Central Asia 2013 : London - China along the silk road back via India/Pakistan & Iran

[BigO]

Hi Everybody,

I'm planning a overland 4×4 trip to China and back in 2013 (May - October approx) for 3-4 people. Travelling from London to Turkey the plan is to join the Silk Road and head east to China though the “Stans” north of Afghanistan. The plan is then to head south via Tibet/Nepal to India and head back west via Pakistan and Iran, and finally Europe to London.

We are planning to retrace the steps of players and locations involved in the Great Game. The Great Game - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm on the lookout for overlanders heading into China in the middle of next year (approx July/August 2013) that want to share China visa entry costs.

Planning to enter at Kashgar and exit Tibet/Nepal. Options are open over the route to take while in China and the length of time. Estimate somewhere between 2-4 weeks.

You can check out my trip plans at Big O's Adventures

Let me know if you think this time might suit your travel plans.

Thanks

Jon

[Fearless]

Hi Jon

We are in Mongolia enroute to Indonesia. Planning to return via Tibet Nepal India-Pakistan-Iran in 2013 maybe we can meet somewhere.

We enter China next week for a 4 week trip through the middle entering Laos early September.

We are now on Face book for up to date information re our around the world Safari, become a friend.
robert.vandenhoven@facebook.com

Website not updated since Norway
www.doubledutchworldsafari.com

[BigO]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for getting in touch. I'm definitely keen to stay in touch. I've sent you a facebook request.

I hope you trip is going well. Good luck with China.

Jon

[davidsmotorcycletravels]

Hello BigO

I have a new post titled AUS to UK China or vise versa

Like you I am looking for travel partners through China about the same time as your trip. Perhaps we can travel together through China so as to offset costs. I will be on my BMW 1200GS.

I will be travelling back to Australia if my trip starts in UK and I plan to exit into Laos or Vietnam. We would have part company along the way - if interested I will enquire if feasible.

David

[BigO]

Hi David,

I'm definitely open the the idea if the time and direction fits. Happy to try and sort a plan if we can. Different exit points might be a problem though.

Jon

[davidsmotorcycletravels]

Originally Posted by BigO

Hi David,

I'm definitely open the the idea if the time and direction fits. Happy to try and sort a plan if we can. Different exit points might be a problem though.

Jon

Jon

This trip is something I am going to do - just need to do it in a cost effective way. Also I have travelled solo on other trips but this time would prefer travelling with other travellers.

I sought quotes from three different Chinese tour companies for their services from Kazakhstan border to Laos border. Travelling through China is not cheap - an average quote cost of 80,000 Yuan (8,000 GBP) for 28 days.

Since reading your post I enquired about the possibilty of a combination of self-drive and rail freight for the bike. It can be done but the expense and hassle just is not worth the effort. The companies I have communicated with don't seem interested in helping.

Another option is to do the full trip through China with you and then freight the bike from India/Pakistan to Thailand.

There is also the possibility that a group of Aussies will be travelling the other way but their planning is in the early stages.

I want to commit early to a particular journey, plan and organise logistics. It takes two to three months to get Chinese permits.

Let me know what you think.

David

[Fearless]

Hi Jon we may have change of plans and travel from Europe to Nepal via Tibet we may have purchased new car?? Still in china. Next week in Laos. I will then confirm you on Facebook no Facebook access in china

[Fearless]

Originally Posted by BigO

Hi Robert,

Thanks for getting in touch. I'm definitely keen to stay in touch. I've sent you a facebook request.

I hope you trip is going well. Good luck with China.

Jon

China was great now in Laos also a little gem.
Have not received facebook request
Robert

[the_vb]

Hi, we are planning a similar trip right now - also with a 4x4.

Our current thinking (though this changes at quite a rate), is to be entering China in the begninning of June through Kyrgyzstan (I assume at Irkshstan), and take approx 30 days to travel right through to Laos. Originally we had also thought to cross into Nepal via tibet, but the agencies seem to think that Tibetan visas are no longer granted to those with UK passports.

let me know if you think it might be viable to travel ensemble and save on some guide costs!

Cheers, Vaughan

[jimmy46]

Hi Vaughan, It would be great to share the cost of China. I will be solo on a motorcycle. exiting into Laos in early July would be good timing for me.

Regards Jimmy

[the_vb]

Good to hear from you Jimmy, send me an email and we can start getting things sorted.

I'll post another request for guests to join the group in a mo, and hopefully we can bring the cost down to something more acceptable to all.

My address is
vaughan_r_brown
at
yahoo
dot
com.

Cheers,

VB

[Surfy]

Originally Posted by BigO

You can check out my trip plans at Big O's Adventures

Nice to see, that we overlanders had many parallels in what we have to decide for a big trip!

I will follow your progress and trip. The silkroad was my favorite of the trips i like to do.

We have decide to favor africa, because we fear that it is soon not possible to do it anymore. Dont know if this looks the same today - but anyway - we will do the silkroad later in our life

Surfy

[BigO]

Hi Everybody,

Apologies for quiet lately. Work has dominated trip planning.

I'm still planning to head to India/Pakistan, though it sounds like Tibet might be a challenge. I've emailed Vaughan and will talk to him tomorrow. We'll update the this thread after we have spoken.

On a brighter note I've finally found my vehicle for the trip. 1995 Landcruiser 80 12V Auto. Now for the fun of getting it expedition ready.

Jon

[BigO]

Just had a good chat with Vaughan (VB). The discussion was based on his post above. Looking to enter China from the west around the first half of July for 30 days. Exiting out into Laos. We are both going to do some more research before we look to make a decision.

[cascalho]

Hi guys,

I have already been in direct contact with a few of you and - what a surprise - I am also looking for a reasonable "China-Option".

I do not mind entering China from Kyrgyztan or Mongolia while Mongolia would be my preferred option.

The only thing I can not change is getting somehow into Nepal or India. If this means first going with you to Laos and Thailand and ship the bike back to Kathmandu ... I will think about it and I need to check the logistic part.

However, if anyone is travelling from Mongolia or Kyrgyztan directly to Nepal/India in July/August 2013 just let me know.

Regards - Jens