Traveling through Pakistan (Iran > Pakistan > India)

[Helge Jacobsen]

Hi

I am currently planning a trip from Denmark to India through Pakistan. I have found a lot of different information and advice scattered across many forum threads and blogs. In this thread I will try to gather it and ask for the missing pieces of information.

Visa:
Should be obtained from home. Important not to mention travelling over land. Instead you should say that you are flying in and out of Lahore if asked (source).

Route:
It seems like the only Iran-Pakistani boarder-crossing is Taftan? And you should avoid the roads between Quetta and Multan. So the route most people take is:
Zahedan - Taftan - Quetta (police escort, bring food and water)
Quetta - Sukkur - Multan - Lahore

This post has a lot of good info about the route and places to stay alog the way through Pakistan.

The article suggests that new border openings might be on the way.

Petrol, food, water:
According to this page on WikiTravel “You have to take food and water with you for 2 days. There is no shop and no restaurant before Quetta, 700 km across the desert.”
Also this post tells about to stock up on food, water and petrol for the long escort from Zahedan to Quetta. And bring dollars, but make sure to have both dollars and rupees.

A few more questions:

• Any updates on the safety situation?
• Are there anything we should think of when travelling a boy and a girl together? Should we maybe get a fake wedding ring? Or don't they care?
• Some people mention camping at checkpoints, customs office, police stations. I guess the police tells you where to stay all the way to Quetta? After that, is it safe to camp, or should you stay at hotels?
• Is it a problem arriving during Ramadan? Being somewhere in the east of Pakistan when the Ramadan ends could be fun, or are there anything I should look out for?
• This thread discusses how to get your car (in this case) or motercycle back home. My plan was originally to give it away to a kind family or something, but is this completely out of the question?

Blogs about passing through Pakistan:

• Country info in Central Asia, Silk Road, China, Pakistan & Iran | Not Just a Tourist
• Life is joy - Holland Nepal with a motorcycle, crossing Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India and Nepal to the Himalaya
• david2somewhere ..... David's 2013 overland motorcycle trip England to India on a BMW 1200 gs

[dernt2005]

Hi,

I just passed through Pakistan 2 weeks ago. The security situation was very calm. I had no worries that anything can happen.
Also don't worry about a wedding ring. I was also travelling with my girlfriend in Beluchistan, and there was no need to even wear a headscarf for her. Everything is much more relaxed compared to Iran.
About the route. Normally you should come to the border early in the morning, then you have to wait for the escort setup in Taftan. In my case it took some hours, then you can continue to dalbanin. There most people stay overnight in the only one hotel there, called Al da Wood. Next morning you will continue to Quetta, and the police will bring you to Bloom Star hotel in the center of Quetta.
Last year I was also there during Ramadan. Acutally not much is different than any other month. Except the few restaurants on the way will be closed, but you can easily convince the owner to prepare some meals for you, since you are trevelling and non-Muslim.
Yes the route from Quetta to Sukkur. It is a scenic drive through the valley, and finally you will end up in super hot Sukkur.
About visa: Yes do it at home. About food, petrol and water: I would fill up the car in Bam + plus some jerrycans, since it is so cheap in Iran, then go Zahedan. There I had some problems for filling my car, because no petrol is sold to forenigers. In Pakistan you will find some gas station in Taftan, dalbanin and of course in Quetta. Even in between I so some station, but it never sure if they have some petrol.
Food and water you can buy in shops on the way, but take so supplies from Iran.

Hope this could help you!

[Surfy]

I try to maintain a list of travellers from end of 2013 upwards, who cross Taftan / Quatta (and writes a Website/Blog) here:



Recent border crossing Taftan - Quetta

@dernt: do you write a blog or website, so i can add you?

Surfy

[Overlandiaries]

Hello there
I have got some crazy stories about crossing Pakistan and on my way overland from Greece to Malaysia and back I plan to ship my car to India and avoiding Pakistan.Sounds like demt2005 you are the person who I need to talk too.
Please give any feedback on the crossing route from Iran to India.
Check out our site www.overlanddiaries.com

[www.PakistanBikersClub.com]

hello sir,

whats up now?
just posting some pictures from yesterday in Lahore, Punjab Pakistan



in 1st pic, Founder of Pakistan Bikers Club is presenting Club's Souvenir to Mr. Thomas

[300kg]

Hey! It's us
Yes! We are in Pakistan! So far so super good
Don't avoid Pakistan! It's too beautiful to be missed...

[Big Empty]

Hi Helge

I'm guessing from your name and the fact that you say you're gonna ride from Denmark - that you're Danish! Well, so am I and I just want to "warn" you to expect some comments on the infamous Mohammed caricatures that were published several years ago. Yes, they still haven't forgotten about that and well, they don't really see the funny part in it My boyfriend and I rode through Pakistan in 2012 and I was constantly reminded of how our country betrayed them... Just thought I'd let you know If you want to know about how we fared when we were there, here's a link to our blog post about Balochistan: Handful Of Throttle: Balochistan
Not sure if you're travelling alone or with your wife/girlfriend but if it's the latter I would strongly suggest to be cautious. As a girl travelling through Pakistan I had A LOT of problems with men. I know that's not the case for every girl, but I can only speak from my own experience. Just be careful. Oh, and make sure you go up the KKH - it's stunning. Have a great trip!

