While most photographers are just now beginning to associate Pakistan with mountains, the reality is that this is just a small portion in the far north of the country.

Along the southern coast lies the equally unique and stunning landscape of Balochistan. This area is a geological wonderland, filled with some of the strangest and most unique geology you can imagine. In fact, it rivals Utah and Arizona for stunning desert landscapes. Think arches, canyons, monoclines, and badlands for hundreds of kilometers.

The Start

About seven years ago, I noticed the bizarre geological formations of Balochistan on Google Earth and made it a point to visit.

During my first trip to Pakistan in 2019, I was denied a permit to Balochistan. At the time, it was almost entirely off-limits to foreigners, except those transiting to or from Iran. Today though, the borders are (usually) open, and with a guide, you can easily get the paperwork to visit this strikingly unique part of the country.

I went with my friend Ali and his company, Hiddenture, and planned to spend our time photographing in and around Hingol National Park, and then driving all the way to the Iranian border, across the incredibly beautiful Makran Coastal Highway.

Landscape Photography

As expected, there were no clouds during my trip to Balochistan. This is one of the driest regions on the planet, which made photography a bit challenging.

I focused mostly on aerial photography, which helped sidestep that issue, as well as on minimizing the sky in my shots. As with most desert landscapes, blue hour and twilight tends to produce some of the best light for photography.

I also used some color-grading tricks to get the most out of these scenes.

Street and Portrait Photography

Like just about everywhere else in Pakistan, the people are extremely friendly and happy to have their photos taken. The markets are especially lively, and well worth a visit during the day.

One of the highlights of Balochistan is the Gadani Ship Breaking Yard, just a couple hours outside of Karachi. Here they break down large container ships and it’s an absolute goldmine for photography. I was pleasantly shocked that we were allowed to walk around the entire job site without much restriction.

When to Visit?

Practically speaking, the only time of year you’d want to visit Balochistan is during the winter. Daytime temperatures in the summer months will reach 90°–100°F. This region also experiences regular heat waves which can skyrocket temperatures to up to 129°f!

I made this trip in January 2025, when temperatures were a comfortable 75°F.

Restrictions / Safety

Before visiting Balochistan, you must receive a permit allowing you to do so. This is a relatively fast process (1-3 days), and your guide will be able to do it for you.

Despite Balochistan being open, there are still many restrictions for visiting. The main one is that you need a police escort at all times. There is still occasional unrest in the region, and the Balochi government isn’t keen on having stray foreigners wandering around alone.

For the most part, this isn’t a big issue, the police were all friendly, though it did present a challenge. Because they aren’t assigned as hiking guides, you’re more or less restricted to the road system. This means that some areas Pakistani nationals can visit, you will be unable to. Although this is a bit frustrating, there’s more than enough that is accessible to keep you busy.

As a whole, Pakistan’s dangerous reputation feels overstated. I’ve been twice now, and have faced no issues beyond dangerous driving and poor air quality. Still, the US Government advises against all travel to Balochistan. Though there is frequent terrorism in this region, I haven’t found any instances of it targeting foreigners, and the parts that it happens tend to be further inland, away from where tourists would ever venture.