Driving through pakistan??

[thestens]

Anyone done this lately? is it possible at the moment without police escort? we want to take our Landcruiser to India and explore Pakistan on the way. Been there via public transport 3 yrs ago and no problems but wondered if we will be free to drive where we want - otherwise no point going.
thanks.

[SIMONP]

Hi

I am off to Pakistan next month, will be flying into Islamabad though, when you where there 3 years ago how did it go and do you have any recommendations.

Thanks in advance

Simon

[beddhist]

Tourists have never been free to go where they want in Pakistan. The whole of Baluchistan (except the road to the Iranian border) has been off-limits for a long time, similarly most of the NWFP. There has been trouble in Swat Valley recently and around Peshawar. The KKH, Gilgit, Shandur Pass and Skardu should be open and OK and hopefully without escorts, at least I've never heard of anybody needing them in these areas and they are very nice.

[selani]

I think police will escort you from Iran border to DG Khan. After that there is no requirement. Having lived and worked in those areas, I too feel its quite unnecessary, but the local police dont want to take any chances. To the best of my knowledge, these guys have strict instructions not to bother overlanders in any way.
After DG khan, there is no police escort for the rest of Pakistan ( minus tribal areas off course) Off limit areas generally are strategic installation( military/ nuclear etc.I can be wrong, as i am local and never faced any restriction of movement, but have met many overlanders who never complained any restrictions apart from police escort.

Have a safe journey and don't miss a day or two in Hunza

[thestens]

When we were there on public transport 3 years ago we entered from India, took train to Rawalpindi and got a bus up Karakorum to Hunza - then across to Chitral by jeep and down to Pershawar and back by train to lahore. No bother at all, no limitations on travel, except police escort for Kyber pass. Would it be the same for this route with own vehicle, plus entering from Iran?

[pecha72]

We entered from Mir Javeh (Iran) last November, and had a ´convoy´ of 3 vehicles which was actually put together by the Iranian police. There was 100% obligatory escort from Bam to the border (and it was painful, they drove so slowly and made us wait, wait, wait...)

But after crossing border in Taftan, no escorts until Quetta. Just stop us at every checkpoint, and took up our details, offered some tea and were very friendly. Coming to Quetta, and exiting it, we had an escort, and also had them at Bolan Pass and later on, when entering some bigger cities like Sukkur and Multan. In between, no escorts.

The area east of Quetta was declared as dangerous and prohibited from tourists at the time, so thats why we needed to go via Sukkur.

Do the best you can to make the crossing between Iranian border and Quetta in one day, or spend the night in Dalbandin about half way. Not a good idea to drive in the dark there (it never is, but especially here). The road from Taftan to Dalbandin was good, then it got steadily worse, but wasnt really that bad. Some roadworks just before Quetta were terrible, but could be better now.

[SIMONP]

Hi just back from my holidays and every thing seemed okay using public transport and jeeps, we spent time in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gilgit, Skardu Chitral areas, KKH and Shandur Pass.

We where advised not to go to Swat area and was told that some transport going down from Chitral to Peshawar where being turned back by Warlords - i cannot verify this as we ended up not driving down the Lowari pass.

Anyone on this site recently ridden down the KKH on a GS and Transalp, i was on public transport so could not stop to talk.

Regards

Simon

[Bjorn]

In the light of recent political developments:

Anyone got any recent information about the Karakorum Highway? How safe is it? Is it possible at all at the moment? A few weeks ago I heard rumours that part of the KKH was closed?

Cheers
Bjorn

[KennyE]

Three of us have decided to bypass the KKH as we had police escorts all the way through Pakistan and were absolutely sick of it. Andy Lord(Mr. Detox) is in Islamabad tomorrow so will probably be the best guy to talk to. He is planning on heading up there.

We are now in Amristar, India, chilling out with our first few s in about a month!!

Kenny

[MikeS]

I did the KKH a few weeks ago no problems but don't know if the current situation has changed that. I certainly had no police escorts there and only fleeting escorts from Derra Ismail Khan for a day.

[Ham46]

Currently in Islamabad, came in from Iran, no escort to Quetta, but had the police with us ever since, tried to lose them but it's impossible, going to try and go up the KKH in the next couple of days, lets see if we cant break free!

[travel]

i plan to do from india to tibet>china>south east asia from dec 08 to may 09

[travel]

hi ,would be glad to share travel by road info

[beddhist]

Hi travel,

You could be in for a fantastic trip, but do read the China topics here on HUBB. You will need a tour company to go through Tibet and China and expect to pay in fees what your bike is worth.

Cheers,
Peter.

[Aleksandra]

Hi Guys, any fresh news from KKH? I am planning to ride along KKH next year (starting in Kyrgistan, through China, then Pakistan and India). I wonder where is the best place to cross pakistanian / Indian border? I thought about Lahore / Armistar.

Cheers and good luck on the road.
Aleskandra