Crossing China - From Tajikistan to Pakistan
 

Dear Overlanders,
two friends and i want to do a trip with our motorbikes, next year from Germany to Australia. We have a rough idea of the route we want to take in our mind. It includes Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kirgisistan, Tajikistan, China, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.
During our research we recognized that the border between Tajikistan and China and the Qulma-Pass are open.
Do you know if it's possible to use this route to cross China? Do the agencies we have to use even offer this trip or has anybody else already used this route and can share his experiences?
It seems really complicated to plan the crossing through China and i'm very glad and thankful for any tips or recommendations you can provide.
Best regards
Louis

Out of 4 companies I asked, only one said they could organise this crossing. That was Kashgar Newlands

Thx for your quick reply. When did you ask those companies?

By Kashgar Newlands, do you mean this one (http://kashgarsilkroad.com) because it seems as if their website is offline or something, or is it just me who has this problem?
In the end did you do this route with Kashgar Newlands and can tell me how it was like? Which other companies did you ask?

Greetings
Louis

looking for how to cross china
 

Hello Louis.

We will also do a similar route and the same thing happened to you (borders of China and Myanmar).
We are starting to look at how to solve it. If you want we can exchange information.
We leave from Spain (2 bikes). I think we will spend on August / September (but the month is still flexible).

Regards

- Manuel.-

Hey Manu,
i'd love to do that, always better to work in a larger group :) Are you leaving this year? My newest informations are that agencies do offer this trip, but it's not shorter because one still has to go to Kashgar to get all the needed documents.
Greetings Louis

Guys. I see you talking about the border crossing to China but how did you solve the problem of China not honoring international driver’s licenses? From what I understood the only way is to get a temp Chinese permit by doing a test. This seems to be a major PITA. How did you go around that?

Thanks!
Mike

Hi
We want to travel approximately between August and September (2020)
We want to explore the Pamir before.

This is the information provided by the CHINA EXPED agency for drivers license.
They process the driver's license themselves.
(We are managing information with this and another company)

------------------------
Small summary of the conversation:

"Since the international driver's license is not accepted in China, we help our clients apply for a temporary driver's license and vehicle registration.
(* Motorcyclist applicants --- 18 to 60 years old)"
[...]

And Service includes
✓ Permits and necessary procedures
✓ Border crossing procedures to enter China
✓ Customs procedures for vehicles in Torugart / Irkeshtam
✓ Deposit of vehicles at Torugart / Irkeshtam customs
✓ Temporary license and registration for vehicles.
✓ Temporary driver's license for the driver
✓ English speaking guide: from border to border
✓ Accommodation
* 4 nights, double room shared by 2 people
✓ Border crossing procedures to leave China
✓ Customs procedures for vehicles in Khunjerab

Hey Mike,
that is the reason why you need to hire an organisation. They will do all the paperwork for you, for example getting you a chines driving license etc. I think it's a reason why it's so expensive to do the transit, at least you don't have to worry about anything in the end :thumbup1:
Louis

Try Taher at:
http://www.kashgaradventure.net/
kashgaradvantour@hotmail.com

Taher can arrange crossings from Kulma Pass, Tajikistan through China to Khunjerab Pass, Pakistan (2 nights).
He can also arrange crossings from Kyrgistan-China-Pakistan.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

van to the border?
 

Seeing as Qulma is so close to Khunjerab, does anyone consider – or is the option available and worthwhile – to just bung the bikes in the back of a pick-up and get driven to the Pak border?
Would it not save a whole lot of bother with driving licenses, etc?
I could bear missing out 200km of Chinese KKH if it eased the whole business.


[... a week later]

I received quick replies from Taher as recommended by GEagle and in answer to my question he said:
Riding is better and no need to go up to Kashgar. His timetable: Khunjerab > Qulma.

Day1 Arrive Tashkorgan, start declarations
Day2 pick up the bikes complete paperwork in the afternoon
Day3 Tashkorgan--Kulma Pass exit declarations and leave for TJK and if not completed, back to Tashkorgan...
Day4 ... and enter TJK next day.

He quoted $1100 per bike for 3 bikes, all included (paperwork, lodgings)