Pakistan to Makkah(Saudi) by Road

[Khan MO]

I am a Pakistani resident. I wanna know that is it possible I go to Makkah(Saudi) by road from Karachi(Pakistan)?
If yes I wanna know the following:
- Which Visa will I require to travel through diff countries?
- I have to go through Iran, Iraq and Kuwait; so how can I travel in these countries via Public
transport like Train, Busses etc?
- What will I have to do if I take a car with me?
- I have given a link for the map via road from Karachi, but I don't know how to travel on that way.
- Here is the Link
Travel Distance between Karachi, Pakistan & Makkah, Saudi Arabia - Find out how far it is from Karachi to Makkah
Guide me if any one knows.

How can I travel by Sea to Makkah?
And how much will it cost by Sea Travelling?

I don't want to travel via Aeroplane.

[blessing786]

Mr Khan,

I have just come across your thread, Do you still want to go by road?

The route you selected is possible however will be more costly due to longer route, more visa's required for seperate countires etc. Also crossing into Iraq may be abit twitchy.

The route I would take is as follows Karachi >Mand/Pishin (Or Taftan but unsure if the border is open at Mand) > Into Iran> Bandar Abbas > Take ferry to Sharjah/Dubai> Then drive/public transport to Riyadh Saudi> Then to Makkah.

To take your car with you will need a Carnet De Passage, This document will allow you to enter the countires like Iran without paying customs. Search the forum there is plent of information on it. However I dont know if you can get a Carnet in Pakistan. Other then that you just need vehicle documents. As far as I am aware You cannot buy insurance at the Taftan border into Iran and no one asks you to either but you should be able to buy it from Zahedan. (Or purchase it in advance)

Like I said the Link you provided is possible but will cost more and there will be more paperwork involved as you will need to get a visa for Iraq,Iran, Kuwait and Saudi. IF I was doing this route I would do it as above and here is the link to the map.

You will need only Visa for Iran, Dubai/Sharjah and Saudi arabia. IT does involve a ferry run from Bandar Abbas though.

http://goo.gl/maps/i0xLx
http://goo.gl/maps/retoK


The public transport route will be the same majority by bus I am unsure about sea but I would imagine you would get a ferry from Karachi straight to Dubai then overland? or Ferry directly to Saudi but this may take many days onboard the ship.

[usman hassan]

Hi;

i am planning to travel to Pakistan by road from Dubai on my own car, any one can help me in getting the information regarding visa arrangements, possible best route and other formalities

as well as if some one can direct me to some companies which can help in this

Regards;
Usman Hassan

[blessing786]

Originally Posted by usman hassan

Hi;

i am planning to travel to Pakistan by road from Dubai on my own car, any one can help me in getting the information regarding visa arrangements, possible best route and other formalities

as well as if some one can direct me to some companies which can help in this

Regards;
Usman Hassan

Dear Usman,

I can help you no problem but first tell me which country Is the vehicle registered in and what nationality you hold? Are you a Pakistani citizen? UAE Citizen? What passports are you looking to use etc? Then I can advise you accordingly.

The route most likely will be from Dubai to Bandar Abbas, Iran via ferry and then drive to the border town of Mir Java and cross into Taftan, You would then need to drive through Baluchistan depending on where you want to go in Pakistan it will differ from Quetta onwards etc.

Kind Regards

[usman hassan]

Hi;

Thanks for your response

i am Pakistani National living in UAE as resident visa as i am doing a job there. Have only one passport which is from Pakistan
vehicle is registered in Dubai and bank leased but i will deposit the rest of money for guarantee purpose, it is Hyundai Santa fe 4*4.

intention of this tour is adventure

i will go through Quetta to Multan city.

Regards;

[blessing786]

Originally Posted by usman hassan

Hi;

Thanks for your response

i am Pakistani National living in UAE as resident visa as i am doing a job there. Have only one passport which is from Pakistan
vehicle is registered in Dubai and bank leased but i will deposit the rest of money for guarantee purpose, it is Hyundai Santa fe 4*4.

intention of this tour is adventure

i will go through Quetta to Multan city.

Regards;

Hello,

I forgot to ask if you will be coming back with the car or taking it forever?

