Some major points to remember when entering Australia. We have very strict quarantine rules here. When the bike enters Australia (Loose, not crated) it will need to be spotlessly clean and by that I mean as if the bike were brand new off the shop floor, not a speck of dirt anywhere. Quarantine inspectors are from Home Home, they are SS Nazi's when it comes to inspections. If you have the bike crated, the timber must be ISPM15 compliant. The timber will have a stamp on it. Google ISPM15. This stamp indicates that the timber has been treated for any nasty critters that may be in the wood. If you can get hold of a metal crate, do it that way. If you come via East Timor the only way to get to Darwin is through Toll in Dili and they will more than likely place the bike in a sea container uncrated. If the inspectors in Australia find any dirt on the bike you can be sure it will add delays and a major cost to your trip. They will not release the bike until it is cleaned and they will appoint someone to do it for you. If the timber is not ISPM15 compliant they will charge you to have it burnt / destroyed. You have no choice in the matter. If you land the bike in Darwin, the delay could be up to a week and the cost of cleaning your bike will knock you over. Stay Safe and hope this info is of some assistance.

Hi Brad
Are you still all sorted and going as part of larger group as you mentioned earlier ?
I only just found this thread and am flexible to do the full trip Uk to Aus.
Probably a bit late now I guess.
Happy hols


Sent from my GT-I9295 using Tapatalk

__________________

The road goes ever on and on...and I must follow if I can

Hi
I did a similar trip in reverse last year from Singapore to Europe
Check out my website
Cooks Endeavour :: Home
These are countries I crossed in my Toyota Landcruiser

Safe travels

Ray

New Zealand - Singapore – Malaysia – Thailand – Cambodia - Vietnam – Laos - Myanmar – China – Mongolia – Russia – Latvia - Lithuania – Poland - Czech Republic - Hungary – Slovakia – Austria – Sloveni

__________________
Regards Ray http://cooksendeavour.com
Instagram: raycooknz

hi
I'm coming from australia to the TT in june and have bought a one way ticket as i plan to ride back i am thinking the 3rd route but not set in concrete. how is that Pakistan visa looking? i have australian and British passports to travel on as i moved to aus as teenager. i am 35 and have been to the horizons unlimited conference when they came here 2 years ago and been thinking about this trip since everyone was great and i would like to check out the one in june england are you going?, also read jupiters travels for inspiration and have bit the bullet and decided now is the time. would like to link up for part or the whole trip and cut costs with guides and what not. im pretty laid back i have just rode thialand have contacts there and would be keen to do it again. i know all the good spots and my bro lives in melbourne and has a good spot we can crash at,i would be happy to show you around there for a bit. contact me if your keen

Hi all, Maurizio here from Italy.

I'm 57 now and been planning my "RTW" ride since... 17...
So yes I'm desperate and do envy you guys who can take sabbaticals like that...
On the other hand I've had the opportunity to read, and read, and read...

My comments:
- READ ! There are wonderful trip reports, often in the guise of e-Books you can download on your smartphone with the portable Kindle App.
"The road gets better from here" by Adrian Scott; "The India Ride" by brothers Pyle; "The Wakhan Corridor" by Lawrence Bransby...etc...
- Two experts on Russia and the Himalaya are Italians Marcello Anglana, who has now clocked over one million Km (!) riding back and forth from Italy to Seul, Tokyo etc., and Donato Nicoletti, who has toured the Himalayas and all the 'stans on his old battered 1340cc Harley Low Rider.

Your best possible options to make your way to Australia are:

1. The TranSiberian: London-Moscow-Omsk-Vladivostok (and a lot of other places in between)
https://www.google.it/maps/dir/Londr...43.1198091!3e0

From Vladivostok there's a ferry to Busan, S.Korea, and from there you can ship/sail to Australia.



PROS: Once you learn some Russian, it's the only language you'll ever need; Rubles are the only currency you'll ever need; one Russian Visa is the only visa you'll ever need; roads all paved, no mud, no surprises; altitude all between 0 and 1000m on sea level means no need to rejet your bike for high-altitude riding. Siberian Russians are known for exquisite hospitality (really!)
CONS: Once beyond Ekateringburg and the Urals, it's all forest, forest, speeding lorries... oh and did I mention forest...?

2. Silk Road - the Northern Route (as used by Rus amber merchants, but avoiding the war zones in the Ukraine)
This is London-Moscow-Bukhara-Samarqand-Dushanbé-Chinese border

https://www.google.it/maps/dir/Londr...39.6783413!3e0

Then the Chinese stretch all the way to ShangHai where you can crate and ship your bike to Australia

https://www.google.it/maps/dir/Irkes...d31.230416!3e0



PROS: You see the 'stans without the hassle of going through Iran and Turkmenistan; you visit the Aral Sea (or what's left of it before it evaporates completely)
CONS: Kazakhstan is the meanest ugliest place you'll never want to be as you ride along 2000+Km of solitary, windy, dusty, often unpaved road.

