Iran and Pakistan Info.
 

I'm starting a solo RTW trip starting from the UK next week. I'm heading through Europe then on to India, via Turkey, Iran and Pakistan.
Has anyone travelled through Iran or Pakistan recently - if so have you any advice or tips on which border crossings are best etc. Also what is the fuel situation for foreigners in Iran?

There is only the one border in and out of Pakistan each side if you're travelling through as far as I'm aware. You've got your Carnet, right?

For fuel in Iran, you need a card but I had no idea how to get one. Just show up at a gas station and someone will always sort you out.

Hi,

I am also driving to India via Turkey, Iran, Pakistan.
As far as I know, the only border crossing between Iran and Pakistan is the Mirjaveh-Taftan one. Between Pakistan and India there are 2, but the only one opened to foreigners is the Wagah-Attari gateway.

I will depart from Italy in late july and plan to enter India after about 12 days.

Regards fuel in Iran, I was there from Jan to Mar this year. For petrol, you only needed a card to buy petrol at the old subsidised rate (100 tomans), you could buy it at the market rate without a card. That was 400 tomans (about US$0.40), but there was talk of putting it up to 500.

Many stations sell 'super' for 500 tomans (may have gone up though). I don't know much about petrol, but I think the ordinary stuff is 92 and 'super' 95. It's pretty poor quality as far as I know.

Diesel requires a card, but you can usually ask a truck driver to use his, and bigger stations will have one you can use. Diesel is filthy cheap, about US$0.0165 (i.e. 3 litres for 5 US cents), and the quality also isn't great.

Regards borders of Pakistan, there is definitely only one multilateral border with Iran (Taftan / Mirjaveh) and India (Wagha / Attari).

Daniel

Well, 95 octanes is normal. 92 is a little poor but is OK. I have only had some problems when using 90 octanes (difficulties in starting the engine and lacks in acceleration).
This year I am bringing with me some bottles of a product called "Octane booster", that can be put in the fuel tank to increase the power if needed.
Regards

Hi pips, im doing the same trip from uk to pakistan, via turkey/iran im gna be travelling with isurance but no carnet, does anyone what the requirements are if u go wivout the carnet..,.. thanks

Did you all guys do the pakistan visa in advance? Anyone who went through recently, how is immigration down there? Feeling that there is any chance to arrange something at the border if coming without visa?
thanks!

carnet needed. and visas not available at the border
 

you will need a carnet to get into Iran. you will also need to pre-organise your visas for both Iran and Pakistan.
speak to David at Stantours.
there have been quite a few posts about this over the last 6 months. have a look here...http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...pakistan-49045this may help. there have been quite a few other posts in the early part of this year too.
have a read of our journal for Iran and Pakistan (still uploading the rest of our diary).Iran diary: 2ridetheworld.com : diary
Pakistan diary:2ridetheworld.com : diary

note that you will have to have a military escort through most of Pakistan.

India - Pakistan crossing
 

We recently crossed from India into Pakistan, the border crossing at Wagah (the only one open to foreigners) was a breeze. You fill out a few forms and on you go. Make sure you have your Carnet. The Pakistani's are very relaxed. Only issue is electricity at the border post, which could be out for a few hours and then you have to wait till the computers are coming on again. You can see pictures and a blog at
Journey to Dakar

Enjoy the ride.