No trips found in this category yet. Check back soon!
No hotels found in this category yet. Check back soon!
Running over 100 km from Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Neelum Valley boasts various accommodation options along its length. Muzaffarabad, the capital of AJK and closest city to the valley, contains the most modern hotels, while guesthouses and mid-range hotels can be found in the village of Keran, located about 50 km from Muzaffarabad and 100 km from the city of Sharda, which contains a government run hotel (PTDC). Guesthouses can also be found in the upper reaches of the valley in Kel, which is 150 km from Muzaffarabad.
Neelum Valley's hotels can be grouped into four sections. The first is Muzaffarabad which is the commercial center of AJK. Here, hotels of all classes can be found. Many travelers use this city as a base for excursions into the valley. The second section is located at Keran, about 50 km from Muzaffarabad. This area is great for hiking and offers many smaller hotels and guesthouses. Private hotels can also be found at Sharda, a historical center of AJK, and at Kel, the gateway to the Arang Kel Circuit and Ratti Gali Lake.
The quality of facilities and services decreases as one moves down the valley. This is particularly evident in the nature of accommodation. Expectations for accommodation should be set accordingly.
A. The Muzaffarabad Hotel Market
As the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad has the most advanced hotel market in the region. Budget and mid-range hotels are available in the city. Compared to other cities and towns in Neelum Valley, urban facilities and services are available in Muzaffarabad hotels, including lifts, in house restaurants, and other services generators are used to alleviate load shedding.
Muzaffarabad is about 3 to 4 hours from Islamabad and is typically the first stop for travelers from the Capital on their way to Neelum Valley.
B. Using Muzaffarabad as a Base
For travelers wishing to use the valley as a day tour destination, Muzaffarabad is the most convenient base as Keran is about an hour's drive from there and Sharda and Kel are further away (around 2.5 and 5 to 6 hours away respectively).
Muzaffarabad is the best place to base yourself for a two-day excursion to the Neelum Valley downstream of Keran. Covering the entire length of Neelum Valley to Kel requires more than a day's drive from Muzaffarabad and would be very tiring. Therefore, the majority of organized tours cover Muzaffarabad at the beginning and end of the tour with overnight stays at Sharda or Kel.
Generally, the hotels in Muzaffarabad are modest but some offer superior river-facing rooms that are worth requesting at the time of booking. Most of the hotels and guesthouses in the central district of Muzaffarabad are within walking distance from the main bazaar, transpot and other services. If your time of arrival in Islamabad is during the day, staying in a centrally located hotel for the night and driving to the valley next morning is a better option.
Hotels in Keran range from basic guesthouses to mid-range hotels. The mid-range hotels in the area are new constructions and are a step above the basic hotels. The improvements in hotels in the area are because of the increase in visitor numbers to the lower Neelum valley.
Keran is the first point of access to the lower Neelum valley from Muzaffarabad and acts as a base for travelers who wish to see the Neelum river and valley over a short period of time. Guests on the over night stays to Kel usually break their journey at Keran.
The biggest selling point of Keran hotels is the nearness to the Neelum river. There are hotels in Keran which have rooms and suites which offer a river view and are a short walk from the Neelum river.
When booking a hotel in Keran, inquire about the nearness to the Neelum river. Rooms and suites which are located in the outskirts of Keran offer a better nearness to the river and should be booked over other rooms.
PTDC properties in Pakistan often vary in their level of consistent operation. Ask your operator about the current level of operation at Sharda and check room and meal availability prior to confirming Sharda PTDC motel rooms on your tour.
As for alternative accommodation in Sharda, there are family-run guesthouses and other private accommodation which have sprung up to provide a better staying experience for visitors to the valley. These have been developed to accommodate the increasing number of visitors to the area.
The ruins of Sharda University and the beautiful forested areas of the middle valley make an overnight stay at Sharda a good choice when visiting the valley.
Most properties in Kel are guesthouses or small hotels with attached or shared bathrooms and offer simple meals. These properties provide varying levels of service and comfort. Some even offer scenic views of the surroundings. Recently, more amenities have become available in Kel. The quality of hotels has generally improved; even the standard of the basic hotels is now better than the nicer hotels from last year.
There are a number of hotels in Kel; choosing the right one can be difficult, as many listings for Kel are outdated. A couple of seasons ago, one of the better hotels closed. Many aggregators do not maintain their listings, so the status of the hotel may not be up to date. Using an operator for a booking provides the best, most current information about accommodation in the area.
There is also basic lodging in Arang Kel, located above Kel, but most of the visitors to that area stay only for the day, returning to Kel for the night. The Arang Kel lodging is for travelers wanting only the basic conveniences for a night on the meadow. Summer, even at that elevation, is very cold and uncomfortable.
