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-   -   Pakistan - China - Kyrgyzstan April/May 2014 Looking for fellow travelers for China (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/northern-and-central-asia/pakistan-china-kyrgyzstan-april-may-69950)

Handy man 20 Apr 2013 06:43

Pakistan - China - Kyrgyzstan April/May 2014 Looking for fellow travelers for China
 
Hi all,

My partner and I have been in the process of researching and planing our overland route from India - London - Cape town.

We are Shipping our 4x4 (Land Cruiser troop carrier) from Sydney to Chennai, India, and are planning to be in Nepal for my brothers wedding in Feb 2014.

We would then like to proceed overland to London. From India there are not many viable overland routes that are particularly trouble free. Rather than Afghanistan or Iran we plan on crossing Via the Karakoram Highway from Pakistan into China.

Anyone familiar with overland travel in China knows that it can be quite expensive in smaller numbers.

The fastest way to pass through China and into the stans, Kyrgyzstan, is via the routes as stated by two of the tour companies that have quoted us -

NAVO -

Day1.Khunjerab-Tashkurgan Karakuli-Lake

Day2.Karakuli Lake-Kashgar

Day3.Kashgar(stay for getting necessary driving license and so on)

Day4.Kashgar-Tourgat

Day5.Tourgat exit China


Or from China overland


Day01.Drive into China via Turgart Pass Khunjereb Pass. Saty in Tashkorgan.then drive to Kashgar Hotel: Crown Inn

Day02. Tashkorgan - Karakuri Lake- kashgar (290km) Hotel:Seman Hotel

Day03. Kashgar ((paperwork at traffic police station & sightseeing)
Hotel:Seman Hotel

Day04.Kashgar– Turgart Pass where drive into Kyrgyzstan.(150km)


I have also been in contact with Xin Jiang & Tibet Expeditions but have not received a reply.

Regardless of the time frame both companies have quoted around $3000 USD (or AUD about the same at the moment) for the one vehicle and two people.

We are planning on making the crossing as soon as we can weather permitting. Both companies have recommended late April or May.

Some costs can be shared by fellow travelers which is why we have posted this thread.

We have a couple from Oz who have showed some interest in tagging along, but the more the merrier!!

Please contact or PM me if anyone out there is interested in joining us or has a similar plan.

Thanks

Jerome.

If there are any other tour companies in China that I haven't mentioned, please let me know and I will inquire ASAP.

Handy man 10 May 2013 03:33

Hi all.

We have just been provided another quote from China Overland. It seems more reasonable.

$2200 USD for two people and one vehicle. I have requested a breakdown of the costs and an itinerary. I will post that up once we hear back from them.

Apparently the border does not open until May the 1st so that's the date that we will be aiming for.

Please get back to me if you are interested.

Thanks

Jerome

Taher 21 May 2013 12:57

Hi there ,
2014 it is good year , there is some agency in Kashgar who is making good service much better than NAVO and suitable price ,,,

1 car 2200USD$ quite a lot , I may recommend Kashgar Adventure Travel who is making fast and good price with trust .

if you want contacts please feel free to ask me ,I may help cut down the price .

the_vb 10 Aug 2013 02:07

Hi Jerome,

We are planning on crossing China at a similar time to yourselves (April 2014) - but from Laos straight up to Mongolia. Unfortunately it looks like our plans are just too far apart to be aligned to save expense...

... but we have just completed our outbound trip through China - the long way, from Kyrgyzstan to Lao in 35 days, so if you have questions, then please do get in touch.

Cheers,

Vaughan.

odddsocks 17 Sep 2013 06:22

China trip
 
Hi

thinking of trip out UK, spring next year.
through Pakistan KKH, Kashgar, Krygostan & home.

so is partly same route.
on Motorcycle. 2 up, passenger is nervous of security situation in Pakistan.

is the Kunza lake (north of Gilgit) easily passible with vehicle.

bit early days for me, but if can be organised good to have company.

Joe.:thumbup1:

momo034 2 Oct 2013 10:17

Two motorcycles trying to get form India to Tajikistan (or other Stans)
 
A friend and I are in India now and we're trying to figure out a way to get from india to "The Stans" around the same time you are all planning to go. Problem is one of us is holding an American passport and can't get a Pakistan OR Iran visa. Your route definitely takes us through Pakistan huh?

Any idea of an alternative that avoids Pakistan and Iran?

Leandro Mendoza 20 Oct 2013 21:07

We would love to join u in Asia trip 2014.
Please contact me on
https://www.facebook.com/Leandro.mendez82
leandromendez@gmail.com
Thanks

theoverman83 11 Nov 2013 06:00

LETS DO THIS!

