From Netherlands to south-Indonesia. When to go?
 

Hello people,

the time has come for a new challenge. I'm preparing for a motorcycle trip from the Netherlands to the south of Indonesia in 2013.
I'm not yet sure about the route; north of the black sea trough the Stans or via Iran. I will travel India, Nepal and ship my bike to SE-Asia. My plan is to stay away for 8-12 months.

Now my question. What is the best time to leave? My soonest point in time will be march/april because of work. I want to avoid the 50C temperatures of Iran or India. Avoid the freezing cold of winter in Turkey. And the monsoons of Asia.
Let's say: I want to have the best weather possible everywhere. Blue skies and moderate temperatures! :)

Now, what is the best time to leave? I'm thinking about leaving march/april, so in spring. Or leave in august and slowly drive towards the autumn in Turkey.

What season did you overlanders choose?

august/september
 

Hi Kabelman,

We went in september 2010 and I feel it was a good moment to start of and have mostly nice weather all the time.
You want to cross the mountains in east-turkey to Iran before the end of october because of the snow. We had a wonderful time in Iran and Pakistan. The KKH we rode in the beginning of december which was a bit late as some passes are closed and we did have some icey roads and nightly frost but still had one of the best times of the entire trip up there. North of India was a bit chilly and misty, but from Rajastan on it was prefect blue skies and sun. January Nepal, bit chilly in the mountains but perfectly blue skies again. Thailand and Cambodia was is March/April the hot season which was quite hot in Cambodia, a bit tough with offroading. We had some showers in Thailand but I think that was not normal that time of the year. Malaysia and Indonesia were perfectly fine. So, all in all I think we chose the right time to leave.

Have fun and take care, you'll love it

Els

Two for the Road