Crossing Iran and Pakistan in the summer 2014

[Criptodrago]

Hi!!

In May 2014 my boyfriend and I will begin a trip in bike from Spain to Vietnam (and return), for a year.

It´s the first time we do this route and we would like to cross Iran and Pakistan along with other travelers. We are thinking of coming to Iran from Turkey, but another idea is traveling by Russia, Kazahistan, Uzbekistan etc. In any case, our objective is to go accompanied on this part of the trip.

If anybody is going to travel in car or bike to both countries, and he want to travel accompanied, please contact us

More information about us: We are 32 years old. We travel both in the same bike (F800GS) and we adapt without problems to travel with other people.

Best regards!!
Javier and Diana.

[gspod]

Hi My wife and I are planning a trip this year but won't be leaving the UK till 1st August. We would like to go to India via Iran and Pakistan if possible but it is a bit dangerous at the moment in North Pak perhaps it is okay in the south??

[choutos]

My wife and I are planning a similar trip to this year, but we're worried about the situation in Pakistan: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ochistan-74224

[Criptodrago]

Hi gspod and choutos,

Initially our route was going from Iran to Pakistan, but after the events of last week we are thinking of changing it.

We are looking to go through China or in Iran take a boat to India or go southern Pakistan (we are not sure this is possible because nobody are crossing this zone, we are looking information)

When we have more information we will put in common

Cheers!
Diana

[choutos]

An interesting and related thread: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ochistan-74224

IMHO it isn't worth put our (and security guards') lives at risk , we could go through the Stans and then China sharing the cost of guide, driver for guide, etc.

[divelandy]

I'm looking to cross Iran to India, sometime from September once i've travelled back up from South Africa. Please keep posting details of your plans.

[gspod]

We have changed our plans (again )
We have decided to ship to North America and ride North to South then ship to Oz from there.
We will re-evaluate the situation from there as to our route back.

Good luck and stay safe to everyone.

[Keith1954]

Interesting reference website summarising the security issues in Pakistan. LINK

Reading through the daily synopses is quite alarming. Last Tuesday’s (Jan-22nd) attack in Mastung involving the young Italian cyclist is mentioned - and reads like it was just ‘another incident’.

No-one wants to ride through Pakistan more than me - BUT this catalogue of disasters is chilling stuff!

I really do feel for ordinary Pakistani folk.

[freddietilly]

Hi,
We are setting off late May r t w and going the same way as you,well Russia, ukrain,turkey,Georgia,down through Iran,parkistan,China,Tibet,Nepal hopefully India in 3 months, we ride 1200 GSA two up,
Regards brian:

[FLH80]

Hi there!
I am German, living in Tehran, Iran with wife and 3 kids. Lots of experience within the country. Place to host (with pool ) and contacts to local garages etc.
Besides this my wife Annette and me we plan to fly to Germany in July 2014 and return with bikes (TT600R and Ducati Monster 750 - yep, nice couple, so are we!) drive back to Tehran until August 7th or so.
Ferry from Ancona to Igoumenitsa is booked for July 23rd.

Regarding Balouchestan:
it is a bit critical to go past the border in southeast Iran because of tribal territory. Friends who passed thru (with motorbikes, car, even as hitchhikers) have made it without any problems. But it needs to be considered a bit risky. On the Iranian side of the border you will be escorted by police anyhow. The issue is on the Pakistani side where there seems to be no rule of law.
One solution is to form groups of vehicles using traveller's forums in advance. In summer it's not high season so plan some time to find company.
European embassies do not give visa support for the Pakistani Embassy in Tehran, so you have to have the visas issued before.

Skipping Pakistan by flying to Dubai/Oman and then to India is an option. But so far I have no positive information regarding shipment of vehicles. It is definitively possible, but rather difficult to organize as foreigner...

Questions?
Feel free to ask.
Iran is definitively worth a trip!!

Greets from snow-packed Tehran,
Daniel

[AccelRus]

FLH80 - sent you a PM

[FLH80]

And please remember for your planning:
There is Ramadan, the month of fasting in muslim countries!
In 2014 its from June 28th to Jul 27th with 3 days of party (Jul 28th-30th) afterwards.
During this month, especially in Iran, in rural areas of Turkey or in other islamic countries, you will hardly find restaurants during daytime serving food or drinks - very hard in these summer months.

[danskeates]

FLH80 - I'm setting off from England in a month and will be travelling through Iran & Pakistan solo on my 650GS Dakar in later months so it would be good to have your local knowledge. Dan

[noel di pietro]

There is a whole bunch of us leaving late April, early May to Mongolia. Some travel via Turkey / Iran into Turkmenistan. We have a rendevouz between 4 or 5 people in Istanbul around 17/20 of May! From there we will travel together. We are keeping a list of all people going the same way around that time (total count now 16!) For info see the thread "UK to Mongolia 2014" (by Hootchy Cootchy). If you want to share info see post#29 of mentioned thread, you can down load the list there and add you data and email it to me.

cheers,
Noel

[coupleriders.net]

Me and my wife are planning a trip from Istanbul to Iran(Tebriz) may be more through to Tehran in june or agust with my goldwing 1800. If u want to contact , this is our adress in facebook '' evli ve motorlu '' .