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  #16  
Old 23 Aug 2012
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Alternatives - China

Quote:
Originally Posted by Channey View Post
We have just travelled through XinJing region of China a couple of weeks ago with Newland Travel. They are not cheap but a great company to deal with. The guide/driver were great guys. We travelled 11 days in China and covered a lot of distance. We entered China through the Tekeshenken border in the Altay region, and exited through Touragart Pass to Kyrgyzstan. Both borders are not frequented by foreigners, so there is extra cost / red tapes.

XinJing is an unstable region of China, and we saw police and army carrying machine guns and batten in many towns. While most people were OK, we encounter quite afew unfriendly local Chinese, and a couple of nasty border army and police. I was a bit disappointed with the scenery. Overall, it is not worth the money or hassles. But I am only talking about XinJing region.

If you still want to travel to China, I would suggest you give Newland travel a try. Details as follow:
www.newlandtravel.net
email Mamatjan at newlandtraveller@hotmail.com
Thank you will have a look. Got over my annoyance at the costs.
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  #17  
Old 26 Aug 2012
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If you give China a miss, due to costs, what new route do you propose?
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  #18  
Old 27 Aug 2012
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LDN - Istanbul 2013

Gday David,

Im planning a trip in April 2013, from London to Turkey on a bike purchased in London. When are you planning on commencing your trip mate? Sounds like a fairly similar route.

Would be great to compare notes
Cheers
Tom
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  #19  
Old 27 Aug 2012
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Hey David

We are currently planning on driving from Aus to the uk next August there are 3 of us and we are having similar problems... What route to take one you get hrough Thiliand? We are actually considering flying the bikes over china and continuing on from Mongolia/Russia as this seems to be the more straightforward route bar the Russian visa but at least ordinary people can afford it. Any ideas on this would be appriciated??

Thanks
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  #20  
Old 30 Aug 2012
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Air freight options.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomos View Post
If you give China a miss, due to costs, what new route do you propose?
Several options but an option I am looking into is air freighting bikes from Bangladesh to Chiang Mai (Thailand) or vise versa.

That option is do-able. There is a post on Horizons Unlimited 'Get Ready' where a traveller gives an example of an actual transfer.

Cheers
PS. Got your private message and sent a response.
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  #21  
Old 30 Aug 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Bon 865 View Post
Gday David,

Im planning a trip in April 2013, from London to Turkey on a bike purchased in London. When are you planning on commencing your trip mate? Sounds like a fairly similar route.

Would be great to compare notes
Cheers
Tom
Tom

Hope to do the trip in the northern hemisphere summer/autumn 2013.

Plans are still very much fluid. There appears to many more potential travellers starting out from UK than there is AUS. So at this stage UK to AUS is looking like a better option.

If I ride from UK to AUS I need a Carnet to get a bike back into AUS so will have to freight my bike to UK and ride it back. Cannot buy a bike in UK and get it into AUS unless I have a Personal Import permit for the bike - must have owned it for two years +. Buying a bike in UK is only an option if I do a round trip that starts and ends in UK.

More than happy to ride with you from UK through Turkey is timing works out.
Please keep in touch.

David
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  #22  
Old 30 Aug 2012
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Thailand route options

Quote:
Originally Posted by kyleadrutledge@hotmail.com View Post
Hey David

We are currently planning on driving from Aus to the uk next August there are 3 of us and we are having similar problems... What route to take one you get hrough Thiliand? We are actually considering flying the bikes over china and continuing on from Mongolia/Russia as this seems to be the more straightforward route bar the Russian visa but at least ordinary people can afford it. Any ideas on this would be appriciated??

Thanks
G'day

Fantastic to get your post. My planning is still very fluid and as yet I have not committed to any one plan.

The route options through Thailand are limitless. This is probably my one and only shot at this so I want to see as much as I can. My early plan was Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand (heading toward Bangkok then east toward Cambodia), southern Cambodia, Vietnam (Voyage Vietnam Mototours organising vehicle entry permits etc.), Laos and then China, and so forth. China is proving to be expensive and very restrictive so looking other options.

Now I am looking at Chiang Mai ( northern Thailand ) and air freighting the bike to the next destination possibly Bangladesh or India.

My ideal is doing the 'stans', Iran and Turkey perhaps touching southern Russia and even Georgia.

How advanced is your planning and are the three bikes all committed to the trip? Are you looking for other starters?

Have a safe trip.

David
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  #23  
Old 5 Sep 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davidsmotorcycletravels View Post
Today I received email from another Chinese tour company informing me they have found a travel partner for me through China. The travel partner turns out to be a group of two adults and four children travelling in a large vehicle. No details beyond that.

Their charges quote is as follows - 1 X person and 1 X motorbike =
Euro 12,881 ($15,217 AUD) for me travelling alone.

BUT if I am to travel with this other group the charges are -
1 X person and 1 X motorbike
= Euro 9552 ($11,284 AUD)

The cost of importing a vehicle, obtaining a Chinese licence, temporary vehicle registration and insurance must be expensive.

