We are a couple with an Expedition truck planning to cross china overland from Mongolia to Laos April- May 2015. We are currently in Lake Baikal, Russia planning to go to Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia park our truck for the winter and return next year to resume our traveling. We would like to share the costs of the guide in China with other travels who intend to take the same route around the same time. The difference in cost is pretty significant if we do it together. Anybody?
Cheers Elisha

Hi Elisha

We're two motorcyclists planning to travel through China augustus/september 2015 and also looking for companions to share the cost. We want to travel from Mongolia to Laos.

Hoping to hear from you.

cheers

Guido and Lilian

Hello
Maybe it is not certain answer, but I want drive from Mongolia (when I will be with my 3 cars from July to August) to Pekin and then back to Mongolia.
What do you think about share costs in this case?

__________________
Bartosz
www.wyprawy4x4.com.pl

Hi Elisha1, Guido and Lilian, I worked for a China adventure tour company who focus on riding/driving tour in China. hope i can help.

Driving/riding from Inner-Mongolia to Yunnan province is a popular route for our guests, now we have several requests refers to this plan, i'm searching the season from them, there is a big possibility for you to make into one group to share the cost.

For China part, you need a professional local tour operator to help. Actually some users contacted with China NAVO Tour already. I'm not sure if you find a suitable tour company, we are always here for service.

Besides, here would provide several simple notes:
1. normally China operator needs at least 2-3 months for national permits applying.

2. if motorbike and cars would make into one group, please note the road conditions as motorbike cannot ride on the highway in the most area in China.

3. for age: in principle the rider cannot beyond 60 years old and driver cannot beyond 70 years. But some borders seems not so strictly and good luck~

For more specific info about China riding and driving, plz feel free to contact at abby.zhang@navo-tour.com.

Welcome to China~

Hi Elisha,

It is Dave (Dave & Les) we emailed about a month or so ago, Well it is very true what the person in China says about traveling with motorcycles, unfortunately, if you did decide to make a convoy made up of trucks and bikes then this would mean that you would need a lot more days in China or a lot longer driving each day to make up for having to use smaller roads not Highways.
I would speak to Spring the guide and ask her what she thinks about mixed vehicles.

Hope this helps

Dave (Plodd - A Trip of a Lifetime)

Hi Dave, nice to meet u on HUBB.

When we form a group we always have the following two notes:
1. Yes, in principle we will always suggest to organize vehicles in same type as a group as much as possible. So, when drive in China they can pass through the similar road condition with similar speed. And they may have same condition on like accommodation and meals etc..

For motorcycle+vehicle, sometime the guests would do that, but obviously,
a. advantage: especially for motorcycle they can save the cost on supporting car which arranged by agency which will cost a lot. For vehicle, anyhow there is some vehicle can share cost with them especially they cannot find other vehicle to share.

b. disadvantage: the drive speed and road condition has much differences and very easy to cause conflicts.

However, if just refers to road condition, it's not a absolutely problem. Usually the main point is in most areas motorbike cannot drive on highway. Therefore, -if drive/ride in northwest/southwest China, no much problem as in this area is mainly for history, ethnic culture and spectacular landscape so all can go by national road and enjoy.
-if for east China like Beijing-Shanghai-Zhejiang etc. for more civilization, the car may would prefer to go by highway.
in my opinion, it depends.

2. We normally suppose at least/most 2-4 vehicles in each group in principle. We would suggest such small group for perfect combination of individual attention, flexibility, and lower price.

Very nice to communicate with all friends here. And welcome to write to me via email for more further discussion.

Wish every vehicle have a wonderful exploration in China~Welcome~

Hi Elisha,
Hope your travels are going good where ever you are at present.
I'm planning a trip departing May 2015 From Singapore - Malaysia - Thailand - Myanmar - China - Mongolia - Russia - Europe in a Toyota LandCrusier

I would be interested in your feed back on Lake Baikal, Russia Region ??

My email is ray@rb.co.nz

Regards
Ray Cook

If you do decide to have a mixed group of cars and bikes I would be interested. Single rider Suzuki 650

Let me know and good luck!

We are already 7 cars so we will not take extra vehicles to the group.
Sorry, Enjoy your trip
Elisha

Hi Elisha,
Do you have any spare seats in any of the vehicles? I would be keen to join a group like this to share costs.
Cheers, Andrew