Karachi Travel Forum

All,
I am planning to visit Pakistan after almost 1.5 decades.
I will be spending 3 weeks in PK between June or July.
I remember it being very hot and humid during that time, but it is possibly the only time I have available to visit.
I am assuming mangos will be available along with guavas and falsas, so I will be gorging on those as well as visiting BBQ tonight and Lal Killa (sp?).
But here are some questions:
1. has anyone actually been on a cruise in a sailboat from either the harbor or the yacht club (or boat club, etc) and if so how do I look up chartering a day trip as i am sure most of them are private ownership.
2. almost a follow up of the first question, what about sport fishing? is it available? I know there is a bait and tackle shop, but not if charters for that are available.... not much information on the web. I remember going on a "launch" from the harbor when i was young, but does karachi have any real power boats which can take you offshore fishing?
3. any either tour groups or eco tourism guides available and their web sites if possible?
4. a suggestion for a good outing for a day or two from khi to see the tombs, ruins, indus civ, etc.
5. how do i rent a beach house at the "french beach", or is it as it was before that you have to know someone who owns one of the huts?
6. Any info on spending a few days up north in chitral/ mountain area, etc for a quiet time soaking in God's beautiful canvas of mountains, glaciers and lakes? I would like to use that to recharge my batteries before ending my trip.
7. What else do you want to tell me (or ask me)?

Thanks,
AZGuy

Well, thats good idea to have a sport fishing at Karachi and day trips. You can also find mangos, yes. Its a very hot ouside during the time you mentioned as it was your only option. Still good to visit norther part especially chitral or hunza or Yasin. These are the tourist friendly areas in summer and a wonderful weather. You can also visit Kalam, Naran, Kaghan for eco tourism. Yes, if you are intrested in fishing trips then you must look for trout fishing trips.

I have not much information about but few the tourist websites are and their address.

Touch Sky Services (travel and tours) www.touchskyservices.com
Waljis Travels (very costly) www.waljis.com
Peal Tours and Travel pearltours.com

Hoped helpful

I believe the only change that you will notice is that Karachi has become quite crowded, a true sign of a city heading towards a large metropolis (if it is not already one). Other than that, yes it will be mango season (and all of Pakistan will be devouring them; especially me); yes it will be hot and muggy, but now people have A/C rooms and cars, and now restaurants are A/C.

1/ You can rent boats at Kemari. Basically you go there and negotiate. Alternatively go to any boat club (Marina, PAF Yatch Club, Boat club on Queens road), and see if you can rent larger power boats, and even sail boats for your outing. I believe there are private parties out their renting boats. Cost may be higher.
2/ The bait and tackle shop you mention I believe is Agha fishing off Tariq road, on Allama Iqbal road. They still exist, and they do organize sports fishing. You will have to contact them once you land to see what their modus operandi is.
3/ Unfortunately eco-tourism has not caught up with our tour agencies (I may be wrong). You can check WWF-Pakistan website, they are offering such tours sometimes. You can also contact Sindh wildlife to get more info on this as well: http://www.sindhwildlife.com.pk/aboutus/aboutus.htm
4/ You can go to Thatta for a days outing. Leave early in the morning and you can cover Chaukandi, Bhanbore, Haleji Lake, Makli, and Shah Jahan in Thatta. Further down is Kalri lake. All on a single day from Karachi. For more info checkout my Thatta pages; http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/749e0/13e504/
5/ Usually you need to have the right connection to get a beach house. Maybe someone in your family may know someone who may have a hut on the beach. Alternatively you can just go there, and negotiate with the “chaukidar” (guard) who may let you have a hut, or know where you can find one for a nominal fee.
6/ For north you have Chitral valley, Kaghan, Swat, Hunza, Baltistan/Skardu, Muree and Galians, and many more (I am sure Imranthetrekker will shed more light once he reads your query).
7/ People will say that the best mango in their opinion is langra, sindhri, anwar rathore, chuansa, etc. Don’t believe them mangoes are mangoes in any form. Eat all kind!

My friends seem to have missed 'Moen-jo-Daro', the 5000 years old Indus Valley Civilation.Its script is still waiting to be deciphered.Its linked with Karachi by regular PIA flights.

Thanks for the info, I will look up the websites. And start putting out feelers for who will have a beach house available and a boat/ yacht.
I did find an article about "eco tourism" in PK. One in an article and one from a website:
http://karachi.metblogs.com/archives/2006/12/ecotourism_in_k.phtml
http://indusdolphin.org.pk/boat_safari/programmes.asp
but the boat safari is by the Taunsa Barrage, which is by Kot Addu city and looking it up in google earth, it seems a little far at a couple of hundred miles from Mohenjo Daro.

Mohenjo Daro seems like an interesting place to visit. I used google earth to find it too and it is a couple of hundred miles away from Karachi.
But at least I have some thing to think about.

BTW Pakistani Mangos are THE BEST!!!

i may be late on this thread, but would still have a go at it.

you said, "pakistani mangoes are the best".

yes, besides eating them, another good use we put them once was to hide the smell of Doorians, a malaysian, thai, indonesian fruit. they have a saying about doorians - 'food from heaven that smells like hell'.

i wish you all the very best of your trip to karachi. we visited it last in early 2000 and that was a very good trip. we headed out of karachi straight-away.

regardz,

Hi,

I guess almost everything has been covered in previous responses on this thread. I would just add one thing here. And that is, Sheraton Hotel operates one serviced hut at the beach. And that would be your best bet.

As for renting a beach house it won't be difficult. Just drive to Sandspit via Mauripur Road who will find about 5-10 miles of sea side road dotted Beach Bunglows , old as well as modern, from Sadspit to end of Hawksbay. try to negotiate with watchman about overnight stay.It may cost about Rs.200 to 500 [$3-10].There's a wild life museaum cum Hatchery for Green Turtles operated by EU.Have fun.

3. www.visitpakistanonline.com

would be a help. as they have day trips as well.
Cheers

3. www.visitpakistanonline.com

would be a help. as they have day trips as well.
Cheers