Hi, everyone, I'm Michael 22 Years old (soon 23) and I just have started planning this trip. Someone recommended me this forum and what I've read so far is really amazing

First of all, the BIG shock, I will not go by motorcycle, I want to go by car, I know thats a bit uncommon in this forum, but I think both types of transport have simular problems.

So what is my trip about, well basically a few months ago I was plaing arround with google maps (again ) and checked how long it takes to drive from munich to bankok, and saw, just 13800 km directly and noticed thats just 3 times the distance I drove on my balkan trip. Now I finally have dediced to do it and started planning.

So what is my idea:
Going from Munich to Istambul over various destinations (Serbia, Romania, Builgaria etc.) thats the easy part. Then from istambul across turkey through Iran. Here it gets already a bit more tricky:

I would try to be ready to start at begin on September even if it is a really tight scedule for planning, maybe also just begin of october.

I read already some stuff about Iran and heard for some roads you get military escords, is that still true? Do they charge you something? Also in another Forum someone mentioned that the insurance costs are quite hight? Does anybody know whats about that and have some numbers? Also that the Iran currently makes it more difficult, for western europeans, is that still true?

So after the Iran I would either go trough the south of afganistan (here I would like to hear if someone has estimations about how dangerous it is?) and then pakistan, or just Pakistan.

For Pakistan I read at multiple places that you get for all distances Military Escords, here again do they charge you something? Is it more difficult if you try to enter India from pakistan? Also what about bribing? Getting ripped of by border control?

When I see the current events in the last few days - in pakistan a airport got attacked, in irak forces come over from syria and conquering cities, if Its currently maybe too unsave for traveling in this area, even for adventurers, what is your opion about that?

So after Pakistan comes India and Nepal, for nepal someone told me to be there from oktober till november because in the winter it gets more tricky (ok, the person also wanted to go to the first base camp of everest), but since that would be way to tight for my scedule I plan to be there in december.

Now the big desicion comes, Basically I would really like to go though Myanmar, but when I read the one post (I don't find it anymore) where someone described what they had to do to get (also just because of their honeymoon) with a vehicle into the country I get the the feeling my chance of getting in seem pretty low.

Also they had to pay a travel agend, here is my question again about the costs. I already read a little bit and for example there is a bigger group of vehicles who want to share the costs to cross the border from bangladesh, but they want to cross in november, which is too early for me, for me january would be more realistic.

My other alternative would be (since I do not care so much about russia, and china seem unaffordable) to go by ship to thailand or laos, here would come the question up again, what are the costs?

So what would you say, crossing Myanmar is possible or should I go more for the sea transport?

Now comes the next question I have, I read online Thailand does not accept the Carnet the Passage and when I wanted to enter thailand I had to import the car, which would be 40 % of the new price of the car, what about that is (still) true?

Also since this is a one way trip (I would fly back from thailand/laos/wherever I end up ), I would try to sell the car at my destionation, would that be Possible/Allowed for example in Laos?

And since I read that I thought it would be smarter going for laos (well by sea that would not be possible)

For the whole trip (including buying a cheap car for 1000-1500 euroes in germany) I estimated about 8000-9000 Euroes for the trip, is that realistic?

I already thank you ALOT for your answers, and hope you can help me

PS: I'm not shure if this is not more in the section Paperwork I hope you forgive a newbe

Greets
Michi

I´ll try to answer some of your questions. But note, that my experience is on a motorcycle, and from a long time ago (6,5 years ago), so do take this with a grain of salt..

“I read already some stuff about Iran and heard for some roads you get military escords, is that still true? Do they charge you something? Also in another Forum someone mentioned that the insurance costs are quite hight? Does anybody know whats about that and have some numbers? Also that the Iran currently makes it more difficult, for western europeans, is that still true?”

I got escorted eastwards from Bam all the way to the Pakistani border. They did not cost me anything (in Iran or in Pakistan) but they were slow, especially in Iran. Iran was, probably still should be, part of the Green Card insurance zone, so my insurance that I had back home, was valid for 3rd party at least. Pakistan is not part of that zone, so you´d basically have to buy something at the border, and hope that this insurance is any good. I did not have ANY vehicle insurance while in Pakistan, but I cannot recommend to do like I did. If I had an accident there, where I hurt somebody, I would definitely have been neck deep in trouble. (note, that the so-called “border insurances” may not exactly save you either, but then you at least have tried to make yourself legal to ride/drive there).

“So after the Iran I would either go trough the south of afganistan (here I would like to hear if someone has estimations about how dangerous it is?) and then pakistan, or just Pakistan.”

Never been to Afghanistan myself, but personally I estimate it to be too dangerous to be taken as a serious route option. Problem is West Pakistan (Baluchistan) has had more and more safety related issues, attacks, kidnappings etc. North Pakistan (via Karakoram Highway) seems to be relatively okay, but there have been isolated incidents even on that route. So you always have to take a chance, and North Pakistan route also means you have to get into China (with the mandatory guide, all this costs a lot of money).

