Information about overland in Pakistan
Replies: 16 - Last Post: Mar 19, 2013 11:38 PM Last Post By: k2_heights
jump to
Information about overland in Pakistan
Hi all,I just got back from a road trip in Iran and Pakistan. I have posted some useful information about Pakistan part on my blog as well as some pics. There will be more info soon. You can check out the info on Country info in Central Asia, Silk Road, China, Pakistan & Iran | Not Just a Tourist as well as my last post about security and traveling in Baluchistan part Overland on motorbike in Baluchistan/Iran | Not Just a Tourist
Generally, I found Iran & Pakistan quite safe (apart from the motorbike accident I had in my last week in Persian Gulf on the island of Qehsm resluting in 2 broken legs :( and meeting a Spanish rider that was stopped on Saveh Tehran road by a car and got stolen all his money, passport and even the bike key). The only thing is that from Pakistani border in Mir Javeh/Taftan you will be accompanied by some security guys that will slow down your trip considerably and some times foce you into staying where they want. However, it could be fun too. You will not be allowed to go wherever you want. We could not go from Quetta to Islam Abad as you need a permission and it´s not given to overlanders. So we had to head for Lahore and we were escorted till Multan. In some cities we had problems finding a hotel as they were told to inform the police and the police would take you the hotels that they would consider safe and we would consider expensive. But in Quetta there was no problem at all and in the rest of country either except for Karakoram highway that due to some ethnic problems we were not given permission to continue either. Anyway it was to snowy and cold to be on the road.
As for the carnet and from my own experience you do need them for both countries. However, what I did was to buy a bike in Iran, travel there, head for Pakistan, ride back to Iran and sell it again. The only problem is that bikes in Iran cannot be more than 250 CC. But, still there could be 2 of us doing 80000-9000 kms on a Kawasaki KLE easily.
Pakistanis are very nice and friendly although camping will be a bit difficult in populated areas as you will never be alone. The emptiest part is the Baluchistan, where it will be only you, your bike and maybe the escort.
Enjoy!
Mahsa
2
I'm glad to read that you enjoyed your trip to Iran and Pakistan.I had a quick look at your blog but saw that your experiences are really just similar to those of many other tourists, so the 'not just a tourist' title is misleading. Also, you include links to advertisements on your blog so posting links to it from here could be construed as commercial activity.
3
I am thoroughly amazed by your experience in Pakistan and Iran. I am stunned and inspired by your bravery. Thank you for sharing. I found this post because I am toying with the idea of visiting Pakistan, but I feel it is out of my league for now. I'm also considering a trip to India. Either way I would be traveling alone, and I only have one lone trip under my belt so far.5
Thanks for your review about Pakistan and i hope that the other travelers will read your blog and post and then will get a lot of information from this post.because a lot of travelers are still confused to travel in Pakistanthanks for you nice update.
NP
6
Nice.. Brings back a great deal of memories..... FYI, somehow, looks like you have Pakistan photos in your Senegal listing.... Unless its snowing like crazy in Senegal!! Congrads and great journey...Hope the legs heal up...Emmeff ... COME ON!!.get off it on the links comment..Did you you look at them before making what I consider silly comments. There's no links to commercialism in their whatsoever other than listing the LP.... They are just great useful sites for people who want to do the same kind of journeys. A site such as Horizon's is 'basically' the bible to motorcycle travel!!
8
Just loved your information about Pakistan/Iran. Thanks, a great help.10
It's safe in some parts. It's extremely unsafe in many areas.There are no worries about travelling to Skardu and the Deosai plain.
13
Thanks for sharing your experiences, i like the way you travelled. We are planning a similar trip with three motorbikes, starting in Germany in May this year. On my blog Asiabike you can already read about preparations and I will update it while we are on the road.Bernie
Edited by: gecko13
14
Hi,a few weeks ago I sadly and very dissappointed gave up my plan to travel overland from the Netherlands to India via Pakistan, because of information that its too risky to travel with a foreign liscence plate, especially the area Iran -Quetta. Reading the posts here, I get another impression. Can anybody tell me the real situation? I was planning to leave first week of octobre in my campervan. I'm on my own . I realize its never without risk, but thought if it was dangerous(kidnapping e.g.) it should be possible to travel in a convoy or something like that. And what about the double entry visa which you can only get if you have already been in Pakistan once? no other way to get the visa.?
I would appreciate getting some information
Cheers,
Louis
ADVERTISEMENT
