No More Independent Iran Travel for British & Canadians!
 

Seems like we have also been included in this ban with the Americans. Has anyone with these nationalities recently tried to get a visa. And if a guide was demanded. I am currently in Thailand (Canadian) and was going to make my final RTW run towards Europe next April.

Now with the added cost/hassel of needing a guide for Iran plus the cost of a guide etc for Burma. The southern route is not sounding to efficient anymore. It is a shame to miss these beautiful countries but geez it's out of control.

Maybe Russia is the way to go now. No guides, No Carnets needed....

Roaming & Riding - Life Unexpected

This is not good, it's going to impact my trip through to Pakistan. :(

Messaged hossein's guest house and he reckon's it's around 140 euros a day for a guide. :thumbdown:

I hope this stops before my planned departure next year.

I talked to a guy from the USA and he and his buddy are paying $1700 pp for 9 days across. I will cross next year as well and hope by then things change. the challenge is now the same as Burma unless you can find a group to cross with it becomes cost prohibitive. But in Burma everyone needs a guide. Iran only a select few of us so forming a group is harder.

Where does it state this?
I can't find any info on the FCO nor the Iranian visa web site.
UK citizens need to apply for a visa in advance but there have been lots of independent travelers in Iran on the HUBB lately, including those riding bikes.

this is a recent article in the Guardian
Discovering Iran: from Caspian Sea to Persian Gulf | Travel | The Guardian

Apparently there isn't such a law at all, at least that is what the Iranian embassy in Bangkok told us.
The guy even gave us the number of someone who could help.
Unfortunately she could not get the authorization code from the MFA herself and had to rely on agencies in Iran to get the number.
And there we are back at square one again, as they all say you (Brit, US, Canada) need a guide and they won't get you a number without one.
So frustrating. We've tried close to 10 agencies now and always the same response.
Too bad we started to think it would work: now doubly frustrated!


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Definitely not quick: William Hague in his press conference from Baghdad a couple of days ago even stressed something to the effect that opening the embassy did not indicate they were much closer to being on the same track.
But let's stay hopeful, for sure!


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Has anyone tried an iranian tour agency back in there home country? I am wondering since there is no "law" on the books about a guide if the Iran agencies are now using this as ploy to sell guided packages?

just a thought

Roaming & Riding - Life Unexpected

Hi,
this seems to be a typical Iranian chaos. I have not heard it yet - and these (Ramadan) days it is hard to find out the real facts.
Since I (German) live in Iran for almost 7 years now I can only try to make you look at this sort of things in relaxed mood. In Iran nothing is possible - and everything at the same time. Iran is THE country of contradictions. This also applies to the rules and regulations. Of course you can run into problems that seem to be impossible to overcome. But, if you keep on trying, using different approaches, act (most important) friendly, respectful and on the base of common sense there might also be a solution for citizens of the US, Canada and UK to go without tour guide.
Maybe agencies make their profit out of this confusion. Therefore for those of you who travel overland, I would give it a try at the border when you get there. The border police is not over-informed, not perfectly educated, - and they are Iranians: be friendly, tell them you want so visit their amazing country, have come alllll the way to here.... - and I am almost sure, that they will make the difference because of hospitality, friendliness...
Good luck!!
Daniel

Hi Daniel,
I like your descriptions, thanks for that, I can start to picture it in my mind.
The only thing I really cannot imagine working, so please do say if you think otherwise, is trying to get into Iran at one of their borders without a visa in your passport.
The problem we have here is that Brits, Americans, Canadians cannot even get an authorisation number without having booked a guide.


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