Baluchistan is a province of contrasts. It has some of the bleakest landscape in the country with grim, jagged mountains, barren and arid land where the sparse greenery shrivels and wilts, but hidden away are some stunningly beautiful places.

Outside Quetta, the provincial capital and the main way out of the province, Baluchistan is only for the hardiest and most adventurous of travellers. It has few settlements of any size and virtually no organised facilities for travellers. There are few sights as such and any journey to find them will be arduous even by Pakistani standards. There is also a danger of brigandry or abduction in the interior, and foreigners are advised not to venture off the main highways without official protection.

Hospitality and generosity lie around every corner and for those willing to adapt to local customs, Baluchistan can be one of the most rewarding places in west Asia.

Most Baluchistan people are nomads who in spring and summer migrate to the hills with their cattle, goats, sheep, camels, donkeys and horses and set up khizdi (tents) and huts of twigs, branches, grass, reeds or straw. In winter they retreat to mud huts on the plains. Apart from Quetta, Baluchistan's settlements are mainly hamlets, villages or small towns built around oases and separated by vast stretches of sand or mountain.

Climate
Pakistan has well defined seasons; Winter (December - February), Spring (March - April), Summer (May - September) and Autumn (October - November). During summer in plains, the temperature may go as high as 45C. Between July and August, the monsoon brings an average 38 to 51cm of rain to plains.
Baluchistan: In winter the temperature falls to as low as - 30 C while in summer it ranges from 18 to 30 C.

Attractions

Coastline
The coastline of Baluchistan extends over 750 kms from Hub near Karachi, to the Gawadar Bay on Pakistan-Iran border. The whole area is rich with a variety of marine life and has long sunny beaches. Coastal towns of Pasni, Jiwani and Gawadar are linked by air with Karachi. The coastal tribes are as colourful as those of central and upper Baluchistan. Their colourful costumes, songs and dances are fascinating.

Passes
Bolan Pass - Along Bolan Pass, where the road winds through the picturesque mountains one is reminded of the huge odds that the armies from Central Asia and north must have faced when swooping down the plains of the present day Pakistan.

Khojak Pass - The Khojak Pass leads directly to the border of Afghanistan which is
153 kms away from Quetta. The scenery is as breath-taking here as it is at Bolan
Pass. The journey to the border town of Chaman passes through a 4 km tunnel, more than 1945 metres above sea level.

Lak Pass - Lak Pass is located between Kalat and Quetta. Here the highway takes a turn for Koh-e-Taftan, Saindak copper mines and Zahidan in Iran. On the hills, oblivious to the presence of the traffic and humans, hundreds of sheep browse upon the scant grass available.

The Gorges
Baluchistan is an arid land which receives very low rainfall annually. But innumerable natural springs known as 'Karez' and streams provide enough water for drinking and cultivation of fruits and crops in most of the areas. Thre are more than half a dozen gorges around Ziarat formed by natural 'Karez' - spring water falling through narrow openings amongst the mountain rocks producing a dramatic effect. The sound of waterfalls singing to the tune of solid rocks while passing through narrow gorges creates a mystic atmosphere. The famous gorges along the road to Ziarat are Chutair Tangi, Kahn Tangi, Kawas Tangi, Fern Tangi and Sandeman Tangi. One can approach easily to these gorges by diverting from the main road to have a picnic, adventure and fun.

Quetta
Don't miss the impressive Archaeological Museum of Baluchistan, the fort or the city's many colourful bazaars - great places to pick up marble, onyx and some of the finest carpets in Pakistan.
Just outside Quetta are the postcard-perfect Hanna Lake, plenty of picnic spots in Urak Valley, and the protected Hazarganji Chiltan National Park. Also near Quetta is the refreshingly cool hill station of Ziarat, which is both a restful destination and a good base for walking or mountaineering.

Activities
With some of the most magnificent mountain terrain in the world, Pakistan is naturally a trekkers dream. There are all types of trekking available, from those organised by overseas companies to Pakistan-based outfits. You can also make your own arrangements, which will be cheaper but also more demanding. Popular trekking routes which can stretch from a day to a month are found mostly in Gilgit, Nanga Parbat, Balistan (from where treks leave to K2) and Hunza, all in the country's north. For something a little less demanding there are good one-day hikes in the Ziarat Valley, near Quetta.

Hana Lake
A little short of the place where the Urak valley begins 10kms from Quetta is the Hinna Lake. The greenish-blue water of the lake provides a rich contrast to the sandy brown of the hills in the back ground. The Urak valley is 21km from Quetta city. The road is lying on both sides with wild roses and fruit orchards. Peaches, palms, apricots and apples of many varieties are grown in this valley.

Ziarat
Pakistan has a number of beautiful valleys, enchanting their spectators with enthralling beauty but Ziarat's importance is an archaic treasure of Junipers forests. Situated about 122 km in the north of metropolis city of Quetta in Baluchistan, this popular picnic resort is at the elevation of 8,200 feet from the sea level. The summers in the valley are always pleasant, attracting a number of tourists, and the winters extremely harsh. Junipers forests, which are one of the world oldest, are the main source of lush green vista of the Ziarat valley. some of the trees in Junipers forests had been sowed as long as 5000 years ago, making Ziarat as the second biggest Junipers valley in the world. The word Ziarat means a 'shrine' (grave of a holy man). The shrine of Khurwari Baba, after which Ziarat was named, is located 8 km away from Ziarat and is visited by a large number of people to pay attribute to the divine soul. Ziarat takes pride in hosting Quaid-i-Azam Muhammd Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan on a number of occasions. He also spent the last days of his life in a government residency there.This monumental residency was built in 1882 by the British government and till independence was in the use of the agents of the British governor general for India as their summer headquarters. The residency is embellished with beautiful lawns, covered with grassy carpets and with roses, dancing at the rhythmic tunes of wind, all around the garden. From there one can have a striking view of the picturesque valley.