Hi All,

Well we are almost ready to leave (fly) to go back to Thailand, I will be a bit sorry to leave our truck but we leave her (Plodd) having extra fuel tanks fitted (3 x 120lt) a domestic supply gas tank with gas test paper work,waist water tank and fresh water tank fitted so when we get back in September the truck should be almost ready to go other than small jobs that I will do myself, I have a English friend in Thailand that is going to help me with the detailed paper work and we are hoping to set up a web site ready for the trip so friends and anyone else will be able to follow our progress. Tuohtroc I understand what you are saying since I started the truck project only 2 months ago I have not been able to stop working or looking at it (200 hours or more up to now).
Anyway we are still hoping to get more people interested in the China crossing then it will be a real party, if anybody out there has any idea on the cost of the Carnet for a truck that would be helpful info.

Dave

Enjoy !

keep us up to date and we'll see how many folks we can gather together for the China route

Cheers

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

Hi there!

I am also planning a trip to thailand in 2014.
my plan is to drive through Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, uzbegistan, kazakstan, Russia, Mongolia, China, Laos, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand.

(Plan can change)

I would love to travel through China with you guys. So let me in on all the details when you know more.

N.B If anyone wants to travel together from Europe. Let me know. I would prefer to travel with one or two, since I don´t have a lot of experience in long distance riding.

/Kenneth

Count me in for a trip to the east in 2014... (if my employer lets me go that is :-) )

Very interested in the China crossing too. An alternative for me is to do the short crossing from Tadjikistan to Pakistan so I can also avoid Iran.
A carnet de passage is more expensive if you include Iran...

Anyway, I keep following the posts for 2014.

This trip looks more interesting than the SE Asia one I am planning so if you don't mind old drinkers that ride old BMWs along I wouldn't mind being kept in the loop. Ride safe.

__________________
Mike
---------
Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky

Hi Dave!
And welcome to all!
@KenANd, I don't have that much experience as well, I'm trying to get some more allroad training and probably, hopefully will return more experienced... just take it easy.
@Edge, zoals je hieronder kan zien, voor Pakistan is het carnet ook duurder, nog maar eens checken dus!
@Maja, the more old BMWs the better, I don't really like them if they are to shiny, (and cannot afford lol)

Dave, I just noticed you asked about the price of a carnet for a truck. I was just looking at it myself, for the bike.
The carnet itself is 195 € for members (ADAC) and 295 € for non-members.
The garantuees depend on the value of the vehicle, an overview of the costs you can find on the website of ADAC:
ADAC Reise & Freizeit - Carnet de Passages - Englisch

If you download the application form, the garantuee fees are on page 9.
In this form is all the info you need actually.

normal garantuee: current market value vehicle up to 15000 € = 1500 €

if you travel in Egypt, India, Iran, Pakistan, you need a special garantuee:
current market value up to 15000 €: 10000 €
current market value up to 7500 €: 5000 €.

Special garantuee for motorbikes: (needed in Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, India, SACU)
current market value up to 15000 €: 3000 €

I didn't check out the other suppliers yet.
Hope I didn't misplace any zero or other numbers, to be sure, check the ADAC website..
But now you have an idea...

Sunny greetings to all!
Heidi

Hi Everybody,

I have just met for dinner the couple that have just done the very same trip other than they set out from Switzerland rather than the UK to Thailand, they are very nice people and very helpful, they are now on there way to Australia.
We first met them last year in Laos, anyway the details I have up to now is the cost of the Chinese guide. The guide has given me some prices the first price is for 1 vehicle 2 people for 30 days meeting on the Mongolian border and leaving us on the Chinese/Laos border = 4950 euros then the same again only 2 vehicles 4 people 3800 euros per vehicle, the guide also says that the more vehicles the cost go's down.
The main thing is that all the people going on the trip would have to get all there ideas together about what to visit and arrange a program with dates acceptable to everyone, the guide also said that we would need 30 days. I am now going to ask the guide about motorcycles and any special restrictions on the Chinese roads.
I will get back as soon as the guide gets back to me.

Dave

Hi all.

Dave maybe you should contact China Motorcycle Tours and Rentals-Ride China also.

They seems to ride motorcycle them self, so it might be cheaper.

@Heidi: If you are interested we could go together next year? or would you rather go solo?

Anyway I would love to go to Guǎngdōng province to meet the Hakka-people and also to the great wall, to take a picture of it with my bike, and I would also like to meet the Miao-people, other then that, I have no demands

/Kenneth

Hi all!

Yesterday I sended the info about the carnet, but I forgot that for these countries: (dave's plan UK, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania ,Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldavia,
Ukraine, (Moscow) Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, Laos, Thailand,
you don't need a carnet as far as I can see...

I don't know if you have to import/ export your bike, need registration etc. in other countries. Who knows? For example Russia?

So if you are not going to Australia (where the carnet is required) then this may be something to consider: 'expensive guide in China' versus 'expensive carnet for Iran, Pakistan, India' And Myanmar is on this route, which is uncertain if this will be open for foreign motorcycles.
All of this has to do with the costs though, so if you would reallllllyyy love to ride in and visit China, you should just go for it! I myself am on a very thight budget and would love to see everything lol, so I have to look at all the pros and the cons...

Just thinking out loud. Please correct me if you see any errors in my thinking. Probably you will...

Thanks for the update Dave, very usefull information! I am curious about the motorcycle part...

@Kenneth, let's stay in touch, I am in contact with a german guy and english lady, to see if we could travel together or meet up at certain borders. I started out to think about this trip as solo, but some companions won't hurt
At this moment I am not sure about the route yet, my preference goes to Iran/ Pakistan/ India etc, but I am keeping options open. Because of my work I am not really sure when I can leave, and if I choose for 'China' I do have to be there at a fixed date... I will probably know more about this in septembre. I aim to leave Belgium in march.

Greetings! Heidi

Hi Everybody,

I have bad news, the guide as come back to me re motorcycles and says that motorcycles can not travel on the highways (motorways, Autobahns) in China and that would mean traveling on normal roads, this would mean more Km and would mean staying in China longer, it would also have implications with our truck so it looks like the motorbikes are a none starter for us sad to say, I am very sorry about this disappointment as I was looking forward to a good party of people, anyway that leaves us now only looking for cars vans or trucks to join our trip.

Dave

Thats s real shame..
how many here are planning to travel by bike?
maybe we can still progress this plan and travel as a bike group and meet up with Dave's journey?

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

so just to follow up my last post there.. Is anyone here who's travelling by bike willing to go a head with a separate plan?
I would still like to cross China and if a group of bikes is the only way to travel together lets sort it out.. We could always meet up with Dave group as well... we'l just travel the more interesting routes ! lol

If so I'll start a new thread so as not to fill Dave's thread up

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks for informing us, Dave. Hope you find more cars / trucks!

Mark, good idea but as you could read (somewhere) in my previous posts, I prefer another route, but like to keep my eyes open for other options. I am only interested if the cost for the guide can go (way) down.
Maybe it is an idea to check out what Kenneth is suggesting, China motorcycle tours?

Hi All,

May be we will meet on our travels,that would be great,also if I can be of any help with your plans just ask

Dave

Hi All

I just got this quot:

Hi Kenneth,
Pleased to offer two itineraries and prices as follows:

