Pakistan to Iran and Turkey by Road

This trip was done in October + November 2022. I will share all details and expenses in description of each epiosde.

GETTING IRAN VISA:

– Fill the form online at: https://evisa.mfa.ir/en/

– There are majorly 4 types of visas. Select the type wisely

ZIARAT VISA: Select this if your purpose is to visit Shrines and religious sites (3500 Rs)
TOURIST VISA: Select this if your purpose is to explore Iran other than religious sites (10,500 Rs)
TRANSIT VISA: Select this if your stay in Iran is less than 7 days and you have onward booking/travel in another country (Turkey/Azerbaijan/Dubai)
BUISINESS VISA: Select if your main purpose is to official meetings

– While filling the online form, if it ask any “hotel address/phone” then simply search “Hotels in Chahbahar” on google and enter its Name and Number. This is just a formality.

– Take the print of this form and visit Iran Embassy in your city (Lahore, Islamabad or Karachi)

– You also need to take Insurance (1800 Rs) from Iranian company (Millat Insurance company). If you are applying in Lahore then their office is in HIGH-Q tower (floor-10), Jail road Lahore (Mobile # +923224834802)

– Give a small interview at embassy and pay the Tourist visa fees: 10,500 Rs

– They will keep your Passport for few days and will give you the Date of Passport-Pickup

https://youtu.be/tN4Z1I9SiV0

USING INTERNET IN IRAN

As you are aware that no social media website works in Iran and all Instagram, Facebook, Youtube are ban. You can only access them by using VPN on your mobile. Although i have tried many VPN but recommend EXPRESS VPN. Make sure that you must download and signup before entering to Iran, otherwise you will not be able to even download VPN apps after arrival in Iran.

Get first 3 months free when you signup through below link:

TRAVEL RELATED EQUIPMENT AND PRODUCTS:

You can purchase any of Travel related products from this link: https://bit.ly/DOMINANCEpk

GETTING TURKEY VISA:

– Pakistani Passport holders can get Turkey Visa in two ways:

(i) E-VISA (Online) (ii) Sticker Visa (manual)

– E-VISA can only be obtained by those who have USA/ UK or SCHENGEN valid visa on their Passports. I had USA visa, so i got E-VISA from their website: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/

– EVISA fees = 60 EUROS

– For STICKER VISA, you need to submit your visa documents at ANATOLIA TRAVELS. They have offices in all big cities of Pakistan:

– All documents required are present on ANATOLIA TRAVELS: Website: Https://www.anatoliatravelservices.com

Documents Checklist is also available on their website

– Visa Fees = Almost 50,000 Rs (This includes: Insurance + Service fee + Embassy Fee)

https://youtu.be/k7MHh0vtfwM

LAHORE TO IRAN BORDER:

– Daewoo Sleeper bus Lahore to Karachi = 8000 Rs

– Daewoo Terminal KHI to Yusuf Goth = 1000 Rs

– Al Mumtaz Bus ticket from Yusuf Goth to Ramdan Border (Gwadar) = 2500 Rs

– Al-Mumtaz Bus contact Number +923312767347

BORDER CROSSING EXPEREINCE:

– To keep yourself on safer side, must bring an Hotel booking if you dont have any contact in Iran.

– Just google any hotel and print yourself (Hotel name, address, phone, Check in and Checkout date)

– Bring atleast 500 ~ 1000 USD foreign currency (Euros or USD) with you. Your Bank cards will not work in Iran

– I requested Iran immigration not to put their entry stamp on my passport. They stamped it on my e-visa paper.

IRAN BORDER TO CHAHBAHAR CITY:

– Give 150 PKR to a shared Taxi at Border. They will drop you at Chahbahar Taxi Terminal (10min far)

– Further give 1000 PKR to another shared Taxi. They will drop you at Chahbahar Hotel/ Bus Terminal

– From Chahbahar Bus Terminal, you can book any bus to Shiraz City, Mashahad or Zahedan

– I went to Bandar Abbas by hiring multiple Shared Taxi in almost 3000 PKR (because no Bus goes to Bandar Abbas from Chahbahar)

HOW TO BOOK HOTEL/ HOSTELS IN IRAN:

– Unfortunately Booking.com and Agoda.com do not work in Iran. But there are below options available:

a) HostelWorld.com

b) Trivago.com

c) TripAdvisor.com (Search from here, take their number and contact them on whatsapp)

d) Alibaba.ir (A persian online booking website for Bus, Plane, Airtickets, Hotel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZYxgDUJNMQ

COST OF PAKISTAN TO TURKEY BY BUS:

This is the most asked question, how much is the cost if one has to Travel to Turkey by Bus. There is not a fixed number. It depends how many days you spend in Iran so i will given a cost estimation below in USD:

i) Lahore to Karachi Bus = 35 USD

ii) Karachi to Gwadar (Ramdan Border) = 15 USD

iii) Ramdan Border to Chahbahar Terminal (using shared Taxi) = 5 USD

iv) Chahbahar to Shiraz Bus = 10 USD

v) Shiraz to Tabriz Bus = 12 USD

vi) Bus from Tabriz to Turkey (VAN City Terminal) = 30 USD

vii) Bus from Van City to Istanbul = 45 USD

viii) Each Night in Iran Hostel will cost = 4 to 7 USD

ix) Each night in Turkey Hostel will cost = 15 to 20 USD

So roughly Total Cost of BUSES from Lahore to Istanbul will be around = 150 USD

Accommodation cost will be = 30 USD (atleast 3 Nights stay in Iran + Turkey. Mostly nights will be passed in the Buses. No need to book hotels)

Food Cost = 60 USD