Hi all:

[ UPDATE - 25 Mar 2014 ]

After getting behind on my prep, I have decided
to delay my start until the fall of 2014...

The Google Group we set up has lots of people
still making the trip as per the update info below.

To get in touch with that group, hebbo is monitoring
this thread, so please contact him to coordinate
with the group !

Most of the group is now looking to avoid Pakistan,
due to the instability and safety issues.

We have a couple of quotes re China crossing, and
one for crossing Burma.

This is looking like the route of choice for the
group - with a late Aug or Early Sep date to
enter China.

1) Irkestam -> Tibet -> Nepal

Will likely post in the fall, looking to do the route
the opposite way in spring of 2015 (Burma -> Nepal
-> China -> Europe)

[ /UPDATE ]

I am looking to cross China in the fall of 2014 as
part of my RTW ride - with the interest in sharing
the expense of the permits, guide, etc that comes
along with crossing China.

I am on a motorcycle (KTM 690 Enduro)

My route then takes the KKH, across N Pakistan, N India,
Nepal, and on to Kathmandu.

The shortest potential routes across China are below,
though I would also consider entering through Kazakhstan,
east of Almaty (though a little earlier)



Border crossing info suggests that the southern
crossing has less drama - Irkeshtam Pass.

Route 1 -> B -> C Irkeshtam Pass border crossing info here

Route 2 -> B -> C Torugart Pass border crossing info here

Long term climate data for the route from China to Nepal
looks like this:



I would prefer to avoid the rainy season, and enter China
around the 1st or 2nd week of September.

It looks like 5 or so days to cross China on the routes above.

Anyone else considering something similar ?

Hey.

We are two guys from Denmark, thinking about riding to Thailand from august 2014.

If we can get a good price, we might go to china, but i all depends on the final price for crossing.

We hope to have our final plan ready late January, so we can start planning.

Cheers

Kenneth

Howdy Kenneth - sent you a PM. What dates are you
wanting to enter Thailand, and what route are you
thinking about to get there ?

Hello Accelrus and kenneth,

I'm also plannig a trip from the Netherlands (amsterdam) tot Thailand (bangkok) and wanting to drive the KKH from China into Pakistan. Entering China late august/begin september.
Wondering if we possibly could drive together in China. Do you have already more information about possibilities about guiding in China and costs?

Looking forward to heard from you,

Gr,

Floris

Sent you a PM

Hi all
My wife and I are travellling on a 1200GS and need to get from Mongolia through China into Vietnam. All I read is how difficult China is to pass through. If you have any ideas to make this easier please let me know. What visa have you got for this. I have emailed Chinese embassy in London for help! The cost do seem to be high for single bikes so if we need to meet up with like minded travelers then that is what we will do. Hope to get to China around September 2014.

BikerT - sent you a PM

Hello All,

I have a quotation from Newland Travel International for driving through china (KKH) in 4 days:

Day 1: Turgart - Kashgar
Day 2: Kashgar
Day 3: Kashgar - Tashkurgan
Day 4: Tashkurgan - Pakistan ( Khonjirap pass )

It's based on one bike and one person quite expensive (around 2000 euro) but can be much cheaper if we can drive together as a group because several cost components are the same for one person or a (large) group. A quick calculation shows that the price per person will be around:
2000 euros for one person
1400 euros for two persons
1200 euros for three persons
1100 euros for four persons

This quotation includes the whole package (hotel, insurance, visas, guidance, etc.)
Offcourse we can try to negotiate about a better price.

So, I'm looking for fellow travelers who want share the experience driving through China. Because of the weather I want to go there by end august/begin september.

Please let me now if you are interested in joining.

gr,

Floris

Hi Floris:

Thanks for posting the quote info.

That looks similar to what I have been quoted,
though my more inexpensive quote (below) does
not include accommodation, meals, fuel, etc.

What I received was:

1 person - $2,350 USD
2 person - $1,555 USD
3 person - $1,290 USD
4 person - $1,158 USD

With respect to the weather, it seems to be better
to enter China a little later, to avoid the rainy season
on the wind/weather side of the Himalayas - and also
to avoid potential delays due to road washouts.

What route are you thinking about after the KKH ?

Have you been watching the security situation in Pakistan ?

It seems pretty dodgy right now - though I think that
the northern crossing (KKH -> Abbottabad -> Lahore)
looks like 3-4 days, so not too much time in that area.

Re China, we are travelling across the Torugart Pass into China leaving Naryn 20th August for Kashgar.
We will then take 28days to travel across China (avoiding the BIG cities as we have lived previously in China) to Laos. We have appointed a Chinese agent/guide and currently finalising the itinerary.

We have a seat in the 4x4 for a guide.
if anyone interested in sharing all or a part of this journey, let me know.

Andy

Howdy !

What is your route across China ?

Sent you a PM.

Thanks

Hi
We have no set route but coming in from Mongolia and need to get to Vietnam.
Trying to get an invitation letter currently so I can get visa. Sally and I will be leaving UK late June but expect to be at chinese border some time in September 2014.
David

Hi AccelRus,

I am planning to take route 2 from Torugart to Pakistan during the 2nd week in September. Together with my best mate, we will be traveling on two R1200GS.

I have received similar quotes from StanTours and Navo (a bit more expensive).

Let me know if this works with your timing. Would be great to join forces.

Cheers,
Joe

Hey AccelRus!

First question - are you russian?)

I'm planning to cross China by KKH too at the same time as you do. Approx. dates of entering China is late September - early October. Starting from Moscow at the end of August.
My route continues through the same countries. I'm heading to Indonesia.

Bike - Africa Twin, 1 rider.

It would be cool to join a group. Looking forward for a message from you.

Thanks!

BikerT, Joe GS and maxim_unanov:

Thanks for the responses !

I sent each of you a PM - as it is easier to chat via e-mail,
plus we have a group of 4-10 people all looking to cross China
in the fall, with a number of routes options on the table.

Maybe get in touch via e-mail and we can see where everyone
is at with options, etc.

PS - not Russian - Canuckistanian...

Cheers

Stuart