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Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 13 Feb 2024
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Post Planning a Ride from Australia to India

I have been dreaming to ride from Australia to India. Any information would be helpful.
1) Type of motorbike recommended
2) Shipping info from Darwin (Any thoughts if my idea of shipping the bike to Malaysia instead of Indonesia or Singapore is a good idea?)
3) recommended Contacts along the way
4) recommended places to stay (motels/hotels/boarding)
5) Places where i could get spares, get the bike serviced.
6) what should i consider my travel time (i will be only riding (no holidays))
7) Approximate budget
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  #2  
Old 13 Feb 2024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kris_001 View Post
1) Type of motorbike recommended
What bikes have you been riding so far, which one did you enjoy the most?

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  #3  
Old 13 Feb 2024
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1. A smallish bike, 250-500 cc. Absolutely no need for a huge behemoth exspensive bike. A Honda Crf250/300 will never be wrong in these countries as its assembled in Thailand.

2. Ship Darwin to Dili (East Timor) If you ship to Malaysia you will have 2-3 days of riding, 1 day to ride through Malaysia and 1-2 days to ride through Thailand. Myanmar is closed for overlanding and will most probably be for a good while ahead. So its not possible to ride through Myanmar. You will have to ship to India. Actually its better to ship from Malaysia to India/Nepal than from Thailand to India/Nepal. So that means that if you send your bike to Malaysia you might as well send it directly to India….
Ship it to East Timor and you will at least have 30 days of riding in Indonesia + 2-3 days in Malaysia and Thailand.

3. Roby @Superbiker in Surakarta City, Java island - Indonesia. Sunny Cycles in Kuala Lumpur, Riders Corner - Chiang Mai northern Thailand (guesthouse, restaurant, rentals and Rideasia forum)

4. Plenty of cheap accomodation all the way through East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Just be sure it has safe parking for your bike.

5. See point 3. Also if you ride a Honda - get spares at a local Honda dealer, if you ride a Suzuki - the same and so on.

6. If you ship directly to Malaysia it will be approx 3 days of riding, 1 day through Malaysia and 1-2 days through Thailand. If you ship to Dili - then add another 30 days.

7. I dont know your habits but it should be possible to live for approx 50 Aussie dollars a day, shipping and insurances not included.
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  #4  
Old 13 Feb 2024
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Originally Posted by pakohan View Post
What bikes have you been riding so far, which one did you enjoy the most?

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I currently ride Yamaha MT09, but soon planning to get into a Adventure Sports category, but if i have to do this international ride, should i go for Adventure Touring like BMW GS or Triumph Tiger?
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  #5  
Old 13 Feb 2024
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Originally Posted by Snakeboy View Post
1. A smallish bike, 250-500 cc. Absolutely no need for a huge behemoth exspensive bike. A Honda Crf250/300 will never be wrong in these countries as its assembled in Thailand.

2. Ship Darwin to Dili (East Timor) If you ship to Malaysia you will have 2-3 days of riding, 1 day to ride through Malaysia and 1-2 days to ride through Thailand. Myanmar is closed for overlanding and will most probably be for a good while ahead. So its not possible to ride through Myanmar. You will have to ship to India. Actually its better to ship from Malaysia to India/Nepal than from Thailand to India/Nepal. So that means that if you send your bike to Malaysia you might as well send it directly to India….
Ship it to East Timor and you will at least have 30 days of riding in Indonesia + 2-3 days in Malaysia and Thailand.

3. Roby @Superbiker in Surakarta City, Java island - Indonesia. Sunny Cycles in Kuala Lumpur, Riders Corner - Chiang Mai northern Thailand (guesthouse, restaurant, rentals and Rideasia forum)

4. Plenty of cheap accomodation all the way through East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Just be sure it has safe parking for your bike.

5. See point 3. Also if you ride a Honda - get spares at a local Honda dealer, if you ride a Suzuki - the same and so on.

6. If you ship directly to Malaysia it will be approx 3 days of riding, 1 day through Malaysia and 1-2 days through Thailand. If you ship to Dili - then add another 30 days.

7. I dont know your habits but it should be possible to live for approx 50 Aussie dollars a day, shipping and insurances not included.
Thank you so much for all the information 'Snakeboy' .
Its a shame that i cannot enter into India by road, that was the whole point of my planning.
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  #6  
Old 13 Feb 2024
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Found some info with regards to land crossing into India from Myanmar:
VEHICULAR BORDER CROSSINGS (go-myanmar.com can fast track the over land crossing into india with regards to paperwork)
Crossing into Myanmar with your own vehicle (motorhome, car or motorbike) requires special permission and you will have to be accompanied by a guide and sometimes a Ministry of Hotels and Tourism liaison officer. We have extensive experience in route planning, guiding, accommodation and logistics and we would be delighted to work with you on your overland Myanmar trip (permits typically take at least one month to process). Note that cycling groups also need permission for border crossings.

INDIA CROSSINGS
There are two open border crossings connecting Myanmar and India. Both accept e-visas, require no special travel permits and are not in areas of restricted travel.

