those friends have been in 2005/06
Document sans nom

Hi Matt,
yup - Afghan is out for me. Yesterday I boxed the bike to go to Karachi, Pak. An hour later I got my invitation for my Iran visa. Bizarre.
So i am now trying to decide to try to get the bike out of the port, change the destination port to Bandar Abbas in Iran, or continue to Karachi, and drive to Quetta and hang a left and enter Iran there. It will be a quick ride up to get to the stans before the rest of those visas start to become in jeoprady or running out.
Cheers,
Rene

However, if anyone still wants to go, I'm thinking to go around mid-May, insh Allah (on God's will, as they say). The route I want to do is from Pakistan to Tajikistan. I am in Delhi and I will check out the flight to Taj or Kyrg.

Hey Furious, I found out that the $300 on Galaxy air was not a normal price, my friend knew somebody (his name on HUBB is DodgyDago - PM him for more details).

My homework gave me the only option for flying from Pakistan to UZ/Taj/Kyrg was Uzbekistan Airways from Lahore to Tashkent. Passenger ticket is USD$327 one way. Nobody here in UAE could give me a clue about freight costs.

My china-guide homework has the price now at 700 Euros for 5 days and 2 months notice to arrange paperwork to take you from KKH to Kazak. Here is the email from xistinfo@yahoo.com.cn:

"Hello Rene,
Yes, I'm still doing the business. I can organize the permit for you to cross Xinjiang to Kazakstan.
I can help to send you a LOI, and you can apply a visa with the LOI in your country.
The cost for this is 700Euro.
To Drive a Foreign-Licensed Vehicle into China
>
> For permits and licenses what we need for each vehicle:
>
> - 1 photo (color) of each vehicle (front, side, rear views with
>printable image size at 3inches x 5inches or 8cm x 13cm)
> - 1 photo (color) of the vehicle regstriation license
> - 1 passport-sized photo (color) of each vehicle driver
> - photocopy of driver's license (grayscale)
> - photocopy of driver's passport identification page (grayscale or
>color)
>
> Other information we need:
>
> - vehicle serial number
> - vehicle frame serial number
> - engine serial number
> - vehicle make, model, year, engine size and type (eg. petrol,
diesel)
> - unloaded vehicle weight
> - vehicle color(s)
>
>
> You should be able to scan and email all images and documents.
Please be
>sure that each image printable size is the same as noted above. Also,
>please limit the size of image file to 500 kilobytes or less.
>
> We need the following information from each person in the party:
> - Name
> - Citizenship
> - Date of birth
> - Passport #
> - Sex
> - Passport issue date
> - Passport expiration date
> - Occupation
>
> - We also need a photocopy-quality image (grayscale) of each
>participant's passport (id page).
> - Also include as detailed an itinerary as possible including dates
of
>entry and exit, port of entry into China , where you will exit China ,
and
>where you will travel to in China .
We usally need to get all the information 2 months before the entry date, so that we have enough time to apply the permit.
Regards
Wayne"



Cheers,
Rene

Today I spoke with Afghan embassy in Vienna, and they told me that it is not possible to travel long distances with motorcycle or any other land vehicle in Afghanistan because in that way it is almost certain that we could be arrested by Taliban.
If you get arrested then follows ransom... problems, problems....
Also he told me that there is no safe places or roads in Afghanistan, not even the north anymore.
They are only issuing visa if You are going by plane.

So dear HUBBER-s forget all the talk about bypassing China via Kabul

Nikola

DodgyDago did in fact get the $300 price...I was in Bishkek with him to help him load his bike...June 2007.

Also, Phil Flanagan(another HUBBer) and I travelled with another French traveller(Bruno) who entered from Pakistan into Afghanistan and exited via Uzbekistan without drama in country or at border. He acquired the visa in Pakistan which wasn't a problem. May 2007


Again, where you apply for visas does matter...applying for an Afghan visa in Vienna and London and New York is not your best chance...applying in Pakistan or India is probably easier. Its also easier to get your visas near the contries they border than it is from your home country...unless of course you're Ewan & Charlie...

Afghanistan canceled
 

I took my Afghan visa very easily from India in one day. However, I canceled my trip in Afghanistan due to the last situation. I will do a circle from India to Pakistan and Iran and I will enter in the Stans. It's a circle but it's safe and without any headache with China and airplanes.

edde

Man from the embassy had a Afghan acsent and was very clear about CURRENT situation in Afganistan.
In short, DO NOT GO IN AFGHANISTAN.
Of course, if You really want to go You'll find a way to obtain visa, but never the less it is still a bad idea.

Nixa,
The man from the embassy probably grew up in Kabul...ask him!

If he did, he'll probably think all of Afghanistan is dangerous based on his limited perspective.

Do your research as its your holiday...

I fully endorse that last comment - the very best information you get about Afghanistan will only be found when you get close by or meet someone who has just come out. Probably it's not possible to plan on a visit for several months ahead from Europe.

Good luck to whoever gets lucky and finds themselves nearby when the time comes!

afghanistan situation now?
 

hi all,
anybody crossed afghanistan on a bike lately??
just wondering if we can make it across the center from peshawar to iran...
thanks

You would be absolutely mad to do this.
It is the f***ing wild west there and NOWHERE is safe. Go round.
If the mines and bombs don't get you there is probably an even chance of having your head cut off after being kidnapped.

S

I would not go there, as it is still largely a warzone, with lots of armed people who may not see a Westerner as a friend.

Moving around on your own vehicle could be extremely dangerous, so skip it, unless you got some sort of a deathwish (Pakistan, or at least the main roads between India & Iran are usually safe enough to ride through).