RTW eastward or westward?
 

Hello Riders,

I am a new member of this forum and I have some questions that I hope you guys can answer.
I am planning a rtw trip in 6 months from the Netherlands.

Roughly my planning is to exit Europe through Turkey, cross the Caspian Sea (by ferry), the Stans, Mongolia, Russia, (south-korea), Canada, US, Europe.
I did some research on the internet and almost everything I can find is people heading east.
Is there a specific reason for that?

I ask this question because heading west saves me some time. (shipping the bike ahead to the US).

Hello


VISA, at home you can get them easier (or only) than on the road.
Once you have them, you have to use them in the next 90 days (usually).


sushi

good one, have to check on that

If youre european or live in Europe and start your trip there and youre heading east you can ride and ride and ride. For months and tens and tens of thousands of kms and nimerous countries. If youre heading west you will hit the Atlantic ocean quite soon and youre ride wont be long.

But of course theres not a problem if youre want to start your trip in north or south America and ship your bike there and start your trip there. Also consider buying a bike in America somewhere and save a good bit on shipping....

It does fit in with weather patterns, leave Europe in the summer and you can be in South and Southeast Asia when the monsoon has past and it is winter in Europe, time it well and you can have 12 months of good riding weather.

1) I think some people prefer to get used to a long road trip in an environment more familiar to them.

2) if you like to ride early in the morning and arrive at your day's destination to explore in the afternoon then heading west means you have the sun behind you when you're riding. If you prefer to start later then heading east means you're not riding into the sun at the end of the afternoon.

Yup - very valid point!:thumbup1:

Good point with targetting East vs West. But often the roads arent exactly a stright line!

Check too the options for the Silkroad or Transsibiria. Not only for avoiding Issues because of Corona restrictions.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LnDinQtKq...r-roadtrip.jpg

I try to collect informations and links about both routes here:
https://www.4x4tripping.com/2020/12/...rasse.html?m=0

My dream is a roundloop. Till Japan over the Transsibiria, shipping to Vietnam and driving back through the classic Silkroad.

The advantages of Transsibiria are not just the amount of Visa, Currency and Simcards, it is too a beautiful landscape to travel. The option to visit north korea. If I had to choose between, I would head the southern way, but if possible I will do both.

Surfy

It's true, however OP isn't planning SE Asia..

Phileas Fogg (Round the World in Eighty Days) went east as well. Started and finished at the Reform Club on London's Pall Mall.

And there's nothing worse than riding into the setting sun every day.

There’s the money thing as well.
Head east and your fairly quickly out of the expensive part of Europe into the cheaper Balkans and beyond.

Ship your bike to expensive North America and it’s easy to get carried away, staying in hotels and drinking beer - before you know it you’re eating through your budget and can’t afford to ship to Asia doh.

By the time you’ve ridden through Asia you’ll b so used to roughing it you’ll be will camping and drinking river water in the US :laugh: