Hi everyone,
We are a Dutch couple (Joep&Ilse, 29 years old) who are travelling with our car from Holland to Singapore. At the moment we are in Iran and are planning to travel from Bam/Zahedan (Iran) to Quetta (Pakistan) around the 22th of November.
We were wondering if there are people who are interested in driving/travelling together because of safety-issues. That would be great!
If you are interested, please contact us!
Enjoy travelling!
Greetings from,
Joep&Ilse
Agree with above that the most difficult part of the trip is from Taftan to Quetta,the road is rough & bumpy and it takes about 13 hrs to Quetta.
You 'd be accompanied by police escort as you arrived on the Pakistani side of the border.
Stay in Bloom Star hotel in Quetta which has secured parking
Drop a line in to Travel Companion Branch in the bottom of Departure Lounge where you may come a cross traveler with similar plan.
Bonjour from Islamabad,
Dear Joep & Ilse, you'd be esdcorted with a policeman,once you come across Taftan border from Mirjaveh, in your own car it might take 13 to 15 hrs,Taftan-Quetta.
In Bam, you may find some travel companions and please cross-post it on Iran branch for more people .
Karachi, a lovely place to visit, but at the moment, it's not more than Johannesberg or Jozi, due to everyday target killings in the city and even the security forces look helpless infront of these mafia gangs, so please avoid it .
In Quetta, please look at your guide book for hotels
Hotel Al-Naeem Quetta
is highly recommended by the travelers here on TT and in the guide books too.
Je vous souhaite un bon voyage au Pakistan ..
One more thing, the first month of lunar year " Muharram " is falling on the 15th of November, when the Shitte muslims take out processions in the street and the security has been already put on high alert all over the country due to terrorists attacks on these rallies.
25th of November, the last day of these rallies so better to make the travel plan after 25th of November, because the cities like Quetta are sealed for a few days and you'd not be allowed to enter Quetta.
Ciao,
Yes I have also heard that Quetta gets sealed for a couple of days around 10th Muharram (tomorrow will be the 1st Muharram most probably) but not for all 10 days. So I don't see a problem before 22nd November. However, if you are getting late than that then come after 25th as advised above.
Processions also come out only on 9th and 10th Muharram (November 24th and 25th for this year).
In fact, I would stay in Iran in these days as the occasion is also organized there also with bigger numbers and much peacefully. This might be the biggest annual ritual of Iran very much representative of their culture and religion.
Over here in Karachi, life also comes at stand still on 10th of Muharram as in most of Pakistan, just for information.