The same amount is being charged to the other group so the total payable to the tour company is 19,104 Euro for guiding the tour for 30 days. This is nothing short of a ripoff (15,016 GBP, 23,590 USD, 22,568 AUD). Especially when it is for a guide only - no vehicle or driver required. This does not include visa fees, meals and accommodation for myself, the guide and driver. Along with admission fees, tours, personal expenses and a TIP is expected for the guide at the end????

The whole process is inflexible and expensive. China self-drive travel appears to be beyond the reach of ordinary people and these tour companies appear to be cashing in.

I am now seriously thinking of giving China a miss - go where travellers are welcome.
Hi, I went through the same thing two years ago and came to exactly the same conclusion Here's some potentially useful info:

* Navo will allow you to carry a pillion guide on the bike, if they can find a willing guide. That will remove the car hire fee.

* I worked with them to find the shortest possible route through China, to keep the cost down. It worked out at 12 days and $5,000 (that was based on the guide using a car). As per your quote, it does not include any of the rider's costs.

I still intend to do this trip. Would love to join you but already got plans for next year.

cheers
__________________
www.motoindo.com
One-way and multi-island rentals ex Bali
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  #24  
Old 5 Sep 2012
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Navo

Hello

Thank you for the info. Communicated with NAVO staff some time ago. They get numerous and excellent recommendations from travellers who have used them.

Their costs are similiar to other companies. Unfortunately they do not have other travellers going my way at the time I hope to be travelling.

Recent find -

China Chengdu Greatway Tour Company. Contact person Ms. Liu.
info@china-tour.net

They have 2 X adults + 4 X children + 1 X vehicle travelling through Tibet in May, 2013. Offers open to others to join.

Rough route - Mohan, Kunming,Dechen,Lhasa,Tsada and Kashgar.

The more info out there the better informed choice can be made.

Thanks again.
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  #25  
Old 5 Sep 2012
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Hello David

I'm interested in UK to OZ. I have relatives in China and OZ and friends in Nepal

Kind Regards
John
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  #26  
Old 5 Sep 2012
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Possibly...

Hi,

We could be interested if the times match up.

We are starting in Bangkok in May and and expect to be at either the Lao or Vietnamese border in mid July. We are interested in heading up the centre of China and exiting to Mongolia.

Did you have an itinerary in mind?

Cheers
TO
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  #27  
Old 5 Sep 2012
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UK to OZ

Quote:
Originally Posted by MOGGY View Post
Hello David

I'm interested in UK to OZ. I have relatives in China and OZ and friends in Nepal

Kind Regards
John
I am in the throes of putting together such a trip for May/June 2012 and looking for a partner.

I you are interested send e-mail address via private message and perhaps we could see if there is a common theme.

Regards jim
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  #28  
Old 5 Sep 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davidsmotorcycletravels View Post
G'day
.... I want to see as much as I can. My early plan was Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand (heading toward Bangkok then east toward Cambodia), southern Cambodia, Vietnam (Voyage Vietnam Mototours organising vehicle entry permits etc.), Laos and then China, and so forth. China is proving to be expensive and very restrictive so looking other options.

David
Hello;

I will be doing the UK to OZ route through Iran - Pak - India etc etc starting next April (2013) we will be messing around Europe and Turkey till September then enter Iran (if all goes to plan).. I wana travel Turkey quite thoroughly. Will eventually get to S.E. Asia.. you mention Voyage Vietnam..do they arrange entry for big bikes? I was planning on leaving the bike in Laos or Cambodia and backpack Vietnam or hire another bike as entry is not allowed for any bike not registered there first or something or other. If your route plan changes this way round might bump in to you en-route.

Have fun!
Oli
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  #29  
Old 6 Sep 2012
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Response to John

Quote:
Originally Posted by MOGGY View Post
Hello David

I'm interested in UK to OZ. I have relatives in China and OZ and friends in Nepal

Kind Regards
John
John

Thank you for your post. Best thing I ever did was join Horizons Unlimited because it has put me in touch with like minded travellers.

To make China cost effective for me there will need to be a large group sharing costs - so your interest is welcome. No decision has been made as yet - still collecting info. and interested parties before deciding route.

As my plans progress we will communicate further.

David
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  #30  
Old 6 Sep 2012
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Response to Oli

Quote:
Originally Posted by olionel View Post
Hello;

I will be doing the UK to OZ route through Iran - Pak - India etc etc starting next April (2013) we will be messing around Europe and Turkey till September then enter Iran (if all goes to plan).. I wana travel Turkey quite thoroughly. Will eventually get to S.E. Asia.. you mention Voyage Vietnam..do they arrange entry for big bikes? I was planning on leaving the bike in Laos or Cambodia and backpack Vietnam or hire another bike as entry is not allowed for any bike not registered there first or something or other. If your route plan changes this way round might bump in to you en-route.

Have fun!
Oli
Oli

Fantastic getting your post. Never know our paths may cross.

In answer to your question -

I communicated with Ahn (Voyage Vietnam) via email after reading a blog by an English couple who rode their own bikes in Vietnam. Like many others I believed that large bikes were not permitted in Vietnam BUT this is not the case according to the information I have received. Someone from the company apparently meet you at the border (similar to China) and make all the arrangements to get the bike temporarily into the country. Please make contact with the company and check for yourself - double checking assertions is worth the time and effort.

Let me know of your plans as we get closer to the trip.

David
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