A stay at a Muzaffarabad base camp is good for travelers wishing to visit the lower valleys, as well as those wishing to stay at the best and safest accommodation in the area, before traveling on the hazardous roads to the valleys. A stay at Muzaffarabad allows travelers to make day trips to the lower valleys.
A Keran base camp is good for travelers wishing for a shorter stay in the lower valleys and wishing to avoid the trip to Sharda and/or Kel. A stay at Keran allows travelers to experience the tranquility of the lower valleys.
A stay at Sharda is perfect for travelers wishing to see the lower valleys and forests as well as the numerous historical sites of the middle valley. A stay at a Sharda PTDC Motel allows travelers to visit numerous sites of the middle valley without the hassle of staying at upper valley camp sites.
Staying at Kel allows travelers to do the upper valley hike to Ratti Gali Lake. A stay at Kel also allows travelers to do other hikes in the upper valley. A stay at Kel is perfect for travelers wishing to do the entire upper valley hiking circuit.
Most visitors to Neelum Valley are attracted by the scenic beauty of the Neelum River which flows through lower and middle parts of the valley. When you make your reservation, you can request for a room with access to the river. Not all “riverside” facilities give access to the Neelum river. You should check for the distance from your room to the river bank.
Rain and resulting landslides block different parts of the Neelum Valley Road during monsoon (July-August) and the access to different zones is restricted. A visitor staying in Kel (which is closer to Muzaffarabad) will not be able to go to other parts of the valley during the closure. Anoperator who has a flexible itinerary to manage risk due to monsoon is valuable in Neelum Valley.
During the peak summer months (June-August), many Pakistanis take trips to Neelum Valley, especially on weekends. Most hotels along the valley are fully booked on Fridays and Saturdays. You should plan your trip during weekdays and book through an operator who has in depth local knowledge to manage your bookings to avoid the peak crowds.
There are not many eating facilities in the different settlements along the upper part of the valley. You should rely on the restaurants located in the hotels in Kel and Sharda if you need a meal. You should inform your hotel about the time at which you will need a meal if you are planning to visit Ratti Gali or Arang Kel beforehand.
About the view from the room: is it a river view or is it a view of a building courtyard? In lower and middle valleys, view from a room is an important consideration.
About inclusions in the rate: is breakfast and dinner included and what is the timing? Meals need to be planned considering the timing and duration of the activities for the day, specially for Ratti Gali and Arang Kel.
About load shedding and the duration for which the generator at the property will be available? Electricity situation in the valley is better compared to Muzaffarabad.
About the guide’s license: is the guide’s license issued by the AJK Tourism Department or any other department?
The condition of the road between Muzaffarabad and Kel, specially in July and August. Check the status a week or less before your travel.
If the hotel or guesthouse is open? Whether the management of a particular hotel or guesthouse has opened up for the season? An operator who has first hand knowledge of the area will inform you accurately, otherwise you may check the status of the hotel or guesthouse on the internet.
The status of the trail to Ratti Gali if you are planning to hike Ratti Gali?
Booking a hotel or guesthouse in Sharda or Kel based on an old review? Conditions of hotels and guesthouses in Neelum Valley improves, however, the condition of the website may not reflect the improvement.
Full valley itinerary, two night stay at Muzaffarabad.
Travel time each way from Muzaffarabad to Kel is 5-6 hours. Day trips to upper Neelum Valley are not possible.
No booking confirmation for accommodation in the valley, peak season travel. Unbooked travelers to the upper and middle valley often face accommodation issues due to large number of travelers from Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Fridays and Saturdays.
C) Shorter trips to Neelum Valley allow you to stay in Muzaffarabad and take day trips to the lower valley. Longer trips give you the ability to explore more of the valley including Kel, Arang Kel, and Ratti Gali. In these cases staying in Sharda or Kel is your best option. The best plan is to stay in Muzaffarabad for the first and last nights and then stay in Sharda or Kel for the other nights.
D)The summer months in Neelum Valley bring a surge of tourists from the major cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad. The weekends draw the most visitors. You will see the heaviest traffic on the roads to the valley and at the more popular locations like Arang Kel.
E) International travelers are welcome to stay in any of the Neelum Valley hotels.
Yes, along with the required NOC from the AJK government. International guests should obtain the NOC prior to their arrival in AJK. HospitalityTours.com.pk's booking team will process NOCs together with travel and lodging arrangements.
For booking hotels and other lodging in Neelum Valley, contact HospitalityTours.com.pk. Their staff will check availability and offer lodging options based on your itinerary and constraints. You will be charged only after you approve of the booking.