Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > SE Asia
With own bikes through SE Asia - questions With own bikes through SE Asia - questions
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
SE Asia Includes Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, plus Indonesia
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Like Tree1Likes
  • 1 Post By Goodbye Comfortzone

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11 Nov 2022
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Oct 2022
Posts: 4
With own bikes through SE Asia - questions
Hi,
we are two german motorbike travelers driving from Germany to Australia in yearly stages. 2023 we are going to ride through Pakistan, India, Nepal, Thailand, and maybe Vietnam to get to Malaysia / Indonesia.

The following questions are keeping us busy right now:

- is there a chance to drive through Thailand without a guide?
- are there any recommendations where we can leave out bikes (if needed) for around 6-12 without having issues with the carnet/customs?
- any other hints or recommendations are welcome!

our website / blog: https://www.goodbye-comfortzone.de

Thx,
Claudius & Philip
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12 Nov 2022
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 33
Hello! In answer to your first question:

We're currently doing a similar trip to yours.

After Pakistan, India and Nepal, we flew our bikes from Kathmandu to Kuala Lumpur and entered Thailand from Malaysia. We had no issue going into Thailand, they asked for our Carnets de Passage even though they are not used in the country usually. We are finding that in South East Asia, this is a grey area and even used the CDPs to get into Laos easily and quickly. They seem to have become a proxy for temporary customs import documents.

However, our friend went to the same border crossing a few days later and they at first told him he needed a guide. He showed them his carnet and asked that they fill it in, and he got in.

No issues riding around Thailand.

We understand that Vietnam is a no-go with your own bike, you need to organise a tour/get an agent. We've not heard of anyone successfully getting in.
We are going to attempt Cambodia soon.
__________________
"To sleep, perchance to dream... of having the self-belief of an adult man whose forum contributions need to be moderated." Unknown
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 13 Nov 2022
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Oct 2022
Posts: 4
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pepper_HU View Post
Hello! In answer to your first question:

We're currently doing a similar trip to yours.

After Pakistan, India and Nepal, we flew our bikes from Kathmandu to Kuala Lumpur and entered Thailand from Malaysia. We had no issue going into Thailand, they asked for our Carnets de Passage even though they are not used in the country usually. We are finding that in South East Asia, this is a grey area and even used the CDPs to get into Laos easily and quickly. They seem to have become a proxy for temporary customs import documents.

However, our friend went to the same border crossing a few days later and they at first told him he needed a guide. He showed them his carnet and asked that they fill it in, and he got in.

No issues riding around Thailand.

We understand that Vietnam is a no-go with your own bike, you need to organise a tour/get an agent. We've not heard of anyone successfully getting in.
We are going to attempt Cambodia soon.
Hi Both, thank you. That sounds promising. We will follow you on Instagram safe travels...
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 29 Nov 2022
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 20
car insurance malaysia
Good morning guys,
i am acctually shipping my car to malaysia, but its pretty hard to find an insurance company to isnure foreign cars, can you provide some info where you insured your bikes in Malaysia, and could you find also an osnurance for several countries, or is the only way to do it, buy at every border an other-one ??
I am now waiting in Cambodia and when car arrives in Port Klang i will fly in and drive it back here !!

Cheers mates !!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 30 Nov 2022
Snakeboy's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
Posts: 1,524
Quote:
Originally Posted by Goodbye Comfortzone View Post
Hi,
we are two german motorbike travelers driving from Germany to Australia in yearly stages. 2023 we are going to ride through Pakistan, India, Nepal, Thailand, and maybe Vietnam to get to Malaysia / Indonesia.

The following questions are keeping us busy right now:

- is there a chance to drive through Thailand without a guide?
- are there any recommendations where we can leave out bikes (if needed) for around 6-12 without having issues with the carnet/customs?
- any other hints or recommendations are welcome!

our website / blog: https://www.goodbye-comfortzone.de

Thx,
Claudius & Philip
Drive through Thailand without guides? Precovid this was a matter of from which bordercrossing one came from. Both bc Myanmar to Thailand one needed guides. But currently Myanmar is not open for overlanders.
From Laos - most bordercrossings guides not needed, from Cambodia most borders guides not needed, from Malaysia some borders guides needed, other bordercrossings guides not needed.
So how it will be postcovid I think nobody knows. A few reports from overland travellers that have crossed Malaysia to Thailand suggests that its possible to enter Thailand without a guide.

Leaving a foreign vehicle for 6-12 - do you mean days, weeks of months?
Cambodia used to be the easiest option as they didnt even hand out a TIP. Im not sure if thats still the case - but it could be an option. Malaysia and Indonesia could also be options as long as the vehicle has a valid Carnet.

Other hints and recimandations - as mentioned above getting into Vietnam you need to organise the trip via an agent/travel agency.

My personal recomandations - Laos and Indonesia. The best countries for overlanding in SE-Asia. Super cheap, very friendly and helpful locals, poor roads - but that makes the trip an adventure.
__________________
In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 4 Dec 2022
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadtophnompenh View Post
Good morning guys,
i am acctually shipping my car to malaysia, but its pretty hard to find an insurance company to isnure foreign cars, can you provide some info where you insured your bikes in Malaysia, and could you find also an osnurance for several countries, or is the only way to do it, buy at every border an other-one ??
I am now waiting in Cambodia and when car arrives in Port Klang i will fly in and drive it back here !!

Cheers mates !!
Hi!

We may have forgotten to insure our bikes in Malaysia ... sorry we can't be of more help with that one!

We then went border to border for the other countries' compulsory insurance:
- Thailand, you buy insurance just before the border, easy process
- Laos, you buy it in-country, best to buy near the border or else they can only sell you a one-year insurance
- Cambodia, as far as we understood it, you can't buy insurance there so have to go without

Good luck getting your car out of Port Klang!
__________________
"To sleep, perchance to dream... of having the self-belief of an adult man whose forum contributions need to be moderated." Unknown
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 5 Dec 2022
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Bern, CH
Posts: 265
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadtophnompenh View Post
Good morning guys,
i am acctually shipping my car to malaysia, but its pretty hard to find an insurance company to isnure foreign cars, can you provide some info where you insured your bikes in Malaysia
Hello

I did it October, 2012 with the Malaysian Automobile Club:
"Shipment: From Perth / Fremantle, Australia to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - October, 2012"
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ge...value=malaysia

sushi
__________________
My RTW:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrXt660ztenere
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 5 Dec 2022
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 20
malay insurance
Thanks for info, but i found already a solution.
A guy at the thai-border who is used in these matters didi it for me online before the car arrives in Port Klang. Payement i arrnged with the Malay shipper and only have to give them some cash on arrival, was only 94 MYR for 1 month.

FCFOONG@GMAIL.COM
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Shipping two bikes from Australia to Canada luckyluke84 Australia / New Zealand 0 12 Nov 2016 22:28
Done: Shipping from Southeast Asia to Europe jnk_ Trip Transport 6 6 Feb 2015 20:57
Shipping a bike from Southeast Asia to Europe, this is how it worked for us jnk_ West and South Asia 4 23 Jan 2015 09:36

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 18:28.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top