Morocco - Iran, and maybe further

[WimWillemWimbo]

Hi everyone!

I've registered to this site almost two years ago and dreamed up some motorcycle travel plans. And then nothing much happened in the mean time...

However, that is going to change! I hope to start my graduation project in February next year, and if all goes well I will be graduating from my masters somewhere in the summer of 2016.
Instead of heading for working life straight after, I'll take this as probably the last opportunity to do some serious traveling anywhere in the near future. At the start of my studies, my parents donated a bunch of money which I invested. Originally meant as a nice starting capital for after study life, but it will function as a respectable travel budget just as fine

So I'm now starting to make plans for this trip, to start - depending on when exactly I graduate - probably somewhere September 2016. It isn't all very concrete yet, but here is the rough idea.
I've heard many very positive and great stories about Iran, which moved it to the top of my list, so that would be my initial destination for this trip. Next to that I've always had the dream to do some serious all road traveling by motorcycle.
I do however have no experience in off road, so I plan to do some all road courses. First the basics here in the Netherlands during the spring 2016. And then a more advanced course in Morocco.
And being in Morocco, that would of course be a great starting point for my travel to Iran. Starting from wherever the course ends, going along the northern coast of Africa, towards the middle east and Iran.
That is the basic plan. But if the budget allows me, there are still more countries on the list, like inida, nepal, china etc... so who knows where that trip ends. But for now, let's focus on Morocco - Iran.

As you can see, this plan is not very detailed yet, I just started planning. But I would be curious to hear any stories from other people doing similar trips in the region (any link to any thread would be great).
Also, with the current political instabilities in the region, I would love some advice on which places to avoid and which are relatively safe. I like the adventure, but I'd rather not end up in war zone Any other tips about making the travel more safe in the middle east are welcome.

Any practical information would be appreciated as well. Meaning all kinds of necessary paperwork I have to look out for. Not meaning that I expect any detailed explanations here, but just some pointers to where I could find that information would be great.

Then there is the part of the motorcycle. Currently I have a suzuki intruder vs800. A cruiser, which is terrific on tarmac, but obviously not the bike for my current plans. I was thinking to buy a bike once I am in Morocco, and maybe (or maybe not) selling it by the end of the trip. That way I avoid having to ship the bike, and it might also be cheaper (?) in the end. Do you guys have any opinion or advice on that? Where to buy, insurance and that kind of practical tips?

And last but not least, I am fine traveling alone, but I've never done this kind of large motorcycle trip before. So a travel buddy with some experience, especially in the first part of my trip, would be very welcome! I will most likely post a topic in "travelers seeking travelers" forum once my plans are more concrete, but anyone interested is of course welcome to message me already.

Cheers! - Wim

[Tim Cullis]

Originally Posted by WimWillemWimbo

Morocco... would of course be a great starting point for my travel to Iran... going along the northern coast of Africa, towards the middle east and Iran.

Failed at the first hurdle I'm afraid as the borders between Morocco and Algeria have been closed for many years.

In any case, Algeria is a bit iffy, Tunisia is considered too dangerous by the UK Foreign Office, Libya is a war zone and Egypt requires a carnet with an incredibly high 800% security cover.

Originally Posted by WimWillemWimbo

I was thinking to buy a bike once I am in Morocco

You can't legally buy a Moroccan-registered bike unless you are a resident. Choices will in any case be severely limited and the extremely high import duties make it a very expensive place to purchase.

[WimWillemWimbo]

Hah okay... Thanks for the quick reply. Plan killed in an instant I had expected some issues regarding safety, but was hoping that it wouldn't be that bad all over the place...

Back to the drawing board I guess...

[WimWillemWimbo]

Also an idea yes. But the northern border of iran and turkey, is that safe? It is kind of close to the IS shit in northern Iraq and Syria.. or will that be ok if I just stay kind of north in Turkey, at a distance of those borders?

Will also look into the "-stans" like you say. Haven't heard to many stories about turkmenistan/ozbekistan etc. But do vaguely remember seeing some guy on national geographic there on tv looked interesting too.
Guess I'll need to avoid afganistan though, right?

sent from my phone, so forgive me the typos...

[WimWillemWimbo]

Oh and what about buying a bike in turkey, or is that the same problem?

sent from my phone, so forgive me the typos...

[Mike K.]

Hello,

like in Morocco also in Turkey you can´t register a vehicle in your name.

Regards

Mike

[ilesmark]

In any case, Algeria is a bit iffy, Tunisia is considered too dangerous by the UK Foreign Office, Libya is a war zone and Egypt requires a carnet with an incredibly high 800% security cover.

I may well get shot down in flames for suggesting this, but would it be possible for Willem to go through Morocco into Western Sahara and then Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad and Sudan before heading into Egypt and shipping his bike from there to Bandar Abbas in Iran? When I did my trip in 2007, I started in Tunisia but would quite happily have started in Morocco if it hadn't been for the Maroc/Algeria border being shut, however these people I met in Iran & Pakistan DID do the above route to avoid Algeria and Libya - Miles to go - Verhalen en inspiratie voor auto reizen (it's now all in Dutch - it wasn't the last time looked at it).

And, if I'd been aware in advance of what this guy ended up doing (he actually came and pumped me for information about the trip I'd just done before setting off on his own trip) http://www.across-then-up.com/
then I'd probably have started in Morocco and skirted south of the maroc-Algeria border and then up into Algeria. Or at least started in Algeria like he did, rather than wimping out and starting in Tunisia.

Or travel from South Africa north to Egypt?

As for the carnet, is there any other country eg Germany he can get one from? I did this for my trip and for the highest level (Egypt / Iran / Ind / Pak) it was a LOT cheaper than the UK but I am aware the rules have tightened now - maybe others will know more about this.

As I say, I did what I did in 2007 and a lot has changed since then, so I fully expect to get pooh-poohed but these are just thoughts.

Mark

[WimWillemWimbo]

I am dutch, so no problem! will have that read once I'm at my computer again. And thanks for thinking along you all

sent from my phone, so forgive me the typos...

[Tony LEE]

Might be worth reading through the whole of Get Ready for Overland Adventure Travel! | Horizons Unlimited, and then Get Inspired to Travel the world! | Horizons Unlimited plus any other sources of information such as WikiOverland, the encyclopedia of Overland travel and then do a thorough check of a world atlas to sort out where all countries of interest are in relation to all others, plus check the latest news reports so you know which countries are in turmoil and then go back at least a year so you know which countries are permanent basket cases and perpetually out of consideration, then figure out the climates in all those countries so you know where and when it might be too hot and too cold and then try to sort out where you can go.

That should reduce your uncertainty by a couple of orders of magnitude, but still leave a few unanswered questions that can likely be quickly answered here.

If you want to eliminate a great deal of the problems in one step, then maybe consider going to South America instead.

[WimWillemWimbo]

Thanks, sounds like a good way to start! Will check out those links

South america is also on the list, but right now I'm really set on Iran. So another route through africa or via turkey and after the 'stans are the options under consideration right now.

Also, most all-road courses in Morocco seem to be organized around may, rather than september, so I guess I will do that as a nice small break halfway through graduation. Also meaning that there is no definitive reason anymore to start this trip in Morocco.

So I'll start reading the links you posted and come up with another route based around Iran

sent from my phone, so forgive me the typos...