellations etc. I was lucky, I went without booking, got a room because of cancelation while I was standing there.
Good luck, enjoy your trip, its amazing up there.
