Hello !

I'm very new to this forum but I've been told it is the place to be to get useful infos and advice for a reckless young idealistic traveler like me. I'm French and I've been living in Australia for the past year, mostly working on farms in Central Victoria and I'm planning an overland trip back to Motherland.

I'm riding a DR650 already more or less setup for RTW travel with the project to build custom panniers and skill up on the mechanical aspects of the bike (Will probably post a separated thread for this)

I'll be leaving Central Vic in May/June next year with hopefully AUD$8000-AUD$10000 in my pockets heading towards Adelaide, then straight up the Centre of Australia, maybe a little detour to Broome and then off to Darwin with the intent of shipping my bike to Dili, in East Timor around September 2019.

After that, i'd ride to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, (maybe a little detour to Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos), to Burma, India, (Nepal?), Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, (Armenia?), Turkey, and then I'm practically home !

I've heard some of the countries and crossing might be harder that I imagined but if anyone has done a similar trip of has advices and tips, I would be very grateful !

Cheers,

Jacques D.

Flight or ferry to Indonesia?If ferry can you give more information?

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Hey !

I will probably ferry my way everywhere I can in Indonesia ! Please, let me know if you have any info ! Cheers

First of all - a Dr650 set up for long distance travel is probably the best suited bike there is for such a trip you plan. A bigger gas tank, a better seat, better suspension, maybe a windscreen, decent handguards and heated grips, a power outlet etc and youre good to go.

Secondly - you will need a Carnet for several of the countries you mentioned, but you probably already know about this.

Shipping from Darwin to Dili is sometimes a PITA but riding through Indonesia is a MUST! My favorite country during my RTW trip. There are vehicle ferries between all islands but between the southeastern and most remote islands the ferries are more scarce and more primitive. Weatherwise Indonesia is best from April/Mai to October. The rest of the year it can be quite wet and rainy. If I were you I would try to be in Dili in July or latest in August. Than I would have at least 2 «dry» months in Indonesia. Entering Malaysia in October and the rest of SE-Asia a little later would be perfect weather wise. You dont want to travel in SE-Asia in the rainy season or even in the hottest part of the hot season.

From Indonesia to Malaysia is a bit tricky for the moment, but Im sure there are solutions to this a bit ahead.

Thailand introduced new rules in 2016 for foreign vehicles entering the country that requires mandatory guides and a very strict set of permit requirements. However the enforcement of these rules have been quite accidental and nowadays most travellers seem to «slip through» without these requirements. Best time for travel in Thailand is October to May. Although the south can be wet until December.

Vietnam seems to be very difficult to get into. Either you need a very expensive permit that seems almost impossible to get or some travellers get their bike past the Customsoffices at the border just by avoiding them. My understanding of this is that is illegal and that they risk their bikes confiscated. But thats my opinion then...

Cambodia - can be a bit tricky too. Some bordercrossings demand a permit from central governments in Phnom Penh, and you have to park your vehicle on the border and take a bus or similar and travel to PP and get the permit there by yourself and then travel back and pick up the bike.
But relax - there are bordercrossings that will let you in without permits, so its totally avoidable.

Laos is gorgous imo. It shouldnt be any problem to enter the country. But go there at the right time of year. Rainy season always ruin roads so roads can be blocked for weeks in worst case. October/November to May is the best time I think.

Burma/Myanmar - you need guide and permit to cross that country. Its no way around this. The best and cheapest is to join a group to get the costs down, or arrange a group yourself. Its not that expensive, I have seen costs as low as 6-700 USD for guide and permits, accomodation with breakfast for a 7-10 days crossing.

India is huge, and traffic is insane. But very interesting at many places. Carnet is mandatory.

Nepal is beautiful, but go there at the right time of year.

Afghanistan - NO! Dont even think about it if you have your life dear. You probbaly wont be allowed in at all with a bike either.

The other countries you mentioned I dont know much about but Im sure others do and will help out with info.

If you want more info just ask....

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

Thanks heaps mate ! I still have so many things to look into. I'll keep you posted !