Im planning to go from Iran to Pakistan, then on to India in about mid-October. I hear theres some election coming up, which might heat things up nicely right about that time. And now in BBC they said theyre thinking of declaring a state of emergency in the country. That really does sound promising!!

I know that it may not be time to jump to conclusions just yet, and things may change for both better or worse in the coming months.. but WHAT IF it just so happens, that Pakistan has its land borders closed at the time that Im planning to travel thru there? Or maybe just the border with India, at Wagah, as I understand its the only international one between these two countries... and they arent the best of friends to say the least. Or even if the borders remain open, there could then be other things making crossing the country too dangerous or complicated.

So, is there any reasonable option, if the need arises, to skip Pakistan entirely, and still get to India?

The first thing coming to my mind would be freighting the bike from Iran (Tehran, maybe), or perhaps even Turkey, but I havent got any information about that, and I figure it could turn out to be quite complicated, and costly?

Going thru the ´Stans (and I wont go to Afghanistan) might be possible, but wouldnt really help, as you´d then have to get into China (lots of extra problems) and even then you´d have to go to Pakistan on the Karakoram Highway. I dont think you can go straight from China to India.

Someone mentioned that there might even be a passenger ferry going from Iran (or somewhere else in the Persian Gulf region) to Mumbai, but I think this information might be well outdated. Anybody have any recent info on that?

I am not pushing any "panic button" on Pakistan yet, in fact I would like to stick with my original plan, and I would like to see that country with my own eyes. Many times it actually turns out to be much better than the picture the media paints you! Im just trying to find out in advance, if there are any options, in case the worst happens.

Hi Pecha,

we are in India (Goa) at the moment and start our return trip at the end of the week (18th). Original plan was back through Pakistan.
Having come via China & Pakistan, I dont feel inclined to go back that way so we are also looking at shipping.
Bombay to Bandar Abas (?). We would fly to Tehran and take a train to the coast to collect the bikes - about 4 GBP 1st class.

Will let you know later this week when we have more information. Rough prices quoted are about 400 euros for the bike (2 cubic metres), and the flight about 375.

John

BikerBytes.com/txp

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

I don't think I would be too worried about Pak. Avoid crowds, like demos, etc. and you should be fine.

Whatever you do, shipping in or out of India will be a nightmare, get to another country.

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Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

ok, thank you Redboots, when you have more, I´d really appreciate your info about this!

Never been to Pakistan myself, but strangely I would like to go there.. I´ve a friend who went to the Karakoram Highway in -01, and I think he put it nicely: "its a country from which you never seem to hear anything good, and thats why I wanted to go there!"

Then, on the other hand, I´ll be traveling with my girlfriend, and her security is top priority. Sure we both know that this trip wont be 100% risk-free, no trip ever is, but still we will try to err on the side of safety. Like Beddhist said, if you stay out of crowds, etc., which we surely will try to do, and youre only crossing the country and probably spending less than a week there, i would figure that its unlikely that theres any trouble.

I rode through Zimbabwe in April 2002, just before the presidential elections (that the EU stated was tampered with), and looking at the news, you probably wouldnt have wanted to go there. But I talked to some truck drivers who were doing that route several times a week, and said its no problem, if you only go through. Indeed it wasnt, I saw very few people on the streets, and a few extra checkpoints, thats all.

[QUOTE=pecha72;147052]when you have more, I´d really appreciate your info about this!QUOTE]

Hi Pecha,

OK more info. The cost per bike, Bombay to Bandar Abas is about 400 usd. On top of that there is the cost of crating it - about 11,000 Rupees. This is plus taxes. so the total is around 5-600 Euros.

We found that cheapest way to get ourselves to Iran, is via Dubai. 3000 rps to Dubai and 150 USD from there to Bandar. Check the net. India Dubai is vai Air India Express.

Here are the details of the travel agent we used and she has all the contacts in the shipping world and the process seems quite painless as they handle everything. The shipping agent, (Name of Aubury) says he can handle the shipping in either direction.

Marie D'Mello
Anderson Travels PVT LTD
103 Veena Chambers
21 Dalal Street
Fort
Mumbai 400 023

Tel: +91 22 2266 5194 / 4202
Email: andtrvls 'at' vsnl.net or andtrvls1 'at' mtnl.net.in ( substitute @ for 'at')

The shipping agent is:
Aubury D'Suza
12/14 Pilanmai Building, near Deven Motor
Vaju Kotak Mang
Ballard Estate
Mumbai 400 001

Tel: +91 66333261
email: auburydeasouza 'at' hotmail.com or jpintl 'at' rediffmail.com

Both of tese people are the owners of the companys. I have met them and they seem very capable and competent.


We are shipping our bikes back to the uk from Bombay. Too much pain in my leg from the crash in Pakistan to carry on and enjoy it plus our Iran visas are about to expire. The cost of that is 54,000 rupees for everything - crating and all taxes included.

Best of luck with your trip.

John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster