Family Trip to Murree and Naran - Advise needed

Road Trips / Vacations / Hiking / Trekking

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Dark_Knight (Dark_Knight) 2013-07-30 09:02:44 +0500 #1

AOA Everyone,

I am planning a family trip to Murree & Naran from 15th August and need some advise from experts.

My plan is come Islamabad from Karachi early morning and take taxi to murree... stay there for 3 days and then take taxi or private car from there to Naran.. spend 4 days there and return back to Islamabad directly. I know that these places will be a bit crowded but dont want to take family to some place which is familiar and easy to reach as this is their first trip to northern areas. I am also hoping that after eid vacations, people might start leaving from 15th August and rates will be comparably less than eid days..

My questions are:

How much a private taxi or vehicle will approximately charge from Islamabad to Murree, From Murree to Naran and from Naran to Islamabad? I prefer private taxi or vehicle because of family and kids. Any suggestions regarding alternate mode of transpost?
I prefer taking room near Mall Road in Murree, Main Bazaar in Naraan because we will not be having vehicle come to these places frequently. How much walk it is to Main Bazaar if I take hotel a bit far on Jheel Road?
What will be the approximate hotel rates during 15th to 24th August in Murree and Naraan?
What will be the approximate charges of Jeep to Saiful Malook, Lalazar, Sri Paye? Please also suggest if there is any other place to visit in Naran.
Except New Murree and Ayubia chair lifts, is there anything else to go for in Murree?

farikhan2 (farikhan2) 2013-07-30 12:20:15 +0500 #2

I am also leaving Karachi on 15th August and reaching Islamabad at around 6 PM the same day.
I can help you out with some of the information.

Don't and I again say "DON'T" expect the rates of accommodation and transport to be less. (They will be at the highest point)
Taxi from Islamabad to Murree will charge you approx 2000 Rs and from Naran to Islamabad I think it should be around 8000 to 10000 Minimum.
As I said hotels will be very expensive. In Murree I expect you will get room relatively easily but for Naran (as you are with family) make sure to have prior booking of hotel because when you are there, they know that you will stay as you don't have any option so you have to pay whatever they ask (with family it gets a little technical as you have to consider a lot of things). Average rates for hotels in Murree for an average room must be around 4000 (subject to availability) and for Naran 5000 to 6000 is the minimum for a family room (please check the availability beforehand) This is the peak season.
One friend told me the rates for jeep to saif ul malook round trip is around 2500 and for lalazar around 10000.
Personally I prefer Nathia Gali over Murree because Murree is always over crowded (Nathia Gali too in this season but less then Murree) and for me Nathia Gali is more scenic (In my opinion - others may differ)

I would never have gone in this season but I have only these days in whole year for my leisure.

I suggest you :- If you can, postpone you trip till 1st of September or if you have the same schedule problem as I have then we both don't have any option

In September you can decrease the price on almost everything by 30%. I am sure of that.

Dark_Knight (Dark_Knight) 2013-07-31 19:39:46 +0500 #3

farikhan2;3983047:

I am also leaving Karachi on 15th August and reaching Islamabad at around 6 PM the same day.
I can help you out with some of the information.

1. Don't and I again say "DON'T" expect the rates of accommodation and transport to be less. (They will be at the highest point)

2. Taxi from Islamabad to Murree will charge you approx 2000 Rs and from Naran to Islamabad I think it should be around 8000 to 10000 Minimum.
3. As I said hotels will be very expensive. In Murree I expect you will get room relatively easily but for Naran (as you are with family) make sure to have prior booking of hotel because when you are there, they know that you will stay as you don't have any option so you have to pay whatever they ask (with family it gets a little technical as you have to consider a lot of things). Average rates for hotels in Murree for an average room must be around 4000 (subject to availability) and for Naran 5000 to 6000 is the minimum for a family room (please check the availability beforehand) This is the peak season.

