Hi All, If everything goes to plan I will be entering Mongolia from Russia at the Tsagaannuur Sukhbaatar crossing on or about July 6th, travel to Ulaanbaatar in time for the Naadam festival on the 11th. Immediatly the festival finishes head for the Mongolia China border at Erhot. The North South transit will take approx 22 days. All this is still to be confirmed...however it seems more than 50% certain. Have space for one other motorcycle. Let me know if you are interested in any or all of the trip, I will be leaving UK mid June travelling via Germany Czech Poland Ukraine Russia ( Still waiting on final costrings for China guide).

Jimmy

Akentigernfox, Shame about it! Hope something good happens between now and the time you plan to travel.

Found the following info regarding China customs deposit from one company -this is what they say:

Pre-2008 - it was possible for a tour company to provide guarantee paperwork but due to issues (e.g. smuggling) it's generally no longer possible.
Generally, China law states custom deposit requirement from the vehicle owner (I am not sure as yet if this is just cars - will re-check this) which can be provided in 3 ways:

1. Pay 100% custom deposit yourself
2. Or, pay 50% of the deposit requirement and by arrangement in advance with the tour company, it pays the other 50%
In both instances above it can take up to 40 days for return of money following final border exit.
3. Alternatively, the tour company can pay (loan) the 100% deposit on your behalf but takes an interest payment from you or makes a charge for the privilege - usually added to overall cost of the tour.

Maybe this explains why 2 out of 3 tour operators say they do not charge for border customs. Not sure but seems to make some sense as the 2 out of 3 companies where no custom deposit required are more expensive than the initial 1 we mentioned that operated vehicle border deposit requirement. Needless to say when the operator we spoke to was questionned by us -they offered option 3 to us (they hadn't in our original pricing options) and this brought them more on par with the other quotes we had received (and includes dis-infecting vehicle).

Due diligence is advised as follows:
- Traveller may get caught out at borders (this could explain why some travellers suddenly receive an unexpected high charge at border on exit) - as they have not been advised properly to expect customs charge/deposit in advance upon exit (then possibly believing they are being ripped off or being taken for a ride).
- Each border operates differently - e.g. entry from Kashgar operates where tour co. can make one payment deposit early in year to guarantee several teams entering at different times. But (as far as this operator is aware) Mongolia/China border (Erenhot)- deposit must be paid by vehicle owner in cash (usually pre-arranged in advance of enty via tour operator).
- If a tour operator has not taken a group post 2008, they may not be aware of the new custom legislation which came into force following their last known transit tour - or may not be familiar with a border not normally transited by the tour operator before.

Several Chinese tour operators gathered last year to talk to Government customs and wrote to see if policies can be changed but is still a work in progress and consideration.

If anyone has any more accurate information - though we appreciate we are not a bike but a vehicle transit, would be good to know.

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Hi Cassie 2,
So far as I know, the big tour operators afford the Customs deposit for their clients. Deposits do must be paid in cash at a few passes in China when entering. However, you don’t need to worry about it. The guide will take this money as he or she meets you there. I don’t think they charge more for the deposit. In my opinion, their papers and procedures are certainly smoother and can be assured because they have a good “guanxi” with concerned departments and as you know it needs money to maintain this relationship.
Several Chinese tour operators did gather to talk to the Customs last year and this year they will do the same. And the big are reluctant to do so because they have enough money. Anyhow I think they will get the same answer.
Best,
Fanfan

Anyone who is interested in looking to transit China from Mongolia to Laos mid-July - from about 19th (date to be clarified) onwards:

(Jimmy have PM'd you)

We are a 4X4 who will definately be making the transit (date subject to confirmation but happy to consider anyone interested maybe a month or so later).

In summary, we would not consider travelling with bikes unless a 28 day transit involved and a cost of £2,500 per 1 bike + 1 Adult incl. custom deposit (re: my earlier post - custome deposit works the same for bikes as well as cars). Otherwise it will not be worthwhile for us. On receiving costs from all agencies, once I understood the border customs - they are all the same quotes without much difference expect for one company which came in really expensive in comparison to the others.