Moreh/Tamu
In western Sagaing Division is the border crossing between Moreh (India, Manipur state) and Tamu (Myanmar, Sagaing Division). The small town of Tamu serves primarily as a transport and logistics hub for cross border trade between India and Myanmar. There is also an ATM, a variety of restaurants, and several hotels that accept foreginers.

Zokhawtar/Rikhawdar
The Myanmar government opened the Zokhawthar (India, Mizoram state) and Rikhawdar (Myanmar, Chin State) border crossing to increase the trade flow to remote northwestern Chin State. That being said, this mountainous region offers incredible scenery, rugged roads, and a unique cultural experience. Just outside of Rikhawdar village is the heart-shaped Rih Lake.

It is not permitted for foreigners to cross at any other India-Myanmar border points.
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  #7  
Old 13 Feb 2024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kris_001 View Post
Found some info with regards to land crossing into India from Myanmar:
VEHICULAR BORDER CROSSINGS (go-myanmar.com can fast track the over land crossing into india with regards to paperwork)
Crossing into Myanmar with your own vehicle (motorhome, car or motorbike) requires special permission and you will have to be accompanied by a guide and sometimes a Ministry of Hotels and Tourism liaison officer. We have extensive experience in route planning, guiding, accommodation and logistics and we would be delighted to work with you on your overland Myanmar trip (permits typically take at least one month to process). Note that cycling groups also need permission for border crossings.

INDIA CROSSINGS
There are two open border crossings connecting Myanmar and India. Both accept e-visas, require no special travel permits and are not in areas of restricted travel.

Moreh/Tamu
In western Sagaing Division is the border crossing between Moreh (India, Manipur state) and Tamu (Myanmar, Sagaing Division). The small town of Tamu serves primarily as a transport and logistics hub for cross border trade between India and Myanmar. There is also an ATM, a variety of restaurants, and several hotels that accept foreginers.

Zokhawtar/Rikhawdar
The Myanmar government opened the Zokhawthar (India, Mizoram state) and Rikhawdar (Myanmar, Chin State) border crossing to increase the trade flow to remote northwestern Chin State. That being said, this mountainous region offers incredible scenery, rugged roads, and a unique cultural experience. Just outside of Rikhawdar village is the heart-shaped Rih Lake.

It is not permitted for foreigners to cross at any other India-Myanmar border points.
A guide and a person from the authorities are definetively needed when crossing Myanmar. But Myanmar is closed for overland travel (and has been for more than 4 years already) for the moment - and will most probably be for a long time ahead due to internal unrest.
Have a look in the Facebook group Myanmar Overland: https://www.facebook.com/share/R652g...ibextid=K35XfP
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  #8  
Old 14 Feb 2024
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Originally Posted by Snakeboy View Post
A guide and a person from the authorities are definetively needed when crossing Myanmar. But Myanmar is closed for overland travel (and has been for more than 4 years already) for the moment - and will most probably be for a long time ahead due to internal unrest.
Have a look in the Facebook group Myanmar Overland: https://www.facebook.com/share/R652g...ibextid=K35XfP
I would love to see a post from somebody who actually used this Burmese agent and successfully crossed him/herself from Burma into India via the advertised route and service.

I had to use an agent to get into Thailand (long story resulting from my stupidity). He cost $800 but it was 100 % gaurantred with no money paid until me and bike legally in Thailand.


If there’s a Burmese agent offering a guaranteed crossing from Thailand into India i,ll happily be the Guinea pig sometime on the next 3-4 months to test his bona fides.

Same goes for China.
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  #9  
Old 14 Feb 2024
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Originally Posted by SeniGreg View Post
I would love to see a post from somebody who actually used this Burmese agent and successfully crossed him/herself from Burma into India via the advertised route and service.

I had to use an agent to get into Thailand (long story resulting from my stupidity). He cost $800 but it was 100 % gaurantred with no money paid until me and bike legally in Thailand.


If there’s a Burmese agent offering a guaranteed crossing from Thailand into India i,ll happily be the Guinea pig sometime on the next 3-4 months to test his bona fides.

Same goes for China.
If you scroll back 4 years +++ in the facebookgroup I mentioned you will find several reviews on different Myanmar travel agencies.

But for now Myanmar is CLOSED for overlanding…
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  #10  
Old 19 Jul 2024
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Keen to follow this thread as I am planning a trip from Australia to London and I’d appreciate any advice on transit from Thailand to India.
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  #11  
Old 19 Jul 2024
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Originally Posted by Motodreaming View Post
Keen to follow this thread as I am planning a trip from Australia to London and I’d appreciate any advice on transit from Thailand to India.
There are overland tours through China from Laos to Nepal. It's expensive, but at least you get to see Yunnan and Tibet. Here is one agency, not as an endorsement, there may be others: https://www.roadpioneer.com/tour/laos-china-nepal/
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  #12  
Old 19 Jul 2024
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Senigreg,

Please don't beat yourself over the USD$800.
We have all made mistakes and we try to learn from them.

I know it's not a small amount of money but it's done.

We all learn from our experiences!

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