Singapore to London via India - Is this route possible?

[Bensouthall]

After circumnavigating Africa in 2008 and the last four years exploring Australia I need some real adventure again!

My trusty Defender will be shipped to Singapore, late 2014, and I'm wanting to drive it back to the UK via Nepal, India, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey.

At this stage I'm trawling forums, maps and websites gathering information on the best/open/beautiful routes that have been/can be driven in a private vehicle.

Understanding that China is an guide-only option my ideal route will be:

Singapore > Thailand > Cambodia > Vietnam > Laos > China > Tibet > Nepal > India > Pakistan > Afghanistan > Iran > Turkey > Europe


I'm reaching out to see if anyone has taken this route in the last few years, if it's even possible, the best time of year to cross Tibet/Nepal (I assume April - July for some reason!).

Any guidance from the HUBB community would be greatly received....

Over and out for now,

Ben

[Bensouthall]

Ok HUBBers - how about this way through the difficult zones?

Any advice?

Ben

[pecha72]

There have been some travel restrictions in Tibet, I don´t know, what the situation is right now. Even if you could go through there, expect the China part to cost big, big money. That kind of money goes a long, long way elsewhere in Asia.

Also all the way through Afghanistan is commonly considered a no-go, and most people go via Pakistan to Iran, or north to China and Kyrgyzstan (this route only has a small bit of China, so while still a PITA, should be much cheaper to arrange, than Laos->Nepal).

And you´re a seasoned traveller, the rest should be relatively easy, only traffic is horrible in some countries!

[Bensouthall]

Originally Posted by pecha72

There have been some travel restrictions in Tibet, I don´t know, what the situation is right now. Even if you could go through there, expect the China part to cost big, big money. That kind of money goes a long, long way elsewhere in Asia.

Also all the way through Afghanistan is commonly considered a no-go, and most people go via Pakistan to Iran, or north to China and Kyrgyzstan (this route only has a small bit of China, so while still a PITA, should be much cheaper to arrange, than Laos->Nepal).

And you´re a seasoned traveller, the rest should be relatively easy, only traffic is horrible in some countries!

Great advice and along the lines of what I've been thinking. Shame about the lack of Khyber Pass - I've always wanted to cross that point after watching Carry On!

I understand that the cost will be up there for China but we've saved for this already and crossing the Tibet/Nepal border and visiting the Himalayas will make up for it.

Appreciate your advice, do you have any more info on the ideal Iran/Pakistan crossing points?

[pecha72]

Originally Posted by Bensouthall

ideal Iran/Pakistan crossing points?

That´s easy. For foreigners, there is only one: Taftan / Mir Javeh.

[Andy_C]

Originally Posted by Bensouthall

Understanding that China is an guide-only option my ideal route will be:

Singapore > Thailand > Cambodia > Vietnam > Laos > China > Tibet > Nepal > India > Pakistan > Afghanistan > Iran > Turkey > Europe

Ben

Hi Ben,

We might be interested in sharing the China crossing from Laos to Nepal, depending on what time of year you are planning?

Andy

[Bensouthall]

Hi Andy

Definitely open to that idea! At this stage were looking at the earliest possible crossing of the route into Nepal from Tibet and think its around May, so working it backwards we'd pass through Laos in China at the end of April taking the 17 day tour option with the guide company.

Certainly open to other suggestions through,

Where are you based?

Ben

[Andy_C]

That's a shame - if we go the Mongolia to Laos route the earliest we would be ready to cross from Laos to Nepal would be around the beginning of August.

Andy

[Omie]

Hey Ben,
I presume you plan to cross Pakistan around June/July. It would be great time for mountains and the high passes but not so great for the plains particularly going towards Iran border.

The Multan-Sukkur-Jacobabad-Sibi-Quetta-dalbandin-taftan belt can be scorching at this time of year.
I hope you have a good AC in your defender.
Have a nice trip
cheers
Omar