Hi all,

My partner and I have been in the process of researching and planing our overland route from India - London - Cape town.

We are Shipping our 4x4 (Land Cruiser troop carrier) from Sydney to Chennai, India, and are planning to be in Nepal for my brothers wedding in Feb 2014.

We would then like to proceed overland to London. From India there are not many viable overland routes that are particularly trouble free. Rather than Afghanistan or Iran we plan on crossing Via the Karakoram Highway from Pakistan into China.

Anyone familiar with overland travel in China knows that it can be quite expensive in smaller numbers.

The fastest way to pass through China and into the stans, Kyrgyzstan, is via the routes as stated by two of the tour companies that have quoted us -

NAVO -

Day1.Khunjerab-Tashkurgan Karakuli-Lake

Day2.Karakuli Lake-Kashgar

Day3.Kashgar(stay for getting necessary driving license and so on)

Day4.Kashgar-Tourgat

Day5.Tourgat exit China


Or from China overland


Day01.Drive into China via Turgart Pass Khunjereb Pass. Saty in Tashkorgan.then drive to Kashgar Hotel: Crown Inn

Day02. Tashkorgan - Karakuri Lake- kashgar (290km) Hotel:Seman Hotel

Day03. Kashgar ((paperwork at traffic police station & sightseeing)
Hotel:Seman Hotel

Day04.Kashgar– Turgart Pass where drive into Kyrgyzstan.(150km)


I have also been in contact with Xin Jiang & Tibet Expeditions but have not received a reply.

Regardless of the time frame both companies have quoted around $3000 USD (or AUD about the same at the moment) for the one vehicle and two people.

We are planning on making the crossing as soon as we can weather permitting. Both companies have recommended late April or May.

Some costs can be shared by fellow travelers which is why we have posted this thread.

We have a couple from Oz who have showed some interest in tagging along, but the more the merrier!!

Please contact or PM me if anyone out there is interested in joining us or has a similar plan.

Thanks

Jerome.

If there are any other tour companies in China that I haven't mentioned, please let me know and I will inquire ASAP.

Hi all.

We have just been provided another quote from China Overland. It seems more reasonable.

$2200 USD for two people and one vehicle. I have requested a breakdown of the costs and an itinerary. I will post that up once we hear back from them.

Apparently the border does not open until May the 1st so that's the date that we will be aiming for.

Please get back to me if you are interested.

Thanks

Jerome

Hi there ,
2014 it is good year , there is some agency in Kashgar who is making good service much better than NAVO and suitable price ,,,

1 car 2200USD$ quite a lot , I may recommend Kashgar Adventure Travel who is making fast and good price with trust .

if you want contacts please feel free to ask me ,I may help cut down the price .

Hi Jerome,

We are planning on crossing China at a similar time to yourselves (April 2014) - but from Laos straight up to Mongolia. Unfortunately it looks like our plans are just too far apart to be aligned to save expense...

... but we have just completed our outbound trip through China - the long way, from Kyrgyzstan to Lao in 35 days, so if you have questions, then please do get in touch.

Cheers,

Vaughan.

Hi

thinking of trip out UK, spring next year.
through Pakistan KKH, Kashgar, Krygostan & home.

so is partly same route.
on Motorcycle. 2 up, passenger is nervous of security situation in Pakistan.

is the Kunza lake (north of Gilgit) easily passible with vehicle.

bit early days for me, but if can be organised good to have company.

Joe.

A friend and I are in India now and we're trying to figure out a way to get from india to "The Stans" around the same time you are all planning to go. Problem is one of us is holding an American passport and can't get a Pakistan OR Iran visa. Your route definitely takes us through Pakistan huh?

Any idea of an alternative that avoids Pakistan and Iran?

We would love to join u in Asia trip 2014.
Please contact me on
https://www.facebook.com/Leandro.mendez82
leandromendez@gmail.com
Thanks

LETS DO THIS!

