Hi All,

i am a newcomer to this site and am starting to plan for a trip via Asia to Europe. I am unsure as to where to start, trip planning, shipping etc and if anyone has done this trip any comments on planning etc would be welcomed. How long should i plan for, type of bike, carnet and visa to get, are these done in advance or on the way.

Bill

just the place you want to start planning your trip ,heaps of info on here just spend a few weeks looking in various places on here ,you will be blown away with the stuff you will find ,read trip reports and all the different sections and use the search button ,getting through myanmar is your biggest hurdle that is after you get it to indonesia ,carnet info all on here, you will need one ,good luck it will be a great trip you will be best on some sort of trail bike depends on how big you are and how much you take,from an xt/xr 250 to a klr650 is a good optionand any where from 4 to 12 months to get there just try not to pin a date and don.t plan too far ,except maybe a few visas

There is weeks of reading to be done - see the left side bar and go through all the 'Planning' section at least.

The most important bit is the weather ... you don't want to be in Paki during winter and miss the KKH! Nor do you want to be crossing into Turkie during their winter either..

When you get on a bit .. the questions about 'Southern Asia' go in that bit .. not in the OZ section .. nit picking I know but for future reference.

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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

Hi,

I have just started my trip but riding the other way- from the UK to Australia. I was originally going Oz to UK but thought that I could follow the "better" weather by doing UK to Oz. Then again, I plan on taking 0 to 12 months so it wasn't hard. Shipped the bike to Felixstowe.

At the moment I'm in France(Normandy) and the weather is fantastic. The UK wasn't too flash though.

Kenny

__________________
Just Ride!
www.rocktravels.blogspot.com

That should be 10 to 12 months. Fat fingers on the keyboard!

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Just Ride!
www.rocktravels.blogspot.com

Kenny,

how long was the planning for this trip - what type of bike (road versus tourer) i am thinking of the Yamaha XT660, any comments. In terms of visas, did you organise these before travel, or are you doing these on the way. Camping versus dorm accom. Sorry if i sound like a novice here. also packing and budget, what and how much? guess i have a lot to learn eh

start reading

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/southern-asia/

- things like
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...rting-uk-34118
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...of-india-32949
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...india-uk-32669

And again - http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tripplan/ Lots of reading there that will answer the questions you have asked .. and some you have not though of yet.

Go Read.

Oh and if you are still in OZ in Jan/Feb then get to the HU meeting.

__________________
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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

Bill,

In making your plans be aware that there are some significant barriers, like countries that will be impossible to take your motro cycle through eg Myanmar (Burma), and others where you will need to pay for a local guide to be with you 24/7 in China. Then there are the current war hot spots that are a problem.

We are planning a trip to Europe possibly starting in South Korea, then Russia, Mongolia and the Stans in 2009. Let me know if I can be of help, we do have some written material on these countries and can share with you. If so, send me a personal message in HUBB when you have enough posts up.

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Chris

We rode from Newcastle to Europe in 2000-2001 on 2 Honda Shadow 600's. We then did the RTW job on the same bikes....riding from Brisbane to Uk a slightly different route than the first time. (2003 - 2006) All up have ridden through 49 countries....some of them more than once.
'We now live on Bribie Island near Brisbane.
Our phone number is 07 34088988....we are happy for people to call us and ask us ....whatever.....and would love to be of help. Use up free call time if yopu have any.
We got lots of negative comments from family, friends, other riders....you name it. Tell them all to get lost. Its not hard to do. One day at a time.......the hardest part of our 2 trips was the first day....once you are on the road the rest is easy. It is so easy to make excuses as to why you are not ready to go....money, bikes, weather.....I could go on. Just do it. It is too good to miss. Having said that.....of course there will be bad days....that is called life.

Hi Demon,

Frank has it sussed. I spent a lot of time on this site and it was invaluable in my planning. All up I took about 9 months to plan it but was careful not to go overboard. I'm riding an R1200GSA but bike choice is personal. I will be mostly camping through Europe(cost factors) but plan on shipping my camping gear home when I get to Turkey. I'm getting my visas on the road.

So far I'm having a ball except for when I fill up. Fuel is VERY expensive in Europe.

My advice is- Just do it!

Cheers,

Kenny

__________________
Just Ride!
www.rocktravels.blogspot.com

Hi David & Cheryl .. take it you are back .. going to the HU meeting in 2009? If you are .. I might go too. Nice to hear you are back, in some ways .. but bet you wish you were on the road still

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There is such a thing as over planing .. let things happen on the trip - that is go as things develop .. some one will tell you you should go and see X .. well why not? So planning each day is a waste of time - a general plan of so many ks per day .. the 7th day off .. and maybe some extra days where you don't travel but sit in one place .. after 6 months travelling you might just want to sit for a week of two! So add that to the 'plan timetable'. Of more benift is the planing on what to leave behind, a bike servicing plan, finaces .. things like that.

__________________
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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

We rode from Finland to Australia, 2-up on one Vstrom650. Took 6 months (through Europe to Greece then Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-India-Thailand-Malaysia-Indonesia-Australia) and now I think it wouldnt hurt to have 8-9 months to do this. Definitely so much to see and do everywhere, we were getting a bit of a hurry towards the end, which was a shame.

