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West and South Asia From Turkey to Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Ladakh and Bangladesh
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 21 Mar 2008
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Athens to Nepal info
Hello, I am planning a trip from Athens up to Nepal on my motorbike on october 08. Because its my first time visiting Asia I wanted some info.. I will need visas for Iran, Pakistan, India and Nepal. For Turkey there is no need. Can I take the visas on my country or in each previous country for the next one? Note that, I dont intend to spend a lot of time in iran-pak-india, except Nepal that I woluld like to spend the most. I will return from the same way so the visas must be valid for the return?. The time I would like to spend on that trip is about 30-40 days. Is it enough in your experience? The ideal season? Any ideas welcome.
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  #2  
Old 22 Mar 2008
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Hi Neighbour ;...

I think its the best to get the visas at home. Otherwise you will have to spend time for this. For example getting a Pakistani visa in Iran will cost you at least 2 days. And for getting İndian visa you have to go Islamabad, which will be a long detour from the usual direction of quetta-lahor.

I think getting a double entry visa for all, for a 3 months period will solve all your problems. You can get nepal visa during entry.

But... 30-40 days for such a trip sounded, quite short and optimistic ......

Ankara-Katmandu was roughly 12,000 km. ... and keep in mind pakistani, and indy trafic wont allow you more then 300-400 km/day ... it just wears you out. Or thats what happened to me...

I was there in April and May was still good ...i dont know how it is after that, because i left the perimeter of moonson..

Have a nice trip..
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  #3  
Old 22 Mar 2008
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Border crossing in November
Hi there bud
Be careful with the border crossing form Iran back into turkey at that time of year, I traveled through last November and it wasn't much fun. On the turkish side you have to ride over a mountain pass at about 2000 meters and it will be covered with snow by mid November ( well it was last year anyhow ). I crossed at the southern border from Iran thinking the weather might be a bit warmer but 30km inside turkey in the pitch dark it started to snow. It's not easy riding in snow and ice on a bike I can tell you and I had to do it for 3 days until I got out of them mountains. You might want to think about going a bit earlier or getting some real warm gear. Enjoy.
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  #4  
Old 22 Mar 2008
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Hello, thank you for the info. So neighbour which is the best way to pass in Iran? Is it safe? I ve heard some troops action there. How long did you spent on your own trip? Do you know when is the rain period in India? Thanks,
Turkey is a beautiful country, being several times, up to Ankara the roads are just fine. From there up to borders? Like to have such neighbours...
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  #5  
Old 23 Mar 2008
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As far as ı know there is only one place you can enter Iran with a vehicle...Dogubeyazit/Gürbulak ... Its close to Van.... I looked at Goggleearth and coordinates came out as .... 39°24'51.50"N.....44°22'34.69"E

The road between Ankara to Van is safe, military wise. But be carefull for truck drivers and expect the unexpected! .. fairly good roads, wont be a problem..

Since İndia is a huge country rain period varies between areas...As for northern period, best period was February-March, end of April is the last date ...

My trip toke about 70 days... Tabriz, Shiraz, Esfahan in İran, Northern areas in Pakistan, Amritsar and Dhramsala in İndia and Pokhara in Nepal ...were the best places and hoping to make same route someday again....

Cheers,..
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Old 24 Mar 2008
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There are at least two more crossings shown on the maps. I've heard bad things about the northern one, so went through Kurdistan and crossed at Sero. I'm not sure if the small crossing in between the two is open to foreigners.
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  #7  
Old 24 Mar 2008
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hi beddhist,

did you mean ride through the Kurdistan region in Iran to Sero and crossed the Esendere border?

i am also drawing a route to India and wondering how easy/hard this crossing?
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Old 24 Mar 2008
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There is at least 2 international crossings, but when we went there (last October), the Dogubeyazit/Gürbulak one was the only one you could use because of the clashes with Turkish government and Kurdistan "rebels". I dont know, how the situation has developed since that, and I would find out before setting off. We had no problems going thru that Dogubeyazit border.

Even when a border is open, if theres lots of military activity in the area, it might mean lots of roadblocks, checking papers, etc., thus making your travel slow going.
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Old 24 Mar 2008
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the problem is now sorted with the "terrorist" group pkk and and the situation is stable at the moment. i have checked the Turkish Foreign Ministiry web page and there is no indication that any of the borders with Iran is closed.

and fyi, as there is no official country called Kurdistan thus, there is no Kurdistan border in Iran or in Turkiye. there is just a Kurdistan region in east of Iran. another little information about the region and the situation: pkk is a terrorist organisation, and has been defined as a terrorist organisation by US, UK, EU and many other countries government. there is not only Kurds in this terrorist organisation, there are Turk, Syrian, Iraqi, Irani citizens as well. so, if you say Kurdish rebel for this organisation it might upset the Kurdish people.

I hope this little but true (locally and politically) information helps to those who is interested in this region and who wishes to visit.

any question welcome.
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