Few people live along the Makran coast, and its beaches are often empty. Inside Hingol National Park, the highway winds through soft cliffs that wind and sea have carved into shapes with names, such as the Princess of Hope and the Balochistan Sphinx. Kund Malir, at the edge of the park, is a long curve of golden sand backed by mountains. Further west, Astola, Pakistan's largest offshore island, rises in cliffs off the fishing town of Pasni. Inland, Quetta sits in a high valley, with Hanna Lake in the hills to its east and the juniper forests of Ziarat a few hours' drive to the north-east.
What you can do
A day on the coast starts early from Karachi. You stop at the Princess of Hope viewpoint, walk into the canyons, and climb to the rim of the Chandragup mud volcano, where grey mud bubbles up slowly from the crater. Hinglaj Mata, a Hindu cave shrine inside the park, draws a large pilgrimage in spring. Many groups camp overnight at Kund Malir. From Pasni, boats reach Astola in two to three hours for snorkelling over coral. Near Quetta, Ziarat's juniper forest has cool walks in summer. Local conditions can change quickly along the coast and around Quetta, so check current official travel advice and go with a local operator who knows Balochistan well.
Booking on adventuro
Coast trips run mostly from November to March, when the sea is calm. Use the Book here tab to see live dates and prices from local centres.
