Train travel in Pakistan is not just about getting from A to B — some routes pass through landscapes that are difficult or impossible to access any other way.
1. Bolan Pass — Quetta to Sibi
The Jaffar Express and other Quetta-bound trains descend through the dramatic Bolan Pass, where the line hugs steep gorge walls and crosses viaducts built in the 1880s. The scenery between Sibi and Quetta is simply breathtaking — bring your camera and sit on the left side heading north.
2. Khyber Pass — Peshawar to Landi Kotal
The historic Khyber Railway, one of the great engineering achievements of the 19th century, climbs through the famous Khyber Pass on reversing stations and a series of tunnels. Though currently not in regular passenger service, the line remains a legend.
3. Indus Valley — Kotri to Attock
The main line along the Indus traces the river for hundreds of kilometres, with views across the floodplain and distant hill ranges. The crossing of the Sukkur Barrage bridge is particularly impressive.
4. Punjab Heartland — Lahore to Rawalpindi
The Lahore–Rawalpindi line passes through the green agricultural heartland of Punjab — fields of wheat and sugarcane stretching to the horizon, small market towns, and the Jhelum river crossing near Mangla.
5. Thar Desert — Hyderabad to Khokhropar
The branch line into the Thar Desert gives rare access to one of Asia's largest sand deserts. The scenery shifts from irrigated fields to golden dunes as you travel east — an otherworldly experience.
For any of these journeys, check live train positions and timetables at PakTrainLive before you travel.