Khyber Pass
12th May 2020
In: Places
My trip to the Khyber Pass was a long time ambition and I was fortunate to do this before the events of 9/11.
I registered my itinerary with the British Embassy in Islamabad before heading off to the wild west town of Peshawar. A half a day trip to the Khyber Pass was arranged through the Pakistan tourism office.
I was picked up at 7 am from my hotel by an English speaking guide and driver, in a nice four wheel drive Toyota Landcruiser. We then headed to the outskirts of Peshawar to an Army barracks, to pick up our security escort from the Royal Khyber Rifles Regiment. Whilst I was not expecting a special forces soldier, I certainly did not expect uncle Albert from Only Fools and Horses with the beret and AK-47 assault rifle, that was my security escort.
The route from Peshawar towards the north-west frontier and on up to the Afghanistan border was pretty stunning. The road took us into tunnels passing through the mountains which where be built by the British Army around 100 years previous. Some of the villages on route where quite intimidating, many of the shops manufactured handmade weapons, if you needed the weapon of choice, an AK 47, this was the place to be.
We stopped at a local village for a cup of tea and the local children soon appeared, keen to see this new arrival. I had nothing to hand out to the village children but I did however, have a book of UK first class stamps in my wallet. After a game of charades with the children guessing what a stamp was, they all ended up with one each.
The Khyber Pass with the British Army regimental badges paraded on the hillside was spectacular however, the whole area right up to the Afghanistan border was also pretty stunning.
After arriving back in Peshawar an hour before my scheduled trip finished, I was able to fit in a visit to a military cemetery, where many of the soldiers who build the roads and railways in this area were laid to rest, a pretty poignant moment to finish off an amazing day.
I registered my itinerary with the British Embassy in Islamabad before heading off to the wild west town of Peshawar. A half a day trip to the Khyber Pass was arranged through the Pakistan tourism office.
I was picked up at 7 am from my hotel by an English speaking guide and driver, in a nice four wheel drive Toyota Landcruiser. We then headed to the outskirts of Peshawar to an Army barracks, to pick up our security escort from the Royal Khyber Rifles Regiment. Whilst I was not expecting a special forces soldier, I certainly did not expect uncle Albert from Only Fools and Horses with the beret and AK-47 assault rifle, that was my security escort.
The route from Peshawar towards the north-west frontier and on up to the Afghanistan border was pretty stunning. The road took us into tunnels passing through the mountains which where be built by the British Army around 100 years previous. Some of the villages on route where quite intimidating, many of the shops manufactured handmade weapons, if you needed the weapon of choice, an AK 47, this was the place to be.
We stopped at a local village for a cup of tea and the local children soon appeared, keen to see this new arrival. I had nothing to hand out to the village children but I did however, have a book of UK first class stamps in my wallet. After a game of charades with the children guessing what a stamp was, they all ended up with one each.
The Khyber Pass with the British Army regimental badges paraded on the hillside was spectacular however, the whole area right up to the Afghanistan border was also pretty stunning.
After arriving back in Peshawar an hour before my scheduled trip finished, I was able to fit in a visit to a military cemetery, where many of the soldiers who build the roads and railways in this area were laid to rest, a pretty poignant moment to finish off an amazing day.