Quetta Travel Forum

Hi,
I am working on a spain to india by land trip, and if I can get the iranian visa, then I'd like to spend some time in Pakistan. coming from iran, it seems one would have to pass through Quetta. It seems that noone posts on this forum, so i wonder is it too crazy to pass through Quetta, especially as an American national? Would like to know more,
Thank you
W

Salam/ Hello
You have not mentioned as what place you intend to stay in Pakistan, but i suppose you would be reaching Karachi, a great city or else you can further plan to Lahore, a must see city in Pakistan. Cosidering weather now a days, a hill resort would be ideal. For that, Queen of Hills "Murree" near Islamabad is perfect now a days. As regards to travelling through Quetta,you dont need to disclose your US nationality to a common man/ passerby you meet enroute. After crossing Iran Pakistan Border, probably from Taftan side, talk frankly with FC (Frontier Corps) persons there on Check Posts you have to pass through, they would surely be very helpful if they think that at some place you might come across some trouble.Have wonderful trip and stay at Pakistan.

Hi,

If you're planning to get a Pak visa in Iran, better to avoid it because the updates are not very promising, there were friends who tried a Pak visa along with a LOI from their embassy and they were not granted in Tehran.

So better to arrange it at home country.

You'll enter Pakistan from Zahedan through Taftan border, take a bus, some 14, 15 hrs to Quetta, from Quetta take a train to Lahore, their site
www.pakrail.com

From Lahore, you could travel to Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral and even Peshawar.


The route is safe and from Lahore, better to take Daewoo bus, they buses are comfortable and nice.


I wish you happy travels.

Imran Schah

Cities & Mountains of Pakistan, Photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker

Thanks for the responses so far. I will take your advice and get my Pakistani visa before I leave the States. I intend to go to Lahore mostly, maybe stay 3 weeks there. But if you think I'd be missing out on somewhere fantastic, let me know.
I am worried that even with a visa, I might be rejected entry at the border...
I guess in that case, I'd have to go back to tehran and get a flight.
Anyways, thank you so far,

Hi,

When you've valid visa, nobody could send you back from the border.
Lahore, the culture capital of Pakistan, the city of architecture, true Pakistani cuisine.

Don't miss Shalimar Gardens, Lahore fort and Badshahi mosque and food street at Gawalmandi.

You should not miss Gilgit-baltistan and Chitral, the mountainous regions of Pakistan.

Islamabad is some 5 hrs drive, 370 Km from Lahore, you could take a Daewoo bus from Kalma chowk terminal.

From Islambad you could take a flight to Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan, daily flights in the morning.

Or take a bus, coach, 665 km, some 16 to 18 hrs on scenic Karakoram Highway to Gilgit.

Enjoy the marvels of Pakistan.

I welome your queries.

Imran Schah

If you wanna come to Lahore by Air then Most welcome, but by road entry from Quetta is not recommended.

Last month, I was planning a road trip from Karachi to Istanbul via Quetta and Tehran with a group of friends. Unfortunately, we had to drop the idea as some of the friends were afraid of the Law and Order Situation.
However, if you are coming alone, then it is possible to take this route with due precautions. As one poster suggested, you will cross Iran border at Tuftan, and from where you take a bus to Quetta. From Quetta to Lahore, travelling by road or by train can not be recommended at all. Either you take a bus from Quetta for Karachi (10-12 hours)and from Karachi to Lahore (20-24 hours), Or, alternatively, take a flight from Quetta to Lahore (2 hours), which will save you money and time both.
In the first option, you may like to spend a day or two in Karachi, which is one of the biggest metropoiltans of the World, and a Port City. From Karachi, you will have many options (Bus, Train, etc) for Lahore for your onwards journey.
As one poster suggested, you will not have any problems in entering into Pakistan , provided you have a valid visa. From Iran border, do dress like locals - Shalwar & Kameez, which you get easily from Iran - (I tried this many times in Quetta and was successul in avoiding unwanted attention). There is a wonderful Hill Station near Quetta, called Ziarat, but I would not recommend you to go there because of the Law and Order situation, and would rather suggest you to concentrate on your onward journey.
I have been to Quetta and Lahore many times and can answer to your queries any time.

Hi mate.

Im a Brit who went through this way by bicycle a couple of months ago. This following letter to a friend on a bicycle at the time might help. I got my visa in Tehran but better if in your own country. Quetta via Succur to Lahore should be no problem. Pakistan is truely wonderful, esp. cause of the people who are fantastic. Do try and go if poss. Full travelogue can be found via my home page. Cheers. Chris.

Category: Bicycle
Getting TO/AROUND: INFORMATION CORRECT AS OF JANUARY 2009

We are in Quetta at the moment (Pakistan) but leave tonight for Sukkur by bus. We were going to cycle but the local tourist manager says the local tribes have a habit of shooting on vehicles on the road from Quetta to Sukkur so thought better to be safe. The shorter route going east (toward Lahore) is forbidden to foreigners. We know of one motorcyclist who was escorted from Quetta all the way to the Indian border so not arguing about it.

