Ok, It's expensive due to the government restrictions & guiding requirements. But apparently it is possible.

The Budget aim is to equal or be less than flying the Motorbike bike to Thailand

Of course if a 4x4 is around with space for the guide then the cost does drop but we still have to pay the relocation fees of the guide. I am talking to a couple of agencies in China to get some comparitive quotes, and if a guide would accept going as a passenger on my bike.

Currently interested is myself solo & a 2 up couple.

This will take around 2 months to organise in China so although it is early for a post, time does become an issue to get this organised.

If you are interested in joining the short trip, please contact asap the more people who go the costs drop, so even if your only interested if the price is below then then say and what your budget is.

I will try and work this at basic cost + accomodation / camping

Andy

Hi Andy, we will be doing a similar trip with 5 KTM's in April 2011 (long term planning I know) and would be very interested to hear from your experience. We are talking to NAVO-Tour in Chendu presently and they seem to have lots of experience. Would be interested to meet up with you once you arrive. We all live in Vientiane and would be happy to take you guys out for a . best

Hi Andy, Though your route and perhaps more importantly timing do not suit, I am very interested on the outcome costs etc, I do not believe a lot can be saved by air cargo or shipping around China, not if you factor in dead days sitting in shipping offices and your own airfare to Thailand or Malaysia,the difference can be the value on seeing China. Please keep posting on here with updates and news. My ideal is Stans to laos, I realise the Nepal Laos China transit will be shorter and quicker I do not have enough time to get down to Nepal. Good luck!.

Jimmy

I am slowly building the information required, but to those looking at this option i was sent this from a friend who travelled last year through on a vehicle with european plates.

We got our Group Visa in Kathmandu, it took about a week, and at the time, only Groups could get in. But i also heard you can officially be a 'group of one', just as long as you have a Tibetan AND Chinese guide with you. The guides must be with you "at all times" in Tibet, and although it sounds totally unreasonable, the Chinese troops and police do try to enforce it. We got held up by police while we were shopping for Cook Team, and were not let go until our guide found us, and smoothed it over with some baksheesh. The rules change day to day, depending on the mood of the Chinese Government. It's always going to be hard to get into Tibet. All Individual Visas were denied to backpackers we met at the bars in Kathmandu.

.....

We went north from Kathmandu, heading to Kodari. We stayed at the Last Resort, a great bungy spot and shangri la of camping. The Chinese border took all day to pass through, the swine flu screening was excessive and long. The truck paperwork took the longest to get. We kept our regular European plates on, but had to have a laminated photocopy of the Chinese plate number in the front window at all times.

....

Just for those who are looking, i have removed some of the information as it is advertising etc and i will confirm the who's etc and paste them in later.


Salween & 5KTM's

have you had any luck with NAVO ? I asked and they gave me a price that was more than my motorbike cost when i bought it new in england !. Anyway, amongst your questions with them, could you find out if you need two guides one for tibet and one for china, following your route. Very intersted in the different answer from differnet sources.


Andy

Hi Andy

we were that we need one guide. but we haven't progressed very far as we still have plenty of time. i will try to see karen from navo in march in kunming or chendu to discuss 'final' route and prices. we might get a friend to drive his car and will have space for the guide, with that, prices do not look too unreasonable, but all needs to be negotiated in china... best