Crossing Pakistan, my experience, Nov 2013

[Infinite Road]

Crossing Pakistan by Motorcycle

A good place to start is Akbahr Tourist Guesthouse in Bam. (~10$, negotiate it). He speaks well English and is very friendly. Coordinates: 29.09037, 58.36262.

I saw in the registration books, that around 30 People crossing Pakistan in a month. If you wait in Bam a couple of days, I’m sure you will find other traveller for crossing.

Bam to Mir Javeh
About 460 km on good roads (up to 120 km/h possible). Leave Bam early, so you have the chance to cross the border at the same day. The last 40km on Iran side is with an escort (you don’t have to pay the escort), but the escort will keep you passport and return it after the border process. The escort will show you a hotel in Mir Javeh if necessary. The Iran police provide you an officer who guides you through the border. Time for border processing on Iran side is around 2 hours. On Pakistan side you need also around 2 hours. The Pakistan police (Levis Force) will not let you go after 14:00 and you have to stay at the police station. The police will bring you food or guide you to the marked. There is also no need to pay money to the police, but they try to get some from you. Stay in a hotel is also possible (~15$, simple rooms, no shower, no parking).
Change money is in the border area possible.

Taftan to Quetta
First I will explain how the police work. The Police is responsible for you safety and will get a lot of trouble if something happen with you. The easiest way for the police are to bring you as soon as possible out from their responsible area. They don’t care about where is the best place to stay, they want to get rid of you just as soon as possible. So you have to plan by yourself and insist if necessary.
The whole way from Taftan to Quetta you’ll be escorted. Escort changes are most of time quick and also the registration process at the checkpoints. You are faster if you know you passport and visa number from memory (if you don’t know, write whatever you want. Nobody will check it).
Accommodations are in Dalbandin and Nushki possible, but not outside of these cities.
Distance: ~660 km on most good and ~20 km very shitty roads. Total 18 Registrations and escort changes! To do it in one day is not possible.

Quetta
To stay in Quetta Bloom Star Hotel is ok (~10$, with shower and parking). Be careful if eat or drink in the hotel. It’s very expensive. You have to pay all ordered s even if you drink it or not. There are a couple of small restaurants around the hotel. The hotel owner tell you it’s not allowed to leave the hotel after 18:00 (I know him primarily as a businessman of money making).
To leave the city a NOC (No Objection Certificate) is needed. The hotel owner will call you an escort who know the way to the Ministry. The NOC is exposed for the next day and you have to stay one day more. You don’t have to pay for the NOC. Finally no one checked the NOC. If someone know is it really necessary, please let me know. Time you need is around 3-4 hours to get it.

Quetta – Sukkur – Multan – Lahore
You'll be escorted to the border of Baluchistan, but after you are still not free. It’s not allowed to stay in all hotels. The police feel still responsible and will bring you in a ‘safe’ and expensive hotel. But you can say to the police, you don’t have as much money and he have to look for a cheap hotel, and they do!

Please feel free to ask me for more detailed information’s: bigdream@infiniteroad.ch
You can send me also your experience and I’ll include it.

Good luck, Chris

[Criptodrago]

Hi Chris!

Thank you very much for the description about your route to Pakistan. We are a spanish couple that are going to travel from Spain to Vietnam crossing Iran and Pakistan. This information is very important, thanks again!!

Best Regards,
Javi and Diana

[nacho_ds]

Hi Chris.
I coudn't contact you through the mail you posted. Can you give me an alternative one??
thank you

[saliadarunavuelta]

Yeah, this was basically the same experience I had.
I'd say it's extremely easy and straightforward if you follow THEIR rules. Be polite, maintain a low-profile, and the people of Pakistan will amaze you. They are truly among the most generous people on earth.

Don't be scared about what you hear in the news.

[Mogmog]

hi,
we tried to cross Pakistan from India to Iran.
We are traveling with an 4x4 Truck. we could enter Quetta. but there it was not possible to get an NOC for the road from Quetta to Taftan. After two day`s sitting in the Home Office Department we decided to go back to india.
We think, because of the security situation it will not be possible to get an NOC in Quetta in the next days? weeks? ...?