“For Pakistan I read at multiple places that you get for all distances Military Escords, here again do they charge you something? Is it more difficult if you try to enter India from pakistan? Also what about bribing? Getting ripped of by border control?”

For me, there were occasional escorts in Baluchistan, Quetta, and some of the cities further east, the rest of the way I was free to ride on my own. Areas directly east from Quetta (Loralai, Dera Gazi Khan) were no-go for foreigners, so I had to make a detour south, via Sukkur to Multan. Pakistani police were extremely friendly, in fact I once stayed overnight at a police station,

“When I see the current events in the last few days - in pakistan a airport got attacked, in irak forces come over from syria and conquering cities, if Its currently maybe too unsave for traveling in this area, even for adventurers, what is your opion about that?”

Looks to me like we never get to hear ANY good news from Pakistan! I only stayed there for less than 1 week, but I had the most pleasant experience, EXTREMELY friendly people, and no problems whatsoever. The same thing with Iran actually. It was funny to compare what we get to read from the news, to what I experienced there myself. Totally different. But I´m NOT saying there are no safety issues there, especially in some parts of Pakistan. But the probability of being targeted is still quite small, and your own actions may also affect your chances. I would personally skip Quetta if I could, and generally go through Baluchistan as fast as I could.


“Now the big desicion comes, Basically I would really like to go though Myanmar, but when I read the one post (I don’t find it anymore) where someone described what they had to do to get (also just because of their honeymoon) with a vehicle into the country I get the the feeling my chance of getting in seem pretty low.”

Myanmar – it appears, that it has been sloooowly opening up to tourists on their own vehicles. But the system looks kinda similar to China, with the guide and relatively expensive. Also looks like you´d need to arrange everything months in advance, and some of the eastern states of India may require special permits before you even get close to Myanmar. BUT, otherwise you´d need to arrange to get from Nepal to Laos via China (Tibet) = super-expensive... or to send a car by freight from India to Thailand for example, is also gonna cost you. I would investigate the Myanmar option very carefully. (6,5 years ago I sent my motorcycle by air from Chennai to Bangkok, but with a car, I think you´d have to send by sea. There are no international ferries doing that route).

“Now comes the next question I have, I read online Thailand does not accept the Carnet the Passage and when I wanted to enter thailand I had to import the car, which would be 40 % of the new price of the car, what about that is (still) true?”

Thailand have their own temp import paper, at least for bikes they do, would be surprised if cars are different. I got 30 days, maybe now you only get two weeks, but I´m not 100% sure. At least back then, you could make a short “visa-hop” to Cambodia or Malaysia, then return to get the vehicle permit extended, and expats said you could in reality do this for about 6 months before the customs really start giving trouble... note, that this info may VERY WELL be outdated by now!

Hope that´s of any help, and let me know if I can help you in any other way! Pekka

great info thanks. We are headed that way as well from switzerland.

Thanks really A LOT that you took the time to make this answer. You helped me a lot regarding the Iran, Pakistan issue. With the Myanmar issue, I'll write a Mail to the Embassy of Myanmar questioning what the current state is. When I recive a answer I'll post it here.

If the refuse this option, or it would get too expensive I probably sell the car in Nepal and try to either go through by busses or use a plane, but Myanmar is basically the country on my trip which interests me most.

maxpowers410: You are also heading till myanmar? If you want (or anybody who reads this) and also have to go through myanmar in about december, please contact me, then we could share the guides costs.

Pardon me if I´m just plain wrong here, as I did not visit Nepal on my trip.. but is it not a carnet-country? You will need to have a carnet to get that vehicle into Pakistan and India for sure, but I think you will also need to use the carnet to enter Nepal (someone will be able to confirm, if I´m right or wrong?)

... but anyway, IF you have used the carnet to get the vehicle temporarily imported into a country X, and then you sell it in that country, you will NOT get back the carnet bond, that you have had to transfer to the carnet issuing body, usually the AA in your home country. In that case, you are clearly in breach of the agreement, that you made with them in order for them to issue the carnet, so I don´t know if there could follow other legal consequences.

....and, in my experience (though I´m not sure, if the policy will be the same everywhere), the Finnish AA did NOT release the carnet bond for me, UNTIL the vehicle had been positively returned to the country of origin. This needed to be verified by the stamp of our port customs on the last page (Certificate of location). So even though this was not really a problem for me (except of course I did have to wait for 2 months, until the vehicle did return from Australia on sea freight), it looks like I could not have sold my vehicle anywhere, and get my carnet bond back. Doesn´t really matter if I sold it in a country, that is not in the carnet system / does not require the carnet.

You might wanna discuss the selling plan with your carnet issuing body first.

Hi,

Do you have any new information about this?
I want to ride from Belgium to Cambodja me too, but as i search the forums, it's not that I can jump on my motorcycle tomorow and start riding