Winter route (starting in Nov)
 

Hey everyone!

So I'm planning my first bike trip (I've travelled a ton but never on bike). I'm American and moving to India. So I started dreaming about riding Portugal to India (skipping Iran, shipping across the Caspian).

First, I'm wondering if that is at all practical for weather, as it looks like I will now be leaving in November. Would it be possible to go through the countries bordering the Mediterranean in Europe and then through Georgia/Azerbaijan, across the Caspian to the Stans? Although this is my ideal route, I am always flexible. Essentially, I want to start somewhere and end in India after 2-3 months.

My other question is regarding carnets. I'm skipping Iran because of costs for that and tour guide requirements. Does anyone know how Pakistan is for Americans? And I would want to keep the bike when I arrive in India... so I'm not sure how to go about doing that. Any thoughts or advice?

Hey- we are riding UK to Thailand via India leaving September (see Sep 17 UK to Bangkok on hubb). Brits have the same restrictions in Iran as you but if you travel as a group the costs are greatly reduced ($850 for visa letters, guide and ten nights accommodation). As for weather- staying south will be fine but it'll get a lot colder as you head north to the Stans (by the time you get there) and there are some high passes to cross back down to India. Note there are no ferries across the Caspian, only cargo ships which do not run to a schedule.
Have fun,
Chris


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This is a great trip but your timing is a bit out, if you are not leaving until November it will be getting rather cold for just about all of your trip with the possibility of snow and closed roads in some places, the KKH into Pakistan might be closed by the time you get there. If you can leave a month or preferably two earlier it will be a whole different trip.
Tiffany Coates is probably the best person to answer this as she has ridden that way a few times on different routes, she might be along some time.
Do you mean you want to permanently import your bike into India? This is not easy or even possible, I have never known anyone do it but it would be very expensive and bureaucratic, temporarily importing it on a carnet will allow you to bring it in for a total of 180 day on that document, this includes leaving the country and coming back again.

Yes, I would think very cold in Tajikistan where you will be at 3500 + meters much of the time.

We had cold riding at the beginning of September.... and snow had already closed the road to Lake Zorkul at least temporarily.

We detoured around and eventually went north where we found cold rain in Sary Tash- which turned to heavy wet snow crossing KyzylArt Pass at 4300 meters on the way to Osh.

I've not been there in November but I wouldn't plan on riding that, myself.

.............shu

Hi barefootgirl,

Welcome to India. I ride thro many countries and the next is IRAN Turkmenistan 19 countries to UK from India. You are a tough girl who has not ridden bikes but want to ride all the want to India. Wow admire your spirit.

When you land in India you are most welcome abode. Just send me an email.
Moving to India is Interesting. Am in Gujarat state / Province. Many riders come thro Pakistan whom I have met in India. Let me know if u need any help in India.

Kayjay

Travel agent in Iran
 

Hi Chris,

Can you guide me to the travel agent for IRAN you have contacted. we are 4 bikes 4 persons from India wanting to ride Iran Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Kazakhstan to Russia.

I did not know the a tour guide issue ?

Await your reply

Kayjay
India

Hi Kayjay

It may not apply to you, as we are British we need a guide. At the moment I'm talking to Hossein at Iran Overland. Very highly recommended and very helpful but not cheap-get two quotes.

Chris


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Unless it has changed very recently, Americans and British can't travel independently in Iran. Given the situation in America at the moment, I doubt whether that would be relaxed any time soon and much more likely to end up as a complete ban.

Thanks for the info and your advice! I think I can leave in late August now - would that be more reasonable? Then it would be September and October that I would be traveling through. I think what I will do for India is just sell the bike in another country nearby (I'll have to research where that's not too difficult) and buy a new one when I get to India. If this is a terrible idea, I'm also open to other things (N Africa instead of Europe, starting in Greece instead, or last resort just do SE Asia).

Late August will be fine, I left in the middle of September which was a little late but ok. Your selling the bike plan could be difficult, others might know a country where you can get rid of it, Nepalese customs can be more flexible than Indian but not straight forward and there might be somewhere in Central Asia.
Don't miss India if that is where you want to go, it is one of my favourite countries and you could fly there and buy a bike, Enfields are popular but small Indian bikes are good quality, cheap and perfect for their road conditions, I have a Hero 150cc which has taken me half the length of the country without a problem.
If flying there November is a good month to arrive just after the monsoon.

Chris, thanks for your tips! I'll definitely have to look into costs of Iran if I can find people to explore it with me!

That's really helpful to know it was that way in September! I'm looking into doing this in September/October, but I'll keep your experience in mind!

I'm encouraged to know that you did it about that time! I will definitely have to look into selling the bike and flying to India, because India is the end destination either way. And I will probably be looking at either an Enfield or Hero, as those were most of what I have seen throughout India! Did you have any issues with snow/roads closed at this time of year?

The roads up into the mountains are closed by then, I got as far as Manali at the beginning of November but did not consider going further safe due to ice and snow. There is still the rest of India which has so much, the north is usually sunny during the day and getting chilly at night and south of Mumbai is somewhat warmer.
Any of the Indian made bikes are pretty good, they are usually built in conjunction with a Japanese partner and unlike many Chinese bikes have close to Japanese quality, the Enfields are different but the later ones are good quality and there is a repair shop in every small town.

Hi barefoot girl, Maurizio here from Rome, Italy.
First things first, IT SNOWS in the Alps in November !
Yes it will be cold drizzly snowy and miserable as far as only a few miles away from the coastline itself - so think twice about riding in November.
Furthermore, you could easily find a foot+ snow on uncleared roads in the Balkans . and you'd have to plow your way through that.
Turkey-Iran border in Esendere is at 1670m on sea level = 5500ft... SNOW !

Secondly, to the best of my understanding there is a ferry service between Baku (Azerbaijan) and Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan) but it sails on a "leave when full" rule and ther is little to no catering offered on board.
It is a truckers' route, not a tourist ferry.
Also, both Azeri and Turkmeni officials are renown for their corruption and bribery.
So think about it :oops2:

Pakistan? You mean that integralistic Islamic far away place where they beat Christians to death ?
I'd stay away from them unless in a large group AND unless you were willing to clad yourself as a pakistani woman.

https://www.prisonersoffaith.org/pakistan

If you are not comfortable with visiting Pakistan a country I will guess you have never been to then stay away but the best advice about going to anywhere comes from people who live or have visited that place. Anyone particularly women visiting Pakistan do need to take advice and precautions but it is a beautiful country full of friendly, hospitable people the majority of whom do not fit your description.