Moola Chotok is a narrow limestone canyon in Khuzdar district, Balochistan, where the Moola river has cut a gorge with year-round pools and a waterfall at its head. It sits about 105 kilometres north-east of Khuzdar city, and the only way in is by 4x4 on a rough track, so this is a trip for people who plan ahead rather than a stop on the way to somewhere else.
This guide covers how to get there, when to go, what the track and the pools are actually like, and the safety points worth checking before you commit a full day to it.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Location | Khuzdar district, Balochistan, on the Moola river |
| Altitude | About 1,237 m at the canyon floor |
| From Khuzdar city | Around 105 km, mostly off-road; allow several hours each way |
| From Karachi | About 8 to 10 hours' drive to the canyon, via Khuzdar |
| Vehicle needed | 4x4 with a driver who knows the track |
| Best months | October to March, avoiding the summer heat |
| Facilities | None at the site; carry water, food and fuel |
Where Moola Chotok is and what it looks like
The canyon lies in the Kirthar range, cut into the hills north-east of Khuzdar. Tall rock walls rise on both sides of the Moola river, and along the base the water has carved a chain of pools, some deep enough to swim in, fed by a fall at the head of the gorge. The setting is bare hills and rock rather than the green valleys of the north, and that contrast is much of the appeal.
A further, smaller set of pools known as Chota Chotok lies about two hours beyond the main canyon on foot, reached by scrambling over the hills. It is only realistic with a local guide who knows the route.
How to get there
Most visitors start from Karachi, driving to Khuzdar in roughly three to three and a half hours on the RCD Highway (N-25), then arranging a 4x4 in Khuzdar for the journey into the canyon. From Khuzdar, the route runs partly on a paved road towards Jhal Magsi before turning onto a rough, unpaved track that climbs and drops through riverbeds and low hills. That last stretch is slow going and can take several hours in each direction depending on the vehicle and the state of the crossings.
A normal saloon car cannot make this drive. Arrange a 4x4 and an experienced local driver in Khuzdar rather than attempting the track in your own vehicle unless it is genuinely built for it.
When to go
Balochistan's interior gets extremely hot in summer, well past what is comfortable for a day of driving and walking, so avoid May to August altogether. The more comfortable months are October to March, when daytime temperatures are manageable and the pools are still fed by the river. Some visitors go in spring for cooler air and greener surroundings on the approach, but the safest general guidance for anyone unfamiliar with the area is to stick to the cooler months and check conditions locally before setting out, since a short window in late summer can also bring flash flooding from monsoon rain upstream.
Registration, guides and local advice
Moola Chotok is off the beaten track, without mobile signal for most of the drive in, and the track itself is easy to lose without local knowledge. Go with a driver or guide based in Khuzdar rather than navigating it yourself, and let them handle any registration with local police or the district administration, which is standard practice for a trip into this kind of remote terrain across Balochistan. Tell someone your plan and expected return time before you leave Khuzdar.
Safety on the wider trip
Balochistan's security situation varies a great deal by district and changes over time; our safety guide to travelling in Balochistan covers what to check before any trip into the province, including current advisories and how Pakistani travellers approach routes like the RCD Highway. Khuzdar and the Moola area see far fewer visitors than the coast or Quetta, which makes local guidance even more important. Check the current picture with a Khuzdar-based operator or the district administration in the days before you travel, not weeks in advance, and be ready to change plans if conditions have shifted.
Beyond security, treat this as a genuine off-road trip: carry more water and fuel than you think you need, keep a first aid kit, and don't attempt the pools alone if you can't swim, since some are deep with no supervision on site.
What to carry
- Plenty of water and food; there is nothing to buy once you leave Khuzdar
- A full tank of fuel, since there are no stations on the track
- Swimwear and a change of clothes if you plan to get in the pools
- Sun protection: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
- A basic first aid kit and any personal medication
- Cash, since there are no card facilities anywhere on the route
A rough plan for the day
Because the round trip eats most of a day even before you reach the canyon, it helps to think of it in stages rather than as a single drive:
- Karachi to Khuzdar. About three to three and a half hours on the RCD Highway (N-25). This stretch is subject to the province's daytime travel pattern; see our guide to the Balochistan night travel ban for current hours on this road.
- Arrange the 4x4 in Khuzdar. Do this the day before if possible, through a local guide or tour operator, rather than turning up and hoping to find one.
- Khuzdar to the canyon. Several hours off-road, with the paved section toward Jhal Magsi giving way to the rough track.
- Time at the pools. Most visitors spend an hour or two at the main canyon, less if you're also attempting Chota Chotok, which needs a further hike of around two hours each way.
- The return. Retrace the route to Khuzdar and on to Karachi, or stay overnight in Khuzdar if you've started late.
Given the distances involved, an overnight stop in Khuzdar, either before or after the canyon, makes the trip considerably less rushed than trying to do Karachi to Moola Chotok and back in a single day.
A short history
Moola Chotok was largely unknown outside Khuzdar district until local residents, working with the district administration, began organising public tours to the canyon from around 2017. That local push is part of why the site now has an established, if informal, tourism route, even though it remains without facilities of its own.
Is it worth the trip?
For a determined traveller with a 4x4 and a full day to spend, yes. Moola Chotok is a striking, little-visited canyon that nothing else on the standard Karachi–Quetta route resembles. It is not a trip for a short weekend or for anyone hoping for an easy add-on to another itinerary. The track is genuinely rough, the round trip from Khuzdar eats most of a day on its own, and there is no infrastructure at the site. If that sounds like more effort than reward, the coastal stops along the Makran Coastal Highway or the hill station of Ziarat are easier ways to see a different side of Balochistan.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Moola Chotok from Khuzdar?
About 105 kilometres, but most of that is on a rough, unpaved track, so allow several hours each way in a 4x4 rather than judging it by distance alone.
Can I drive to Moola Chotok in a normal car?
No. The final stretch from Khuzdar crosses riverbeds and rough ground that needs a proper 4x4 and a driver who knows the route.
What is the best time of year to visit Moola Chotok?
October to March, when temperatures are manageable. Summer heat in this part of Balochistan is severe, and the site has no shade or facilities.
Do I need a guide to visit Moola Chotok?
It is strongly recommended. The track is easy to lose, there is no mobile signal for most of the drive, and a local guide can also help with any registration with the district administration.
Is Moola Chotok safe to visit?
Security conditions in Balochistan vary by district and change over time. Check current local advice through a Khuzdar-based operator before travelling, and see our guide on travelling safely in Balochistan for the current picture.
Is Balochistan safe for overseas visitors?
Pakistani travellers do visit, but as of September 2026 the UK government advises against all travel to Balochistan. If you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice before you go, because travelling against it can void your insurance. Everyone should check local news and current police advice before setting out.