[Omie]

Originally Posted by Big Empty

Hi Helge

I'm guessing from your name and the fact that you say you're gonna ride from Denmark - that you're Danish! Well, so am I and I just want to "warn" you to expect some comments on the infamous Mohammed caricatures that were published several years ago. Yes, they still haven't forgotten about that and well, they don't really see the funny part in it My boyfriend and I rode through Pakistan in 2012 and I was constantly reminded of how our country betrayed them... Just thought I'd let you know If you want to know about how we fared when we were there, here's a link to our blog post about Balochistan: Handful Of Throttle: Balochistan
Not sure if you're travelling alone or with your wife/girlfriend but if it's the latter I would strongly suggest to be cautious. As a girl travelling through Pakistan I had A LOT of problems with men. I know that's not the case for every girl, but I can only speak from my own experience. Just be careful. Oh, and make sure you go up the KKH - it's stunning. Have a great trip!

Hi Big Empty,
I am shocked and saddened by reading your blog and knowing about the terrible experience you had in Lahore. I can understand that after such a bad welcome you could not have enjoyed the city or the country as you should have.
Living in Lahore for 55 years I can assure you this was an isolated incidence and generally Pakistanis pride in their respect for women. Ladies of my family fortunately never reported any such incidence. However I would like to add following points. (by no means justifying)
1. This unfortunate incidence happened in the red light area near the "Cuckoos Den". It is the highest crime area of the city full of criminals and addicts. Despite being an old and big man, I don't go to that area and that also at night.
2. Probably the person you approached thinking as a driver of rickshaw might have been a pimp or something, not the kind anyone would like to deal with.
3. Bikers in Lahore are very well organized and all of them are a helpful bunch. Had you been in touch with them you might have been guided better.
4, Reading your blog reminded me of my experience in 1983 when I landed in NY for the first time and took a taxi to the Central Park. I wont bother you with the story I am sure you can guess what happened next.
I am glad it ended much better for you than how it started and you had a nice and safe trip.


Cheers
Omar

[Big Empty]

Thanks Omar for the nice message
Yeah, it was a real shame we had such a bad experience in Pakistan. Unfortunately this incident in Lahore was not the only time I had troubles with men, it happened many times during our stay there, although this one was by far the worst.
I should say though that we had some good experiences there too - it wasn't all bad. I loved the North and the KKH and actually think it is one of the most beautiful places we have visited on this trip, but because of everything that happened I don't think I will ever go back.
I do think it is naive for a woman to go to Pakistan and not be aware of the huge cultural differences and the possible dangerous situations that can happen. Of course there's a chance that nothing will happen but I believe things can get out of hand here really quickly. I met a Japanese girl while I was there who got raped in her hotel.
Women who travel here just have to be very careful.

[bazz]

Anybody knows if the border between Pakistan and Iran is open?
I read in this article that Iran closed the border after a bomb attack in Taftan.
I wanted to cross from Pakistan to Iran somewhere in september so this would be bad news.

[antonltd]

I crossed the border on July 3rd and its open. spent the night at the police compound in Taftan. I understand the border was only closed a day or so after the attack.
Three of us ( German, American, and English ) we had escorts until 150K before Lahore.

[bazz]

that's great news!
thanks for the update

[anil1975]

Hi,
I am from Delhi/India .I am a software Engineer by professional and woud want to go overland to Europe this year in Sept 2014 from New Delhi To Germany and looking out for travel companions too who are ready to take up this trip all by road from Delhi to Germany.......

Have Indians traveled overland to Europe from India ever before ?

Also wanted to know the visas for Pakistan and Iran ? Should i avoid mentioning while applying for pak visas , that i would Cross Pakistan-iran border bu surface ? How is Quetta - Zaheden stretch ? Is there any train that run along this route ? How about buses plying on this route ?



Hotels that are safe to stay in Quetta for night ?

Awaiting information on this .

Anil

[Uselessbaba]

Originally Posted by anil1975

Hi,
I am from Delhi/India .I am a software Engineer by professional and woud want to go overland to Europe this year in Sept 2014 from New Delhi To Germany and looking out for travel companions too who are ready to take up this trip all by road from Delhi to Germany.......

Have Indians traveled overland to Europe from India ever before ?

Also wanted to know the visas for Pakistan and Iran ? Should i avoid mentioning while applying for pak visas , that i would Cross Pakistan-iran border bu surface ? How is Quetta - Zaheden stretch ? Is there any train that run along this route ? How about buses plying on this route ?



Hotels that are safe to stay in Quetta for night ?

Awaiting information on this .

Anil

Anil, first I would enquire about your Pak visa, are they available for Indian nationals ? If they are, I would just say you want to visit Lahore and leave it at that. Once you have it you can do what you like !
UB.

[eric_b_m]

Originally Posted by bazz

Anybody knows if the border between Pakistan and Iran is open?
I read in this article that Iran closed the border after a bomb attack in Taftan.
I wanted to cross from Pakistan to Iran somewhere in september so this would be bad news.

Hi bazz!

What are your plans? We are two planning to enter in Pakistan from the India by the end of September too.

Cheers,

Eric