4. One friend told me the rates for jeep to saif ul malook round trip is around 2500 and for lalazar around 10000.

5. Personally I prefer Nathia Gali over Murree because Murree is always over crowded (Nathia Gali too in this season but less then Murree) and for me Nathia Gali is more scenic (In my opinion - others may differ)

I would never have gone in this season but I have only these days in whole year for my leisure.

I suggest you :- If you can, postpone you trip till 1st of September or if you have the same schedule problem as I have then we both don't have any option

In September you can decrease the price on almost everything by 30%. I am sure of that.

It will be ok if the rates of proper accomodation are between 5-7K..

IS their any other cheaper way to get Naran from Muree... suitable for family???

These are the only dates which I got so.. like u.. I dont have any other option.. otherwise I would have prefered September start..

farikhan2 (farikhan2) 2013-08-01 03:34:01 +0500 #4

Use PTDC Bus to Naran. It leave early in morning from Flashman Hotel Rawalpindi. it is the best way to save some bucks

Don't forget to post pictures

train (train) 2013-08-01 19:11:34 +0500 #5

yea instead of going through taxi use ptdc bus

and if u want private then rent a car
i live in muree and telling you these peopl will rip u off i come daily between mure and rawalpindi and see how these taxi driver rip off people who comes for enjoyment,even public transport charge them too much fair then what are exact fares
my advice dont go to thses local taxi there is a cab servic in islamabad hire it they have corolla cars and they also charge u same as others
if u want to get public transport then use hiace as they are best thier fare is 100 per person and they reach in 1 hour but thy unboard u on bus stand and its quite away from mall road at too much height so you have to go by walking so better take that cab it will unboard you on gpo on mall road where there are best hotels of muree located
finding hotels in murre is not difficult these days
even in ramzan there is a rush of people and almost their is rain everyday during whole month so weather is pretty awesome

so in nutshell what i recommend u this will save thousands of ur money
from pindi to muree hire the cab not local taxi as fares are same but if u can manage on public transport u can save atleast 1500 from here
hotels on mall road are expensive hotels near bus stand and going onwards towards muree are as good as on mall road but they are cheaper so totaly depends on you budget n choice

so till muree i can guide you rest after that other people who regularly visit there can guide u best but possible way of going naran frm muree is to go to abbotabad then mansehra and from there public transport is for u this is the cheaper way but as you have family with you so better book a cab from islambad/pindi and make a deal with him that he wil drop u off to muree and after three days take u from muree and continue ur trip but this will be costly but cars are luxury xli so it will be good for u if u hire taxi from muree cars are not good at all and if they have good cars and too them good cars are hyundai and daewoo racer they will charge u like thy have bmw with them

train (train) 2013-08-01 19:16:45 +0500 #6

regarding hotel rates in muree
in 5 to 7 k u can get best hotels on mall road and in 3 or upto 4 k u can buy decent family room anywhere in muree so if even 5 k is good or you then dont worry about hotel in muree as u can hire best rooms on mall road

Dark_Knight (Dark_Knight) 2013-08-02 10:22:57 +0500 #7

My plan is to visit Murree first.. Isnt it easy from going to Naran direct from Muree??? Or we need to get back to Islamabad..

Dark_Knight (Dark_Knight) 2013-08-02 10:24:40 +0500 #8

That is giving me lot of confidence..

farikhan2 (farikhan2) 2013-08-03 07:07:52 +0500 #9

Hmmmm..... From murree I guess you have to reach Abbottabad and then to Naran. you don't have to go back to Islamabad.

Me, I have booked Hertz Rent a car for 4 days and it is costing me 22000 (without fuel) it will be with chauffeur and with me for 24 hours so there is no problem in taking him to where ever I want.

I have made a lot of study on this subject and I came to the conclusion that these 22000 are giving me a lot of comfort and not expensive at all.

Consider you have to pay a lot for the taxi inside murree for sight seeing. I think minimum it will be 2500 per day transport in murree itself

asifcae (asifcae) 2013-08-03 07:15:41 +0500 #10

plz dont go to muree........

