The passes of Balochistan are the gaps through the Sulaiman and Toba Kakar ranges that carried armies, traders and, later, the railway to Quetta. The two that matter most are the Bolan Pass, an 89 km valley between Sibi and Quetta at about 1,793 metres, and the Khojak Pass at 2,290 metres on the road to Chaman and Kandahar. A third route, through the Harnai valley and the Chappar Rift, was the first way the railway reached Quetta.
These are working transport corridors, not tourist attractions with visitor facilities, and both Bolan and Khojak run through areas the UK government advises against visiting. This guide explains what each pass is so you can read the map, and what to check before you go near one.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Bolan Pass | About 89 km, Rindli to Darwaza near Kolpur; about 1,793 m; N-65 and the railway |
| Khojak Pass | About 2,290 m, between Qila Abdullah and Chaman; N-25 and the Khojak tunnel (3.91 km) |
| Harnai route | Sibi to Harnai, the Chappar Rift and Khost; railway out of service |
| Best used by | Pakistani travellers in daylight, after checking local advice |
Bolan Pass: Sibi to Quetta
The Bolan is the river valley of the Bolan, cut through the Toba Kakar range. It runs about 89 km from Rindli in the south to Darwaza near Kolpur in the north, and its highest point is around 1,793 metres. The N-65 highway and the Rohri to Chaman railway both follow it.
It has been a route into the subcontinent for centuries. Ahmad Shah Durrani used it in 1748, and in 1839 a British force of about 12,000 men under Sir John Keane marched through it on the way to Kandahar. Our full guide to Bolan Pass covers its history, the railway and the current security rules in more detail.
The Harnai route and the Chappar Rift
The railway did not originally go through the Bolan. When the first train reached Quetta in March 1887 it turned north at Sibi, followed the Nari river gorge to Harnai, crossed the Chappar Rift, swung west to Khanai and then south to Bostan. It was the main route for around 55 years.
On the night of 10 July 1942 a flash flood swept away the line in the Chappar Rift, and through running on the Harnai route ended. Repairs elsewhere were finished by 1943, and the Bolan line took the traffic. The track from Sibi to Khost is reported to still exist but out of service, though sources differ on exactly when the last trains ran.
Harnai became a separate district in 2007. It sits among mountain ranges but is not set up for visitors, and the Chappar Rift is a place for railway enthusiasts rather than a standard stop. The valley around Harnai, Khost and Spintangi supplies fruit and vegetables to Quetta by truck.
Khojak Pass: Quetta towards Chaman and Kandahar
Khojak stands at 2,290 metres in the Toba Achakzai range between Qila Abdullah and Chaman. The N-25 national highway climbs it, and the railway passes underneath through the 3.91 km Khojak tunnel. The pass has long been one of the two main crossings between Afghanistan and the subcontinent, the other being the Khyber.
The Pakistan side of the pass is a border-area road and Chaman, at the foot, is on the Afghan frontier. Conditions on and around it change with the border situation, and it lies within the zone the UK advises against all travel to. For most visitors there is no practical reason to go.
Other routes people mix up with passes
Several roads in Balochistan climb high ground but are not "passes" in the sense of a named, famous gap:
- The Quetta to Zhob road (N-50), 531 km in total from Dera Ismail Khan to Kuchlak near Quetta. The old narrow-gauge Zhob Valley Railway on this corridor ran from Bostan to Zhob and its Kan Mehtarzai station, at 2,224 metres, was the highest in Pakistan. The line closed in 1985.
- The road from Quetta to Ziarat, which climbs into the juniper hills but is a hill road rather than a pass. See our Quetta to Ziarat distance guide.
Is it safe to visit the passes?
The UK government advises against all travel to Balochistan, and Bolan and Khojak are both on roads and railways that have seen security incidents. Pakistani families do drive through the Bolan between Sindh and Quetta, but usually by day, and the province has restrictions on night travel on its highways; see our night travel ban guide.
Check current local news and police advice before you set out. Overseas visitors should know their government's advice may say not to go, and that travelling against it can void insurance. Our guide to whether Balochistan is safe to travel covers the wider picture.
What the passes are worth to a visitor
If you are in Quetta for a few days, the passes are context, not a day trip. The Bolan is best understood from the railway history and the road you take to arrive; Khojak is mostly of interest to those with a reason to be in Chaman; Harnai is for those who already love railway history. For most travellers, time is better spent in Quetta, Ziarat and the places listed in our Balochistan destinations guide, or on the wider destinations page.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Bolan Pass?
About 89 km, from Rindli in the south to Darwaza near Kolpur in the north, with a highest point of around 1,793 metres.
How high is Khojak Pass?
About 2,290 metres. The road crosses over it and the railway goes under it through a 3.91 km tunnel.
What is the Harnai route in Balochistan?
An alternative railway route from Sibi to Quetta through Harnai and the Chappar Rift. It was the original line from 1887, until the 1942 flood, and now the Sibi to Khost track is out of service.
Can tourists drive through Bolan Pass?
Pakistani travellers use the N-65, but the UK advises against all travel to Balochistan. Travel by day and check current advice first.
Which pass connects Quetta to Afghanistan?
The Khojak Pass, on the N-25 road from Quetta towards Chaman and Kandahar.
