Marvellous, thanks for the info.

Any idea on how to get from Nepal into Tibet without agency and minder? We are about to shell out 6000 Euro each for 45 days. :(

Interesting to hear youve made it with no guides or other budget-drying pain-in-the-ass paperwork and preparations, which the "official" way seems to be so full of..

So after you´ve got in, after that youre relatively free to ramble? My plan would be to go all the way from Kazakh border into Laos. May be its a different story in central or south China, well, who knows, I guess one would just have to go and try ones luck. Maybe if they stop you, you tell them your coming from Laos, and they´ll then nicely kick you "back" there..:clap: ?!?

But if the worst happens and you have a bad accident where some locals get hurt, you´d probably be in big trouble, when you have no official permission to be there.

There´s a guy who went into South China earlier this year from Laos (on a Chinese-registered bike) and he had no big troubles getting in, but the right plates probably helped him decisively. He, too, was free to go inside the country, though he had some trouble getting into Tibet, but still managed to do that. He posted some tremendous reports and pictures into the gt-rider forum, too bad he got in an accident and hurt his knee quite badly.

Hi!
Any update on paperwork to enter China?
I am planning trip to Nepal, through China, so I kindly ask for any information how to get in and out of China without having to register bike there and without guides.
Thanks!

That's a tall order. Got a Magic 8-ball handy? :mchappy:

CC

Fireblade,

DON'T try Korgos. Too well sewn up.
We were there in late June '07 and a Norwegian guy, Helga, arrived with no papers. Sent back to Kaz in a very short time. He left the bike in Kaz, entered buy bus and then flew to Thailand.

They really have tightened things up since June last year.

John

Well he could try. My guess is it's a combination of factors. It may depend on the origin of your passport, which border you cross into and who you happen to meet that day.

It's a toss of the dice but right now the odds don't look in your favor. That said, if you're determined you can still give it a try.

CC

Thanks for the info.
Haw about getting regular visa for me, and than try to enter with the bike? Anyone tried?
Had in mind Karakorum highway, heard somewhere that there shouldn't be much problems for going this way. Will talk to Chineese consul 2morrow and post answer.
Should Iran, Pakistan etc. be a problem for woman?
:confused1:

enter frokm Khunjerab Pass
 

In September 07 it was not possible to enter from Pak to China on a bike!

All the best
joe

Motorrad Weltreise - Joachim von Loeben - Theo Schlaghecken - www.triparoundtheworld.de

taking the test for the first time
 

does anyone know perhaps if it is possible for someone who has no license from their native country to pass here in china? - thks

Pass what?

CC

Druzhba
 

It was possible to enter China without guide in summer `07. I did it at Druzhba. But at last time this gate was closed. Someone tried to do it there last year. But unsuccessfully. I spent a 15 days in China and Tibet with my own Africa Twin. I was stopped by police two times. Once at night I got into a secret town by accident . The police stopped me. It took me a several houres. They checked up my luggage, looked through my camera, read my atlases and maps. One of them was going to the police office with all my papers. I do not know why. When I was checked up they escorted me to the hotel. Next morning I woke up and went away by another road to a Tibet.

Alex

Crossing the border (China and Burma)
 

I am currently gathering all the info to cross the border with a bike.
Here's my finding so far:
1) The easy way is to pay for a chinise guide and their car to follow you during your staying in China (Max 3 months). I guess this is economically viable if a group of bikes are travelling together as they can share the cost.
This is for example what Kevin and Julia Sanders are currently doing (for more info on their current trip to china go to Global Domain, Web Page Design, Special Web Site Projects)
2) I am currently in communication with few agencies enquirying whether it is possible to use a "transit permit" instead, like the one truck would get to travel accross China to transport goods.
3) Some people have crossed the border just with a Visa and they have been lucky enough not to be kicked out. Once again it is probably down to luck and potentially which border you are crossing (I am currently talking to my contacts in Kyrgyzstan to see whether it is possible to semplify the procedure. I will keep you posted with my findings)
4) Others (very clever) have managed to cross the border (in mongolia) by seeking the help of truck drivers who carried the bikes accross the border with their truck. Once in china its all about keeping a low profile

Finally, if you ever made it to China and you want to cross into Burma, here's a good contact of someone who will help you with all the necessary paperwork all for $295.
Following his contact details and an extract of his email to me:

hom.saihkay@taistartnt.com

It is possible to cross the border with your own bike. You need to mention it in your proposed itinerary when you apply for a visa at a Myanmar Embassy.

2. our typical service from China-Myanmar border to Mandalay (the centre of Myanmar) costs ~US$295 per person (based on one person booking). If there is an additional traveller, it would be much cheaper as you will be sharing the big overhead costs with a second person. This include all the border crossing paper & services at the border ports, transport (even if you don't need it, our guide still have to escort you from a car). Please note that tour companies are required by law/ regulation to accompany their guest within the restriction zone (the borders) until they are out of non-restricted zones in mainland Myanmar.

3. Please enquire Chinese embassy re: how many day your visa is valid. Myanmar tourist visa valid for 28 days to travel in Myanmar and additional travel permits are required if you are entering or travelling through restriction zone.

More info to follow.....

Just going throught the 'officai' process of getting into China through an agency.

I'm travelling from India, up the KKH and into China that way and while I love the romance of rolling that 8 ball at the border I really didn't have the courage to ride the KKH not knowing whether I could get through or not, especaiily given the current problems in Pakistan.

That said, I really do applaud anyone willing to chance it.

It's a bit pricey though. $2200US for a seven day guide and escort to Kyrgyzstan. And for that I have to thank the Iranian government for not letting me in,

I'd appreciate hearing how you get on with this option as I would like to do the journey by truck carrying two bikes down (from Erenhot) to Nepal so I have a (kinda) legit reason to have this kind of visa if one should exist.

Hi Guys,

just a short note, that China is possible with bikes. Together with a friend of mine we travelled 3 month through China in 2003, entering from Mongolia and leaving via Laos, without all the offical stuff. No problems at all, some one just called it luck :-). If you like to read the whole story, visit: LoMo - Expedition

see you
Lo