Taftan, on the Iranian border, is 608 km from Quetta — a journey of 15 to 24 hours by road, mostly across undulating desert.
Leaving Quetta to the south, the road follows the Kalat road over the Lak Pass. At the foot of the pass, about 30 km from Quetta, it forks, and a sign announces 2,256 km to Tehran and 686 km to Zahedan.
Beyond Nushki the road crosses Chagai, Pakistan’s largest district — a vast, empty land of gravel plains, dunes and bare volcanic hills.
Places to see
Nushki
The first major stop, 115 km from Quetta.
Dalbandin
About 180 km further on, near the onyx mines that supply the green ashtrays, candlesticks and goblets sold in Karachi’s bazaars.
Nok Kundi
Another 166 km on — the traditional overnight stop before the border.
Koh-i-Sultan
An extinct volcano rising out of the desert near Nok Kundi.
Good to know
- Crossing the border
- At Taftan there are customs and immigration formalities before crossing to Mirjaveh on the Iranian side. Trains to the border are infrequent and slow — ask us about current arrangements.
- When to go
- October to March. Summer heat on this road is extreme.
- What to buy
- Onyx carvings from Dalbandin.
Header photo: Saindak Lake, Chagai District — laibaimran003, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons