Hello some advice if possible please ? I have looked through the forum and researched the question as best I can but a lot of the info appears dated.(it might be user error) I'm just trying to check for up-to-date information .
Over the last several years I've travelled to Asia extensively and rented a motorcycle to tour around, I would now like to ride to Chaing Mai and base my self their for a few months.I have enquired about shipping my motorbike a KTM 1190 adventurer but that seems very expensive and I would miss some interesting places.The most logical way seems to be going through Russia possibly through Korea and a ferry. I am planning to try and leave in September but I'm concerned that this may be too late ?
I'm trying to plan well ahead as the site advises.I would like to stick to paved roads if possible as the bike is quite big and heavy and I will be traveling on my own.
I would really appreciate any advice, thanks in advance.
Safe riding
Paul

Paul,
I would take a look at the weather mate, if you going to try and ride from the UK in Sept and crossing Russia towards Vladivostok to get a ferry then its going to be very cold in Siberia. I research it my self as I am/was/still planning to do it someday and I was looking at setting off about April/May time so I could get across before the cold sets in
There are some Russian people on here and I know of a Brit living over in Russia, hope they see the thread and might be able to advice you better
Northern Thailand is a great place to stop for a bit

Wayne

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Wayne
thanks very much for your quick response that's just the sort of information I'm looking for, the problem seems to be if I go to the other way through India I need a travel Carnet for the bike which will be v expensive as I've got a new bike.i've been to Chaing Mai a fair few times and I am a regular contributor to the GT riders site there.The easy thing to do is fly to Thailand and hire or buy a bike their for a few months and travel all over Asia from there .But I really would like to ride there if it's not too difficult or incredibly expensive.I know it will be a substantial sum of money and I'm happy about that, its just trying get into the details now to see if it's a goer or not.
Thanks again
and South Riding
Paul

There ain't nowt wrong with the route Paul, I was looking at doing the same think, but set off earlier IMHO. Yes i also looked at the India route and China but both have added expense for guides when crossing China and Myanmar, if you can get through Myanmar that is, there are a few people on the site asking for others to make a group to cross these places.
Yeah its good round Norther Thailand, doing it as we speak, sat in Mae Hong Son with a

Cheers
Wayne

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Wayne
I am jealous now although the I was over a month ago thanks for help hopefully others will help as well
Thanks again
Safe riding
Paul

First of all, there are no ferries that go from East Asia to Thailand (or anywhere in that region). There are also no ferries from the Persian Gulf region to the Indian subcontinent (although there have been plans for such service, because a lot of workers from India go to the Gulf region, but these plans never seem to become a reality). And there are no ferries between India and Southeast Asia. In that region, crossing water from one country to another almost always means shipping the bike by air or by sea, and getting yourself on a flight, there are very few exceptions to this.

By land, it is either through China (known to be very expensive, but just recently it appears, that some have found out, how to do it without a guide, dropping costs considerably)... or through Burma, which used to be practically impossible, but has been gradually opening up, and now appears to be a bit like China, with the guide and all, but the quotes that I´ve seen, are actually quite a bit lower. This would be my #1 choice at the moment. I would not expect it to be easy to arrange passage through the whole country, though.

If China & Burma are a no-go for you for whatever reason, then it should be possible to have your bike sent from Kathmandu Nepal to Bangkok by air. You will need a carnet, if you go to Pakistan or India, but getting the carnet should not be a show-stopper, although you probably will need a deposit for the issuer. Contact the AA in your country to get the details.

Do keep in mind, that winter will be a very big obstacle on northern route options, especially in Siberia, and in all mountain areas north side of Thailand. Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-India-Burma should be the option, that is closest to the Equator, and therefore should be the warmest. On that route, your worries actually might be dangerous summertime heat in some desert areas, and the rainy season, once you get to the Tropics.

I rode with my GF to India 7 years ago, and we freighted the bike by air from Chennai to Bangkok. I do not recommend to send anything to/from India, though, it seems like Kathmandu will be much more smooth.

Good luck, and let me know, if there is any way that I could help you out with your planning!

That's reallly v useful and appricted I am looking at a organised bike trip accross China taking a month cost around £6500 which I would then carry on independently via Laos to Thailand at the moment leaving 1St sepmember
I thought I had read you can go via Korea and a ferry but sounds as if that's was historical. I don't want to go the India way because my bike is new and the carnet would be very expensive
I am looking for other ways to do it after Russsia but all look v expensive I will keep you updated
Thanks again
PAUL.

Paul,
from Vladivostok there are two ferries you can take: to Korea and to Japan, if you fancy visiting those countries. Although if you want to avoid buying a carnet, you'll have to take the ferry to Sakhaline, then to Japan: there they will not check your carnet.

Overlanding: Routes

Without a carnet and without shipping, you don't have much options, unfortunately. But there is still Africa, through the West coast, which should make your KTM happy for a while !

Laurent

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Laurent
Thanks very much for your replying and your advice as my previous post I found a company that will take me across China on a escorted bike tour taking 25 days the cost £5400 pounds I am looking at that as well at the moment. That would mean leaving the UK 1 August and meeting them to go across China very early September so the weather should be okay?
I don't think Africa's viable as I said I'm trying to avoid the Carmet as my bike is nearly new and the cost just seems too much to get one for my bike.
Safe riding
Paul

So, about how much would it cost for you then..??

Note, that there are costs for issuing the carnet, could be a few hundred euros, and then there is usually a bond, for example you transfer some money to an account, that the carnet issuing body has access to (and you do not). In my case, I had 5000 euros in one such account. BUT, it was released (returned to me), once my bike had returned home. Had this not happened, the issuing body could have used this money to pay taxes&duties to a country, that has announced, that my bike has stayed there longer than permitted.

In short, I would not make my plans based on this one paper alone.

I was going by the September/ October issue of adventure bike rider magazine ,it says there if I go through Egypt the total cost would be £9000 but I would get £4590 back. As you no doubt appreciate although I've travelled extensively on my bike through Europe and hired bikes all over the world this travelling to different continents on your own bike is new to me so your advice is invaluable. I will contact the RAC in England and ask what I will actually be charged.I am not trying to the trip on a shoestring and I do realise it's going to cost me a substantial sum of money.
I'm just trying to find the best value way to do it because I want to spend a substantial amount of time and money exploring Asia around Thailand .
Thanks for your help.
Safe riding
Paul

Just a update I have booked the china leg I leave the UK 3rd August anticipated route turkey Georgia Russia Stans china Lao then Thailand as a base to explore Burma etc .thanks for all the advice making lots of decisions re luggage etc need to get Russian visa .
Cheers and safe riding
Paul

A update I didn't want to give ,I've managed to break my leg so not going anywhere at the moment just trying to see how long it will take me to get bike fit again
all the very best
Paul

Paul
Thats not good fella. Hope its get sorted soon so you can get off

Wayne

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