Hello all there,

New to this site but wondering what advice can be given. I am trying to plan a trip from Goa, to John O'Groates (scotland) and am trying to plan a route via Vladivostok. I am at the very early stages of planning, kinda wondering whether it is even possible as so far the route I'm looking at takes me through Burma & China, two countries not known for being friendly to foreigners. Has anyone crossed that way or knows of a route?

Also what advice would you give for a woman planning on doing this? I'm no daintly little thing, but is there special considerations I should take?

Thanks guys.... am really loving this website btw.

Forget about going to Burma on your own bike, it aint going to happen as long as their present government stays in power (and probably a while after that, too).

The same goes for Vietnam, though some individuals have made it, but still very, very unlikely, the same as winning in a lottery I think. Bike size does not matter.

China I think is possible, but not that simple. You´ll need to organise it via a tour operator in China, and it will take a long time, probably months, and cost you a 4- or 5- digit number of dollars.

I went from Europe to Australia last winter, first planned to go that way, but thought they can keep their China, because its so freaking expensive. An interesting country no doubt, but I still dont regret not going there - there are plenty of interesting countries that I had not seen before, and that I could do for a small fraction of the price.

I think it would´ve boasted my trip budget by nearly 50%, if I had included China in it. Would´ve run out of cash well before Australia because of that.

Also keep in mind, that getting into China usually means just that - getting into one of its provinces. Crossing the entire length of it could be a different thing altogether, as you would officially need permits for each province, need to pay your guide every day you spend there, etc., so the costs just pile up.

There have been reports of doing China "unofficially", without any guides etc., and some of them may be true, but I dont think you can count on succeeding in that. You´re much more likely to be rejected at the border.

Getting into China (the cheap/unofficial way) on a Chinese-registered bike has worked, check out www gt-rider dot com forums, theres a travel report about this.

About China Im only speaking of what Ive read or heard, but Im sure other people who have actually done it, can tell you more.

Is there any route to get me from India to Vladivostik? I'm not really set on any particular way, just want to do it

I´ve met people who have ridden from Europe to Russia, Kazakhstan (then Kyrgyzstan, maybe?) then cross into China´s Xinjiang province, then thru there into Pakistan via the Karakoram Highway. That plan includes only a small bit of China, which you may be able to cover in days, not weeks, so it might be more do-able than crossing all of China. But if you´re heading to Europe, and want to go Vladivostok, that´ll be one hell of a detour then!!

Another option would be to freight the bike from India (Chennai maybe) to Vladivostok, Japan or South Korea. Expect it to cost quite a bit by air, or take several weeks, maybe a month, by sea. But that should be do-able anyway.

The Freedom Highway? Its a good idea. Do you know where it would hook up with the road to Vladivostok?

I was thinking I ride to Vladivostok and us the Trans-Siberian railway to go to Moscow. Have anyone got any idea of the cost that might be involved or if it is possible to stick a bike on the train. Otherwise I guess its a long ride there & back.

Thx

The easy opting is ride India to Europe (Pakistan, Iran, Turkey) then throught Rusia from east to west. Both of these have been done before and are possible - see the blogs on the left side bar and go through them for the reports of people who have done them. You can also do it in teh reverse .. get to the eastern side of Russian and ride from there to the east, then ride from Europe to India...

Go to the next HU meeting - poosibly meet someone who has done at least part of that trip.

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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S