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12 Jan 2024
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Europe - Bangkok
Hi everyone,
I'm currently looking into a road trip from The Netherlands to Bangkok. My initial thought was to go via Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Since China is difficult to go through, I figured I'd ship the bike from Vladivostok to Vietnam, and go via Laos to Bangkok from there.
However, I recently found out it's nearly impossible to go through Vietnam on your own (foreign) motorcycle. So now my question: what are the other options? From what I understand, the options are the following:
- Go through China and pay for a guide
- Go via Iran - Pakistan - India - Myanmar (however, I read that Myanmar can be unpredictable, plus I'd really like to go through Mongolia)
- Ship the bike from Vladivstok to Cambodia, skipping Vietnam all together
- Ending the trip in Vladivostok (or Ulaanbataar, but then I'd have to ship the bike by air)
- Go via Kyrzigstan, cross the Afghan Wakhan Corridor, into Pakistan, and continue through India and Myanmar (again, unpredictable in whether I'll actually be able to cross that border)
Am I missing any options? What would you argue is the best option?
Thanks!
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12 Jan 2024
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Hello and welcome to the forum,
I am assuming from your start point that you are Dutch, it is helpful to put your nationality for a variety of reasons and as far as I am aware having a Netherlands passport means you can go through Iran at least for the time being which I would include on your route. I would say take the classic overland to India, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India then onto Nepal, from there you can fly yourself and your bike the Bangkok and carry on from there, it is a great route, I know I have done it as have many others.
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13 Jan 2024
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Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
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Myanmar is closed for overland travel due to civil unrest, and will probably be for a good while. So you can count out that possibility.
I would say your first suggestion - as going through China, then Laos and then Thailand is the best and safest option. Get together a group for the China crossing and get the price down then it wont be that expensive.
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13 Jan 2024
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Hello, I started in Germany as well and am now in Thailand (but why stop there  ). I went to Iran, but then through central Asia and Russia to Mongolia and through China to SE Asia. Iran, Mongolia, and China were my favorites. You wouldn't be wrong hitting all these countries in case you've got the time and money. Otherwise you can ship from India to Bangkok, I know someone who did that by plane and another rider who did it by sea, do it's possible. The biggest hurdle seems to be to get into SE Asia, keep on going while you're here, otherwise it might not be worth the investment 
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13 Jan 2024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pakohan
Hello, I started in Germany as well and am now in Thailand (but why stop there ). I went to Iran, but then through central Asia and Russia to Mongolia and through China to SE Asia. Iran, Mongolia, and China were my favorites. You wouldn't be wrong hitting all these countries in case you've got the time and money. Otherwise you can ship from India to Bangkok, I know someone who did that by plane and another rider who did it by sea, do it's possible. The biggest hurdle seems to be to get into SE Asia, keep on going while you're here, otherwise it might not be worth the investment
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How did you get from Iran to Central Asia?
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13 Jan 2024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mark manley
How did you get from Iran to Central Asia?
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I crossed Turkmenistan with an agency. I went with [Owadan][ https://owadan.net/], you basically write them, they'll sort out the visa for you, send you a letter of invitation which converts to a visa on arrival at the border.
If you do this try to avoid the road north of Ashgabat. You may miss the gates to hell, but that road is the highway to hell. Never been on a worse road and since we only had two half days to cross the country you need to be quick, which took a toll on my motorcycle.
But other than that a once in a lifetime experience, think of the capital as a rich North Korea
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13 Jan 2024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mark manley
Hello and welcome to the forum,
I am assuming from your start point that you are Dutch, it is helpful to put your nationality for a variety of reasons and as far as I am aware having a Netherlands passport means you can go through Iran at least for the time being which I would include on your route. I would say take the classic overland to India, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India then onto Nepal, from there you can fly yourself and your bike the Bangkok and carry on from there, it is a great route, I know I have done it as have many others.
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Thank you! I am indeed, will include it next time :-).
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13 Jan 2024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pakohan
Hello, I started in Germany as well and am now in Thailand (but why stop there ). I went to Iran, but then through central Asia and Russia to Mongolia and through China to SE Asia. Iran, Mongolia, and China were my favorites. You wouldn't be wrong hitting all these countries in case you've got the time and money. Otherwise you can ship from India to Bangkok, I know someone who did that by plane and another rider who did it by sea, do it's possible. The biggest hurdle seems to be to get into SE Asia, keep on going while you're here, otherwise it might not be worth the investment
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Sounds amazing! How long did it take you? And if I may ask, what did the China crossing cost? Did you do it via an agent?
Sorry for the barrage of questions hahah. Good luck with the rest of your trip, sounds like the adventure of a lifetime ????
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14 Jan 2024
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Location: East Yorkshireman...in the Chum Phae area, Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pakohan
Hello, I started in Germany as well and am now in Thailand (but why stop there ). I went to Iran, but then through central Asia and Russia to Mongolia and through China to SE Asia. Iran, Mongolia, and China were my favorites. You wouldn't be wrong hitting all these countries in case you've got the time and money. Otherwise you can ship from India to Bangkok, I know someone who did that by plane and another rider who did it by sea, do it's possible. The biggest hurdle seems to be to get into SE Asia, keep on going while you're here, otherwise it might not be worth the investment
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@pakohan If you're near me, Chum Phae, Isaan. Then stop by for some local food and a drink
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14 Jan 2024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nugget040
Sounds amazing! How long did it take you? And if I may ask, what did the China crossing cost? Did you do it via an agent?
Sorry for the barrage of questions hahah. Good luck with the rest of your trip, sounds like the adventure of a lifetime ????
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22 months now since I first drove to Portugal
The China crossing was almost $2.000USD with another biker and a van
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14 Jan 2024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pakohan
22 months now since I first drove to Portugal
The China crossing was almost $2.000USD with another biker and a van
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Sounds like one hell of a trip! From which border crossings did you go through china? From what I understand, the longer your route the more expensive it is, so I imagine Mongolia - India is the most expensive option, correct?
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14 Jan 2024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nugget040
Sounds like one hell of a trip! From which border crossings did you go through china? From what I understand, the longer your route the more expensive it is, so I imagine Mongolia - India is the most expensive option, correct?
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Yes, it depends on the duration and size of the group. The longer you stay and the fewer people, the more one has to pay.
I went from Erenhot to Mohan Within 22 days with two resting days.
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14 Jan 2024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pakohan
Yes, it depends on the duration and size of the group. The longer you stay and the fewer people, the more one has to pay.
I went from Erenhot to Mohan Within 22 days with two resting days.
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Awesome mate, that helps a lot. Thank you, and enjoy the rest of your trip!
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6 Feb 2024
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Iran-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan
I also crossed Turkmenistan with travel agency Trawelco ( https://www.trawelco.com/) and as I heard there is no another way to get visa to Turkmenistan. You should contact with agency at least 2 week earlier because it takes time to get LOI from their migration. We crossed border from Bajigiran border and get visa at border and then just visited Door to Hell Darvaza crated and then visited Kunya Urgench and passed Uzbekistan border.
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6 Feb 2024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nugget040
so I imagine Mongolia - India is the most expensive option, correct?
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Note that between India and Thailand there is Myanmar, which is currently not passable overland because of closed borders. Mongolia to Laos (if offered; usually it's Kyrgyzstan to Laos) would get you to Thailand more easily.
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