Hi everyone. Been a while.

I have finally gotten all my ducks in a row and I am planning on leaving europe in january/february 2025 for 1-2 years.

I want to take my time and work in a couple of places along the way. Ideally taking part in a bunch of projects (im a veterinarian), so flexibility is one of the more important aspects of this trip. Along the way I want to work in dog/cat stray/shelter projects as well as a variety of wildlife projects. I already have a bunch of projects I want to visit but if you have any suggestions Id love to hear them.

Ive previously done a longer trip through the Americas. Borders and i guess paperwork in general were extremely easy (no carnet required) and required basically no planning.

I have done a 6 month bike trip through southern Africa a few years, as well as a shorter road trip through Scandinavia last year. Since my Americas trip i have also flown to India, Nepal, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cuba, where I simply rented bikes for the time there.

Countries I really want to see and spent some time exploring are: India, (Kirghistan), (Tajikistan), Pakistan, China, South Korea and Japan. From there I would reevaluate what comes next.

My companion on this trip will be my 2020 RE Classic 500. I know that it would make much more sense to simply fly to these places and rent bikes, but that is not what I want to do on this trip. I would also like to try to limit the shipping/flying of the bike (and myself) as much as possible.

Fortunately money will not be the biggest issue. Im aware of the costs of the china guides for example, but the alternatives arent really options for me.
I am getting a carnet de passage.

So im looking for your advice!

I have done quite a bit of research. I dont know what the options are with a western european passport to go through Russia, but im not interested in that even if it was possible.

Options im looking at and where id love feedback to include:

1. Turkey -> Iran -> Pakistan -> India -> Nepal -> Tibet -> China -> Laos -> Cambodia -> Vietnam -> Taiwan -> South Korea -> Japan

2. Turkey -> Iran -> Turkmenistan -> Uzbekistan -> Tajikistan -> Kirghistan -> China -> Pakistan -> India -> Thailand -> Cambodia -> Vietnam -> Taiwan -> South Korea -> Japan

3. Turkey -> Iran -> Turkmenistan -> Uzbekistan -> Tajikistan -> Kirghistan -> China -> Pakistan -> India -> Nepal -> Tibet -> China -> Laos -> Cambodia -> Vietnam -> Taiwan -> South Korea -> Japan


Iran is tricky. I hope nothing significant changes in the next few months and that I can go through there, as seems possible at the moment.

The "Stans" is another issue. I want to minimize border crossings but I have heard so many good things about this area of the world. What do you know about the reality of getting visas? Only possible in your home country or perhaps along the way?

Pakistan/India/Nepal shouldnt be an issue.

I know im gonna hate having a tourguide in China, which is the reason why I dont want to go all the way through, even though if that wasnt necesary I think I could spent a year there easily just exploring. Do you know if my situation was improved somehow if I got a short time job and or job offer/invitation? Especially concerning bringing your own bike into the country? I have some contacts to international projects there and I think it might be possible, but my friends there havent been able to get any information on whether that would change anything in regards to needing a guide etc.

So after I made my way through China and into South East Asia, ive been looking at how I can get to South Korea/Japan. It seems there used to be a boat going to Taiwan and then a ferry to the southern Japanese islands but I couldnt find any information of them running again since they were shut down during covid. South Korea - Japan and vice-versa doesnt seem to be an issue.

I dont mind skipping Taiwan and/or South Korea on this trip.

I know this is a lot. For anyone who has read all of it, thanks. I would really appreciate any and all comments!

See you on the road
m90

IMHO you're underestimating difficulty of getting your motorcycle through China. It's either prohibitly expensive expensive or complicated or both. At least from the northern side. I was told it's easier from the south. Maybe.

The easiest way to get to Japan is Russia -> South Korea (ferry) -> Japan (ferry), YMMV.

Also Turkmenistan is difficult you can get 3 day transit visa if you apply for it in Iran.

About the last parts of your trip...

Vietnam is almost impossible to legally enter on a foreign-plated vehicle.

South Korea and Taiwan are kind of hostile to motorcycle overland travel, IIRC they even ban motorcycles on highways.

There is a vehicle ferry from Busan to Fukuoka, but shipping from SEAsia to Taiwan and Taiwan to Korea would have to be by container/air.

Certainly for Taiwan, my experience with it has been that taking trains between major population centers and renting scooters at the train station to get around is the infinitely preferable option. Plus since there is no natural traffic of foreign vehicles into Taiwan, I wonder how much trouble you will get with the customs authorities trying to figure out what to do with you...

If I was in your position, I would do an overland trip as far as Thailand (you will still need to bypass Myanmar unless something changes drastically there), and take advantage of e.g. https://www.apl.com/ebusiness/schedu...s/flyer/JTXCNC to send your bike onwards to Japan while you take a local rented/bought bike around Vietnam, then a cheap flight to Taiwan... meet up with your bike in Japan, ride around, take the vehicle ferry to Korea, arrange container shipment home from Korea while you fly.