Guide & Visa for Iran June 2014
 

I have been trying without success to get a guide to follow a friend and me on our bikes through Iran. The Iranian MFA has said as soon as we get a guide and itinerary they will issue the authorisation code. Does anyone know of any bikers who have secured the guide as many people have an opinion for which I'm grateful but NOBODY had actually said they have achieved this. I look forward to your comments. Dan

In 2006, the US motorcycle tour operator
Iran Motorcycle Tour
used this Iranian travel agency/ company
Iran Doostan Tour and Travel Agency Tour to Iran Travel to Iran Iran Touring and Tourism Travel Agency Tour Operator in Iran
to provide the required in-country guide for an approved motorcycle tour.
The IDT guide(s) were excellent, at that time,

I don't know that IDT is still willing/ able to provide a guide under
your circumstances, but you could try contacting IDT directly.

If not, you could ask Motodiscovery which Iranian travel agency
they expect will provide a guide for the planned 2015 tour.

My wife and I crossed into Iran from Pakistan through Taftan yesterday with our motorbike and everything was smooth.

My wife (a South African) visa was pre-applied through on line application and within 3 days she got her reference number and got her visa stamped in Lahore. I'm a Malaysian and allowed visa on arrival if I arrive into Iran by air. It did not mention anything through land border so I took my chance to just appear at Taftan border. Fortunately they allowed me in without any question.

No guide required or even being mentioned for our motorbike travel but they did ask for the general itinerary of our stay in Iran.

We are now in Zahedan.

Cheers,
Borneoman

Hi Borneoman,

It seems that you and your wife have been quite lucky:

Death toll in Taftan suicide bombing rises to 24
from: Online portal "Dawn"

Have a safe trip!
Achim

H Achim,

Yes, we are indeed lucky. We were in Taftan at 4 pm and crossed the border just before the border close at 5 pm. If we did not make it on time that day, we would definitely have to stay overnight in those hotel as Taftan is just a small town.

Thank God that we made it towards Iran that day.

Borneoman

Great that you made it safely into Iran without guide.
Guides are required by Iran only for certain nationalities, notably US, now apparently UK (original poster), and perhaps others.
have a wonderful ride

Prior leaving Malaysia on 1 April this year I have been without success getting a visa to travel with my motorbike in Iran. They refused to issue me one unless I have a guide. After a few months waiting and arguing I just gave up and then decided to appear at their border. So till today I am still not sure about the black and white about guide requirement for non US & non UK nationalities.

Ah! I think you were very lucky :)

This guide "rule," like any political/ bureaucratic rule, is always subject to communication downward to different levels and locations; and interpretation
on the spot/ at the moment.
And, you were traveling with someone (your wife) who already had an official visa, you were obviously a "nice guy"/ no threat to the peace, they didn't want to send you back to 'dangerous' Pakistan, etc.
That's just all speculation.

So glad you were allowed in...and enjoy this wonderful country :D

I still haven't got a guide but an agency has one and they have put my application into Tehran so let's see how the next few days / week pans out and I'll update when I have further info.

It really makes me wonder if the countries are worth visiting if they make it so hard to enjoy and spend your tourist dollars. I was planning that run next spring but am seriously considering going the hight road through Russia now.

I finally got a guide and a visa. Bloody expensive at £1,000 for me to be in Iran for 9 days, this includes 6 really nice hotels. The Canadian guy guy I'm travelling with paid the same so someone is making a load of money here. Anyway, I dug deep and paid the money and now I'm in Iran and loving it. Persever if you want to get in, I had to contact so many tour companies before I found a guide. I hope the visa requirements change back soon. Ride safe, Dan

OK. Expensive, perhaps, but could you share the name and contact info
for the agency that provides your guide. Thnx

Hi Dan

Just to say we'd also like to get the contact details of your guide, if you found them good by the end.
The best price we got so far was $1800 for 2 weeks but without any accommodation and plus extra for the guide's accommodation.
However this price here is a group price, if we find more travellers, we just share the costs.

Hope you're still enjoying yourselves!
Helen

Hello,

does anyone have information about the nationalities that need a guide to travel in Iran? The service that got an authorization number for me wants me to inform them if I will be entering the country with my own vehicle. They would check for the need of a guide. Otherwise "Not reporting this may cause problems like entry refusal or deportation.". I'm not sure if it's vise to give that information. Has anyone recent experience on this situation?

Edit: according to another thread (http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-vehicle-74844, reply #12) there should be no problem with the guide and I will not mention anything about my bike unless I have to.

LL

For traveller entering Iran outside of a grouped tour, and from the top of my head, it is US, Canada and the UK. I am myself preparing a journey from France to Azerbajian then Iran, and as a Canadian, Iran is a no go for me. Luckily I have dual citizenship... I am also French and will have a French passport done at Montreal's French embassy. So, I don't need a guide/escort with a French passport.
My bike will be a French-plated Africa Twin (same model as when I did Tunisia last year) and am currently investigating about the need for a Carnet de Passage to enter Iran (which is most likely mandatory).

That is roughly my two months itinerary.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psrjkgnim4.png

Last year in Tunisia

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...4.jpg~original