China and mongolia July 2011
 

Hi,

Me and my partner are driving our 4x4 from Nepal into Tibet and then China and Mongolia.

Our intended dates are as follows: Nepal into Tibet 10 July and then from China into Mongolia - erenhot border on 31 July. We welcome anyone else who may want to join us. We're not the fastest vehicle in the world - speed will be 70kmh and the journey will be a transit - some sights to see in Tibet, but then we're just putting in the miles!

I can send a more detailed route to anyone intersted.

Thanks

Mark

Update from my end :-)
 

I am back :-)

Hello Everyone... Its been a while and I see few people have taken interest in my post but unfortunately still there is no one willing to join me and travel with me on this journey :-(.. That's a let down!!!

Anyways, I have done more R&D and I was away to NZ for a 10 day Solo motorbike across the whole country. I did 3000 kms in 9 days, this was a test for myself to check if I can pull together my much anticipated China motorbike trip. One thing I learned is that I cannot do the China Trip alone major reason is due to my Shoulder injury which was a bit of problem on my NZ motorbike trip!!!

As per my research for China.. attaining a driving license for motorbike in China seems like a distance dream if you are on a tourist visa. As for the permits, here is the weblink with the best details on what permit I would require if I am travelling solo across sensitive areas of China.. Tibet Train Permit (TTP), Alien's Travel Permit, Military Permit -- Book all the documents from China Train Tickets. Net!.

Thanks to ChinaV, the motorbike is sorted. I know what I need in China to ride and I believe its the best thing to buy your own instead of renting it out.

I am in touch with zillions of chinese tour company's but their price quotes are outrageous.. I am in negotiations these days.. In my kind of situation.. with limited time onHand and wanting to do a closely impossible motorbike ride I think its best to tie myself up with a tour company. However, I am still open if anyone is willing to join me.. the more the merrier and make this happen.. I think this trip will be awesome if done by yourself but if left with no option but to join a tour company then thats what I got to do :-)

I am hoping to here back from enthusiastic adventure bikers or beginners like myself who wants to do something out of ordinary motorbike ride :-)

Maybe if there is a group travelling in a 4WD/Camper Van and I can be on a motorbike and tag along with you guys.. that will work too.. It can work as well.. I can be a great travel companion :-)

Hope to hear back from people who are keen :-)


Fingers crossed :-)

Cheers.

Other tour groups to join
 

I've done a lot of research and there are a number of tours already booked with agents from China. Two companies in particular have offered me places on tours that have already been booked, at reasonable prices for China, for about£2500 for a 30-35 day tour.

NAVO have a group of 4 Swiss bikers entering from Kyrgyzstan second week of September, riding down route 219 and exiting into Nepal.

Panorama Tour Co has an Austrian couple in their 4x4 in first week of Sept, Kyrgyzstan, 219 and exit Laos, 39 days.

Joining either of these groups is possible. I enter from Kyrgyz' 26th August but have decided to travel alone, which actually means I have to pay a 4x4 to follow my route, at great expense. It's costly, but I'm happier with my own company in such situations. Hope this might be of some help!

Les K

Thanks Les
 

Hi Les -
Mate, you are a life-saver . The information you have shared is invaluable for me :-)

I contacted NAVO, they are quite well established on net for motorbike tours in China but I didnt get a reply back to my email from them.

Please advice how can I join one of the 2 groups that you have mentioned in your post. To be honest, your travel dates fits better with my holidays time-off, incase you do not mind to have travel company in China, I will be honoured to join hands with you in China :-) Happy to split the travel,support vehicle costs. Please give it a consideration.

Waiting to hear back from you.

Cheers,
Imran

Selfish but adamant
 

Hi, I have to be totally honest that I don't really want to do my tour through China with other people. I'm more than happy to meet people on the road, maybe ride a day or so together, but not keen on sharing My Tibetan Odyssey.

I have been offered places by NAVO Tour Co and Panorama Tour Co for the time of year you require. I turned both of these down to travel through Tibet on the 219 alone, but the tours had been confirmed and a deposit paid. Panorama can be a bit slow in replying but NAVO have been very on the ball with me. Try again using: zhuoyun.li@navo-tour.com She isn't the one in charge of the Swiss bikers making their own tour, but is my contact and has proved invaluable in organising my tour.

Sorry I can't provide your salvation.

Les K

Thanks
 

Hi Les -
Thanks for all the details. Don't worry about salvation, you have given me enough to resurrect my dreams :-).

I dropped email to Zhuonyun from Navo. Hope to hear back from her soon. I will try Panorama after a day.

If you don't mind to share, can I ask you how much it is costing you to have a support vehicle follow you and doing it alone. The quotes that I got where from $8000-$10000 USD. It is completely out of my reach. If your price is much lower than probably I will do a solo by myself :-)

Cheers,
Imran

Wrong thread
 

Hi, Sorry but I exit China into Laos and will probably not get into Nepal this trip. It might serve you better to ask your question in another thread, or have a good look through those already started.

Hi again, my price isn't any lower. I didn't go for the cheapest though, I think generally you get what you pay for. So far NAVO have far exceeded anyone else for efficiency and professionalism. This will be the only time in my life I attempt this particular trip, so I don't mind paying. Having had a horse journey through Rajastan ruined by an unknown group, they booked onto a tour I was on, I won't take the risk again. I don't do organised stuff as a rule, but if that's the only way, I want to enjoy myself.

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Did you manage to cross Nepal into Tibet. What route did you take, and how much organising was involved with guides etc...

We're hoping to cross by bicycle, but only next year.