China - May/June 2013. Sharing guide costs (Nepal to Kyrgyzstan)
 

My partner and I are going through China in May/June of 2013, as part of our Australia to the UK trip, and are seeking other travelers to share costs with us for the China leg - we already have another bike coming with, found through the HUBB.

We're ideally looking for people interested in sharing costs for a 3 week crossing, starting from Nepal and exiting to Kyrgyzstan - but we need to get half a dozen bikes together for the costs for this to be realistic. If we can't find this many people, both ourselves and the other bike are interested in sharing costs for a quick (4-5 day) trip through from Pakistan to Kyrgyzstan.

Costs for a 3 week trip with 6 bikes will be approx RMB18,000 per bike (and individual costs drop further if we can find more bikes to join) for all paperwork and guide costs. This cost will drop significantly if we can also find a 4WD interested in joining the trip and letting the guide ride with them.

Please post here if you are interested in more info on the trip - I'm moving about a lot over the coming weeks, so apologies if I don't get back to you straight away

I've had another quote come in that has the 3 week trip at USD14993 for 6 bikes (to compare with the other quote, this is currently RMB15750 or USD2500 per bike)

I'll be researching the 2 companies (mainly through this site) to see if there are reasons beyond cost to go with one over the other

Good work sandpedro

I've had contact with a 'Wayne' from Climb Muztagh Ata, climb K2, Trek to K2, Trek to Muztagh Ata Base Camp, cycle the KKH, enter China on your foreign licensed motorcycle or car and had quotes significantly cheaper than what you've quoted here to go from the Paki border north to the Kyrgyzstan border in a couple of months time.

Have not done the deal yet so still interested in all options!?

Cheers,
Drew

Hi Sanpedro,

We were unable to join a group going from Kyrgyzstan to Laos this year and instead are going from Mongolia to Shanghai in September 2012. We would still really like to do the Tibet portion and would consider doing this as part of our return trip. At the moment we are thinking of going over the KKH to Kyrgyzstan in April or May of 2013 but coming up from Nepal would be more interesting.

Please put us (two people on two bikes) down as interested in joining you. After we go from Mongolia to Shanghai in September we should be able to give a good review on the China Overland tour company. china overland |china driving Travel |china self-driving

The map at the bottom of our web page shows an approximation of our planned route: Audrey and Ekkes Home Page

@Drewsome - I've also been in touch with Wayne. What itinerary were you looking at with him? For a 3 week tour, he was quoting me much much higher - US$18,000 for the first bike and US$6000 per bike for any extra bikes

hi ekke

afraid that i can't get your webpage to load.

great news that the two of you are interested - if we can find another couple of bikes, then the 3 week trip becomes viable price wise. sty in touch with how your plans progress - and we'd love to hear about your experience with the company regardless of whether you are able to join our trip.

flick me a PM if you need any more info

pete

Hi
The quotes seem expensive we have organised a 37 day trip for 9400 USD from Kashgar to Mohan in Sept 2012, drop me a line if you want the tour company.

Eric

with how many bikes? that is the price for 6

it'd be great if you could PM me details of your trip

Strange, I click on the link and it works fine. Try typing "ekke-audrey.ca" into your web browser.

Yes, let's keep in touch as I think this could be a great opportunity for such an epic ride.

Ekke

i may just be may dodge internet connection - i'm online through mobile internet, in a caravan at a crocodile park, in heavy rain, 16Km from a small town in rural australia, with a tropical cyclone a day off the coast i.e not ideal connection speeds

haha, yes Australia has some blackspots - can I ask where you are Sanpedro??.. Im in Adelaide.. if your in the area over the next month drop by!
Drop me a PM if your around!

The prices here look very high. I was quoted 1500 sharing with another guy a quick transit ride from north pakistan to Kashgar and on to the border to Kyrgyzstan. I'm guessing it was a 3-5 day dash.

I'm still looking at other cheap, and (sadly) quick options.

Drew

For our ride from Mongolia to Shanghai in September we are paying on the order of RMB 29,000 for two bikes. The other couple we are joining is in a car so we don't need to rent a car/driver for the guide. The length of the tour is about 19 days. So while this is lower than what you are being quoted it isn't totally out of whack. Also, I believe Tibet needs a few more permits as well so that could also be driving up the cost.

We just found out that the cost of our trip does not include the cost of food/accommodation for the guide. So that means we'll have to split that cost every day as well in addition to the total cost. Apparently the guide can stay in "budget" accommodation at 100 - 150 RMB per night. Perhaps your quote includes that cost built in?

Since there are fixed costs (such as the salary of the guide) and marginal costs (such as the permits for each bike) the total quoted prices won't go down in direct proportion to the number of vehicles.

@Drew - these costs are for a much longer trip. If we can't find enough people, that w intend to do the quick dash across as you've descried, taking around 4 days. I'd have to go bac and check through my quotes, but I think the cheapest we were quoted was US$1400 per bike, I think for 2 bikes. If it would be useful, I can send you which companies were cheapest - this would have to wait until I go in to town net week (not planning on riding today, as gale force winds are showing up at some point, which sounds bit too exciting for the bike)

I'v just moved up to Broome for work - my partner and I will be here until Oct-Nov of this year, at which point we hit the road

@Ekke - that cost does cover driver and guide accommodation, plus their food. It seems that there is an expectation of guide tips (another company suggested RMB20-30 per person per day, which won't drastically increase costs)

the need to have a car and driver with us is what is pushing the cost up - we will look for a 4WD that is going overland that is willing to take the guide, but I suspect that finding this person might be harder than finding more bikes

My understanding is that China doesn't use carnets, but instead requires a deposit to customs, returned when you exit. Some companies provide a guarantee to customs, so you don't need to pay the deposit yourself. The company I've had most contact with provides this service

Hi
Sorry for the late reply been riding in Laos for the last few days, PM sent

Eric