Shipping from Central Asian countries to South East Asia

[DoveGiungere]

Hi,

since it is not possible to enter China with a foreign vehicle, I'm currently assessing the possibility of shipping my motorbike from any central asian countries (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan) to south-East Asia, probably the easiest city being Bangkok.

Anybody has any useful information how and where it is easier and cheaper?

Thanks

[DoveGiungere]

Anybody has any info on this matter?

[Bobduro]

Hi,

Not sure who you've speaking to but it's 100% possible to enter China with your own vehicle, you just have to organise it through an agency who will prepare an itinery for you and do your paperwork etc. It can be bloody expensive so best if you can find other travellers with similar plans to help share the cost (the Hubb is the best place to do this).

We crossed China from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan via Kashgar in September as a group of 7 bikes, having 'met' on the hubb. We used Taher at Newlands travel.

A few in the group who were getting a bit nervous about the state of the KKH this summer, did look into shipping their bikes to Delhi or somewhere similar but were all quoted ridiculously large prices (several thousand dollars) that put them off. They all did China and Pakistan in the end and for everyone in the group it has been the highlight of the trip. We'll be shipping from Kathmandu to Bangkok soon which will be approx $700 per bike.

Perhaps somebody on here has tried shipping from central Asia but for me China was worth the cost just so got to do the KKH.

Anyway, good luck!

[DoveGiungere]

I have been quoted to do the Irkeshtam - Kunjerab road 5000$ which to me is unreal.
For that price I would rather go through Afghanistan.

I found AirAstana which does Almaty-Bangkok but it seems they do not carry dangerous goods and the scooter qualifies as such.

[Bobduro]

We did the Torugart - Khunjerab, there were 7 of us on 6 bikes and it worked out at approx $700 each including accomodation for the 6 nights we were in China. Not sure when you're planning on travelling but if it's next year, definitely worth looking to see if anyone on the Hubb is looking to go so you can share costs etc. $5000 seems very expensive, if you were on your own I'd have thought $1500 might be nearer the mark but someone may be able to correct me.

There are people who ship out of Bishkek i think but it's very very expensive.

[gs1200mike]

I know it is the wrong way but I shipped my 120GSA from Atyrau, Kazakhstan to London. Price was $5.25 per kilo, obviously on volumetric weigt so think I ended up with having to pay for around 430 Kgs. Expensive but had major customs problems at the time so did not have much option.

[dnicoletti]

hi there,
i'm one of the group of bobduro. first time i'd contact taher i was alone and he's asking me 1200 euro for a 3 days transit fee. then, like bob suggested you, i've been searching for other "fools" to share the costs dropped at the end at 571 euro each. put a thread on here and wait; if your plan is going on 2011 you have the right time to manage the stuff.
...and i hope for you the KKH would be in better condition...

[DoveGiungere]

The two options I am still considering are the following:

1. smuggle the scooter inside somehow (train?) and then re-register it in Urumqi under Chinese Mot.
2. air freight to Bangkok with AirAstana. AirAstana though does not transport "dangerous goods" and my scooter classifies as such. I can send the frame and everything but not the engine, so I'll take their word as written and remove the 2 kg 50cc engine and take it on...as personal luggage.

Going to Kashagar and then down to Punjerab isn't feasible now as the low season started therefore no opportunity to share costs with other travelers plus the fact that the pass in KKH might be snowed in.
Last but not least paying something around 1000$ to "tour" 800 km of roads (with a 50cc scooter it means from dawn to dusk riding) in 5-6 days sounds to me unreasonable.