Koh-e-Taftan is a name that points to two different things, and that is the first thing to straighten out. The Taftan volcano itself, a dormant mountain of 3,941 metres, is wholly inside Iran, roughly 62 kilometres from the Pakistani border town of Taftan. The volcano in Pakistan is Koh-i-Sultan, a 2,334-metre peak in Chagai district, and it is in a remote, restricted part of Balochistan. For an ordinary Pakistani traveller neither is a realistic day trip.
This guide explains what each mountain is, how people reach them, and why access is limited. It is a factual note, not an invitation: the area is covered by serious security advice.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Taftan volcano | 3,941 m, Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran |
| Status | Dormant but with active fumaroles and hot springs |
| Nearest Iranian city | Khash, about 45 km away |
| Taftan town (Pakistan) | Border town on the N-40, about 62 km north-east of the peak |
| Koh-i-Sultan | 2,334 m, Chagai district, Pakistan |
| Koh-i-Sultan status | Dormant or extinct, with fumarole activity; last major activity about 90,000 years ago |
| UK advice | Advises against all travel to Balochistan |
Where is Koh-e-Taftan?
The Taftan volcano stands in south-eastern Iran, in Sistan and Baluchestan province. It is the highest mountain in that part of the country, and the global volcano database places it about 99 kilometres south-south-east of Zahedan and 45 kilometres north-north-west of Khash.
On the Pakistani side, Taftan is the name of a trunk-road and railway town in Chagai district. It has its own railway station, which is called Koh-e-Taftan station. The town stands on the N-40 highway to the Iranian border at Mirjaveh. That is why the name appears on Pakistani maps and timetables, even though the volcano is across the border.
Is the Taftan volcano active?
It is classified as dormant, not extinct. The most recent confirmed eruption was somewhere between 404,000 and 710,000 years ago, and the youngest lava flows are thought to be about 7,000 years old. Historical reports of eruptions in 1902, 1970 and 1993 exist, but their authenticity is uncertain.
What you can see today is steam. Sulphur-encrusted fumaroles on the summit give off yellow-white clouds with a strong smell, and the mountain emits an estimated twenty tonnes of sulphur dioxide a day. There are also hot springs around its base, with temperatures between 11 and 56 degrees Celsius. Satellite data has recorded ground deformation, summit uplift in July 2023 and increased fumarole activity in May 2024, which is a reason scientists keep monitoring it, not a sign that an eruption is expected.
What is Pakistan's own volcano?
Koh-i-Sultan is a stratovolcano with three main cones, in Chagai district near the Iranian and Afghan borders. It stands at 2,334 metres and lies about 37 kilometres south of Nokkundi railway station. It is part of the same volcanic arc as Taftan and Bazman in Iran.
Potassium-argon dating of pumice puts its last significant activity at about 90,000 years ago. It is considered dormant or extinct, though fumarole activity has been recorded. A mining road for trucks was built from Nokkundi to the summit in 1961. One striking feature is a rock formation called Neza-e-Sultan, rising around 300 metres.
We found no tourism infrastructure, no official visitor information and no recent reports of leisure visitors, so we cannot describe a visit.
Can you visit the Taftan volcano?
From Iran
Climbing is possible from the Iranian side. Iranian tour operators describe a base camp at about 2,500 metres and a shelter at about 3,228 metres, and say the route is not technical for fit walkers. The usual season is March to November, with April and May best, because summer is hot and dry and winter brings strong wind and ice around the crater. Operators say a permit from the sports department in Zahedan is needed to enter the protected area.
Reaching it from Pakistan means crossing the border, with a valid Iranian visa. Pakistan closed the border with Iran in June 2025 for a period, and the situation in 2026 has been volatile: US strikes in southern Iran began on 1 March 2026 and more than 34,000 people crossed into Pakistan at Taftan between 1 March and 16 July 2026. Check your own government's advice on Iran before considering this, because it may advise against all travel to that region.
From Pakistan
There is no organised or officially promoted way to visit Koh-i-Sultan, and Chagai district lies within the area the UK advises against travelling to entirely, as is the whole of Balochistan. Roads in the district are remote, and security forces control the border areas. We would not suggest travelling there without a very good reason and local support.
Is it safe to go near Taftan?
Balochistan has an active insurgency and the UK advises against all travel to the province. The N-40 between Quetta and Taftan is one of the highways where night-time bans on public transport were introduced in March 2025. Pakistani travellers who need to use the road should travel by day, check conditions with local authorities and expect checkpoints. Foreign visitors should check their own government's advice because travelling against it can void insurance. Our guide to the N-40 highway covers the road itself, and is Balochistan safe to travel gives the wider picture.
What to do instead
If the draw is volcanoes and unusual geology, Balochistan's easier-to-reach sights are on the coast, where Hingol National Park and the Makran Coastal Highway have a lot to see. Our travel guide helps with choosing a route, and the Taftan border crossing explains what the border post is for.
Frequently asked questions
Is Koh-e-Taftan in Pakistan or Iran?
The volcano, called Taftan, is in Iran, in Sistan and Baluchestan. Pakistan has a town and railway station called Taftan or Koh-e-Taftan near the border.
Is the Taftan volcano active?
It is dormant but has active fumaroles, hot springs and ground deformation. Its last confirmed eruption was hundreds of thousands of years ago.
How high is Taftan volcano?
About 3,941 metres. Pakistan's Koh-i-Sultan is much lower at 2,334 metres.
Can tourists visit Koh-i-Sultan in Pakistan?
We found no official tourist access, and the area is in Balochistan, where the UK advises against all travel. It is not a destination for casual visitors.
Can you climb Taftan from Pakistan?
Only by crossing into Iran with a visa and arranging the climb there, typically with a permit from Zahedan. Check government advice on Iran first.
