Surbandan and Pishukan Beaches Near Gwadar

Surbandan (also spelt Surbandar) and Pishukan are two small fishing villages on either side of Gwadar, each roughly 25 km from town by the figures we could find. Surbandan lies to the east and Pishukan to the west. Neither is a resort. They are working fishing communities with a small harbour each, and they suit a half-day trip for people who have already seen Gwadar's main sights and want to see how the coast looks outside the town.

Both are in a part of Balochistan where checkpoints are routine, and no formal visitor facilities are listed for either, so plan a short, practical visit rather than a beach day.

Where are Surbandan and Pishukan?

Surbandan is on the eastern side of Gwadar, along the Arabian Sea coast. It is mostly a fishing community, and the Gwadar Development Authority built a small fish harbour there to serve local fishermen; the jetty dates from 2017. Estimates of the population differ, from about 10,000 to about 20,000, and one account puts around 1,000 boats on its harbour, which gives you a sense of how much of the town's life is the sea.

Pishukan is on the western shore of Gwadar West Bay, about 25 to 27 km from the port by the Wikipedia figure and 40 km by some travel sources. The Makran Coastal Highway passes about 15 km to its north. Its fishing economy is documented back as far as 1908, and the village has a small harbour of its own. The natural rock formations nearby, known locally as saahe padag (three rock pillars), are the main thing visitors go to see.

One caution on directions: the Gwadar Development Authority's own page describes Pishukan as being at the eastern end of Gwadar bay, while other sources put it on the western shore. Ask for directions locally and use a map rather than relying on any one description.

What is there to see?

Not much in the way of attractions, and that is the point.

• The harbours. Fishing boats come in at the jetty and are unloaded by the families who own them. Early morning is the most active time, and you can watch quietly from a distance.
• The coast. Both villages are on open stretches of the Makran shore with sand and rock, and the coastline east and west of Gwadar is much less built-up than the town's Marine Drive.
• Rock formations at Pishukan. The pillars are a local landmark, and the shoreline around them is the better setting for photographs.

For a proper beach with more reliable access, our guides to Gwadar beach and Ormara beach are a better starting point, and for the bigger picture see places to visit in Gwadar.

How do you get there?

Both villages are reached by road from Gwadar, and the drive is short. Take a local driver if you have not been before, and confirm the route with your hotel. Fill the tank in Gwadar, because we found no verified fuel stops in either village.

Expect checkpoints on the way and carry your original CNIC. Pishukan's surroundings are also earmarked for naval use in published development plans, so follow any instruction from security staff about where you can go and don't photograph installations.

What should you take, and what to expect?

• Water, food and cash. We found no listed shops or restaurants for visitors, so carry what you need.
• Modest dress. These are conservative fishing communities. Families and women travelling with them should dress as they would in a village, and ask before photographing people.
• Sun protection. There is little shade on the coast.
• A flexible plan. A visit works as a half-day: a morning at the harbour, then back to Gwadar for lunch.

Pishukan has also suffered from heavy rain, and in January 2022 flooding destroyed many mud houses. Check the weather before you go, and see our Gwadar weather guide for the seasons.

Is it safe to visit?

Pakistani visitors do travel along this coast, but it is part of Balochistan, where the UK government advises against all travel, and Gwadar district has seen attacks, including one on the Gwadar Port Authority complex in March 2024. Villages outside town are less used to visitors than the town itself. Check local news and current police advice before setting out, travel in daylight, tell your hotel where you are going and be ready to turn back if a checkpoint advises it. Our post on whether Gwadar is safe to visit covers the wider picture. Overseas visitors should check their own government's advice, which may say not to go and can void travel insurance.

Is it worth the trip?

For most visitors, only as an extra. If you have two or three days in Gwadar, the town, Koh-e-Batil and the fish harbour in town will fill them. If you have a spare half-day and a driver who knows the roads, a village harbour gives you a quieter look at the coast. If you want facilities, swimming or a relaxed beach afternoon, stay in town. Our Gwadar itinerary shows where an extra stop like this fits.

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