Same route, same dates. If everything goes according to plan, I would love to make this trip on my 03 Africa Twin as swiftly, cheaply, and efficiently as possible. Hit me up too!

theoverman83@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/andrew.overby.52

Im also potentially in...we are two motorcycles looking to make the crossing from India to Kazakhstan via Pakistan and China. May 1 could also work as a date for us. So that is two more people. The big issue for us is price so if we get enough people to come and can drive the price down then we would seriously consider joining. Feel free to contact me directly if anyone wants to talk more about this...

thescenicroutethroughlife@gmail.com

sent you an email momo :-)

I just posted this, for those who are interested:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...266#post444366

The cost of the shipping option doesn't sound like that much of a money saver if there was even a tiny group formed to ride through China.

Anyone looking to do this ride?

I'm still looking for contacts!

Hi – we are 2-up on a Honda XL650V Transalp, riding in stages, from New Zealand to England.

Right now (w.e.f December-20th) the bike is temporary stored in Pokhara, Nepal, whilst we make a visit back home for Christmas etc .. and to earn some more travelling money!

We are returning to Nepal around the first week of April next year (2014) to pick-up the journey westwards again.

The current thinking is to then ride from Nepal → across northern India → Pakistan → Iran → Turkey. However, your northern route could be a viable alternative. BUT [thinking out loud] .. will the high passes be open and navigable that early in the year? I dunno?

We’re certainly interested, as by going north we would avoid the hassles associated with riding through Balochistan and southeast Iran.

In short, I/we are very interested in joining you - subject to dates /costing confirmation, etceteras. Please keep in touch if you progress all this.

Thanks

Keith [& Ellen]

btw - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

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Keith! I think I met you and your lovely wife in Laos last April. You spotted my bike outside a hotel and came up with offers of grabbing a pint and chatting about life: two of my favorite activities. It's Andrew, the kid with the AT 750 . I think this is the same person.

Anyhow, I've been in India since June, stayed up in Leh all summer, crossed Nepal, and just wandered way of the beaten trail to NE India; currently en route to Calcutta.

India is fantastic, and Leh/Spiti is certainly the best riding in the whole country, though it will be cooooooold (possible blocked) in April/ May.

However, I have heard from several sources that the Karakoram Highway opens around May 1, and is breathtakingly scenic, moving one rider to tears (did you tell me that story?).

A group heading north through Central Asia has yet to form. And, thats what I'm doing here :-).

My plan (hope) is to get everything to fall in place so that I'm able to go Pak->Kyrg->Taj?->Kaz->ferry to Baku Azerbaijan (possible, details limited), then Georgia for September, then Turkey. We shall see how things shake out.

Stage one: get a group together for rapid transit across China. The more the merrier.

Happy New Year!

ANDREW! ..

Yes, of course we remember you. Ellen & I were staying in the hotel adjacent to your guest house - and after our spontaneous get-together, we three went for and victuals 'al fresco' in a restaurant just down the street. Wasn't the township called Paksan (or some other place near there)? As I recall we enjoyed a great evening together. We loved your philosophy and outlook on life ... ‘twas a grand night out.

Our forthcoming plans are to be back in Nepal by around Friday-11th April. Then spend a couple of days in Pokhara servicing the bike, before leaving for the Indian border. There are a few places we want to visit in northern India before we finally get to Amritsar-Lahore, probably sometime around the second week in May.

Thereafter: do we (a) turn left towards the heat and hassle of south-western Pakistan and southeast Iran; or (b) turn right and head for Islamabad and the KKH?

I dunno, but if a group of independent travellers can be established for option (b) in order to share the costs of the China bit etc, then I/we would definitely be interested in signing-up.

[thinking out loud] Wouldn't it be even better if a 4x4 overlander is included, whereby and within which the Chinese 'guide' could ride along? Surely this would reduce the costs even further.

Glad to learn that you're enjoying India.

All the best

K&E

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