Background:
The cost for the bike with 1 adult to travel with us will be in the region of £2K over a period of 22 days. The cost for an additional bike and 1 adult will be the same. So, a total of £4K for 2 bikes+ 2 adults total to transit with us. The above does not provide any cost benefit to us as the lead vehicle. The problem however is that we know for sure that we could not transit in 22 days with bikes from Mongolia to Laos as they are not allowed on the Highway - not without becoming a driving nightmare for us. We can however transit in 28 days but at added cost to suit bikes

Anyone interested, please give us a shout. We are transiting anyway - just need to decide 22 days highway without bikes or 28 with bikes no highway.

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Intresting thread ..I am looking at the reverse direction probably around the July-Aug of 2010. Any one else going that way

Hi,
We now have 2 x 4WD's for sure transiting from Mongolia (Erenhot) to Laos - including ourselves. We will re-check the costs with the guided tour operator/s we are making enquiries with to see if there is any improvement in the price for bikes based on the latest costs provided. Problem is that, prices seem to get bumped up regardless - can't win either way. But for a bike who would need a guide otherwise, this might appeal. The 2nd 4WD contains an ex-biker and both 4WD's are Defender 110's. We will be slow as the defenders are underpowered compared to other vehicles and both will likely be towing. We have yet to confirm date of transit and final duration but are looking anytime currently roughly mid-July - beginning August to begin this leg of our trip from Mongolia. Will update on costs and transit start time as soon as we can. If anyone else other than Jimmy interested in transiting with us, please let us know as we'd like to finalise our plans during February. One additional bike would make a nice balance and possibly a good cost for everyone.

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We've been advised the border will be closed during the Nadaam Festival on the Chinese side at Erenhot and is generally closed on weekends. Earliest transit following this will be the 15th July, with latest transit before this time around 8th/9th but with risk of delays till 15th (dependant). Since the additional 4wd has joined us, a decision has been made to split the cost equally between groups regardless of vehicle type. So for example,
1 bike and 2 vehicles = 3 groups
2 bikes and 2 vehicles = 4 groups
An example cost for 1 bike and 2 vehicles for 28 days looks roughly like £3K currently. For 2 bikes and 2 vehicles we are hovering around £2.5K. Guide expenses split equally between the groups. Route: Erenhot, Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Laos. We leave the UK in a few weeks so if anyone interested, this is a last call - by 15th Feb latest - this date so we have enough time to make any final arrangements and deal with any problems before we go.

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Hi Cassie,
Erenhot to Beijing is long and not so interesting, can be done in a single long day about 13 hours.
From Beijing I would be very tempted to go to Tainjin ---> Yantai 12 hours ( 800km) then Yantai---> Weihai ---> Qingdao, get out of the interior towards the coastal towns. ( 800km)
You will really like Yantai and Qingdao. 4 hours ( 250km)
Dont forget Qingdao has the biggest brewry in China = Tsingtao Home Page
Then after a few days, head back to the interior Xian via Jinan, which is capital of Shandong provence, very beautiful 5 hours ( 400km ) = Jinan Travel Guide: China Jinan Tour, City Map
Then onto Xian 13 hours ( 1000km) = Xian Travel Guide: China Xi’an Tour, Xian Hotel, City Map, Dining, Nightlife
My god, I could go on, and on, and on, just so many nice places.
Then onto your Chengdu, 8 hours ( 800 km)
Then you have to go to Guilin, 24 hours ( 1400km ) = Guilin Travel Guide: China Guilin Tour, Guilin Hotel, Map, Tips
Dont miss Pearl River cruise in Guangzhou 10 hours away, ( 600 km) = Guangzhou Travel Guide: Guangzhou Tour, Guangzhou Hotel, City Map.
Then pass Nanning on your way to Laos.

Much more here ---> China Travel | China destinations


'vette

By chance, we found a new guide option with much cheaper price to transit China. Cost for an additional bike (or vehicle) is now considerably less at around £2K to transit with us (2 x 4wd) - 26 days, entering beginning September, Mongolia to Laos. This cost now also includes the guides expenses and customs deposit. Each group needs to pay site fees, parking, tolls, accommodation, fuel, food for themselves.

We also asked about solo bike transit with 4wd hire in China Although you would need to re-check this info yourselves, from what we can see transit cost for the same trip for lone bike would be in the region of $5250USD or approx £3270. Much better than some of the previous costs posted we have seen.

This is through a more independant guide rather than a tour operator so maybe some might want to wait to see how we get on. Otherwise welcome to PM for contact details.

'vette - thank you for the very useful route information. We have been looking at your recommendations in some detail as well as those proposed by the agencies to help us get a final itinerary together.

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