Iran and Pakistan Guides / Police / Escorts

[falcon9]

As I start to put together an itinerary and arrange visas and borders for crossing from India to Pakistan, Iran and then Turkey, I'm wondering if somebody can shed some light on the situation in Iran and Pakistan with police escorts.

Do the escorts try to rush you out of the country as quickly as they can? Are they just trying to get you to the next border? Or are they relaxed and happy enough to let you do your thing and they will just hang out and enjoy the ride? Will they let me deviate from my itinerary? Is the itinerary mostly just for visa purposes?

I have seen a lot of photos from the KKH and northern Pakistan but never have I seen any of the escorts in the pics. Do they only stick with you at the border regions?

I'm after a feel of what they do with you and if they let you explore like I have been in South East Asia, which is a lot like this: "Oh, a small dirt road. I wonder where that goes..."

[mvantuch]

Heya, we were going the other way, receiving escorts for last 100 km in Iran and then having them until we've almost reached Lahore some 10 days later. We haven't really tried taking any small roads or anything, but I believe, you can generally forget about it, because the escorts change every twenty to fifty kilometers and they arrange this over phones, so that the other escort will already be waiting there for you. We were going pretty slow - about 60 km/hour and they were not overly happy about this either.

KKH is a bit different thing, where you only get escorts for specific parts of it while in other ones you can roam freely. But we didn't do it so cannot give you much info on that part - I only know Hunza (Karim Abad) is without any escorts.

[BikerMarvin]

Do you have to request the escorts or will they just "show up"?

[Lonely Lynx]

They will show up and you cannot avoid them in the south of Pakistan. No they will not try t get you out as soon as possible. Rather the opposite, they drive 50-80 km/h and you follow. They will stay in your hotel on the way and tell you not to go out alone. I followed them all the way from Taftan to Lahore. In the north you wont see them.

[falcon9]

Nice to hear Lynx, thanks for the info. I will do most of my fun times up in the north anyway so that suits me well.

[inspiredexplorers]

Thanks for your update here, I am going there and like to know if anybody can recommend a outfitter for ground arrangements in North Pakistan to Lahore upto India border.

[oony]

Personally was quite thrilled with the services offered by Vertical Explorers Tours last year. They do up individualized touring, making all the on the ground arrangements, visa support etc. Every thing worked very well.

[kaioxygen]

Hi There,

I'm planning the same or similar route and was wondering if you'd like company through Pakistan and Iran. I would make a saving for both of us.

Just a couple of questions: What nationality are you? ( The only reason i want to know is I was wondering if you'd face the same problems as me)

When are you planning to go?

All th best for your trip,

Kai

[BikerMarvin]

Hey, I am german and will leave germany beginning of october 2016.... I hope to enter iran around first of november... I'd like some company for Iran and Pakistan. When do you want to go?

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[parveen_17]

Thanks for the information - I'm looking to travel the KKH next year and it's reassuring to know that a handful of bikers are defying western scepticism and braving (particularly South-West) Pakistan. Well worth it for the beauty of the North-West and Northern Areas.

I lived in KP Province last year and the political climate in Kaghan Valley area is relatively trouble-free. Being half-Pakistani, I revisited in March 2016 - this time for sightseeing in Chitral area - and a local jeep driver confirmed that Indus-Kohistan is still suffering from insularity and a fierce rejection of outsiders, and, particularly for riders, is best avoided. If you must ride the entire KKH without using the Kaghan Valley bypass (as I intend to), an alternative option is to ride continuously from Abbottabad to Chilas.

Very helpful to be able to keep abreast of the current situation - keep us posted with updates and photos!

[BikerMarvin]

what about the situation in iran... i was thinking about going for Taftan from bandar abbas via bam... is that route "save"/doable? Or would you recommend a different route?

besides that: is anyone going that way around november/december 2016?

[www.PakistanBikersClub.com]

Can we be of any help in Pakistan?

Kind regards

Pakistan Bikers Club - Since 2007

[muddlifecrisis]

Originally Posted by parveen_17

Thanks for the information - I'm looking to travel the KKH next year and it's reassuring to know that a handful of bikers are defying western scepticism and braving (particularly South-West) Pakistan. Well worth it for the beauty of the North-West and Northern Areas.

I lived in KP Province last year and the political climate in Kaghan Valley area is relatively trouble-free. Being half-Pakistani, I revisited in March 2016 - this time for sightseeing in Chitral area - and a local jeep driver confirmed that Indus-Kohistan is still suffering from insularity and a fierce rejection of outsiders, and, particularly for riders, is best avoided. If you must ride the entire KKH without using the Kaghan Valley bypass (as I intend to), an alternative option is to ride continuously from Abbottabad to Chilas.

Very helpful to be able to keep abreast of the current situation - keep us posted with updates and photos!

Is the Kaghan Valley bypass you refer to the N15 that runs South/North from just before Chilias down to Abbottabad? I tried google but it wasn't much help!

[tosko]

Originally Posted by BikerMarvin

what about the situation in iran... i was thinking about going for Taftan from bandar abbas via bam... is that route "save"/doable? Or would you recommend a different route?

besides that: is anyone going that way around november/december 2016?

Perhaps me. But also, perhaps I´m going earlier, it depends. I´m going to Thailand through Iran, Pakistan and Myanmar. And you?

[BikerMarvin]

I plan to take the same route. Would love to meet up for some parts. I will send you a pm.

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