Hi,

I am planning on riding solo from Berlin to Iran and back this summer. See my rough route:
Summer 2011 - Google Maps

I plan on taking smaller roads, talking to people, stopping in villages, experiencing nature. Not so much interested in historic sites or big cities.

The timeframe is two months, August and September. I plan on spending most of my time in Eastern Turkey and Iran, two places I have heard good things about. I realize Ramadan is during August this year, but what can you do.

Budget is 2500 Euro, which leaves me a little over 20 Euro a day after fuel. Rough camping will have to be the order of the day. I am pretty undemanding and tolerant when it comes to food, hotels, etc. I have done the West Coast of Africa and know the life of a motorcycle traveler.

I don't know yet, whether I will go (have the time to go) through the Balkans, I might take the ferry from Igoumenitsa (Greece) back to Venice. Eastern Europe I want to pass through relatively quickly, taking in the Transalpina or Transfagarasan in Romania though. Iraqi-Kurdistan is just an idea. I heard the Kurds want you to leave your passport at the border you come in, so if I go, I'll probably enter from Turkey, in case I can't convince them to let me keep my passport and have to turn around.

Carnet is applied for, as is the Iran visa. I feel a little queasy about taking all my money into Iran in cash form, Euro in my case. Mainly, because I don't know just how much I will need, and a like to have a safety margin, but not having to exchange cash for the rest of the trip (as opposed to ATMs).

Any tips or advice on countries, culture, places, borders, route? Where to spend more time/less time?

Thanks a lot, Julian

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Where is Julian?

For the Turkey stage of your trip according to your likes,dislikes,hobbies, our club highly recommends you the following destination.
İstanbul,Pamukkale,Konya Mevlana,Cappadocia,Mount Nemrut,Stone Road,Dark Canyon,Doğu Beyazıt,Noah's Ark area,Gürbulak(TR)-Bazargan (IR) bordergate and Maku.
If you have time to visit our club,sure you will get your maps and more information.Also you will be able to repair your bike in our club garage if needed.But seems better for you not to enter İstanbul to save money and time.After entering Turkey in İpsala, turn right in Keşan and get the road to Çanakkale Gallipoli area.After fuel, 20 euro may not be enough for you in Turkey so you have to be faster without any stayings in big cities.
Link to photos of the garage.
KULÜPTEN ENSTANTANELER | Facebook
WARNING.
there are insurance scams in İran side trying to sell the insurance for 100 euros.A few metres further the red building there is the office where you can buy it for 30 USD.
Wish you all the best and good luck.
zeki.

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Mehmet Zeki Avar
''Borderlines divide countries,HU friendship finds a way to reunited"
https://www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12?ref=tn_tnmn

Have a good trip, mate!

I and my girl will ride Italy to Iran in summer 2012, so I'll be pleased to read your report if you'll write one for us HUBBers.


Take care,
Nick

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Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré

Hi Julian,

I am riding from Oz to Germany (currently in India) and should be entering Iran in August.
Would be nice to catch up.

Cheers,
Frank

Thanks for the advice, zeki. I've been following you guys on Facebook. I will definitely stop to say hello if I come through Istanbul.

Sure, I will document my trip somehow, somewhere. No promises though, I found out the hard way that keeping a journal on the road is quite a task. Still have some catching up to do on the last trip's blog, haha


Sounds good, I will keep you in mind.

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Where is Julian?

When you're travelling through Turkey, make sure you see Lake Van as well.

Mark

overlandcruiser.net

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www.overlandcruiser.wordpress.com

Hello Julian and friends !,

You're going to have a ball !.

Budget in Iran, no need to worry as the fuel is soooo cheap ( about 40c/l for non-green-card ) and so is accomodation/ food and everything dependent on fuel.

I found almost zero-fees at the Banks so exchange was a breeze, no language no problem just hold up a Euro 50 note and they all know what you want etc..

I'd love to do Turkey again too....so many places and so few leave-days !

I'm happy to forward Journals and GPS info from my trip through there last year, just send a PM.

Cheers and ride safe !

Frank n the Pig.

On the budget in Iran issue, make sure you bring cash. TCs hard, if not impossible, to cash and AFAIK (at least it was this way in 2007) it is impossible to use a foreign ATM card in Iran

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www.overlandcruiser.wordpress.com

hi

our company is the only organizer motorbike & bicycle tours in iran . for any program or advise or services you can contact us .

we offer you best route as you wish .

Thetis Travel: Iran Visa: Iran Tours: Iran Travel: Iran Vacation

Hi Julian,

The google maps link doesn't show a route for me, just a single POI around Erzurum.

Anyway, for a bit of inspiration you could just have a look at the pictures and maps in my ride report, coincidentally titled "Germany to Iran and back", at Germany to Iran and back - ADVrider or On The Road.

I did it in spring/summer rather than fall and it took ~3.5 month. Fair warning, I am into historical monuments :-), but I had more time than you and there is quite a bit of nature stuff I did. Two months seems a bit rushed, but is doable.

Sounds like you are a well seasoned traveler and you shouldn't have too much trouble. Pretty easy overall.

I was apprehensive about carrying cash too. I loaded up in Greece, before entering Turkey. Just no way around it. On a previous trip to Iran I met a couple of travelers that ran out of cash. Not fun! Back then you could organize cash, at a price, through an Iranian bank in Germany. I think I recently read that this loophole has been closed with the latest round of sanctions. Bring more cash than you think you'll ever need, keeping in mind that the worst case scenario (other than medical) is to get your broken down bike transported back to the border to get your carnet released. Iran isn't particularly cheap but camping will safe you lots of money.

Since you are from Berlin, you might want to try to get in touch with the Iranian expat community in Berlin and explore your emergency money options ahead of time. Persian restaurants are a good start :-)

Ha, Steffen! I've been reading your blog. One of your fotos is my current wallpaper at work, to remind me where I will be in just a few weeks time.
I will check out the possibility of using that bank you mentioned. Just in case. I wish I had more time (and money), but what can you do? Have to be back for the winter semester in October. I will try and concentrate on a few key areas.

Try this link: http://maps.google.de/maps/ms?msa=0&...e84794833aba9d

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Where is Julian?

Hey Julian

We start in September from Switzerland to Thailand - have a look on www.timeoutonbike.com if you like.
Maybe we will meet somewhere on the road for a !

Good luck
Roland

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Roland Schlegel

OK, maybe a bit late, but then at least you have something to look at by now:

facebook.com/whereisjulian

is where you can follow my trip. It's been great so far. The Turkish mountains are wonderful and the Iranians must be the friendliest people on earth. Only three weeks left now, but it's been a blast.

From Isfahan,
Julian

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Where is Julian?

Hi julian,
glad to see you are happy with your trip..hope you dont forget us..lets keep in touch as it seems you will be in the area soon again!!!!
hope everyone checks your blog for current information.
Best wishes
m.zeki.

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Mehmet Zeki Avar
''Borderlines divide countries,HU friendship finds a way to reunited"
https://www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12?ref=tn_tnmn