Pakistan Safety
 

Hey!

So I am travelling from Nepal to the UK and I intend to be in Pakistan for a week travelling through to Iran where I will meet a guide. I've had a number of people warning against any travel through Pakistan, particularly Balochistan. I understand that you are escorted most of the way though by police. Are the recommendations I am getting based on the dangers that have been around for quite a while or has Pakistan been more dangerous as of late. I am considering postponing the trip which would be a real ballache so any up to date advice I would really appreciate!

Cheers,

Luke

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Rules for shipping motorcycles by air freight

Pakistan Safety
 

Hello allir, we are currently in Pakistan and really enjoying it. The local people say it is save nowadays, especially compared with a few years ago. In the south/west you will be escorted by the military, in the north you can travel free most of the time. Overlanders travel trough Pakistan weekly, almost daily. I would suggest to spend more than a week here. The local bikers in Lahore are very hospitable and love to show you around and host you.


www.amsterdamtoanywhere.nl

We hope you find it better this time

Kind regards

Pakistan Bikers Club - Since 2007

Hire Guide which has connections in Army
 

Piece of advise - Hire Guide which has connections in Army, and you can do from travel forums, tripadvisor etc.

Hope you have reached a good solution

1 week is too short, recommend you spend a minimum of 2 weeks in Pakistan, definitely don't miss the Karakorum highway and the sights on the way up there.


Had these people with the warnings been to Pakistan?

Im now in Islamabad, and come directly from the Iran boarder crossing Balochistan. You can do it you will be escorted but is a hard way! Good luck!

If you can find a good driver who knows the roads from Taftan to Quetta or Lahore, and stick to day-time driving, you should be OK. Road safety is very poor in Pakistan and the hills at some parts, is notoriously dangerous for drivers who do not appreciate the steep gradient, and at night one may not see the various pot-holes or the animals that may appear.
As an alternative there are flights from Iran to Lahore. Definitely not something for people who suffer from fear of bad roads like me.
The good news is the drivers there are highly professional and know the road well. It is definitely and experience worth the time.
bring water and snacks which is good event, bring insect repellent which is needed as mosquitoes will bite you mercilessly if you are unprotected.
Also bring appropriate footwear. Tracking shoes are ideal.

Kaftan in Quetta
 

Hi,

How long will it go for Kaftan in Quetta?
is it you all the time escorts?
Are there any riders that have pictures of the road?
What hotel in Quetta?

thank you.

tiger

It is not a problem, I just came from Pakistan, woman, driving solo. I really enjoyed the country, it's amazing. Please don't skip it. If you want to see the road, check out some of my YouTube videos.

thank for your videos, it's very interesting . I will go in pakistan in June.alone too. :-)


I see that you sleep whith your tent; you can sleep every where in the north (Moutain, KKH)?


Not so cold during the nigth?




After i would like to to Ladakh. you know thi place?


thank's for yours answerd.
Thierry

I hope you like it! I did sleep a lot in my tent but except for 1 time, it was always in the garden of some hotel. Mainly the PTDC that you find scattered around in the north. Usually very friendly people running these hotels.

I loved the cold, after three months in a desert it was a nice change. It wasn't super warm, but I have a good sleeping bag so no problem. Except on Deosai plains, that was cold.

You know Ladakh is in India, right? I didn't go there because I was too late in the season and the road had already closed. Keeping the Kashmir region for some other trip.

I am thinking to Swat valley next month. do you folks think it would be safe on my own there or go through a TA.

Documents
 

Hello, thank you for your reply, yes I know for Ladakh. (i will go after)

Should we copy passport and passport bike at the checkpoint?

NOC (no objection certificate) in Pakistan
 

Hi all,

I am currently in Tehran, planing to enter Pakistan in around 2 or 3 weeks. I have my visa ready but I recently heard about the NOC.

I have read many different things about it but my conclusion is that for Pakistan you need it for the Swat Valley. Some people said you need to apply in Quetta, but others that you need it to enter Pakistan... but how do you apply in Quetta if you need it enter? I am so confused to be honest.

My question is about when do you need this document, how to apply for it. I know a few bikers more doing the same route that have the same question as me, they don't have a clue about this NOC either :innocent:.

Thanks in advance!

I don't have the latest news, but usually you get an escort from the border to Quetta, where they want you to request a NOC to keep going towards Isalamabad/Lahore. Don't worry, they'll explain to you how to get it, because they want you to get the hell out of the area ASAP.

In any case, driving to Swat is probably a bad idea. There are many places that are quiet and welcoming in Pakistan, but the Swat valley isn't one of them (ever heard of operation black thunderstorm ?). Azad Kashmir, Baluchistan (except when escorted from/to the border) and all the FTAs are also best avoided.

Keep us posted on how it goes.

Laurent

You will have it apply for it once you reach Pakistani border. As my friend mentioned above in his post, They will guide you about the whole procedure. I can get contact numbers of officers on border for you, that might ease your problem. bier

World's best kept secret, Pakistan
 

Hi guys,
Pakistan is doing fine with 180 million like me living here and raising their children pretty decently.
You would be welcomed here and you'll discover for yourself the world's best kept secret, Pakistan. Although serious problems do exist near the Afghan border but still over here drivers are more at risk due to traffic than anything else.
A piece of advice, avoid being too adventurous and follow the advice of the escorts.
You will be guided about the paperwork by the excorts and the hotels tourists usually stay like Blue Star in Quetta. Requirements keep changing and the concerned people are most well informed.
Motorcyclists Association of Pakistan has chapters accross the country and you are welcome to keep in touch.
Have a great trip
Cheers

thanks for sharing your account of travel here. How do you think safety in the south Pakistan.

Is it safe to travel Gilgit to chitral and Islamabad? Any input, will be greatly appreciated.

All Pakistan is safe, enjoy! You might find some escorts but you can "easily" get rid of them.

Ian Chappel says
 

Which month were you travelling or do you plan to travel, folks?

I'd like to go in 2018 but can't get free till Sept. would that be too late?

Pakistan safety
 

Pakistan is totally safe for travel, unless you go towards the Pak-Afghan border, we are on the KKH and we had over landers from all over. They stayed in touch throughout their travels across Pakistan and enjoyed every bit of it. In fact travelers coming in from China find it liberating after traveling with a guide and on a strict schedule. If there any specific questions, I can always help!

Hello everybody
Thanks to everyone who share useful information here about Pakistan.
I plan route to India through Pakistan October 2018
I have few questions ..
1. We will be two riders. Is enough numbers of riders to get escort in Pakistan?
2. Could you explain what does NOC mean which we have to get in Qwetta?

Thanks

1. Yes.
2. It´s just a document to keep traveling through Pakistan, but don´t worry about it. The scort will let you know how to get that document and get you to the actual building where you have to request it etc. I traveled from Iran to India, so I did the trip in the other direction.

Thanks a lot!

Hi Marat,
"to India through Pakistan" coming from? Iran or China?

SIM card , local money
 

1. Is possible to buy SIM card with internet for mobile in Iran and Pakistan? If yes, where is sell it? What do i need for this?

2. Where i can change USD to local money? I mean for both Iran and Pakistan...

3. What situation with petrol in Iran and Pakistan? Can i fuel everywhere?

Thanks

Hi Cris
I am from Kazakhstan so my route is Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan and India Mom). Back through China .. i hope.

P.S. Did we meet in Pamir? Did you sell your bikes?)

Ok.
I crossed Pakistan from China to India last summer.
I think a lot of answers to your questions regarding Pakistan are well described on this website
https://againstthecompass.com/en/thi...p-to-pakistan/

User Omie on this forum can also give you lot of infos.

We met in Bishkek in 2013 and in Charyn Canyon in 2014 beer

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...937#post477742

Hi Cris!!!)
I have thought about other guy...
Of course , I'll never forget you. And your broken bike at the bottom of Charyn!))
Nice to hear you!bier the

Do you have any contact in China who arrange all documents for crossing China on the own bike?

