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  #1  
Old 17 Jun 2009
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India to England via the Stans - possible to arrange in a month
Hi guys,

I'm on a trip from Sydney to London on an old postie bike and, like many other people, have found myself in a bit of a pickle what with the problems in Iran and Pakistan.

I think I'd just go through and risk it but at the minute I still can't get an Iranina visa. That;s why I'm looking into the other route, through the Stans, and wondered if anyone could give me a green or red light to say if it's possible or not to organise that route in a month. Also, looking at the map am I right in thinking you can skip China and cut briefly through Afganistan?

I'm in Delhi so have access to all the embassies but would really appreciate any advice on routes and best methods of obtaining the necessary visas and paperwork as the last thing I want to do is put the bike on a plane to Turkey and fly. That'd be cheating.

Sorry,I forgot to mention, the reason I only have a month is becasue that's when my Pakistan visa runs out.

Cheers
Nathan
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Old 17 Jun 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nathan90 View Post
That;s why I'm looking into the other route, through the Stans, and wondered if anyone could give me a green or red light to say if it's possible or not to organise that route in a month. Also, looking at the map am I right in thinking you can skip China and cut briefly through Afganistan?
Hi,

I rode my bike from Iran via the 'Stans and China to Pakistan last year.
Re visa's: count on 3 months work (and even then you're not certain ..)
Re skipping China via Afghanistan: good luck, you'll need it (ie: no way)
If you want to go via China, the paperwork will take 3-4 months.

BR,

Emile
www.boskoop2nepal.nl
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  #3  
Old 18 Jun 2009
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Really, that long. Wow.

Mmmmm.... doesn't leave me with much open road other than to wait and see about the Iranian visa and if that comes through then Pakistan-Iran it is.

If it doesn't then I guess I'm flying over it all to Turkey, which just isn't cricket.

Is there no other way?
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  #4  
Old 18 Jun 2009
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Originally Posted by Nathan90 View Post

Is there no other way?
Fly to Kazakhstan?
Or are you trying to avoid flying at all costs?
You certainly don't want to ride through Afghanistan (well, maybe you want to. But you probably shouldn't...)
Can you even get to the border? I thought that Pakistan-Afghanistan border area was off-limits to foreigners.
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  #5  
Old 18 Jun 2009
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I like that idea. If you are going to fly the bike, fly it to a "stan" rather than Turkey. If you fly to Turkey, it will probably be cheapest to fly to Istanbul, so if you carry on from there to Europe, you will effectively have missed Turkey as well. If you fly from Pakistan to Tajikistan, you won't have flown very far at all.
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Old 18 Jun 2009
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Nathan - been reading your ride report on advrider, brilliant!!! I'm going to be heading home to the UK from Sydney by bike in the next few months, not on a postie though. Madness, but I love it!

I can't speak from experience but have been looking at other options to avoid Pakistan & Iran just in case. I don't know for sure but have seen people on here talk about the possibility of going by sea from India to Iran, or maybe UAE etc.

Definitely think it would be worth looking into? Perhaps head to the main port in that region (dont know which one that'd be) and start asking around, there must be a way?

I'd certainly look at that as a better last resort than flying?

Good luck and keep us updated!!

J
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