If you cycle from Bam to Zehadan you will probably be picked up by a police escort for the remainder of the journey. If staying in Zehadan best to wave down a cop and ask to be escorted as many hotels dont take foreigners.. until you turn up with the police. Even better skip Zehadan which we hated as a nasty atmosphere and head for the border post (not Mujava) which you will probably miss as it seams to close about 3.30pm and stay at the really nice government hotel just outside the border post gate for $10 incl clean hot showers! Restaurant there too. A pickup from Zehadan to border will take about 1 hour 15 min. and seems to cost a standard 1000 rps. It will probably be escorted, which can cause delays. Bus from tatty Taftan to Quetta leaves about 4pm so mid morning crossing to get organised is good. (Pakistan 1 hour 30 min. ahead of Iran remember!) Sharks will quote 60 rupees for $1 (official rate 78) at border but if you say youll change up in Taftan they will panick and go up to 70 rupees. Dont accept less. In center of Taftan (not a hell hole at all - just a complete mess but friendly - a ten minute cycle from border) there are a choice of buses. If you decide to cycle this stretch - Im sure youll be stopped - you are mad!!! If feeling tight you can get a bus for 600 rps to Quetta on a rusting dinosaure but if you want luxury go for the Wali Express (I kid you not) for 1000 rps. Both include bikes on roof and 1000 rps we paid was the same as everyone else. (Amazingly enough!) Only 3 seats across so like armchairs and so new still has plastic on the leatherette seating. Really comfortable! Leaves 4pm arrive Quetta about 3am. If anyone on board has taxi waiting ask if taxi driver will come back for you. We stayed at Hotel Bloom Star (taxi 200 rps) for 800 rps (slightly better room 1000 rps) with private bathroom and satalite TV (yea.. film channel and BBC at last!!!) Open 24/7. Quetta rough and edgy but the people really nice - been here 3 or 4 days without incident.

Oh, we missed the border crossing on last day of our visa by 30 minutes. Went to border next morning and they sent us back to Zehadan where we had to spend a second night and pay... wait for it ... $140 for a 48 hour extension! ($70 each). I cant believe I just typed that without using the F word a thousand times."

This is very nice informative posting. I hope it will be helpful for those who want to enter Pakistan via Quetta Border.

Well done Chris.

Sadly I was denied the visa to Iran. So I will not pass through Quetta. I think I will fly from Istanbul to Karachi instead. But I appreciate all of the helpful comments you posted, and hopefully it will benefit someone else in the future.

that's really sad. is there any special reason to fly from Istanbul? have you thought of coming all the way to Mascat, Oman by road and then take a flight to Karachi or preferably to Gawaar so that you can keep the spirit of road travelling less effected. Also, is there a remote possibility of doing Mascat-Gawadar by water through proper channel. I am just thinking loud, and your response will hopefully be an addition to the knowledge base on this subject.

Thank you for that suggestion..I hadn't thought of it, but once again as a non-Muslim American I run into all kinds of visa issues. I have been to Syria before, but the visa is not completely easy, and I think a Saudi visa for a westerner travelling alone would also be complicated...but I will look into it more. I did want to keep the spirit of the road more, but it might not be possible. Turkish airlines has direct flights from istanbul to Karachi, so this is the reason i was going to fly this route.
So you live in Karachi? I wonder how much time I should spend there and how much time I should spend in lahore...any suggestions?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You are right that you may face visa issues, specially from Saudi Arabia, so direct flight from Istanbul to Karachi is more wise.
Yes, I do live in Karachi, depending on your preferences, you may like to allow atleast 2-3 full days to get the assence of this city of 17 million inhabiants belonging to various backgrounds and cultures. Old city is really interesting to explore together with beaches and the coastal line. Karachi is also famous for its traditional Hindustani food, e.g. Biryani, Nihari, Haleem, Halwa Poori, Shahi Tukray, etc.
Lahore is a historically and culturally rich. Again, depending on your preferences, you make like to allow 3-4 full days to explore the city. I would recommend you to attend Flag Ceremoney at Wahga border, 1 hour from Lahore at Pakistan-India border, the ceremony takes place every day at about 5 pm, hundreds of enthusiastic visitors from both sides of the border attend the Ceremony in a highly charged environment.
I have been to Lahore innumerable times. If you are not hiring a car, then I would recommend you using DAEWOO Express for Karachi to Lahore, which is the most reliable and comfortable way of commuting. Journey time is 21 hours and it will cost you about PKR 2500 (USD 30). there is a train link also but I would not recommend you unless you have specific reasons for this.
Finally, since you are coming to Pakistan, it would be highly unfair to not discover the high mountains in the region. There are regions which are quite safe for visiting. Murree is located near Islamabad and a very pleasant hill station. You may choose to explore majestic Lake Saiful Mulook in the Hazara region. And if you have more appetitie, you would not regret visiting Gilgit and Hunza through the famous Slik Road. Road Travelling can not be completed without travelling through the breathtaking Silk Road or Karakoram Highway. I have been to Gilgit last year and the valley was full of foreign travellers, Japanese, Koreans, Germans, French, etc. And the whole regions is inhabited by a faction called Ismailis who are quite liberal and broad minded in their values.
I guess I am now running the risk of overpushing now!
have a great time!