Any info or thread about crossing into china with a motorcycle
 

Heard all kind of stories.
Can anyone clear what is the situation now?
Taxes? payments? Guides?

we are a groupe of 4 bikers

Hope to go May 2012
Thanks
Yoni

Bringing a motorcycle to China / Torug Art update
 

Hello Yoni,


I’m currently in Kashgar, in the process of riding through Xinjiang to Pakistan.


If bringing a motorbike or car into China, you’re required to be escorted at all times while on the road by a vehicle of an authorised Chinese travel agency. They must be there to meet you at your point of entry into China and will escort you to your point of exit. This is definitely the case with Xinjiang and Tibet provinces, though I understand it is also the case for the rest of China.


In order for the agent to arrange all the paperwork (various permits) you really need to get in contact with a travel agent in the region you wish to visit 3 months ahead of your planned arrival (2 minimum, though this is cutting it fine). You will need to email copies of passport, vehicle registration etc, along with paying a deposit electronically.


There are a handful of agents to choose from in Kashgar. The details of two tried-and-tested agents are below, both of whom previously worked for the well known, though now-no-longer, Caravan Café travel agency. You’ll see their names mentioned on various threads over the past few years.


1. Wayne (also known as July Xie), www.xinjiangtibetexpeditions.com, xistinfo@yahoo.com.cn


2. Taher, www.newlandtravel.net, taherbasecamp@hotmail.com


A popular route for bikers is from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan – the route I’m taking. For the benefit of all, it involves the following:


Once you have exited Kyrgyzstan and ridden the c12km of no-man’s-land over the Torug Art pass (note – unlike cyclists and backpackers, motorcyclists can ride this independently), you cannot proceed beyond the Chinese border post until your escort from Kashgar has arrived. This means you will meet them around noon local time. You then follow them the c110km to the Chinese customs post. Passing through is a relative delight (other than being disinfected), since your agent runs around and does everything for you. Then it’s another 60km or so to Kashgar. There you can have a day or two rest, before a day’s ride to Tashkurgan. This is the Chinese exit post. Here you stay the night. The following morning your agent makes sure you get through customs smoothly and then you’re on your own for c220km until the Pakistan checkpost at Sost. Here, I'm informed, you can still get a Pakistani tourist visa on entry (2 passport photos and $90 for UK citizens).



Anon!


Bob


Note: On entering Kyrgyzstan from Tajikistan at the Kyzyl Art pass I was not given a customs declaration form for my motorbike, though the vehicle details were entered into a register. I asked for one, but was told it was not necessary. This I found hard to believe, though judging by other threads and motorcyclists I met it appears to be standard practice. And on leaving Kyrgyzstan, lo and behold, he was quite right. Rather unusually the brief customs declaration form is completed on exit. Nice fellas the Kyrgyz customs.

Hi Bob
Interesting report.
How about payment? I mean your motorbike.
I have car and strong motivation to go there.

Bartosz

Thank you Bob
 

Plan on entering from Turgut pass, I'll use this info in planning my trip in china (May 2012). I intend to cross Tibet (Can't enter Pakistan:( with my Israeli passport) I understand I'll need to arrange another escort...?

Your info is very valuable! I was really searching hard the net to gather bits. BIG THANKS!


Y.

Great , concise information Bob, Thanks :thumbup1:

My original plan was to totally cross China, but that has had to be rethought after reading a lot info on here. I now plan to go from Kazakhstan across the KKH and down to Nepal and take the flight from Kathmandu to Bangkok option.

Shame to fly as I wanted to keep the bike on the surface of the earth all the way around, but the China situation makes it very difficult.

Sorry to hear about your inability to come to Pakistan Yoni. Would have been great to have you here :(

Hey Trachdayrider,

Try to make it by early October and join the HU meet planned for Lahore, Pakistan. Looking forward to have you here. :)
Have a nice and safe trip.

Cheers
Omar

Thanks Omar - Our trip departure is a while away yet though.

Just picking up this thread again, I'm looking at travelling solo by motorbike from Kyrgyzstan through Xinjiang to Pakistan via Kashgar & the KKH, potentially in September this year.

Does anyone have any up to date information on rough costs of hiring an official guide for the duration of the route in Xinjiang?

I only need an estimate/band of costs right now rather than an actual quote for budgeting purposes.

Thanks in advance,

Ed

Hey Ed. I'm trying to arrange something going the opposite direction North Pak ---> Kyrg vai Kashgar this May. Thanks for bumping. I found some good info too :-)

As for costs, the cheapest quote I got for exiting Pakistan via the Khunjerab Pass, entering Kyrgyzstan at the Tourgat Pass was $1800 for one person, one bike, $2500 for two, $3200 for three, $3900 for 4, and so on.

So the more the merrier. The bulk of the cost is paperwork and your guide, which an agency provides. So gather a group if possible and start contacting agencies.

I chatted with kashgaradventuretravel.com/‎ today. They added me on skype about an hour after I sent a contact request. The agent spoke (typed) decent English and was very helpful in explaining things.

Other agencies to try are NAVO tours (super expensive) and China Overland (never got back to me).

Plus perhaps the ones listed here.

Any other questions let me know.



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