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You mean like insurance for your motorcycle?

My info is almost 5 years old, but in 2007 my bike´s insurance from my home country was valid all the way through Europe, Turkey and Iran (perhaps surprisingly Iran is, or at the very least was, in the Green Card system, that´s why).

But then after crossing to Pakistan, and onwards from there – just hope your vehicle doesn´t get stolen, and try your best not to hit anything :rofl:

(my bike was uninsured in Pakistan & India, but maybe it would be a good idea to buy some "insurance" at the borders or closest towns after crossing.. still, do NOT expect, that such insurance will give you ANY real cover, if you have an accident; its biggest upside may be, that you´re able to show it to the cops, so they don´t get an excuse to get bribes from you..)

Yes, i mean bike insurance. Is it compulsory like it is in the UK?

Actually I was partly driving the 2 vehicles coming from Manchester. It was June 1977, before the Iranian revolution when no one could imagine Shah of Iran could be over thrown.

I was student of 1st year in Medical school and went to Iran. In Tehran I met 2 Pakistani factory workers on 1. Toyota Corona 1968 and 2. Datsun 120Y, 1974 coming from UK. They were delighted to know that I could drive and we started from Tehran-Mashhad-Herat-Kahdhar-Kabul and Peshawar. In those days Afghanistan was very popular with western hippie tourists.

The cars didnt have ACs and would reach 90mph on the Russian built roads of Afghanistan. I was 18 then and loved driving both cars.

These 2 people took 11 days till Islamabad.
Things might have changed a bit, afterall 35 years have passed :~)

Cheers
Omar

Does any one know if there is a time limit on Iranian/Pakistani visa i.e. if I apply for one now but don't intend to enter Iran until August 2013 will the visa still be valid? I'm just worried that the increasing tensions between Israel and Iran may make it difficult/impossible to obtain a visa prior to my planned departure from the UK circa April next year

Yes there is, normally 90 days from issue, that is, you can enter up to 90 days from issue date and stay for the length of your visa ( usually 30 days ).

i've just found out some info on this...
You have to apply for acceptance to get a visa, nominating where you will collect it from (no embassy in uk). When you get this, you have 90 days to collect it from the embassy in nominated country. You then have 90 days to enter Iran.
Pakistan, not sure yet....

Bump!

Anyone know of a good map which covers Turkey, Iran, Pakistan? Something which I can tack to my wall to plan my course

I'm on the verge of leaving from UK to Thailand, same route as you've been plotting.

Waiting anxiously to get my passport back from Pakistan High Commission, and also (anxiously) watching the weather slip into the crutches of winter each day.

I'm going to have to blitz through Europe (which I'm OK with) and get to Turkey ASAP to pass through the Turkey/Iran border which apparently gets tottallly freeeeeeeeeZING.

Totally overwhelmed this week. So much to sort out! Knocking on the Pakistan High Commission door tomorrow for an update, wish me luck.

some Information
 

Hello dear biker

Regarding your Queries:
about visa for Iran visit this :Iran Visa Application Form & Travel Information | London UK
visa for pakistan:you must get it in your home country its impossible in another country
visa for india:you can get it in tehran as well

finally insurance:in iran you will need to have insurance for your bike

any question is welcome

hosseinthebiker@yahoo.com

good luck!