Lakeland-Lhasa 'The Silk Road'
 

My wife and I are in the planning process for a trip that will see us travel from the UK through:
Balkans, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgzstan, China (Inc. Tibet), Nepal, India (Export bike to UK).
This trip may start in August 2007, lasting six months. I have gathered a great deal of information on the route, however the following questions still remain only partly answered:

1. Has anyone used a travel agent/guide to attain the relevent permits and bike documents for China, entering from Kyryzstan and once in Xinjiang managed to travel on without supervision?

2. Has anyone managed to travel through western Tibet on a motorcycle?

3. If the answer to question two is yes then can the answer the following:

a. What was your route, including entry and exit points to Tibet?
b. Did you use a Tibet Tourist Bureau Permit (TTP) or an Alien Travel Permit and if so where did you get them.

4. Has anyone travelled in the following areas during October/November, and if so what were the conditions like?

a. The Pamir highway; Khorog - Osh (Tajikistan)
b. Kokshal range/Torugart Pass (Kyrgyzstan)
c. Tibet

Any help with any of these would be most helpful and I will be sure to return the favour once I have completed the route!

I will soon have a website to update this trip and detail my previous trips, which include:
Vietnam 1995
Deli - Leh, Ladakh 1995
Venezuala 1996
Deli - London 1999/2000
UK - Turkey (Through E. Europe) 2005
UK - Morocco 2005/06
Baltic countries - Anti - clockwise (Inc Russia) 2006

Should anyone have any questions on these trips please contact me at foulerton@hotmail.com.

Nick Foulerton

Look at my topics about western Tibet (Southern Asia forum). If you will have a concrete questions concerning my route I will try to help you.

Alex

Silk road
 

Hi Nick,

i have ride from france to China in 2005 during six months, i also try during this trip to go in China by the torugart, but without guide or agency and they turn me back !!!. Finally, i was successful to go to China from kazakhstan without guide or agency and ride freely to Beijing, same road used by Alex in 2006. Aniway if you want to try through Kirghizstan, i may still have agencies adress.

Chris

Kashgar - Lhasa
 

Alex & Chris,

Firstly thank you for replying so quickly, secondly this thread should really be in the South Asia section. I am still trying to get to grips with website!

I have looked at both your sites/information and gained much information and have been most impressed by the photos.

Chris, I understand that you managed to travel your route without the Chinese bike docs and plates, correct?

Neither of you rode the route (219) from Kashgar, Yecheng, Sumzhi, Samsang, Lhatze, Lhasa. You will however come across the same problems;

I aim to use a tour company to get my bike docs and permits (TTP and Alien Travel Permit - if possible) and meet me at the border (Irkeshtam/Torugart - weather dependant). Once I am in Kashgar I aim to go on my own along the route described. Does this sound possible?

Neither of you travelled in Tibet in November, do you know anyone who has, or who have travelled along the route I am planning?

Any help would be much apprieciated.

Nick

Thanks Nick,

You're right, i manage my way without guide, plates, all docs and stuff i have seems to be enough for them ;o)

If you want to go in China through Kirghizstan, you may try to arrange this with a chinese or kirghiz agency, i will e-mail you some contacts.

When i was turned back in Torugart, i 've meet a french couple with bicycles, they have arrange everything with a chinese agency to go to Kashgar. i meet them again 2 weeks after in China when i was heading to Kashgar, and they told me that after leaving Kashgar they were free to go wherever they want, then i think it should be possible !!! Aniway ask in advance...

i don't have any information about the road 219 or the one you intend to follow. After Yecheng, i continue towards Hotan, Minfeng along taklamakan

Chris

sites
 

hi waterloo

im planning to do pretty much the same trip but in reverse a year later, all ive found is that china is a bi*^h but try,

www.silkroad.co.nz

there a good kiwi company who can organise visa for nearly all those countrys and they have done the trip, so they know what there on about,
also
http://www.worldweather.org/

found it usefull for the weather reports, and what it should be like in diffrent months, hope these are usefull,

travelingtrev

I would not plan on being on the Torugart Pass or the Pamir Highway after October 1. We crossed the Torugart Pass in mid-October of 2005, but our bike was in the back of a van due to snow and ice.

Quite frankly, I think October/November is the wrong time of year to be planning a trip from Central Asia to Tibet on a motorcycle.

There are agencies who can get you the necessary permits, like www.caravancafe.com in Kashgar, but I doubt they will give you permits knowing that you will be travelling on your own afterwards, this could get them into some trouble. Greg at Caravan Cafe told me that even with the proper permits, inter-province travel in China is very difficult. And the bicyclists don't have the same restrictive rules as vehicles, i.e., no chinese driver's license, registration, guide requirements, etc.

However, in your situation I think the weather will hold you back before the paperwork does. Unless you plan on putting studded tires on your bikes and being totally self-sufficient.

Sorry to be so negative. You can check out our blog at the link below, check out the Kyrgyzstan and China sections to see what the roads look like in mid-October. If you break down in these conditions, there may be serious consequences.

Dave,

Thank you for your comprehensive reply, certainly food for thought. I travelled back through Iran/Turkey and the Alps on an Enfield seven years ago in December/January and yes it was a touch chilly! These timings are not of my own choosing and are far from ideal and I think Tajikistan will be the biggest problem. Crossing the lower Irkeshtam Pass may be a more sensible option in this situation.

Tibet I believe is clearly going to be cold, however snows tend to fall earlier in the year and therefore may not have the same impact.

Bike paperwork appears to be a combination of attaining the most you can and touch of luck, but I don't fancy Chrismas in the Hindu Hush!

Once again thank you and I will give you a full report if I get through.
I have emailed the Caravan Cafe and now wait for a reply.

Nick Foulerton