Iran visa for Americans - guide requirement?
 

A couple of Iranian travel agencies (one which I have emailed, www.key2persia.com) state that a guide is mandatory for independent American travellers riding a motorcycle through Iran. They claim that this is a government requirement. The guide cost they have quoted me is $20USD per person per day.

I have not seen this in any of the other posts on the site and I wasn't aware of the guide requirement...if it is indeed true.

Can anyone confirm this requirement, and is there a way to travel independently as an American without the guide requirement? Or perhaps the travel agencies are interpreting a "gray" area in the law to their own benefit?

We spoke to the Iranian interests section in Washington DC and they knew nothing about motorcycling through the country. They mentioned that we should send some copies of our passport to our contact in Iran and have them apply for us in Iran.

I have some Iranian contacts in Iran who may be able to help us (not the travel agencies), but they need some direction on what assistance to provide.

Any thoughts on this? I haven't seen too many posts of travellers from the US crossing Iran lately. We will have a carnet for the bike and expect to be in Iran sometime next summer.

Thanks for the help.

-Dave

[This message has been edited by davidmc (edited 01 January 2005).]

[This message has been edited by davidmc (edited 01 January 2005).]

[This message has been edited by davidmc (edited 01 January 2005).]

[This message has been edited by davidmc (edited 01 January 2005).]

I can neither confirm nor refute but I've heard from a couple of Americans who tried to get an Iranian visa that it is almost impossible for them to get one. The fact that you want to enter the country from some border and wonder around on your own riding a motorcycle armed with a camera and talking to locals, as opposed to flying in a controlled airport and staying in known hotels, doesn't make it easier. The only American I know who got a Visa got it on his second European passport.

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A.B.

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[This message has been edited by A.B. (edited 02 January 2005).]

Not sure if you are still checking this post...

but list some solid contact details (ie-well known hotel) on your visa application form will be helpful in obtaining a visa

+ try getting a visa for the next country you will be in- so they know your intentions

cheers

Last I read on the Iranian Govts web site was that US citizens are only allowed to enter on organised tours. Nothing to do with bikes, more with US foreign "policy".

AUS & UK citizens are given the runaround, i.e. have to go through an agency, whereas some others have obtained visas without an agency.