Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris1200
I'm sure someone has done it!
Has anyone got a map/route that shows a 'preferred' route requiring minimal (if any) off-roading? I don't have any off-roading experience whatsoever.
Like everyone I am looking for the path of least resistance but I still realise it will be a very challenging trip and very unlike the European trips I have done before so I something of a realist too.
And also, what is considered a reasonable timeframe to allow for a non-rushed or hurried trip for such a journey, assuming you were going to Mumbai?
And visas/carnets......any advice here?
And finally, what would be considered to be the best time of year to leave the UK?
Oh, perhaps I should mention........the trip is on 2 wheels there and back and the bike of choice is likely to be a 650 V-Strom or similar!!
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Hi, me & my wife went from Europe to India on our way to Australia almost 7 years ago. Rode a DL650 two-up, she sat on the back the whole time. There were, and I believe there still are, two “main” options from Europe to India:
Turkey - Iran - Pakistan - India (we went this way),
or
Kyrgyzstan - China - (via KKH, the Karakoram Highway) - Pakistan - India
(Actually there seem to be some routes in China to Tibet and onwards to Nepal, but I haven´t heard of any normal travellers using them, only some travel agencies, who put together riding tours, that cost a small fortune to participate, I suspect the cost of doing this as a solo travellers is prohibitive).
Karakoram Highway goes through some very high mountain passes, so via Turkey this is do-able more months per year... BUT eastern part of Turkey and northwest Iran can still get very cold. I would not pass through there on a bike after October, although this will probably depend on the year.
The KKH route means you have to enter China, a major obstacle, but still seems to be do-able with plenty of cash, and planning well in advance (you need to get in contact with a Chinese tour operator, but I haven´t done this myself).
Iran & Pakistan for us were great, absolutely no problems. But after following the situation, I´d say that western Pakistan (Balochistan) is more problematic now, than it was back then. The police will most likely escort you part of the way, or all the way (and there was escort in southeast Iran as well, may well be this is still the case). It didn´t cost us anything, and they were friendly, but slow.
If you can get Iranian & Pakistani visas (Pak visa you will need for the KKH route as well), and also feel ok to ride through Balochistan, then my guess is that that is the easier option of the two. Main roads were 95% okay, could have done it on a streetbike. Sometimes there were huge potholes, and even open sewer holes to avoid, though. Do not ride in the dark. And traffic is really quite bad in Iran & Pakistan (...just gets you nicely warmed up for the REAL chaos of India LOL!!)
You will need a carnet to get the motorcycle into Pakistan and India, possibly Iran as well. There is only one international border crossing between Iran/Pakistan, and the same goes for Pakistan/India (that border is located a bit east from Lahore).
For us it took about 5 weeks from Finland to India, but I think it could be done in just 2 weeks (although quite stressful - we met a Czech couple on a 4x4, who had driven to southern Iran from Praque in just over a week). On the other hand, some travellers do spend several months on that route, there is a LOT to see and do in each of the countries. If you want to see the sights along the way and take it easy, then plan at least 5-6 weeks. There´s plenty to see in Europe as well, but I think for us was a good plan to skip most of them, and concentrate on the more faraway places, because those will be a lot harder to visit again later.
Time for leaving UK, I´d say either spring (don´t know when exactly, but to be in eastern Turkey after winter, and in India before the monsoon rains), or during autumn, maybe around September, to pass eastern Turkey before winter. Severe midsummer heat in Iran, Pakistan & India could also be uncomfortable, or even dangerous.
Our sort of “blog” still seems to be alive here:
MOTO1 - Matkalla
Hope that is of any use, and will be glad to help in any way, if I can! Pekka