Mongolia to Laos

01 Mongolia---Erenhot Hotel
Enter China from Mongolia at Erenhot, and handle the entry process and vehicle and driving license process.
If time permits, we can drive some distance away from Erenhot today. If you are interested, we may also visit the Dinosaur Park here this afternoon.
02 Erenhot---Beijing Hotel
Drive to Beijing on expressway, a whole day driving.
03 Beijing Hotel
Whole day free time at Beijing. You may visit anywhere you want to go in Beijing.
04 Beijing---Great Wall Hotel
Visit Beijing in the morning and then drive to visit the Great Wall in the afternoon. Stay overnight near the Great Wall.
05 Great Wall—Datong Hotel
We drive to Datong in the morning and visit the Datong Grottos in the afternoon and then drive to Hunyuan for the Hanging Temple which is a micracle in ancient Chinese construction, the whole temple was built on the mountain cliffs.
06 Datong----Taiyuan---Pingyao 380kms Hotel
We drive from Hunyuan to Pingyao via Taiyuan and then visit the Pingyao ancient city, one of the classic examples of northern style ancient city in China. Every year, people will hold the photographing festival here and it is regarded an idea place for photographers.
07 Pingyao---Xi’an 570kms Hotel
We drive to Xi’an on expressway, 570kms, about 7-8 hours driving.
08 Xi’an Hotel
Whole day visit in ancient city---Xi’an. Xi’an has been the capital of China in over 10 dynasties, and you can see history everywhere in Xi’an. We suggest the visit to the world famous Terra-Cottas Warriors, the hundred years old city wall, drum tower, bell tower, and the Chinese History museum (one of the best 3 in China) etc.
09 Xi’an---Nanyang---Xiangfan 546kms Hotel
We drive to Xiangfan on good road or expressway today and enjoy the countryside view along the way.
10 Xiangfan—Jingzhou---Yichang 260kms Hotel
Drive to Yichang via Jingzhou, visit the Jingzhou ancient city along the way and then visit the famous Three Gorges Dam in the afternoon.
11 Yichang---Zhangjiajie 505kms Hotel
Drive to Zhangjiajie on expressway, 505 kms about 6 hours driving.
12 Zhangjiajie Hotel
Zhangjiajie is regarded as the most beautiful mountains in China.
Whole day visit at Zhangjiajie. Zhangjiajie is composed of several parts and because the time is limited, we only have 1 day here for visit.
13 Zhangjiajie---Jishou---Phonix 232kms Hotel
We drive to Phoenix in the morning and visit the Phoenix Ancient town which was built by a river. It is very beautiful here.
14 Phonix---Sanjiang 395kms Hotel
We will drive to Sanjiang from Phonix on national road, it is a long driving day today.
15 Sanjiang---Congjiang---Rongjiang 189kms Hotel
Choose the ethnic minority villages at Sanjiang, Congjiang and Rongjiang, such as the Dong village, Miao village, Yao villagg, and Sanjiang’s Chengyang Wind Rain Bridge.
16 Rongjiang---Kaili 170kms Hotel
We visit Rongjiang’s village and two special Miao villages near Kaili, the Langde Miao village and Xijiang Miao village. Deep experience of the local Miao people’s culture and folks.
17 Kaili---Guiyang---Xingyi 500kms Hotel
We drive to Anshun in the morning, about 300kms on expressway and then visit the Huangguoshu Waterfall, the largest waterfall in China and then we drive to Xingyi, about 180kms national road of good road condition.
Xingyi’s Karst landscape of large scale is very beautiful.
18 Xingyi---Luoping---Shizong—Stone Forest---Kunming 330kms Hotel
We drive to Kunming via Stone Forest and Luoping. Beautiful scenery along the way and visit the famous Stone Forest in the afternoon.
19 Kunming---Dali---Lijiang 560kms Hotel
We drive expressway from Kunming to Lijiang via Dali. If you are interested, you may choose to visit the Dianchi Lake by Kunming or the ethnic minority villages or Dali ancient city or local market (depends on your choices).
20 Lijiang Hotel
Whole day relax and visit at Lijiang. Lijiang is one of the top 4 ancient cities in China and it is a colorful, romantic, ethnic and exotic ancient city.
21 Lijiang---Tiger Leaping Gorge---Lijiang Hotel
We drive from Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge and have a 2-3 hours trekking at famous Tiger Leaping Gorge. You will be surprised by the grand and beautiful gorge and then we back to Lijiang.
22 Lijaing---Dali---Nanjiang 305kms Hotel
We drive to Dali, and we still have some time today to visit at Dali, such as the old city, the places nearby, and the Erhai Lake etc.
23 Nanjian---Puer---Jinghong 480kms Hotel
It is a driving day, but a beautiful driving day. The roads through mountains, villages, fields, tea gardens etc, up and down. When you drive on this road, you will feel you and your vehicle are dancing among the mountains and fields.
About 6-7 hours driving today.
24 Jinghong---Mengxing---Mengla 150kms Hotel
We drive to Mengla today and we suggest visiting the Menglun Tropical Botanic Garden which is the best tropic botanic garden in China. We may also visit the Ganlanba Village, the local Dai minority villages.
For the rest time, we will prepare the exit process for tomorrow.
25 Mengla---Mohan 60kms
Drive to Mohan border port and then we will do the exit process at custom and then exit China to