So if anybody is planing a trip from India to Iran, it is better to call the Home-Office Department in Quetta first. Tesl: 0092 (0) 81-9201878

[motokoerier]

Hello
Shared the same expierience a week before Chris
One thing comes in mind , when you change money , bring dollars instead of eur, you get a much better exchange rate
Have fun

Verstuurd vanaf mijn GT-I9505 met Tapatalk

[danielsprague]

Originally Posted by Mogmog

hi,
we tried to cross Pakistan from India to Iran.
We are traveling with an 4x4 Truck. we could enter Quetta. but there it was not possible to get an NOC for the road from Quetta to Taftan. After two day`s sitting in the Home Office Department we decided to go back to india.
We think, because of the security situation it will not be possible to get an NOC in Quetta in the next days? weeks? ...?

So if anybody is planing a trip from India to Iran, it is better to call the Home-Office Department in Quetta first. Tesl: 0092 (0) 81-9201878

Sorry to hear that. It looks like the Pakistanis have formally closed the Asian Overland Trail!! There are ways around this however, using back roads into Baluchistan to reach Nushki...

[Mogmog]

Hi,

yes we were thinking to take an other road, Offroadtrack is no problem with our 4x4 Truck. But in Beluchistan we had to drive all the time with Police-Escort. We tried to get rid. But they came back :-( with escort you can´t go offroad or drive away from main road.
from where did you go to Nushki? and how long was it ago?
Stefan

[Fearless]

Originally Posted by Mogmog

Hi,

yes we were thinking to take an other road, Offroadtrack is no problem with our 4x4 Truck. But in Beluchistan we had to drive all the time with Police-Escort. We tried to get rid. But they came back :-( with escort you can´t go offroad or drive away from main road.
from where did you go to Nushki? and how long was it ago?
Stefan

Hi Stefan and Eva

Our travel companions who will join us for the trip in Pakistan have just visited the Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi and are told the road to Taftan is open and all foreigners with a Pakistan visa and a visa to Iran will be able to obtain a Police escort to the border wit Iran.
For us this is great news, once we have the Iran visa we will leave and visit Pakistan.

Are you still in pakistan???

Cheers
Fearless

[dernt2005]

Hello,

I have planned to cross Pakistan on my way from India to Iran in May. I have done the same trip from Taftan via Quetta to Multan - Lahore last year without any problems. LEVIES security guards were always with me and there were no problems.

How is the security now and what exactly is the NOC? Where can I get this paper? Anyone done the trip to Taftan lately!!
Does anyone have up to date information for me!!

thanks G.

[Fearless]

Hi Dernt

We are in Kasmir a present and will be crossing into Pakistan hopefully next week. I have not been able t obtain any news re the NOC from others. However it appears t me this is maybe not required by tourist with a visa?
The Pakistan Embassy in Delhi told us it was not required as we had a visa?!?!
As I understand it the hardest part is to get the escort from Quetta to Taftan
See also above comments from Mogmog. (stefan and Eva) I believe once te snow is gone they will try and drive the KKH towards China.
We will keep you updated

Cheers
Fearless

[dernt2005]

Hi fearless,

I contacted some Pakistani guy, like the hotel owner in Dalbandin and Quetta, who I met the last time being there. All confirm that Levis security is provided on the way to Taftan.
Some recommend to check on an approval of Ministry of Home Affairs before you go to Quetta. Then, all escorts should be set up and there is less delay in Quetta.

Here is on response of a guy, on my question of the escort situation on Taftan highway! (--> his contact is: info@tourism.gv.pk)

"Thanks for your message.
Yes its is possible. You need following documents:
1. Your car registration, international driving license, third party
insurance papers, carnet-de-passage, Pakistan Visa...for border entry
procedures.

2. Please send you vehicle number, passport copy, tentative program with
route by email scanned copy to us. We shall send these documents through
Pakistan M/O Interior and on to provincial government for provision of
Levis Escort/security arrangements.

Regards,

Tayyab Nisar Mir
Manager
PTDC
Islamabad"

[Fearless]

Hi Dernt

Many thanks for the information and in particular email adress
I will follow today and keep you posted.

Sent the mail received the following message The following message to <info@tourism.gv.pk> was undeliverable. Dernt can you pls check the email adress for us.

By the way any contacts in Lahore?
Need some parking for our truck. 7meters long-3.7 mtr high and 2.4 wide so need some space. Hotel carpar would also be fine

Cheers
Fearless

[dernt2005]

hi fearless,

Sorry I forgot the o in gv. So here is the correct one: info@tourism.gov.pk !!

I don't have any contacts in Lahore! But Pakistani were very friendly and helpful.

cheers Gerhard

[Fearless]

Hi Gerhard,

No worries mate, mail resent and I keep you up to date.

Cheers Fearless
From the Rohtang pass in India

Double Dutch World Safari | 4WD Overlanders