OK I started on the most anoying part of my research: Visas, I have searched throught the HUBB and thorn tree pages and found that there is no definitive up-to-date info on what is needed, for riding from UK to Oz. the infomation I have is for a UK passport holder. Please correct me if/where I am wrong!

UK to Turkey:
Nothing needed in advance. ie, visa, if needed is issued on boarder.

Iran:
can be done yourself, althorught throught visa agency is more popular. (bad reviews here of iranvias.com) once visa is granted it is for 30days, and from issue you have 90days to enter the country.

Pakistan:
3 month visa, you have to have entered the country within 6 months of issue. Can this be picked up on the road, tehran? Istanbul? As there is such a long time to 'activate' the visa I will get it in advance.

India:
6month visa, from date of issue. Can be got in Pakistan..I think, again I expect I will be in India after 3 months So I plan on getting this before I leave.

Nepal:
6month Visa, issued on boarder.

Tailand:
30days free on boarder. 60day tourist visa, apply before hand, where? I would like to be in tailand a couple months, so can I come in on the 30day free and then extent?

Indonisia? Oz I will be getting-hopefuly a working/holiday visa, valid for 1 year, must enter country within 1 year of issue.

If some one can confirm/add to this that would be a great help.

George

Hello mate

I am planing an exact same trip uk to oz then usa . I am looking for a fellow rider to do this trip with would you be interested.

But i was planing the hard way through mongolia an tried to find a way to ship the bike etc. If interested let me know I am planing to leave early july or august

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Hi, bikerfromsark

I did bits of your trip in 2007-08 - overlandcruiser.net

Here's my 2 penn'oth FWIW

Iran:
Unless you know someone with (the right) contacts, doing it yourself is a no-no. You must first an agency to approach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your behalf and get an application reference no. THEN you go to an Iranian embassy or consulate and apply in the normal way, but quoting this reference no. We used the consulate at Erzerum, in Turkey. We used Iran Internet Visa Application - no complaints.

Pakistan:
We applied for, and got, our visas from Tehran. There is also a consulate in Zahedan, but we had heard it had stopped issuing visas and didn't fancy getting there and being told to turn around and go all the way back to Tehran.

India:
We applied for, and got, ours in Islamabad. But check current state of play - issuing may be affected if India and Pakistan have recently thrown their toys out of the cot before you get there.

With all embassies - get there early. Especially with the Pak/Indian ones - check for any 'Gazetted Public Holidays' - embassies all over the world close for public holidays in their own countries that bear no relation to holidays in their host countries, and Ind/Pak ones seem to be closed for this reason rather often!

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If you are planning on being in India within 3 months from leaving the UK (as I understand your post) then this makes things easier. I reckon getting as many visas as possible before you leave will potentially save a lot of hassle on the road - that's our plan anyway! India and Pakistan are both valid for 6 months from when it's issued, so you should be fine. Iran is 3 months from issue - but again this should be OK.

I leave in 5 weeks on a very similar trip. This page » Visas on our website has our experiences with obtaining visas very recently. (and what's required for each country along the way). I have picked up our Indian and Pakistani visas from the London consulates/visas services. Both were very straight forward.

I'm currently waiting for the 'approval number' for the Iran visa. We've gone with Magic Carpet. Anyway, much more info and our experience is on the link.
Good Luck!

Thanks guys thats really great. Its good to know it was/is possable to pick up the pakistan visa in Iran, I like picking up visas on the road. How long did it take you to get the visa in Iran ilesmark? I think that I will get the Indian visa in Pakistan. but I will keep a close look on the political situation between india/pakistan
George

George

From memory, it was somewhere between 3 and 5 working days for the Pak visa in Tehran. But as with most embassies, you can pay more for a faster service.

Just so you know, Magic Carpet Travel isn't cheap - it's about £120, compared to the EUR 30 or so you pay to Iranian Visa. Also bear in mind that the London consulate charges an £80 visa fee on top - I can't remember exactly how much we paid in Erzerum, but it was a darn sight less than £80.

Mark

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