Hi, long story short: there´s a group of four riders wanting to go all the way from EU to Cambodia starting in mid-August (very soon, considering they still haven´t even got their route worked out!) Their initial plan has been to go via Iran, India & Burma. But the current situation with the carnet is a joke, they have to go through the Swedish AA, and the Swedes say they want 300% of each vehicle´s value, if these guys want to get into Pakistan. I posted a different thread about the carnet thing. Currently still working on that situation, BUT in case it remains this way, they may need to think of a “plan B” (I won´t be going, I´m just trying to help out my friend, who is)...

SO, referring to the map below - have I got these about right, means that if they want to ride all the way, it will have to be one of these options listed below, and all of them will have their own pros and cons.... (note, that the routes drawn on that map are only approximate, and for general route planning only - and several of the routes combine with another route at some point(s) )

They plan to start mid-August, and finish in Cambodia around end of October, so about 2,5 months only for the entire trip.


The map:


Route 1 (Iran-Pakistan-India-Burma)
– this WILL require the carnet
– necessary to get into Pakistan (which is an amazing country, but the 300% bond for the carnet is the current show-stopper here)
– will need to get to Burma, and ride through Burma from India to Thailand
– this route is the most “year-round” of them all, although eastern Turkey and northern Iran could get cold, severe heat in some of the desert areas, or monsoon rains probably should not be a big obstacle with their timing)

Route 2 (Kyrgyzstan-China-Pakistan-India-Burma)
– this will require the carnet
– this will require to get into China, but stay inside China could be shorter than in other options that include China, therefore the costs should come down a bit
– necessary to get into Pakistan (includes the spectacular Karakoram Highway)
– will need to get to Burma, and ride through Burma

Route 3 (Kyrgyzstan-China (Tibet)-China-Laos)
– NO need for carnet on this route
– this will require to get into China, and because of Tibet, could be the highest costing China-option
– days or weeks at very high altitude in the Tibetan plateau, I´m guessing this route is not possible in the winter months
– no need to get into Pakistan or Burma

Route 4 (Kazakhstan-China-Laos)
– no need for carnet
– needs to get into China and thru entire China but not Tibet; still a costly option
– no need to get into Pakistan or Burma
– can´t leave this very late because of coming winter in Kazakhstan and north China

Route 5 (Mongolia-China-Laos)
– no need for carnet; this could necessitate a bit shorter stay in China, but otherwise it has more or less the same “specs” as route 4.

Route 6 (India-Nepal-Tibet)
– for this, they´d need everything, the carnet for Pakistan, get into China, get into Tibet, so I don´t see this as a viable option for them, but just drew it on the map, because this route basically does exist!

Any comments or ideas are very welcome, and especially, if you have done one of these routes lately. I've ridden route #1 up until India myself, but a long time ago, recent experience would be golden. This group will need to decide very soon, what they are gonna do.