Gwadar

Gwadar lies on the Arabian Sea coast of Balochistan Province in southwestern Pakistan. It is strategically located between three increasingly important regions: the oil-rich Middle East, heavily populated South Asia and the economically emerging and resource-laden region of Central Asia. The Gwadar Port is expected to generate billions of dollars in revenues and create at least two million jobs.

Understand

Gwadar has an interesting history, in that it was ruled by the Sultanate of Muscat from 1783 until 1958, when the government of Pakistan purchased the town for USD 30 million.

Get in

Karachi is the city from which Gwadar is closest and easiest accessible. You can either fly or else drive via the 653 km-long Makran Coastal Highway (N10), which runs along Arabian Sea coastline and is a scenic journey. Travel time is around 8 hours.

By plane

• 1 Gwadar International Airport (GWD  ^IATA) (14 km north of the city centre of Gwadar). A small international airport. Pakistan's flag carrier, PIA, flies directly from Karachi once a week.  

By bus

There are several buses shuttling between Gwadar and Karachi.

By car

Car rental companies also offer cars for fees plus a deposit.

Get around

By car

Most hotels offer rent-a-car services.

See

• Hingol National Park- Cruising on the coastal highway approximately 190 km from Karachi you will come across Hingol National Park the largest in Pakistan. You can observe wildlife in its natural habitat and there is even a natural underground Hingol river where you can swim.
• Kund Malir Beach- A must see place. It is the beautiful desert beach near Hingol, some 145km from Zero-Point on Makran Coastal Highway. It lies next to the huge mountains and together it give a wild look to the place. Enjoy the desert safari and breathtaking view of the desert.
• Buzi Pass- Travelling on the Makran coastal highway about 6 km away from Kund Malir one would be struck by the sublime beauty of the smooth road of Buzi Pass as it snakes its way through the mountain. Sitting in a car on the Buzi Pass one can enjoy the vast blue water of the Arabian Sea on one side, then turn your head and marvel at the grandeur of majestic mountains on the other side. When you look at the lofty peaks along the coastal highway you will observe the princes of hope and lion of Balochistan.
• Ormara Beach- is one of the most beautiful long beach around the edge. Amazing blue Green beaches, Golden sand, and incredible natural beauty and fauna makes it worth a visit. Stay at the beach hut at Ormara Beach Resort city.
• Gwadar Port
• West Bay Beach
• Zalzala Jazeera - a small island near the coast Gwadar that emerged after an earthquake in 2013.

Do

• Water sports - Lovers can enjoy jet skis on West Bay, wave runners machines.
• Scuba diving - Giant fishes, turtles, stingrays have all been spotted.
• Boating - Various cruises are available with or without packed lunches.
• Desert Safari - On sand dunes
• Fishing
• Gwadar Active. A tour that starts in Karachi, then heads south through Hub, Hingol National Park and Ormra, stopping off at isolated beaches, traditional fishing villages and small towns along the way. People who take the tour stop frequently to snorkel and swim. 

Buy

• Bazaars

Eat

• Tai Pan, Chinese fare inside the Zaver Pearl Continental Hotel.

Drink

• Nadia Coffee Shop (Located inside Zaver Pearl Continental Hotel). Offers panoramic views of the Arabian Sea. 

Sleep

• 1 Zaver Pearl Continental Hotel, ☏ +92 86 4212223. A five star beach resort with its own bar. 

Go next

• Karachi