Across China to KKH - Fall 2014
 

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)

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...inaRoutesS.jpg

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:

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...limateData.jpg

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 ?

maybe we are up for china
 

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 :)

Rtw 2014
 

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

Route
 

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

KKH in September 2014
 

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

AccelRus

Sent you an email. Please let me know if you received it.

Hi maxim_unanov,

late September is unfortunately too late for me. I have however just received an email from Mr. Gu at Tibet Tours who has a group of 3 bikers who plan to do the trip starting on the 23rd of September.
Send an email to tibet at tibet-tours . com for more information

Cheers,
Joe GS

Thanks a lot Joe GS
I'll contact them and try to sort things out.

Hi Stuart,

I have sent you an email.

Cheers,
Joe

accelrus: you've got pm.

We are also interested in crossing, we're on a 4WD for this trip instead of motorcycles. (time for a change...)
So any info is welcome, we are flexible in timing etc.

Hey everyone!

Just received an email from NAVO-Tours. Here is their offer:

So far, there are 2 groups intend to cross China from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan via China, one of them intends to enter China from Irkestan in September, another one intends to enter in the spring of 2015.
So if everything goes well, you can join in the former one, I will try my best to do it.


If you plan to make a solo trip, based on the situation I suppose as following, the reference quote is 29000CNY/Group.
--- 1 motorbike
--- 1 rider
--- 5 days duration
--- Entry from Turogart/Irkestan, exit from Khunjerab pass.

Below are our price quote terms and conditions:
Terms and conditions
Includes
1. All the paperwork needed for self-driving tour (provincial ones, Customs ones, etc.)
2. Cost for vehicle (Temporary driving license for vehicle, temporary license plate, and insurance for vehicles.)
3. Cost for drivers ( Temporary driving license for driver)
4. Navo’s service charge ( Include the English-speaking guide)
5. The rent, road toll, fuel for support vehicle.
6. The process fee in the Custom when enter China.
7. The process fee in the Custom when exit China.
Excludes
1、 Accommodations and meals: You need to own account and also pay for the guide and driver during the group day. The guide and driver will eat and stay the same with the team, no matter tent or Hostel.(NAVO can help to pre-book the hostel as you require)
2、 Entrance tickets: You may choose the sights or scenic spots you like, and pay it at spot when you visit.
3、 Your vehicle: The fuel, road toll, traffic accident compensation, repairing cost, spare part and parking.
4、 Cost for emergency if the clients enter China in advance or leave China before the end of the tour.
5、 Other personal charge.
6、 The group vehicle deposit at the Custom of entry border

The reference quote for 3 motorbikes and 3 riders is CNY 29000/Group, so the cost for each member is CNY 9660.

It actually twice more expensive that I expected. They also mentioned that this group now consists only of 2 people and if someone will join the group they will get an update on cost.

Oo-SEB-oO Maybe you can try to email NAVO-Tours and we'll see how it may change the prices?

My major concern for the moment is that I need to be able to get back...
From Pakistan to Iran in order to get home.
As the Quetta - Zahedan road is a "problem" for the moment I'm not sure anymore if at this time it will be possible for us.
I'm keeping a look at this one, as we really want to make a loop there before heading back home, but I don't want to be 'stuck' with a 4WD in Pakistan or India and having to ship it out :thumbdown:

Hey all - sorry busy week !

I sent you all an e-mail, and sent your e-mails to
get added to the Google Group.

I looked at your quote - and that is about double the
cost of the quote I have... See post #9 on the first
page of this thread... If I did the conversion correctly !

I was also contacted by Navo - since I spoke to them
a 4-5 months ago... they are looking to get a larger group
organized, in order to reduce costs.

Maybe to help clarify things - what routes are you
considering, and some rough dates - there are many
ways across China

Right now most of us are looking for ways to avoid
the KKH (and really Pakistan) due to the unrest and
risk involved with that.

Routes that avoid Pakistan are:

1) Irkestam -> Tibet -> Nepal

2) Mongolia - Tibet -> Nepal

3) Mongolia -> Laos

Sent you all an e-mail as well. :)

Stuart

September Groups
 

Hi everyone,

I have received 4 quotes so far for the trip from Torugart to Khunjerab.
Navo is actually the most expensive of them.

The best quote I have received looks as follows:
2pax total: 3167.2USD => Per Person: $1583,6 - EUR 1153
3pax total: 3691.8USD => Per Person: $1230,6 - EUR 896
4pax total: 4216.4USD => Per Person: $1054,1 - EUR 767
5pax total: 4741USD => Per Person: $948,2 - EUR 690

I'm planning to enter China through the Torugart border around September 6.
Let me know if anyone is interested in joining.

Thanks,
Joe

I am interested in entering China through Kyrgyzstan or Tadjikistan and exiting somewhere between Kashmir and Vietnam (!). Around September.

