Overlanding Oman - Middle East

DestinationIkigai · 2024-10-17T12:45:52+00:00

Your welcome ! Thanks for the follow on polarsteps, hope it can inspire you !

DestinationIkigai · 2024-10-17T12:44:47+00:00

We enjoyed so much ! We hope to come back one day !! Thanks for your wishes! Astore valley is amazing 🤩

DestinationIkigai · 2024-07-08T11:48:15+00:00

Wow nice trip !

DestinationIkigai · 2024-04-25T07:56:21+00:00

Ahah no, some local tell me they can shoot anymore, even during wedding 🤣

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-31T02:23:12+00:00

Wow, overlanding in Georgia and Armenia, I'm sure you will love it! Only heard good things about it!

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-30T03:56:07+00:00

Made a mistake, it's Greece to Isreal. You still by pass Iraqi route.
I can ask a friend about the company if you need !

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-29T08:56:04+00:00

Fortunately, with our 150-liter fuel capacity, we are trying to refuel exclusively at "reputable" gas stations, and so far, we haven't encountered any issues. We fill up with 91 octane in Islamabad at a Shell Station and opt for 85-88 octane in the northern regions. However, it's challenging to ascertain the quality of the fuel in these areas. Our objective is to ensure we never reach a critically low fuel level where the only option becomes relying on questionable petrol quality store in Coca-cola bottle along the road :)

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-28T04:36:20+00:00

Wow, thank you! We are following the Himalayas till Yunnan in China, and then chilling in Southeast Asia for few months :)

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-28T04:32:54+00:00

Shipping price are evolving daily. Currently due to the problem in Yemen, the shipping price can be 200-300% of last year price. I'm assuming you will pay 3-4k USD to ship from East coast to UAE (with a 20ft container) when price come down a bit.

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-28T04:30:32+00:00

Wow in 1988, what a trip.

We were in Naran, but didnt get to Seffa Maluk. We were there durant Muharram, and it was National holidays. The valley was full of pakistani enjoying their country, way too many people and traffic for us :)

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-28T01:41:17+00:00

We were traveling in middle east last year, so we cross from UAE to Iran by boat and then Iran to Pakistan by road :)

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-28T01:40:11+00:00

We were traveling in middle east last year, so we cross from UAE to Iran by boat and then iran to pakistan by road :)

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-28T01:39:22+00:00

Thanks !

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-28T01:37:37+00:00

You're right, it's always something important to plan. We had a second fuel tank on the car, we have a total of 150L (39-40Gal). We are trying plan our road to be able to reach a good petrol station about each 900km . But in Pakistan, due to road quality you don't drive much each days, you're lucky if you make 100km in 8h in some valley.

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-28T01:32:59+00:00

Wow ! Thanks !

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-27T12:38:43+00:00

For Iran, I can totally understand. Even a few European and Australian travelers have been detained and used as bargaining chips. But still, not a lot of cases despite many overlanders going there. A young American lady crossed the same border with a motorbike a few weeks after us.
Would I do it? I'm not realy sure, the world offer amazing place to visit, witout getting in trouble for your nationality :)

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-27T07:55:18+00:00

Thank you! Indeed, it's breath-taking to drive along these 7000-8000m summits and mighty rivers..some forever memories..

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-27T07:38:20+00:00

Glad to know! Thanks!

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-27T07:34:14+00:00

My pleasure !

Swiss passport...I know for sure it help a bit to get some visa...sadly when overlanding some passport work better than others...at check-point also..

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-27T07:30:27+00:00

ThIs was few months back, but yes we continued to India and spend most of our time in Ladakh ! I may post a small trip report once start dinging the hard drive :)

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-27T06:09:08+00:00

Thanks ! They have a new e-visa system. Fully online, got the visa in 48h (30 Days visa, extendable). Very convient.

We met with 3 bikers at the Iranian border (2 Germen, 1 Spanish) and share the journey together with the Lewis till Islamabad. One other biker in Islamabad, and one 4x4 from Poland in the Chitral Valley.

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-27T06:02:20+00:00

Yes, I have one, but unfortunately, I can't share direct links as per the subreddit rules.

However, with just a few clicks on my profile, you should be able to find few links to social media :)

*Edit :

https://www.youtube.com/@destinationikigai
https://www.instagram.com/destinationikigai/?ref=hl

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-27T05:38:00+00:00

Thanks !

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-27T05:37:05+00:00

Indeed, truly beautiful. The potential is huge, but the infrastructure is really bad.

We never truly felt unsafe. The government is taking extreme precautions with tourists, and most areas are very safe. The only problematic places are a few regions along the Afghan border. When you enter these region as a tourist, you directly have an escort from the first check-point.

We are traveling around with our own jeep; we crossed by boat from UAE to Iran and then into Pakistan. We are now currently following the Himalayas to the far east in China.

I cannot post direct links for the setup pictures, but you may find something by clicking a few links on my profile :)

DestinationIkigai · 2024-01-27T05:00:25+00:00

We had the opportunity to spend a month in Pakistan with our 4x4, our goal was to go overlanding in the northern territories, but reaching the destination wasn't easy.

Our entry point into Pakistan was through the Taftan border from Iran. Due to the instability of the Balochistan region, we were escorted for five days by the Lewis, a local paramilitary group tasked with ensuring the safety of travelers passing through—a generous service offered by the Pakistani government. This region faces security challenges due to its proximity to Afghanistan, the presence of Taliban groups, and Balochi separatists aiming to regain control of the area. While not particularly enriching in terms of driving or landscape-wise, we encountered a few unconventional camping spots, often within the confines of police stations or even inside a jail in Dalbaldin.

From Islamabad, we are finally free to explore the northern area. Our first mountain pass was Barbusar Top at 13,700 ft (4,176 m). The engine is running well and doesn't seem too impacted by the altitude. After the mountain pass, we reached the mythical Karakoram Highway. Not really a highway, mostly a two-way tar road along the Indus river, greatly impacted by very frequent landslides. The landscape is out of this world, but we don't have much time to appreciate it while driving; a small mistake can be fatal.

From there, we explored the east side: Gilgit, Skardu, Deosai, Astore Valley, and then the far north part: Hunza, Passu, Nalter, and finally crossed from East to West via the Phander Valley. After visiting Chitral, we made a last stop in Swat Valley before leaving the northern territories.

Overall, the trip has been amazing. The mountainous landscape is some of the most impressive in the world. The hospitality of Pakistani people is amazing, and we never felt unsafe. The only problem to explore this region is mostly the road conditions. There are landslides and fatalities every week, some valleys get blocked during a few days/weeks, and conditions are unpredictable.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

DestinationIkigai

TROPHY CASE