Got visas for Iran, Pakistan and India before leaving home. For the rest of the countries that we needed then (Indonesia and Australia) we arranged them while on the way.

Burma is impossible to go with your own bike (as is Vietnam, BTW) and even though China might somehow be possible, its not easy or cheap, and forget about doing that in midwinter. So most people end up shipping between India/Nepal and either Thailand or Malaysia. We airlifted from Chennai to Bangkok.

Going between Malaysia and Indonesia is also a problem, it seemed the only place to get it done without big problems was from Penang to Belawan (Medan). Also between Indonesia and Australia no passenger ferries, only freight ships or airfreight. Getting the bike across the seas between India and Australia was probably the biggest and most expensive pain-in-the-___ on the whole trip I think.

The rainy seasons in both northern and southern tropics are something to take into account as well, as they will affect travelling quite a bit. Most unsealed roads might become unpassable, even sealed ones sometimes, when the rains are very heavy.

Mostly the whole route that we did, could be done on relatively good (sealed) roads. In fact the only countries that had some bad roads were Pakistan, India and Indonesia, and only a tiny fraction of them were actually very bad. Turkey, Iran, Thailand and Malaysia all had very good main roads.

Dear All,

many thanks for all the responses.

I have several more follow on queries and information for those interested - if my information is incorredt, please can any posters correct for me.

I am told that Myanmar is a no go zone for riders - you can get an independant travellors visa, but they will not let you ride with either an Australian or International Licnence - must have a lcoal one. Still waiting a response from the Australian based Burmese embassy.

In terms of Vietnam, I was unaware that this is an issue - will try to find out more on this.

China is an issue due to the requirement to have a guide - at a cost of USD$100 per day - quite ludicrous - probably explains why some of the organised motorcycle tour companies charge so much.

I guess that the options therefor for a travellor from Australia into Europe are for travel to Darwin then ship to Singapore or Malaysia, ride through if possible to Hanoi (attempting to contact Vietnamese embassy to confirm this) and airlift to Inida.

Ride through China and pay for the privaledge - Ride at a reasonable pace to get through reasonably quickly - Hanoi to Almaty, Kazahkstan is about 5000 km - on average 70km per hour this equates to 71 hours solid riding - wanting to spend no more than 8 hours per day in the saddle means 9 days solid riding, with no allowance for issues - say 12 days or $USD1200.

Does anyone have any views on this, or an understanding of the guide requirements. How does the guide travel, who arranges them etc.

Looking at bikes this weekend - have looked at second hand BMWR1200 GS or an earlier model dual purpose, finding it hard to justify the huge cost versus a Jap bike. THe savings on these go a long way to covering costs for the entire trip. Also been told that Jap bikes more readily available for parts etc.

If anyone knows the costs associated with transporting from Oz to India or vv then interested to know, also comments on how the service was

Sorry for the long post

Bypass Asia and go

Forget Burma and Vietnam (for now).

We paid even more than that for China, 6200 Euro each for 45 days, plus food and accommodation and bike fuel.

Most people fly Bangkok-Kathmandu. Avoid shipping in or out of India and the Bangkok sea port. People have had major hassles there.

Also, I don't see any reason to miss out on Indonesia. Get a 2-month Indo visa, ship Darwin-Dili and away you go. Some people wrote that it was their favourite country.

I'll wave when I pass you in the opposite direction.

Cheers,
Peter.

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Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

I would just forget about getting your own bike into Burma, not meaning to depress you, but it is almost impossible. There was someone who managed to do it some years ago, but he spoke the local languages, knew the way the systems work there - and also spent several months negotiating & getting everything arranged. Even then he wasnt allowed to cross the entire country, but had to freight the bike sometimes. Just not worth it, and for the normal western tourists´ bikes, just aint going to happen anyway.

Sadly the same goes for Vietnam, unless they have changed their rules recently (actually I´ve heard some claims about that, but no confirmation?) In 2006, I was with a group, who tried to enter from Cambodia & Laos, on 115cc scooters (so they would be under that mystical 175cc "rule" - which I doubt is no more, if it ever was!) and even those werent allowed. We tried 4 different border stations, one of which we tried twice. And the guy who run the tour, later tried alone with an "import permit booklet" from the Thai ministry of Transport (which they claimed at the border that will be needed), still no success. There have been some exceptions, so some have managed to get there, but certainly not many, and officially its a "no". The distances arent huge, so if your in Cambodia or Laos, maybe its worth a try to go to the border, and see if its your lucky day. It doesnt help that the Vietnamese language is 100% "hieroglyphs" to us...

Havent been to China, but from what Ive read, I think getting into the country will be one thing, and crossing its entire length, to Kazakhstan or wherever, is yet another thing. I understand you will need separate permits for each province, and the costs will pile up the more you want to travel thru the country. And it is very, very big, so dont underestimate the challenge.

Shipping (by sea) from Australia to Indonesia, Singapore or India might actually cost around the same, or not a huge difference anyway. Clearing the bike from a seaport in India could be quite a headache I think, but its been done before.

Edit: agree totally with what Beddhist says about Indonesia, its very much worth going, maybe the biggest experience and the most exotic country on the whole trip (for me). But do get a 2-month visa, we got 30days "visa-on-arrival", and that certainly wasnt enough!