Bundal Island is an uninhabited, low-lying island in the Arabian Sea south-east of Karachi's Defence (DHA) area, in the Indus delta archipelago. There is no town, hotel or ferry timetable, only mud, mangroves, sand and the shrine of a Sufi saint, Yousuf Shah, so a visit means hiring a boat and arranging everything yourself.
This guide sets out what is on the island, what the sources say about getting there, why its legal status matters, and what we could not verify. The practical details of boat trips to Bundal are patchy and contradict one another, and we have said so where they do.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| What it is | Uninhabited island, Malir District, south-east of DHA |
| Size | Sources differ: about 24 sq km (Wikipedia) or about 3,000 acres (Sindh Forest Department) |
| Highest point | About 6 m above sea level |
| Landmark | Shrine of Yousuf Shah; annual urs draws coastal communities |
| Facilities | None reported: no shops, water or shade |
| Legal status | Declared protective forest; ownership disputed |
| Boat fare | Not confirmed; agree it in advance |
What is on Bundal Island?
Very little, which is the point of going. Wikipedia describes an uninhabited island with a maximum elevation of about 6 metres, so from a boat it appears as a flat line of mangroves, sand and tidal mud. Dawn and other reports describe it as part of the Indus delta's string of creek-cut islands rather than a resort-style beach island.
The one built landmark is the shrine of Yousuf Shah, a Sufi saint. His annual urs brings thousands of people from the surrounding coastal communities to the island, and that is the one time of year when you can be sure boats are making the crossing in numbers. Outside the urs, expect an empty shoreline, fishermen's boats working the creeks, and birds on the mudflats.
Do not expect a beach club. Travel blogs list jet skiing, kayaking, snorkelling and scuba diving at Bundal, but we found no operator, price or official source for any of them, so treat those lists as copied suggestions rather than services you can book.
How do you get to Bundal Island?
By boat, and nowhere in the sources we checked is there a scheduled service. What differs from one source to the next is where the boat leaves from and how long it takes:
- Some travel blogs say a short ride from Keamari Harbour. Others say private boats and yachts leave from Korangi Fish Harbour or Ibrahim Hyderi, and the zameen.com island roundup places the twin islands near Do Darya and DHA Phase 8.
- Dawn, in a December 2020 opinion piece, put the island about a mile off DHA Phase 8 but also said the trip by boat takes about two hours each way. One travel site says 20 to 30 minutes. Those cannot all be right for the same route.
Our advice is practical. Pick a boatman through a reliable local contact or a company that can show you its boats, and ask three things before you pay: where you will leave from, how long the crossing takes at the current tide, and whether the fare covers the return and the wait on the island. Our boat hire guide explains life jackets, capacity limits and how to agree a price. For where the other ports sit, see the Karachi islands comparison.
We have not printed a fare. One travel site quotes a wide range per person, but it names no operator and no date, so it is not something to budget from.
Do you need permission to visit?
This is the question the sources answer worst. Some guides say foreign and Pakistani visitors alike need a special permit, others say the twin islands are open without one, and Graana's guide only says to "adhere to any regulations and permissions". We found no notice from the Sindh Forest Department, Port Qasim Authority or the navy setting out a visitor rule either way.
What we can say is that the coast around Karachi harbour includes restricted naval and port areas, and that a boatman who is willing to take you is not the same as an authority that has cleared the trip. Ask the boat operator whether they have made the crossing in recent weeks, and keep your CNIC with you. If you are not a Pakistani citizen, ask your hotel or a licensed operator before booking.
Why does the island's legal status matter?
Because Bundal is more famous for what people want to build on it than for what is there. In 2013 Bahria Town announced a large island-city scheme covering Bundal and the neighbouring Buddo island. In September 2020 the federal government created the Pakistan Islands Development Authority to take over the islands, and that authority was dissolved on 3 January 2021 after its ordinance lapsed. As of the latest reporting we found (2024), the project remained in the planning stage.
Alongside that, Sindh's provincial government and Port Qasim Authority have disputed who owns about 12,000 acres across the islands. In February 2022 the Sindh government notified roughly 750,000 acres of intertidal mangrove land, including Bundal and Buddo, as protected forest. That status allows fishing and collecting fallen branches but bars cutting trees, and WWF has said mangroves are still being cut on a large scale despite it.
What this means for a visitor is simple. The island is a working part of a fragile mangrove coast, not an amusement site. Take your rubbish back, do not cut or break branches, and leave nesting birds alone.
When is the best time to go?
Winter, roughly November to February, when the sea is calmer and the air cooler. Migratory birds are also present on the delta mudflats in the colder months. We would avoid June to August, when the monsoon swell makes small boats unsafe and Karachi's authorities often close the beaches under Section 144; our beach ban guide explains how that works. For the month-by-month climate, see our Karachi weather guide.
Tide matters as much as season. The shallow creeks around the islands can be too low for a boat to land at low water, so ask the boatman for the tide times and plan a morning departure.
What to bring
- Water, food and sun protection, since nothing is sold on the island
- A hat, closed shoes for mud, and a spare set of clothes
- Life jackets for everyone, including adults, even if the boatman says they are not needed
- A charged phone in a waterproof bag and a fixed return time given to someone on shore
- Cash for the boat fare, agreed beforehand
Swimming is a poor idea. The water around Karachi is polluted and the currents in the creek mouths are strong.
Is Bundal Island worth visiting?
It is worth it for a particular kind of visitor: someone who likes empty coast, mangroves and the sense of a place that has not been developed, and who is comfortable with an informal boat trip. It is not a good choice for families who want facilities, for anyone who gets seasick, or for a first-time visitor to Karachi looking for a single day out.
If you want an island with a regular boat service and something to see, Manora, reached by ferry from Keamari, is the easier choice; our Manora Island guide covers it. For clear water and snorkelling, Churna Island is the established option, as in our Churna Island guide. More ideas are on our experiences page.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bundal Island?
It lies in the Arabian Sea south-east of Karachi's Defence area, in Malir District, at roughly 24.7 degrees north and 67.1 degrees east. It is part of the Indus delta archipelago, next to Buddo Island.
Is Bundal Island inhabited?
No. It is described as uninhabited, with only the shrine of Yousuf Shah and passing fishermen. There is no accommodation, so a visit is a day trip at most.
How do you reach Bundal Island from Karachi?
Only by boat. Sources disagree on whether the boat leaves from Keamari, Korangi or Ibrahim Hyderi and on how long it takes, so confirm the departure point and crossing time with your boatman.
Is there a shrine on Bundal Island?
Yes, the shrine of the Sufi saint Yousuf Shah. His annual urs draws thousands of people from coastal communities to the island.
Is Bundal Island open to tourists?
No official notice we could find bans visitors, but sources disagree on whether a permit is needed. Ask your boat operator and check current local advice before you go.
What is the Bundal Island city project?
A long-proposed scheme to build a city on Bundal and Buddo islands. A federal authority created for it in 2020 was dissolved in January 2021, and the plan was still at the planning stage in 2024.
