Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Northern and Central Asia
Lakeland-Lhasa 'The Silk Road' Lakeland-Lhasa 'The Silk Road'
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 30 Jan 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wiltshire, England
Posts: 21
Lakeland-Lhasa 'The Silk Road'
My wife and I are in the planning process for a trip that will see us travel from the UK through:
Balkans, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgzstan, China (Inc. Tibet), Nepal, India (Export bike to UK).
This trip may start in August 2007, lasting six months. I have gathered a great deal of information on the route, however the following questions still remain only partly answered:

1. Has anyone used a travel agent/guide to attain the relevent permits and bike documents for China, entering from Kyryzstan and once in Xinjiang managed to travel on without supervision?

2. Has anyone managed to travel through western Tibet on a motorcycle?

3. If the answer to question two is yes then can the answer the following:

a. What was your route, including entry and exit points to Tibet?
b. Did you use a Tibet Tourist Bureau Permit (TTP) or an Alien Travel Permit and if so where did you get them.

4. Has anyone travelled in the following areas during October/November, and if so what were the conditions like?

a. The Pamir highway; Khorog - Osh (Tajikistan)
b. Kokshal range/Torugart Pass (Kyrgyzstan)
c. Tibet

Any help with any of these would be most helpful and I will be sure to return the favour once I have completed the route!

I will soon have a website to update this trip and detail my previous trips, which include:
Vietnam 1995
Deli - Leh, Ladakh 1995
Venezuala 1996
Deli - London 1999/2000
UK - Turkey (Through E. Europe) 2005
UK - Morocco 2005/06
Baltic countries - Anti - clockwise (Inc Russia) 2006

Should anyone have any questions on these trips please contact me at foulerton@hotmail.com.

Nick Foulerton
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 30 Jan 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Togliatti, Russia
Posts: 261
Look at my topics about western Tibet (Southern Asia forum). If you will have a concrete questions concerning my route I will try to help you.

Alex
__________________
RUBTSOVTRAVEL.COM
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 30 Jan 2007
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: France
Posts: 9
Silk road
Hi Nick,

i have ride from france to China in 2005 during six months, i also try during this trip to go in China by the torugart, but without guide or agency and they turn me back !!!. Finally, i was successful to go to China from kazakhstan without guide or agency and ride freely to Beijing, same road used by Alex in 2006. Aniway if you want to try through Kirghizstan, i may still have agencies adress.

Chris
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 31 Jan 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wiltshire, England
Posts: 21
Kashgar - Lhasa
Alex & Chris,

Firstly thank you for replying so quickly, secondly this thread should really be in the South Asia section. I am still trying to get to grips with website!

I have looked at both your sites/information and gained much information and have been most impressed by the photos.

Chris, I understand that you managed to travel your route without the Chinese bike docs and plates, correct?

Neither of you rode the route (219) from Kashgar, Yecheng, Sumzhi, Samsang, Lhatze, Lhasa. You will however come across the same problems;

I aim to use a tour company to get my bike docs and permits (TTP and Alien Travel Permit - if possible) and meet me at the border (Irkeshtam/Torugart - weather dependant). Once I am in Kashgar I aim to go on my own along the route described. Does this sound possible?

Neither of you travelled in Tibet in November, do you know anyone who has, or who have travelled along the route I am planning?

Any help would be much apprieciated.

Nick
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 31 Jan 2007
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: France
Posts: 9
Thanks Nick,

You're right, i manage my way without guide, plates, all docs and stuff i have seems to be enough for them ;o)

If you want to go in China through Kirghizstan, you may try to arrange this with a chinese or kirghiz agency, i will e-mail you some contacts.

When i was turned back in Torugart, i 've meet a french couple with bicycles, they have arrange everything with a chinese agency to go to Kashgar. i meet them again 2 weeks after in China when i was heading to Kashgar, and they told me that after leaving Kashgar they were free to go wherever they want, then i think it should be possible !!! Aniway ask in advance...

i don't have any information about the road 219 or the one you intend to follow. After Yecheng, i continue towards Hotan, Minfeng along taklamakan

Chris
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 1 Feb 2007
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: england
Posts: 19
sites
hi waterloo

im planning to do pretty much the same trip but in reverse a year later, all ive found is that china is a bi*^h but try,

www.silkroad.co.nz

there a good kiwi company who can organise visa for nearly all those countrys and they have done the trip, so they know what there on about,
also
http://www.worldweather.org/

found it usefull for the weather reports, and what it should be like in diffrent months, hope these are usefull,

travelingtrev
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 1 Feb 2007
davidmc's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Posts: 373
I would not plan on being on the Torugart Pass or the Pamir Highway after October 1. We crossed the Torugart Pass in mid-October of 2005, but our bike was in the back of a van due to snow and ice.

Quite frankly, I think October/November is the wrong time of year to be planning a trip from Central Asia to Tibet on a motorcycle.

There are agencies who can get you the necessary permits, like www.caravancafe.com in Kashgar, but I doubt they will give you permits knowing that you will be travelling on your own afterwards, this could get them into some trouble. Greg at Caravan Cafe told me that even with the proper permits, inter-province travel in China is very difficult. And the bicyclists don't have the same restrictive rules as vehicles, i.e., no chinese driver's license, registration, guide requirements, etc.

However, in your situation I think the weather will hold you back before the paperwork does. Unless you plan on putting studded tires on your bikes and being totally self-sufficient.

Sorry to be so negative. You can check out our blog at the link below, check out the Kyrgyzstan and China sections to see what the roads look like in mid-October. If you break down in these conditions, there may be serious consequences.
__________________
Dave McMillan
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/mcmillan/
Last edited by davidmc; 1 Feb 2007 at 22:28.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 2 Feb 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wiltshire, England
Posts: 21
Dave,

Thank you for your comprehensive reply, certainly food for thought. I travelled back through Iran/Turkey and the Alps on an Enfield seven years ago in December/January and yes it was a touch chilly! These timings are not of my own choosing and are far from ideal and I think Tajikistan will be the biggest problem. Crossing the lower Irkeshtam Pass may be a more sensible option in this situation.

Tibet I believe is clearly going to be cold, however snows tend to fall earlier in the year and therefore may not have the same impact.

Bike paperwork appears to be a combination of attaining the most you can and touch of luck, but I don't fancy Chrismas in the Hindu Hush!

Once again thank you and I will give you a full report if I get through.
I have emailed the Caravan Cafe and now wait for a reply.

Nick Foulerton
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Round road trip from Pakistan to London Switzerland khurramkhan Route Planning 3 13 Apr 2010 08:48
Round road trip khurramkhan Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road 4 7 Mar 2008 20:05
Silk road ( China to Turkey ) Route planning & help Required Silkrider Route Planning 1 2 Nov 2005 13:45
Chita to Khabarovsk route description Chris Scott Northern and Central Asia 3 23 Feb 2005 18:13
djibouti - eritrea miles murray sub-Saharan Africa 3 13 Jan 2005 19:56

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27 2025
Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
CanWest: July 10-13 2025
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21 2025
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 16:55.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top