3. Silk Road, the South Route as traditionally seen by Europeans
London-Venice-Istanbul-Tabriz-Teheran-Boukhara-Samarqand-Dushanbé-Chinese border
https://www.google.it/maps/dir/Londr...39.6783413!3e0

The chinese stretch is the same as above.

PROS: You do the REAL SILK ROUTE and SEE ALL THE SIGHTS; Iran is much better than anticipated and NO you do not need a guide, just a Carnet; you can go see the Derweze Burning Crater.



CONS: Waaay too many Visas, Carnets de passage, currency conversions; Chinese Guide is mandatory (Guide+Driver in 4-wheeled vehicle); Turkmenistan is an absolute nightmare.

4. The "Beluchistan Route": so called because it goes across Iranian and Pakistani Beluchistan; it is the route allegedly followed by Alexander the Great on his way back after his defeats along the Indus River

From London to Quetta in Pakistan

https://www.google.it/maps/dir/Londr...31.5546061!3e0



Then from Amritsar in India to Dakha in Bangladesh you choose your own route; ship the bike from Daka or Calcutta (or Chennai, why not?)

PROS: You visit a lot more of the Iranian sights and soak in all the history and culture, you visit India.
CONS: Beluchistan route uncomfortably near the Afghan border (you may need a military escort or wait for a convoy to shape up); only ONE open border crossing from Pakistan into India - open only a few hours/day! (but the opening/closing cerimonies are worth the visit itself, see youtube videos!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATKc65y70hQ

OVERALL... WHICH ? It also depends on the month of the year - you want to STAY AWAY FROM THE RAINY SEASON !

__________________
Maurizio

Hi,

If you ride East it would be a shame to miss some amazing places.

Riding only across Russia, especially if you stick to the federal highway, would be similar to go round the M25 for 3 weeks. Round and round! Not much fun and not enjoyable meetings with locals, by the road side, other than local workers who are NOT interested in engaging with you.
Russia is great but you have to get off the main highway to meet great people.

I would recommend to ride the silk road as you will see wonders. There are many variations. In 2014 I picked the less “hassle” (I did not want to deal with Carnet , guides etc… for example) .

Last summer I chose to explore further some very nice parts of Russia and Central Asia.

Countries not to miss / nice to cross:
Turkey (if you follow by the south route)
Georgia. (Armenia looks awesome too).
West Kazakhstan is not very interesting but the East side can take you to very beautiful places in the mountains, if you get a bit off the main highway.
Uzbekistan is fantastic (not to miss Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand).
Tajikistan and the famous Pamir highway (failed 3 times in last 3 years to get there – was not meant to be!)
Kyrgyzstan (one of my favourite countries!). Stunning roads to explore, amazing mountains passes, lakes, scenic views and challenging tracks if you like that sort of thing….
Russian Altai region, again magnificent to explore.
Mongolia is well worth it too.

As said by others, the easiest way is then to get to Vladivostok and take a ferry to south Korea.
I cannot comment on China and crossing into Pakistan to ride the Karakorum. I have a friend you did and it did look amazing.

You can see pictures and my trips reports from 2014, 2015 and 2016 in my website (link below in my signature I think). Follow the links to my ride reports.
If you come to the HU meeting in Wales I will be doing a presentation on Logistic for Russia and some of the Stans.

Cheers,

__________________
Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Hi I recently drove my Toyota Landcruiser from

Singapore – Malaysia – Thailand – Cambodia - Vietnam – Laos - Myanmar – China – Mongolia – Russia – Latvia - Lithuania – Poland - Czech Republic - Hungary – Slovakia – Austria – Slovenia

I had no issues with this route

Safe Travels

__________________
Regards Ray http://cooksendeavour.com
Instagram: raycooknz

[QUOTE=mpescatori;559067]PROS: You do the REAL SILK ROUTE and SEE ALL THE SIGHTS; Iran is much better than anticipated and NO you do not need a guide, just a Carnet; you can go see the Derweze Burning Crater.

[QUOTE]

I'm afraid UK and US passport holders do need a guide for Iran Surprisingly, it was something to do with our Governments imposing sanctions

We are currently on an around-the-world trip and wanted to go to Iran, but we've decided against it, and are now going North over the Caspian Sea, and then into the 'Stans, Russia and Mongolia. There are no carnets needed, and a lot of the visas are easy to apply for (lots of them are e-visas), save for the Russian visa, which was a bit of a headache. Good luck with the trip, whichever way you go!