# Balochistan: places and tours

> Balochistan covers almost half of Pakistan and has the fewest people. It has the juniper forests of Ziarat, the apple and cherry orchards around Quetta, the unusual rock formations of Hingol, and Mehrgarh, one of the earliest farming settlements in South Asia.

- **Page:** https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/balochistan
- **Best time to visit:** March to November in the highlands; October to March on the coast
- **Main city:** Quetta
- **Landscape:** High desert, bare mountains, juniper forest, a long coast
- **Earliest site:** Mehrgarh, around 7000 BCE
- **How you arrive:** Flights to Quetta and Gwadar; the Makran Coastal Highway from Karachi

## A big, empty and surprising province

Balochistan is the largest of Pakistan's provinces by area and the least crowded. Distances are long, and the landscape changes quickly: the cold high country around Quetta and Ziarat, dry ranges and plains in between, and a warm desert coast along the Arabian Sea. Few foreign travellers come, and those who do tend to remember the hospitality as much as the scenery.

## The highlands

Quetta sits at about 1,680 metres and is known for its orchards and its bazaars. Close to the city are Hanna Lake, Urak valley and Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park, home to the markhor. A drive of about three hours north-east takes you to Ziarat, in one of the largest juniper forests in the world, where trees are said to be thousands of years old. Mohammad Ali Jinnah spent his last weeks at the wooden Quaid-e-Azam Residency there.

## The coast

The Makran Coastal Highway links Karachi with Gwadar and runs through Hingol National Park. Along it you pass Kund Malir beach, odd sandstone formations known as the Princess of Hope and the Sphinx, mud volcanoes, and the Hinglaj Mata temple, a major Hindu pilgrimage site in April. Gwadar, on a narrow headland, was part of Oman until 1958.

## Travelling here

Conditions in parts of Balochistan have been difficult and change from month to month. We only run itineraries in areas that are open to visitors, we arrange the transport and local support, and we check the situation before each departure. If it changes, we change the plan.

## Places in Balochistan

- [Quetta](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/balochistan/quetta.md): A highland city of orchards and bazaars, at 1,680 metres
- [Ziarat](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/balochistan/ziarat.md): A juniper forest, said to be thousands of years old
- [Hingol and the Makran Coast](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/balochistan/hingol-makran-coast.md): A desert coast of strange rock formations and empty beaches
- [Gwadar](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/balochistan/gwadar.md): A port town on a hammerhead of land, once part of Oman
- [Mehrgarh](https://hunzaexplorer.com/destinations/balochistan/mehrgarh.md): One of the earliest farming settlements in South Asia

## Frequently asked questions

### Can tourists visit Balochistan?

Yes, in the areas that are open. Quetta, Ziarat, the Makran coast and Gwadar are all visited, and we plan them with local support and current information. We tell you plainly if a part of the route is not advisable at the time.

### What is the best time to visit Ziarat and Quetta?

April to October. Ziarat is cool in summer and cold, sometimes snowbound, in winter, which is lovely if you are prepared for it.

### How long does it take to drive the Makran Coastal Highway?

Karachi to Gwadar is a long day of about eight to nine hours without stops. Most travellers break the journey at Kund Malir or Hingol to see the rock formations.