I used Taher from Kashgar Adventure International Travel.
I have just posted some details about my experience on the proper thread
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...548#post574602 :thumbup1:

Welcome to Pakistan Mara. NOC means No Objection Certificate that sometimes travellers need so that authorities can arrange extra security for them. Situations change and so do the requirements. Areas close to Afghan border are a bit of problem rest of Pakistan is fine.
Dont worry about little things like fuel or SIM card. All these will work out themselves, routine matters.

Pakistan is an enormous country with 210 million warm and welcoming people.
Cheers

Hi Mara

(Sorry allilr, I don't have information on the security situation in Balochistan at the moment, and we came from China to Pakistan)

1. Is possible to buy SIM card with internet for mobile in Iran and Pakistan? If yes, where is sell it? What do i need for this?

We bought a SIM card in Iran with the company IranCell (They have a yellow-blue logo). We needed a passport and they took one or two finger prints. Including the SIM card, some 30 minutes for calling and 5GB of data, we paid something like the equivalent of USD 12.50. It paid off to get a SIM card in Iran because the internet connection was usually more reliable and faster than the WiFi we found in guest houses, let alone wild camping ;-)

We never got a SIM card in Pakistan, but we were told that is is a bit more difficult. With the help of a trustworty local you should be able to get one. Ask around.

2. Where i can change USD to local money? I mean for both Iran and Pakistan...

In Iran, the best places are money exchange offices because they have the best rates. If you don't know where to go because it's all written in Farsi, just ask a local shop keeper in a busy part of town. I'm not sure whether we needed identification, but you'll have that on you anyway. We did manage to exchange money at an actual bank (Bank Melli) but the rate was about 5 to 10 percent worse than the rate we got at the exchange offices. Bring enough cash for Iran. There is no other way to get it once you're in.

In Pakistan we got our money mostly from ATMs. Only credit cards were accepted (no debit cards, but this may differ for your situation). The problem was that not all ATMs accept your credit card either. Sometimes it would wait for minutes before spitting our card out again (and no money). I remember that we were most successful at the HBL/Habib bank (dark green logo this time).

3. What situation with petrol in Iran and Pakistan? Can i fuel everywhere?

We found good fuel on every transit route that we rode in Iran and Pakistan. We never had to worry about the distance between petrol stations (we had a 500km range but could have done with less). The octane ratings were not advertised in Iran, but the bikes ran well. In Pakistan we mostly got 93 octane petrol. Never a problem with that either.

Perhaps someone can elaborate on the petrol situation in more remote places like the Skardu Valley or Balochistan in Pakistan or the less populated areas in central Iran?

Good luck, and enjoy! We had a great time in Iran and in Pakistan!

Cheers,
Mark

IranCell is pretty good. They have good coverage around the country and 4G in most major cities. We had various Iranians bending over backwards to help us with all kinds of stuff, including the SIM cards. It's an amazingly hospitable country.

I hear this a lot, but it isn't entirely correct. You cannot officially get cash once you are in. But like with everything in Iran the people have come up with all kinds of creative ways around the rules/limitations.

You can get cash with a credit card or a Paypal account. In Tehran go to the many exchange offices near Ferdowsi square and look for one with small logos of the above payment services. They will not let you make a withdrawal there, but will send you to a flat in some inconspicuous apartment building filled with computers on permanent VPN connections to the outside world. You do an online payment, they give you cash, either USD or Rials.
It does require a certain amount of trust in the people you are dealing with and they will charge you a commission of around 10%.
In the tourist places (Esfahan, Shiraz, ...) some of the carpet shops also do it.

But it's still better to make sure you have enough on you when you enter the country. If you don't like walking around with a lot of cash, go to a Meli Bank and ask for a "Tourist Card". They'll make you a temporary bank account, you can deposit whatever sum you like and get a debit card. There's one at the Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran, in case you're flying in. You'll get the remaining money back when you close the account.