Pakistan in September

Hi all,
I'm not quite as committed as some of the others who have been posting here. I haven't got a tour booked or anything. However, I do have my visa and I have been really looking forward to going to Pakistan, so I think even in light of unfortunate recent events I will still go.
That being said, I think I am more keen than ever to find company. I will be coming overland from India and potentially continuing onto Iran (that part is under question). I don't have exact dates or any firm plans but thinking September and keen to do a bit of trekking.
Is anyone going around the same time?

Also drop a line in to TravelBudy.com where you might come across like minded travelers with the same plans.

MashaP
wow, I am surprised by your plans after all that has been going on. May I remind you that the 2 females coming from Iran have not been found yet; at this point I would postpone the trip and wait until better safety can be assured so that you can enjoy the scenery and the hospitality of most of the people.
I also learned while in Pakistan a month ago that info you find here is not very reliable if it comes from Pakistanis. so be aware. and be safe so you can enjoy traveling for a long time

You can take plan (air Arabia) from Islamabad/Karachi to Tehran,overland traveling is not recommended for foreigners through Baluchistan province. .
Drop a line in to Travel Companion Branch in the bottom of Departure Lounge.

hmmm, I would not recommend that.
do not cross into Iran by land.

I realise that the crossing to Iran bit appears a bit mad at this stage, hence it being under question. Basically, I figured I will definitely go to Lahore and Islamabad, the rest I will decide when I'm there depending on any new developments, asking around when I am in Pakistan itself and whether I find a buddy.

K2 heights, thanks for the tips.

Going overland from India to Lahore/Islamabad is safe but overland to Iran is full of risk.

hello friends, i am Iranian. in 26th July i will fly to India and about 15 days after it i will visit Pakistan. if you like we can travel with. don't visit Pakistan during Ramadan (Ramazan). you can send me mail via: bahador.amiri2003@gmail.com.

Here I want to give you (my first hand exp) a rough idea about your second part of question, overland to Iran - PIA operates once weekly flight from Quetta to Zahidan. PKR 21000 (one way) about US$ 200

NOC is essential for all foreign visitors since January this year and no bus company would consent to carry you for Taftan without noc from DPO office in Quetta where you would be advised to take two security gaurds with you and you would have to pay a mendatory sum of PKR 8000 (return bus fare) for them as well though the actual fare is less than for both of them..

And still after all that the catch here is, as soon you arrive at Mastung check post about 45 Km off Quetta, you would be taken off the bus and than transfer bit by bit by security vehicles and you will get at border in about 24 hours, but that all only conditioned to your NOC's approval, and if you are allowed to board the public bus...

We did a successful trick this March. I was traveling with a British whose parents originally from Pakistan, we rented a car at Liaquat Bazar in Quetta (PKR 12000) for two of us, I did not take him along when I went to book the car, as he could not speak urdu shurdu else he would have been easily detected, anyway driver advised me that there were 8 checkpoints all the way, and they had amount of PKR 200 per point (fixed bribery) and they travel unchecked.. so to avoid any unseen problem i agreed to pay him PKR 1600 extra for transit briberies... but still both of us were considered Pakistanis..

Anyway you got 2 options.. Emirates from KHI-DXB-TEH would be around 29000 one way and Quetta to Zahidan on PIA would be around 22k, but to get to Quetta you still have to pass the Machh area where ethnic Baloch freedom fighters are charging flow from Punjab regularly...

Thanks indus for sharing certainly helpful travel report with fellow travelers.

@k2_ sure .. its no problem. its my responsibility to warn as i have seen you cant even imagine .. have a look http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/30-Dec-2012/nineteen-killed-in-mastung-blast

i experienced the 'worst' on this very route on December 30, 2012.. I was among those who survived in the targetted attack on Iran-Iraq bound convoy..., though I took the same route again few months later in March, just as my companion was declined Afghan visa... though on return journey which I had to travel alone. I explore another very safe, beautiful and better route than Balochistan. I came to Mashhad at the end of my journey, and than came to islam qilla border, and than to Herat.. There are plenty of buses off Herat daily for Kabul or Kandahar..

Herat itself is a place to be at least once if you really enjoy history, culture and difference.

Kabul-Kandahar-Herat new motorway is one of the best in the region, and security -wise also much better than Balochistan... only negative point Afghanistan is just way too expensive currently.

MashaP,
i also plan to be in Pakistan at the end of Aug and in September.
I plan to visit Kashmir and make some short treks around Karimabad.
I am a female and I am also searching for a female company.
Please if you still need a companion, write to me greenvalleyws@gmail.com