Local Transport, Peshawar

Most travellers go to Peshawar to experience the buzz of a heavily Afghan influenced city and to see the bazaar not to mention the Khyber Pass. Most travellers go through some form of travel agency etc to arrange the Khyber transport but while staying in the Rose Hotel I came across a man named Prince. He works through the hotel and he is a very very sweet and intelligent and well connected man. He arranged my entire Khyber experience (turned out to be safe and fun) and even gave me he business card so if I return in the future. He arranges everything from treks to Chitral to the Khyber. His contacts in the area of Northern Pakistan are endless and he has great stories as well. If you are considering the NWFP and want to go the Khyber etc Prince Mahir is the MAN. I was incredibly satisfied with his services. PS: He is not a real prince :)

Most tourists arrive at the domestic terminal on the outskirts of Peshawar (meaning away from the old city) and the best way and the cheapest way to get to the old city and your hostel is to take a auto rickshaw. The security guard at the front gate will allow one to enter the bus area if you ask him and they are very cheap. The guard may even tell the owner of the rickshaw where to go as he did with me. The drive only takes about 15 minutes and it gives you a chance to take in the city for 15 to 20 minutes and mentally prepare for the insanity that makes up Peshawar.

It's as cheap as anything else to get a ride with a taxi in Peshawar. From Saddar to University town I pay 50 rupees. If you want to get close to the Pakistanis and Afghanis try the bus for 4 - 8 rupees depending on how far you want to go. There are four different busses : A1, 2, 3, and 4. All but one of them pass Sadar. Ask before you jump on. The rikshas are also cheap, but polluting and not very fast and not so safe. (Jan -04)

IN MINGORA. These cute little Suzuki's zoom around the narrow streets easily. They are brightly decorated, just like the trucks and tractors- actually anything that is driveable is probably decorated.

In Peshawar you can take a Tuk-Tuk (I'm not sure this vehicle is also named Tuk-Tuk overhere, in Thailand it is). Best is to show a map to the driver or a local addres card, because some of them do not speak very good english or maybe it is because of my bad pronociation. Always negotiate about the price before the ride, this way you can avoid bad discussions afterwards.