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Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



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  #1  
Old 30 Sep 2018
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The advice above is important. Yes, flee south to get ahead of the weather, but most of the Balkans are mountainous and not conducive to winter motorcycle travel. Even otherwise-wondrous coastal regions (e.g., Croatia, Italy) get windy, chilly and wet. I've scooted through those areas a couple of times during November and December, and there were definitely times I wished I'd planned better.

An Iran stamp will attract attention at the US border, but a calm explanation without defensiveness will allay their concerns. Depending on how long you plan to spend in the US (look into this carefully, since the rules about visa waivers are a bit weird), you may find it easier to apply for a visa long in advance, before you have to include Iran in any list of countries you've visited during the last couple of centuries.

Most of your concerns (carnets, getting from Russia to Alaska, InReach vs. Spot locators, etc.) have been addressed repeatedly in these forums, so using the site search should be productive.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
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  #2  
Old 30 Sep 2018
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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
The advice above is important. Yes, flee south to get ahead of the weather, but most of the Balkans are mountainous and not conducive to winter motorcycle travel. Even otherwise-wondrous coastal regions (e.g., Croatia, Italy) get windy, chilly and wet. I've scooted through those areas a couple of times during November and December, and there were definitely times I wished I'd planned better.

An Iran stamp will attract attention at the US border, but a calm explanation without defensiveness will allay their concerns. Depending on how long you plan to spend in the US (look into this carefully, since the rules about visa waivers are a bit weird), you may find it easier to apply for a visa long in advance, before you have to include Iran in any list of countries you've visited during the last couple of centuries.

Most of your concerns (carnets, getting from Russia to Alaska, InReach vs. Spot locators, etc.) have been addressed repeatedly in these forums, so using the site search should be productive.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
It's really great thanks!

I've also started using the search machine and going trough the forums. It's a goldmine!
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  #3  
Old 30 Sep 2018
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JakobDK View Post
90 days in Iran is great! Is this possible to extend on a turist Visa?
Yes, and it is possible to do so in most major cities.

Quote:
Originally Posted by markharf View Post
An Iran stamp will attract attention at the US border, but a calm explanation without defensiveness will allay their concerns. Depending on how long you plan to spend in the US (look into this carefully, since the rules about visa waivers are a bit weird), you may find it easier to apply for a visa long in advance, before you have to include Iran in any list of countries you've visited during the last couple of centuries.
An Iranian stamp will exclude any option of a visa waiver (ESTA). But you'd still be eligible for a normal visa. The good news is those are valid for 10 years and multiple entry, whereas the ESTA visa waiver is only valid for 90 days. You'd have to do an interview at a US embassy to get the visa and then the rest of Mark's advice will help make it a smooth process.
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  #4  
Old 1 Oct 2018
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Dang. duibhcek is right: no visa waiver if you've been to Iran. Even if you've already got a waiver, it becomes invalid. So you're on the hook for a full US visa, which will cost you. However per the above it's valid for 10 years, so might as well get it now, before you leave home (and before you enter Iran--just tell them you're planning a different route if they ask, which they probably won't).

Sorry for the misinformation: the rules seem to have changed since whenever I last checked. Google results suggest that the change became effective in 2016.

Mark
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  #5  
Old 1 Oct 2018
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Eastern Turkey will get very cold soon. I remember we were passing through in these months, but that was already quite cold in the nights.
Iran was pretty nice after that.

Turkmenistan visa is hard to get as you may already know. Uzbekistan is pretty nice to do in April oray but Tajikistan and Kyrgystan you want to do in Mongolia.
Russia has so much mosquitos it is quite good to be there in September for example, when the mosquitos are lmuch less present.
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  #6  
Old 3 Oct 2018
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Originally Posted by Lovetheworld View Post
Eastern Turkey will get very cold soon.

Turkmenistan visa is hard to get as you may already know.

Tajikistan and Kyrgystan you want to do in Mongolia.
I wil let you all know when the heat appears

Havent't looked into visas for the Stans yet, so dont know about the Turkmenistan visa.

I want to do Tajikistan and Kyrgystan when?
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  #7  
Old 3 Oct 2018
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I wouldn't say Turkmenistan is hard. It was actually one of our easiest visa. But the problem with Turkmenistan is that it is a hit and miss situation, more like a lottery than an official procedure. If you're unlucky you're denied for no apparent reason. If you're really unlucky, you get the visa, but are denied entry at the border. Most of the time it's ok, but it's good to have a plan B.
What is sure is that you'll only be able to get a transit visa for max. 5 days (7 on a bicycle).
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  #8  
Old 4 Oct 2018
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Originally Posted by JakobDK View Post
I wil let you all know when the heat appears

Havent't looked into visas for the Stans yet, so dont know about the Turkmenistan visa.

I want to do Tajikistan and Kyrgystan when?
Haha sorry, most people want to do it in summer because of the mountain passes. But Uzbekistan (and Dushanbe) are then very hot. So it is never perfect.
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carnet de passage, iran, overland, round the world, rtw

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