khazakstan to Laos
01 Irkstan---Kashgar Hotel
Enter China, and deal with the related procedures. Drive to Kashgar.
02 Kashgar Hotel
Visit Kashgar Sunday Market , the Mosquee Idkar, Abakh Hodja Tomb etc.
03 Kashgar—Yecheng 260kms Hotel
Half day visit at Kashgar and then we drive to Yecheng in the afternoon
04 Yecheng---Maza 250km Hotel
Drive to Maza and visit along the way.
05 Maza---Dahongliutan—Tielongtan 360kms Hotel
We drive to Tielongtan and prepare for the next day’s challenge. On day 7, we will drive the highest points among this route, over 5500m above sea level. This is also the most challenging road among all 4 roads to Tibet.
06 Tielongtan—Jieshandaban (5600m)—Songxi---Rutog 370kms Hostel
We drive pass the highest point—Jieshandaban and then drive to Rutog. Very beautiful and grand view in far west China most rural places.
07 Rutog---Shiquanhe---Zhada 350kms Hostel
We visit the beautiful Bangongcuo Lake in the morning near Rutog, and then drive to Zhada in the afternoon.
08 Zhada---Mt. Kailash 220kms Hostel
We visit the famous Tuolin temple and mysterious Guge Kingdom Ruins near Zhada and then we drive to Mt. Kailash in the afternoon.
09 Mt. Kailash Hostel
Whole day visit at Mt. Kailash.
10 Mt. Kailash---Manasarovar Lake Hostel
Drive to visit Manasarovar Lake, the holy lake of Tibet.
11 Manasarovar Lake---Zhongba 320kms Hotel
We leave the holy mountains and lake and then drive to Zhongba and waiting for our tour to Mt Everest---the highest place of the world.
12 Zhongba---Lhaze 495kms Hotel
We drive along the grand plateau and go to Lhaze.
13 Lhaze---Dingri---Mt Everest 240kms Hotel
We drive to Mt Everest, the highest place in the world and this is also one of the highlights of this tour.
14 Mt. Everest---Dingri Hotel
Whole day visit at Mt. Everest and you can walk to the base camp and take photos from afar etc. Free walk around today here.
15 Dingri---Shigatse 100kms Hotel
We drive to Shigatse this morning from Dingri and then we may visit the famous Tashilunpo monastery if time permits.
Tashilunpo Monastery is the second important temples in Tibet, the sit place for Panchen Lama and where their stupas located. And there is the largest bronze stadium of the Buddha in the world.
16 Shigatse---Gyantse---Lhasa 280kms Hotel
We will drive to Gyantse for the beautiful Pango Chorten and the fantastic fresco here and then we drive to visit the Yamdrok Lake which is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and very beautiful here, especially you look from the top of the small mountains by the lake to have a bird’s view.
At late afternoon, we drive back to Lhasa.
17 Lhasa Hotel
Visit at Lhasa, the holy city, such as the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, the Barkhor Street etc.
18 Lhasa---Nyingchi 460kms Hotel
We drive to Nyingchi and visit the Bamsongcuo Lake.
You may also drive to Bangsongcuo lake for camping there tonight. It is a good camping choice and good place to observe the starts.
19 Nyingchi—Bomi---Ranwu 350kms Hotel
Most beautiful driving day of all this tour. Today you will see the grand Namcha Barwa from far and beautiful forests and mountains, blue sky, while cloud, lovely local people, bright sunshine etc.
20 Ranwu—Basu 90kms Hotel
Visit the beautiful Ranwu lake, Ranwu Glacier and the nearby rural villages. Ranwu lake is regarded as the heaven far from cities and commercial influence. Very beautiful and a lot of things waiting for you to explore.
Then we drive to Basu, 90kms away.
21 Basu---Mangkang 360kms Hotel
This is a challenging day for all the drivers today. The road from Basu to Bangda is very slope and many abrupt turns. Very interesting and challenging for drivers.
22 Mangkang—Deqin 240kms Hotel
240kms driving to Deqin through mountain road and if you are interested, you may visit Mangkang and Yanjin on the way.
Near Deqin, we suggest you to see the Mingyong Glacier and Meili Snow Mountians whose main peak Peak Kawa Karpo is very famous among the world’s trekkers.
The time is a little tight today to visit so many places, so you can only choose one or two to visit.
23 Deqin---Shangri-la 184kms Hotel
Drive to Shangri-la in the morning and visit at Shangri-la, such as the Songzanlin Temple which is named the small Potala Palace.
24 Shangri-la—Tiger leaping Gorge ---Lijiang Hotel
We drive from Shangri-la to Tiger Leaping Gorge and have a 2-3 hours trekking at famous Tiger Leaping Gorge. You will be surprised by the grand and beautiful gorge and then we drive to Lijiang.
25 Lijiang Hotel
Whole day relax and visit at Lijiang. Lijiang is one of the top 4 ancient cities in China and it is a colorful, romantic, ethnic and exotic ancient city.
26 Lijaing---Dali---Nanjiang 305kms Hotel
We drive to Dali, and we still have some time today to visit at Dali, such as the old city, the places nearby, and the Erhai Lake etc.
27 Nanjian---Puer---Jinghong 480kms Hotel
It is a driving day, but a beautiful driving day. The roads through mountains, villages, fields, tea gardens etc, up and down. When you drive on this road, you will feel you and your vehicle are dancing among the mountains and fields.
About 6-7 hours driving today.
28 Jinghong---Mengxing---Mengla 150ms Hotel
We drive to Mengla today and we suggest visiting the Menglun Tropical Botanic Garden which is the best tropic botanic garden in China.
We may also visit the Ganlanba Village, the local Dai minority villages.
For the rest time, we will prepare the exit process for tomorrow.
29 Mengla---Mohan 60kms Hotel
Drive to Mohan border port and then we will do the exit process at custom and then exit China to Laos.


to give you a rough trip cost in break down, you may calculate the following terms, please let me know if you wish to do this trip.

Tour Cost:
Permit, driver license, temporary plate, custom clearance: 5000USD (1-3 motorcycles)
Supporting vehicle: 200USD/day
Guide: USD65USD/day
Food and lodge for the driver and guide: 100USD/day


not included:
your own hotels,meals, entrance fee for sightseeing, personal expenses, fuel and parking of your motorcycle



Thank you and best regards

Jia

Ride China
Tel: +86 871 3116301
Fax: +86 871 3116459
China Motorcycle Tours and Rentals-Ride China