Hi all,

im currently planning a trip from Germany to Ulanbataar via Turkey/Iran/Pakistan/India/Myanmar/Laos/Vietnam through China.

I did a lot of research so far but still i got some question someone who was already there might be able to answer:
Is it still not possible to cross China with the own Motorbike without a local guide?
How about entering Iran with the Motorbike? I read some news that the border guys are advised to not letting enter people on bikes with more than 500ccm or on US fabricats? Does anyone now more about that?

Does anyone know any more problems related to border crossings or in any other regard that I might face on this route?

Thank you very much in advance!

Cheers

Iran - yes it seems they just recently have brushed the dust off the old rule about max 250 cc bikes are allowed into the country. However it seems that some travellers with bigger bikes still are able to get through. There is a Facebook group called «Overland in Iran». Try to search and ask there fir the latest news about this issue.

China - yes you will need guides and permits to cross into China. Must be arranged at least 3 months in advance. Its expensive and quite a PITA.

Myanmar - the same rules as in China, you will need guide and permits to get into there. However its less costly than China and not that much of a problem.

Myanmar - Laos does not have an international bordercrossing. You will have to go through Thailand.

Thailand - officially you will need guide and permits to get into Thailand. However in reality almost all travellers seem to get into Thailand without guide and permits and the enforcement of the guide and permit rules seems non-existent for the moment. What it will like next year nobody knows.

Vietnam - complicated, very complicated. In general its almost impossible to get into Vietnam with a foreign plated bike. Up through the years a few has been let into the country but it seems more accidental than any other country. If arranged though a travel agency a permit seem possible, but its gonna cost.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Thank you very much for the quick response!
Considering the fact that China will be too expensive then I might change the route. Does anybody know if you can cross from Pakistan via Afghanistan (the Wakhan corridor) to Tajikistan?
Or is there any other way we're you can get north to Mongolia without paying these unsums for the Chinese guide and licence stuff except coming from Aserbaidschan with the ferry to Turkmenistan or drive directly from Iran to Turkmenistan?
Plus I don't want to go all the way through Russia.


Glad for any advice or idea! Thanks!

Pakistan - Afghanistan - Tajikistan : Absolutely no way. There is not even a road across the Wakhan Corridor linking these three countries.

Most people make a very short trip through China from Pakistan to Kyrgyzstan (or vice versa). It will still require some planning and a bit of money, but much less than a major China crossing. Then you can go north through Kazakhstan and after a short and scenic drive through Russia, you reach Mongolia.

So you don't want to take the ferry from Azerbaijan to [Turkmenistan...]

If this is because you don't want the hassle of a Turkmenistan visa, then you can take the ferry to Aktau (Kazakhstan). If you don't like ferries then you can just drive from Georgia or Azerbaijan into Russia and then Kazakhstan.

EO

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EurasiaOverland a memoir of one quarter of a million kilometres by road through all of the Former USSR, Western and Southern Asia.

Okay Thanks, that helps a lot!

I just read, that the Kulma (Qolma) pass from China to Tajikistan will be open for foreigners with their car or bike. So I will try to take the Karakorum Highway and then the Pamir Highway.

Im not so much into the way with the ferry because that might be the way back (or depending on the time: Russia)

Cheers!

But you will still need permits and guide to enter China and it must still be arranged 3 months in advance....

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....