Xoofi (Xoofi) 2013-08-03 08:04:26 +0500 #11

What car are you getting in Rs.22000 for 4 days? How many people are you?

farikhan2 (farikhan2) 2013-08-03 18:53:31 +0500 #12

It is Toyota Corolla GLI (2011). we are three excluding driver.

yasir_khan (yasir_khan) 2013-08-03 19:21:11 +0500 #13

I can answer a few questions as I came back from naran kaghan a month back.

Instead of getting taxi from private people, hire it from company lije hertz or avis. You will be carrying money and especially you will be with family. I would not recommend a private taxi. Or else take the ptdc bus from pindi to naran.

Also jheel road has got better hotels than the ones in bazar. One good hotel is sayyam heights in naran.

Jeeps took 1500 per jeep from naran to saifulmuluk for 1 and half hour stay at saifulmuluk lake but u can negotiate if u want to stay a bit longer there.

There are only two good hotels in shogran. I.e pinepark and arcadian. We stayed at arcadian. Its newly built and a very nice place to stay.

Jeeps take 2500 rupees to siri paye from shogran because june july was peak season.

Another hotel to stay and enjoy with family is arcadian river side at khanian, kaghan. We stayed there also and it was a great experience to stay on the bank of roaring river kunhar.

You can also hire a jeep from kiwai to shogran if the driver of the car is not confident enought to drive on that track.

Jeeps take 1200 to 1500 for uphill and and about 1000 to 1200 for downhill atleast what i have heard. (From kewai to shogran). Shogran road is not in good condition.

If u want to go to naran from murree, you have to take muree nathiagali abbotabad road. Road is in excellent condition.

Mall road is too over croweded and I haven't been there for long but pc bhurban is best over there or you can check firhill villas on kashmir point. Heard thats good. You can google for their website.

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Dark_Knight (Dark_Knight) 2013-08-04 05:56:11 +0500 #14

I can guess the reason behind this advice and believe me.. if I was alone.. I wouldn't.. but first trip of family.. don't want them to just travel and travel..

asifcae (asifcae) 2013-08-04 06:08:38 +0500 #15

well if u must ................

Dark_Knight (Dark_Knight) 2013-08-04 07:27:25 +0500 #16

suggest alternates???

asifcae (asifcae) 2013-08-04 07:37:43 +0500 #17

ust spend quality time is naran and leave muree out... if u have to vist that partthen go to gilyat and khanispur sides

Dark_Knight (Dark_Knight) 2013-08-04 07:48:45 +0500 #18

Bhai thori details bhi to de do.. By gilyat you mean Nathia Gali, etc.. and KHanspur I think is somewhere near Murree.. Accomodation waghera milegi wahan??? And transport.. as we dont have our own vehicle...

With above suggestions, I am thinking about tweeking my trip a little. Will stay for one day in Islamabad and then go direct to Naran with the bus suggested by fellow members.. Will decide once reaching Naran, if there is need to go to Murree,Galiyat etc. while coming back..

ranasherdil (ranasherdil) 2013-08-04 07:59:42 +0500 #19

Galyat means a lot of Gallies on the Road from Murree to Abbotabad via Nathia Gali.

Khaira Gali, Changla Gali, Kuza Gali, Dunga Gali, Nathia Gali. Bara Gali... Abbotabad

From Kuza Gali you leave the main road, and go to Ayubia. and this road onwards go to Khanas.pur. Hotels are there.

Also a very fine family easy trek is Ayubia to Dunga Gali. 4Km trek. no hiking ascend descend is involved only plain walk. (Recommended). There is a chairlift in Ayubia.

You can hire Suzuki Bolan almost on Public Transport rate. Hiace from Murree to Nathia Gali runs all day.

asifcae (asifcae) 2013-08-04 08:25:15 +0500 #20

yes wahan transportationand stay ka masla nai hota coz its very poulated area...