Pakistan guru needed :)

[saliadarunavuelta]

Hi from Spain,

I'm planning a 2-year RTW bike tour. I'll be crossing Pakistan this august. I was told by a guy in the embassy to prepare an itinerary in order to get my visa. He was specific about the fact that the tour should avoid taliban territories, but he was imprecise about which are those. I was wondering if someone can be so kind of listing here a few peaceful cities I should mention on my visa on the route Khujerab - Lahore, or even heading more to the south to India. I'm guessing I can be in Pakistan around a week or so. It could be very helpful if those cities have something interesting to see-live-taste.

I really thank you for this favor.

[kebabtomten]

I am guessing that your entering from China via sost in that case you can get the visa at the border costs 30usd takes 10 minutes...just bring a picture and smile...

Also it will take you more than one week to do kunjerab-Lahore , whats the rush ...? that part of pakistan is the best part and you could easily spend a month riding around and chilling in the mountain villages, like HUnza valley and Astor, Skardu etc...

good luck

[saliadarunavuelta]

Thanks for your prompt reply,

Unfortunately, I was told by the guy in the embassy I needed to provide that list with my itinerary (and a bank letter, and a form, and the motorbike's carnet, annnnd...) . In Spain is not that easy to get the visa and the travel permit for the bike.
Yes, I'm crossing from China. And yes, I suppose I could tour Pak for a while, but I have a 2-year schedule I must follow. I can't stay 1 month in every country (I wiiiiish I could!...)

[kebabtomten]

Ok, just clarify you dont need to get a visa ,you can get it at the border as long as you have the Carnet ..

Well here are a list of places you will be passing on the way down to LAhore, you will not be in any prohibited areas as they are in Swat , the KKH just barelly touch this area but nothing to serious.

North to south

Sost-Passu-Karimabad-Aliabad-Gilgit (from her if you have time you can go to Skardu Its about 180km east to Baltistan , good paved roads and beautiful then loop back via Desaoi and Astor , takes you about two-three days back to KKH) and Chilas.

From here you have two options either continue down the KKH via Becham (this place is said to a be a bit of a "dangerous" town as its about 120km from Mingora (Swat Capital) but I did not encounter anything ,the people were very nice and welcoming ... or Take the Barbussa pass down to Naran and then continue to Muree ,islamabad and finally Lahore.

I took the KKH all the way down to islamabad via Muree and Nathiagali (hill stations very nice mountian roads) then took the grand trunk road to Lahore (bikes not aloud on the express way the made me turn back )

hope this helps good luck

[dnicoletti]

to kebabtomten; do you confirm that apply for pak visa at the kkh border it is doable? when did you get there?
i'm in touch with a bunch of riders planning to do that route (saliadarunavuelta is one of this), and, like him i'm in trouble here in italy to apply for pak visa. they require the same stuff as saliadarunavuelta says on his post. things could turn bad 'cause all the paperworks will send to islamabad to be processed; expected time months, employeed said...

www.lungastrada.it

[saliadarunavuelta]

Hi everyone,

Jus in case someone needs this in the future, here you have the map I'm sending with my application visa.

Pakistan transit - Google Maps

Good luck and than you all.