Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CROSSING THE PAKISTAN BORDER AT MIRJAVEH
Crossing this border is relatively painless - the painful part is the trip to Quetta. Both the border and security in-
formation here are liable to change, so research online at the following websites before you set off:
Horizons Unlimited
(
www.horizonsunlimited.com
)
For motorcyclists.
Thorn Tree
(
www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree
)
Regular trip reports.
Quetta Overland
(
www.quetta-overland.com
)
Dated but useful maps with commentary; GPS waypoints.
The border is open from about 7am to 4.30pm Iranian time and, given Pakistan is 30 or 90 minutes ahead, about
7.30am to 5pm or 8.30am to 6pm Pakistan time; it can close at sunset in winter. Most people arrive from Bam or
Zahedan (
Click here
) either in time to take a day bus to Quetta (617km, 800 to 1400 rupees, nine to 15 hours, usu-
ally before 10am) or a night bus (departing between about 3pm and 6pm).
Travellers get preferential treatment on both sides of the border so the whole process rarely takes longer than an
hour, even with a vehicle. To change money you'll have to deal with one of the sharks who circle both sides of the
border. Know the exchange rates or you
will
be ripped off. Don't buy bus tickets from moneychangers; buy them
from the bus or in the square in Taftan. Changers can, however, help with form filling in Pakistan.
Taftan has been described, not unfairly, as hell on earth, especially in summer. If you get stuck there you will
likely be put up with the police (there are cheap hotels but the police like to keep you in sight); solo women should
strongly consider finding a man-pal for this trip. Moving on, all vehicles (public bus or private) have an armed sol-
dier for the ride to Quetta. Toyota share taxis also make the trip, but it is not clear if foreigners can use these.
Coming into Iran, once the paperwork is finished you will probably be driven in a slow series of police escorts to
Zahedan.
Mirjavehهواجریم
0543 / POP 13.600 / ELEV 846M
Mirjaveh is the town 15km from the Pakistan border. Locals assure us the only reason to
stop here is if you get stuck at the border, and they're right. The
Mirjaveh Tourist Inn
(Hotel Ali; 322 2486; s/tw US$8/12; )
is better than you might expect. Over-
landers can park up in the gated yard. From Mirjaveh, buses and savaris leave regularly
for the border and Zahedan (bus US$1, 1½ to two hours, 96km).