If you are bringing the car back to Dubai then you will need a “Carnet de Passage” document. This is similar to a vehicle passport, what it does is allows you to enter Iran and Pakistan without paying the full custom fee. Here in the UK the auto club RAC do carnets de passage but I am unsure who would do it in Dubai, Maybe do a google search, I did a quick one an link is below. How it works is basically you leave a certain percentage of the money as deposit to say you will be bringing the car back to Dubai, The club issue you a document which has to be stamped every entry and exit you make in Iran and Pakistan. When you bring the car back to Dubai, You get back your deposit minus the Carnet de passage fee. Search google for more information or ask if you any questions about the Carnet. Here is a link I found which maybe for Dubai Automobile and Touring Club - UAE

Without this document you will not be able to enter Iran or Pakistan without securing a custom fee, currently its really high so you could be looking to pay tripple the amount your car is worth if your looking to take the car over forever.

You will need a Visa for Iran, Get a Visit visa which is 15 days or month this can be done at your local Iranian Embassy or agent via online, You can get transit visa’s but I am unsure how easy or hard that is to obtain where as a visit visa on pakistani passport for iran is pretty easy and straight forward. Also Transit visas only last 7days and entry and exit has be from two different ports.

I am unsure the rule of Dubai, check with the company that paid for your car loan but in the UK you would need written permission from them allowing you to take the car overseas if you have money outstanding on it. If you intend to finish the banks money then I dont think it will be a problem.

You will take ferry with the car to Bandar Abbas Iran from Dubai, Do have one company who can do this, if you need the name i will try dig it out, its about 12 hours sailing, upon reaching the other end you will (assuming you have a carnet de passage) visit the custom officials show them your passport, your vehicle documents, You should be able to buy insurance from the border but if you can arrange it before hand then that may be better for you, The custom official will examine the document and stamp one page of the Carnet, (Sometimes you have to go through few different officers at the port) they will then release your vehicle, drive directly to Bam Iran, You can buy a Garmin sat nav to help you with after market Iran Maps, from Bam Iran you need to travel to Mir Javeh which is the border town to Taftan, Pakistan. At the Iran exit border you will again get different page stamped on your Carnet De passage to confirm the vehicle has left Iran, If you don't then the Iranians can claim customs from the body that issues the Carnet and you also wont get your deposit back.

You would then enter Pakistan and again give them your vehicle documents and carnet for them to stamp a entry. At this point some people get police escort from here all the way to Quetta because of kidnappings and the attacks by the Taliban but if your street wise and you can blend in then you wont need the Police Escort. (Its your choice on how you feel, but with the escort the journey would be much slower as they stop every check point and the police crew changes, but at least you feel reassured you wont be ambushed, this mainly applys to westernes as mostly all the kidnappings have been of non Pakistani people) Without the police you can get to Quetta in about two days if you drive only in light hours, one day if you drive at night too but its not recommended as its all desert area and fear of bandits, If you do it in two days then you have to stop in the middle at the small town of Dhalbandin, they do have a good hotel there. Once you reach Quetta you would then decide to go the longer route which is recommend as Lolarai is dangerous area because of the western couple who got kidnapped a few years back were kidnapped from this area or drive through Lolrai into Dera Ghazi an then Multan City. All depends how much you blend in and what you experience of Pakistan is. ( I.e. Your street wise or not)

If you don't get a Carnet de passage then at the Iran border and Pakistan border you have to pay the custom fee before you can leave with your vehicle otherwise they don't let you in, The custom is tripple the value of the vehicle for Iran an Pakistan so the best option or cheapest is Carnet De passage, this will mean you have to bring your car back to dubai.

You will also need to plan Hotel stops, fuel cost and how often you would need to refuel, spare tyres, iran currency, fuel can to carry some spare fuel etc. There loads more things but il keep it simple for now.

I hope the above helps, I can go into more detail but this should give you a rough idea of what to expect etc.

[Aziz ul Hassan Hashmi]

Hi,
I want to go on my bike from Pakistan to Saudia Arabia any bady can help me ?
Is it possible or not?
If possible then how?
Plzzzz tell me all details..:

[blessing786]

Originally Posted by Aziz ul Hassan Hashmi

Hi,
I want to go on my bike from Pakistan to Saudia Arabia any bady can help me ?
Is it possible or not?
If possible then how?
Plzzzz tell me all details..:

Hi Aziz,

Motorbike or pedal cycle?

It is possible but not a easy feat considering the tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

You will have to ride/cycle to Iran via the land border, then take a ferry to Dubai and then ride all the way to Saudi Arabia.