An American and a Brit going from the Stans South: What Options?
 

Hello.

My girlfriend (US passport) and I (UK passport) are planning a trip East from London. Ideally we want to get into India and then onto SE Asia. However, current conflicts / our differing nationalities are making that challenging as:

• We don’t want to travel from Tajikistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan, as this seems dangerous (even if only travelling through the Afghan panhandle).
• She cannot get through Iran into Pakistan, as US nationals cannot travel solo through Iran.
• We would also need a guide to travel through China, and understand this is prohibitively expensive.

Does anyone know of any potential solutions?

Are there any trains that the motorbikes can go on in Asia to allow passage through China? Or is there a low cost flight solution?

Welcome any ideas?

Thanks

I think both Brits and Americans require a guide through Iran so you could try and find others heading that way and share the cost.

Tim is right, AFAIK.

I'm not sure what the Afghanistan "panhandle" means, but if you're looking at the Wahkan, there is no prospect of foreigners being allowed that route into Pakistan even once (i.e., if) the Chinese finish their purported road across a 16,000 ft+ pass.

If you search this site, you'll find lots of reports, along with idle speculation and pure fantasy, about ways to bypass China. There is shipping, for example, between India or Nepal and Thailand, and someday there may or may not again be an overland route from India through Myanmar. You could think about the long way around through Russia, with or without shipping your bikes on the Trans-Siberian train, subject to political considerations. Etc.

Again: do some poking around this site and your plans may come a bit more into focus. At the moment, you seem to be dealing in inaccuracies (c.f., Americans and British in Iran), misunderstandings (the Wakhan), and dreams (a rail route through southern Asia).

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

The Chinese authorities don't make it easy for foreigners to cross their country. There are strict requirements for official guides and submitting an itinerary at approved (read: pricey tourist) hotels. OK I guess if you really want to see China, an expensive transit otherwise.

As regards the Wakhan, the situation with the Taliban isn't one I'd care to risk right now, never mind rogue elements still simmering in some areas of the country. It's a shame because the Wahkan Corridor has been reported very favourably in the past.

That really only leaves you with the route south of Afghanistan if you want to reach India, via Iran and Pakistan. Entry requirements into Iran have softened but as I understand it you will still need a CdP and official guide. There are "fixers" who claim to ease the process and avoid the need for guides but I can't vouch for them - others who have tried may be able to advise. Iran gets excellent writeups from those who have visited (its on my bucket list) for the warm welcome from the local people. Heading east into Pakistan the security situation is volatile so the local police provide a mandatory armed escort (the Levies) for the first couple of days until you reach an area considered safe.

I think you've comprehensively ruled out your possibilities of getting to India overland.

Going through Afghanistan (FYI there is no road from Afghanistan to Pakistan in the Wakhan Corridor ('panhandle') area, nowhere near, so you would need to go through Kabul) is a great trip but not without risks (Jalalabad seems quite unsafe these days).

US (and I believe also UK) passport holders cannot drive through Iran, even with a guide, so as you know, that's off.

China land borders are closed and their 'Zero Covid' policy shows no end in sight. There are no trains crossing China (where would they go? Kazakhstan to Thailand??).

If you think the couple of thousand for crossing China to Pakistan with a guide is prohibitive, don't ask about air freight between obscure destinations...

So unless you find people to ride your bikes through Iran for you, risk Afghanistan or have a huge budget, this is not going to happen, sorry. Try a loop of Siberia and Central Asia, lots of fun there. Or ship to the Subcontinent.

If you do chose to go through Afghanistan, cross from Uzbekistan at Termiz / Heyratan, not from Tajikistan as you will end up entering the dangerous area around Kunduz, and make sure you have a Pakistani visa and a CdP ready.

EO

True, pre-covid. But no signs of China opening its borders again, so not an option.

Taliban are not really the issue since they are now (in their eyes at least) legitimately in charge of the country. It's ISIK cropping up in opposition to the Taliban, and a general change in the status quo. The south of the country, the Taliban heartland, now seems relatively safe and I have read of at least one group travelling around the sights there. Eastern Afghanistan is not so safe at present, but I would imagine the Wakhan is fine. But there is no road to Pakistan from anywhere near the Wakhan, so not really relevant.

Irrelevant for the OP as they are US / UK passport holders so cannot drive in Iran, even with a guide.

EO

Covid notwithstanding, that was definitely part of Belt & Road idea. China-funded rail corridors through Central Asia into Europe, + the same down via Laos and Thailand, connecting all the way to Singapore. I guess not all of the Laos high-speed line got built, and certainly you can't hope for a bike-carrying through service the whole way even across China, but in theory a backpacker with the right passport could take trains from Lisbon to Singapore: https://jonworth.eu/the-longest-trai...-in-the-world/

https://jonworth.eu/wp-content/uploa...ible-v2b-e.png

Today, yes, but things change and at this stage of the year I presume the OP isn't planning to set off in coming days.

Yes they're nominally in charge of the country but they are a loose alliance of tribes at best, and what the big dogs in Kabul say doesn't necessarily translate to the POV of young hotheads in the boonies, who have only known 20 years of war. Wakhan used to be something of an outpost of anti Taliban sentiment but they declared for the conquerors early on, so who knows.

Information on the various govt and embassy websites seems not to support that?

Clearly though, the situation is still fluid and a lot can happen in the time until the next travelling season starts in spring. That's why I say they need to rough out plans and alternatives and research them all. People are getting out there so travel hasn't stopped - even if it's currently harder than it was.