1-up or maybe 2-up bike.

Please let me know if there is any email list or something I could join.

Same here around September. 2 bikes.. Please include me in the email list if there is one... explorerdxb@gmail.com.


Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

Welcome !

Sent FS a PM, and sent EXPLORER-DXB an e-mail.

:)

Thanks!

Forum rules prohibit me from sending PMs before having 5 posts in the forum... Dont wanna post email here so will reply to PM later :)

We are also possibly interested in a crossing of China around September time, potentially Torugart or Irkeshtam > KKH then another China crossing: Nepal > Mongolia (or Laos > Mongolia if a crossing of Myanmar can be sorted), in 2015.

We have a 4x4 camper.

Andy

Hi Andy,
definitely interested in joining you! We are two motorbikers with a possible third biking friend joining us. We are also looking at august/september, exactly your route.

May I ask which agent you have decided to go with??
Ciao for now, Laura

Howdy!
We are 2 motorbikers wanting to cross from Kyrg to Laos about aug/sept, I've just replied to Andy below (I also can't send PMs yet :thumbdown: )

Please reply here if this might suit you as an alternative
cheers
Laura

Hey, that sounds very close to what I have been thinking. I can be quite flexible with dates, entry/exit points etc, but would like to avoid political/security issues and would love to maximize possible scenic routes. Im not on a super tight budget, but would like to avoid splurging money.

My only non-negotiables are that I need to be on the Australian east cost by end of October and that I want to get there in one piece :)

Hi Andy:

Are you the same Andy I have been back and forth with via e-mail ?

If so, did you get the last info I sent re cost and options ?

If not, PM me your e-mail - we have a Google Group set
up to discuss all this.

Let me know. :)

Stuart

No, I'm a different Andy :)

PM Sent...

Andy

Andy - sent you a PM, and an e-mail.

:)

I am leaving England early April to ride my 650GS Dakar solo across Europe, Iran, Pakistan (although maybe not) India and beyond. I would like to ride in Northern Pakistan and enter China with a group to save money later in the year. Let me know if this anything has been planned and something I could discuss.
Dan

Hey there:

Sent you a PM - lots of planning has been done,
and lots of info.

Most of us are looking to avoid Pakistan.

Cheers !

China/KKH in September 2014
 

Hi,

Very interested to hear of your plans and if there is an opportunity to share costs through China to either Pakistan or alternatively Nepal/Laos. We have no fixed plans on the route so open to suggestions at this time.

We expect to leave UK/France in mid June this year, one bike each, and travel via Iran, which we plan to enter towards the end of July. Up to a month in Iran and and then travel along part of the silk route. Based on these timings, our initial plans would have us reach the Chinese border with Kyrgyzstan late September.

Regards

Anne & Anthony

Krygyzstan to Nepal
 

Hi All.

My husband and I will be riding two up from the UK to India this summer.

We aim to enter China via the Torugart (or Irkeshtam) Pass around the same time (late August / early September), ride through Tibet and on to Nepal.

Having had a bit of contact with various travel operators in China and discovered, like the rest of you, just how much it costs, we are thinking it a very sensible idea to join a group.

It's great to discover there are so many looking to do the same thing. Please include us in an email list/group if there is one.

Thank you!
Alice.

ajspeed & Stillman:

Sent you both a PM - please respond and I will add
you to the group.

Looking like the Irekestam -> Tibet -> Nepal route
is the one of choice.

Also a group coming together for an overland route
through Burma.

:)

AccelRus,

Received your PM. Unfortunately I can't reply as I need to have posted on the board 5 times, and we have only just joined. Please can you PM me your email and I'll email you ours.

Cheers :)

Alice.

Hi AccelRus!

As with others I can’t PM until I start posting. Sent you an email but not sure it went through.

I’m heading east from Istanbul in May this year. I am looking to go from Kyrgyzstan through China to Nepal around September. I’m fairly flexible with dates.

Would love to hear your plans/dates/costs and get on board if it all works out!

Also very intrigued/interested in hearing about the crossing of Burma.

Cheers,

Dave.

Stillman & DKoenen:

Sent you both PM's.

DKoenen - received no e-mail from you.

NOTE: latest update in revised first post.

Thanks AccelRus. I got your PM but not enough posts to reply just yet.

Sent you an email.

I have updated the first post in the thread with
my change in plans - hebbo is monitoring this thread
and the group has lots of planning done.

Contact him to see where everything is at !

:)

Hello,

A friend and I are planning a trip from The Netherlands to Shanghai this summer.

Currently the plan is to drive to Mongolia (Erenhot) and cross the border to China around the 19th of September this year! We drive our bikes to Tianjin (5-6 days), from there we will ship the bikes back to the Netherlands.

We will stay in China for a couple of weeks after that.

More detail on our route can be found on our website: Op de koffie in China

Is there someone interested in sharing cost for the Chinese guide?