An organised Astola Island trip from Karachi costs most people somewhere around PKR 30,000 to 34,000 per person in 2026, covering transport, the boat, camping and food. Arranging it yourself, if you already have a group, a vehicle and camping gear, can cost a good deal less per head, but you take on the boat charter, the permits and the logistics yourself. This guide compares both routes so you can work out which suits you.
Prices on this coast move often and packages vary in what they include, so treat every figure here as a rough guide for planning, not a quote.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Group tour from Karachi (2026) | Roughly PKR 30,000–34,000 per person, all-inclusive |
| Self-arranged boat from Pasni | Roughly PKR 15,000–35,000 per boat, return, split among the group |
| Trip length | Typically a weekend: two days, one night camping |
| Season | December to February, when the sea is calmest |
| Camping | The only accommodation on Astola; bring or hire everything |
What a group tour includes
Several operators run weekend trips to Astola Island from Karachi, usually leaving Friday night and returning Sunday. In 2026, package prices from two established operators ran around PKR 32,000 per person for a shared camp, rising slightly for a smaller group per tent. These packages typically bundle:
- Return transport from Karachi to Pasni, usually an overnight coach or van
- The boat crossing to and from the island
- Camping equipment and a place to pitch it
- Meals for the trip
- A tour manager and, on some trips, a guide
This is the simplest option if you don't already have camping gear, don't want to arrange a boat yourself, and would rather have someone else deal with registration and logistics. It also spreads the fixed costs, the boat especially, across a full group, which is part of why it's competitive against doing it alone in a small group.
What a self-arranged trip costs
If you already have transport to Pasni sorted, whether your own car or as part of a longer Makran coast road trip, the main costs are the boat and your camping supplies.
- Boat charter: A return crossing from Pasni, hired directly through the harbour or a local boatman, has run in the range of PKR 15,000 to 35,000, depending on the boat and the season. This is a single price for the boat, not per person, so it's far cheaper per head in a group of six or eight than in a group of two.
- Camping gear: Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment and lighting, either brought from home or hired in Karachi before you set off. Astola has no shops, no fresh water and no facilities, so whatever you don't bring, you go without.
- Food and water: Enough for the whole trip, since there's nothing to buy on the island. Bring more water than you think you need.
- Registration: Astola is a marine protected area, and visitors are expected to register with the local authorities in Pasni before departing. This isn't a large fee, but it is a step, not something to skip.
Add these up and a self-arranged trip in a group of six to eight, splitting the boat and sharing gear, typically comes out well below the price of a packaged tour per person, at the cost of doing the organising yourselves.
Group tour vs self-arranged: which makes sense
A group tour makes sense if you don't have camping gear, you're a small group or travelling solo, you'd rather not deal with hiring a boat and registering with local authorities, or you want the security of an operator who does this trip regularly.
Arranging it yourself makes sense if you already have the gear and a reasonably large group to split the boat cost with, you're already road-tripping the Makran coast and can build in the Pasni stop yourself, or you simply prefer to travel independently.
Either way, this isn't a trip to improvise casually. Boats to Astola depend on the sea being calm enough to cross, plans need a buffer day, and the island itself has no way to call for help if something goes wrong. For the crossing itself and what to expect on the island, see our Astola Island guide; for the town you leave from, see our Pasni guide.
Is it worth the cost?
For most visitors, yes, if you can go in the cooler months and the sea cooperates. Astola is unlike anywhere else easily reached on Pakistan's coast: an uninhabited island with turtle nesting beaches, coral and no light pollution for the stars. It isn't worth the cost for anyone who isn't comfortable with basic camping, an open boat crossing, or a plan that depends on the weather. If that's you, the Makran coast still has plenty to offer without the boat trip; see our Makran Coastal Highway guide and our trip planning page for the rest of it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a trip to Astola Island cost?
An all-inclusive group tour from Karachi has run around PKR 30,000 to 34,000 per person in 2026. Arranging your own boat and gear from Pasni can cost much less per head in a larger group, but prices for both change, so confirm current rates before booking.
Is the boat cost per person or per boat?
A self-hired boat from Pasni is charged as a single return fare for the boat, not per person, so the cost per head falls sharply as the group gets bigger. Packaged tours quote a per-person price that already includes the boat.
Do I need a permit to visit Astola Island?
There's no significant formal permit for casual visits, but Astola is a marine protected area and visitors are expected to register with local authorities in Pasni before departing, especially for an overnight stay.
What's the cheapest way to visit Astola Island?
Join or form a larger group, bring or borrow your own camping gear, and split a single boat charter from Pasni between everyone. This avoids the fixed overhead of a packaged tour, though it takes more planning.
Is Astola Island safe to visit?
The island itself has no security concerns beyond the usual outdoor camping precautions, but it sits off the Balochistan coast, where the UK government advises against all travel to the province as a whole. Check current conditions before you go, and see our trip planning page for more.
