Iran/Pakistan Unmarried (M/F) Couple Travel
 

Hello
My girlfriend and I are planning on traveling through Pakistan and Iran.
Any ideas, experience with troubles of being unable to find places to sleep/stay being an unmarried couple?
In Sumatra we encountered some places not letting us stay because we werent married. Some places demanded marriage certificates.

Will we be seen as committing adultery and unable to find suitable lodging, even worse arrested for it?

Of course we dont want to sleep in different rooms.

Any help with this?

N+A

Simple solution
 

Marry her.

(Sorry, just couldn't resist!) ;-)

No problem in Pakistan.

We went the other with my girlfriend last winter... no real problems anywhere. Iran seemed like the most conservative country in this regard, sometimes the police, who escorted us on the way to Pakistan, seemed worried, if she as much as went to buy some water for us, while we were taking a break somewhere. I guess they expected her to stay within 2 meters from me at all times.

Women (including tourists) need to wear a scarf to cover all their hair in public in Iran, and i think would also be a good idea for Pakistan. And she also had a tunica-type dress, which gave some extra shelter for the behind, on top of her leather-suit, when we crossed the borders. That actually looked funny!

We were later in Indonesia, and I guess we were lucky then, because I cant remember having any trouble with accommodation, or asking for marriage certificate. Might depend a lot on the area, I think.

Thats good news...
Its too early for me to commit!!!

Thats put my mind at ease.
Pecha. Aki may copy your idea of dress over riding gear. Im interested to see how it looks.
In northern Sumatra only 3 hotels we encountered would not let us sleep in the same room. Not that bad, just a shock.

Now to find out where to get a Pakistani visa. Bangladesh? New Delhi?

Thanks all
Nathan

It's also worth noting that it is not unusual for married couples in Islamic countries to have different last names. In fact it is pretty much the norm for the woman to keep her name. You will probably have no problem convincing people you are married as long as you put in some effort. Get some cheap wedding rings that kind of thing.

Good luck with your travels.

Thanks Hornet.
We will most definately be getting matching rings. Even plan on getting wedding fotos made up just for kicks.
Aki is keen to don the Jilbab too. Ill just have dress more conservatively to walk next to her.

Just had a quick read of your blog.
Some adventures in there brother.
Ill be following your progress and hope to meet up with you somewhere along the line

Thanks

Nat, I travelled with an English couple for a week in Iran, and they had no trouble.Your girlfriend will just have to cover her head with a scarf, although i noticed in Tehran the fashion for modern girls was to wear it halfway back on their heads.I think they creep further and further back, then the religious police have a crack down.Pakistan wont be a problem either.

Thanks Andy.
Not too worried now. This is why I love HUBB so much.
Getting clear info from people with experience is rare these days.

Thanks everyone.
PS. Just looking now at the possibility of a ferry from ran to Oman!

Off in that direction next year, the Mrs is more than cool with the dress code but we were thinking she would be ok in her BMW clown suit whilst on her bike do you think this would be a no go, seems a bit dangerous riding a bike with all that fabric flapping around ?

Hi

Whilst riding in Iran I wore a tunic top under my bike gear and just tucked it out the way - no problems. As for a head scarf, I wore a Buff that I pulled over my head when I took my helmet off, again no prolem at any time.
For pics see www.2riders-1dream.com - join us on our trip around the world and go the Iran entries/photos

We both wore wedding rings and if anyone asked if we were married then yes we were. No problem checking into hotels - the staff just found it amusing that I was sorting the room out and had the money whilst my "husband" waited outside!

You'll have no trouble. If you want anymore info then feel free to pm me and I can give you a call.

Becky

relatives?
 

We had hotelliers wondering when we were travelling with another biker - 2 men, 1 woman, all diferent surnames & booked into 1 big room.

Told them we were married & the other guy was my wifes brother.

Kept them wondering but got us a room...

haha thats a good one!

Just to inform you, muslim's dont change their family names....

We have been looking at (fake)wedding rings here in Trang. Aki is taking it rather seriously which is a little...:(

Looks like it wont be a problem at all.
I did consider getting a fake marriage certificate made up in Bangkok but wont bother now.

Yemen and Oman are in consideration now too so I guess the same stands there.
Convenient for us that Muslims dont change thier family names. Thanks Radzi.
Thanks all