Same route, same dates. If everything goes according to plan, I would love to make this trip on my 03 Africa Twin as swiftly, cheaply, and efficiently as possible. Hit me up too!

theoverman83@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/andrew.overby.52

bier

momo034 11 Nov 2013 08:23

Im also potentially in...we are two motorcycles looking to make the crossing from India to Kazakhstan via Pakistan and China. May 1 could also work as a date for us. So that is two more people. The big issue for us is price so if we get enough people to come and can drive the price down then we would seriously consider joining. Feel free to contact me directly if anyone wants to talk more about this...

thescenicroutethroughlife@gmail.com

theoverman83 20 Nov 2013 06:45

sent you an email momo :-)

momo034 21 Nov 2013 17:21

Other (not as cool but easier) option...air freight from India to Kyrgystan
 
I just posted this, for those who are interested:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...266#post444366

theoverman83 29 Dec 2013 12:04

The cost of the shipping option doesn't sound like that much of a money saver if there was even a tiny group formed to ride through China.

Anyone looking to do this ride?

I'm still looking for contacts!

Keith1954 29 Dec 2013 12:53

Hi – we are 2-up on a Honda XL650V Transalp, riding in stages, from New Zealand to England.

Right now (w.e.f December-20th) the bike is temporary stored in Pokhara, Nepal, whilst we make a visit back home for Christmas etc .. and to earn some more travelling money!

We are returning to Nepal around the first week of April next year (2014) to pick-up the journey westwards again.

The current thinking is to then ride from Nepal → across northern India → Pakistan → Iran → Turkey. However, your northern route could be a viable alternative. BUT [thinking out loud] .. will the high passes be open and navigable that early in the year? I dunno?

We’re certainly interested, as by going north we would avoid the hassles associated with riding through Balochistan and southeast Iran.

In short, I/we are very interested in joining you - subject to dates /costing confirmation, etceteras. Please keep in touch if you progress all this.

Thanks

Keith [& Ellen]

btw - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

theoverman83 1 Jan 2014 05:15

Keith! I think I met you and your lovely wife in Laos last April. You spotted my bike outside a hotel and came up with offers of grabbing a pint and chatting about life: two of my favorite activities. It's Andrew, the kid with the AT 750 bier. I think this is the same person.

Anyhow, I've been in India since June, stayed up in Leh all summer, crossed Nepal, and just wandered way of the beaten trail to NE India; currently en route to Calcutta.

India is fantastic, and Leh/Spiti is certainly the best riding in the whole country, though it will be cooooooold (possible blocked) in April/ May.

However, I have heard from several sources that the Karakoram Highway opens around May 1, and is breathtakingly scenic, moving one rider to tears (did you tell me that story?).

A group heading north through Central Asia has yet to form. And, thats what I'm doing here :-).

My plan (hope) is to get everything to fall in place so that I'm able to go Pak->Kyrg->Taj?->Kaz->ferry to Baku Azerbaijan (possible, details limited), then Georgia for September, then Turkey. We shall see how things shake out.

Stage one: get a group together for rapid transit across China. The more the merrier.

Happy New Year!

Keith1954 1 Jan 2014 10:45

ANDREW! .. :clap:

Yes, of course we remember you. Ellen & I were staying in the hotel adjacent to your guest house - and after our spontaneous get-together, we three went for beerand victuals 'al fresco' in a restaurant just down the street. Wasn't the township called Paksan (or some other place near there)? As I recall we enjoyed a great evening together. We loved your philosophy and outlook on life ... ‘twas a grand night out. :yes:

Our forthcoming plans are to be back in Nepal by around Friday-11th April. Then spend a couple of days in Pokhara servicing the bike, before leaving for the Indian border. There are a few places we want to visit in northern India before we finally get to Amritsar-Lahore, probably sometime around the second week in May.

Thereafter: do we (a) turn left towards the heat and hassle of south-western Pakistan and southeast Iran; or (b) turn right and head for Islamabad and the KKH?

I dunno, but if a group of independent travellers can be established for option (b) in order to share the costs of the China bit etc, then I/we would definitely be interested in signing-up.

[thinking out loud] Wouldn't it be even better if a 4x4 overlander is included, whereby and within which the Chinese 'guide' could ride along? Surely this would reduce the costs even further.

Glad to learn that you're enjoying India.

All the best

K&E

Kayjay 1 Jan 2014 11:32

Have ridden from India to Uk on my Royal Enfield in June 2013 to Aug 2013. I stay in Gujarat State. If u r in India u all are welcome to stay with me. Any logistics in India or help pl write to me. Shall be glad to help out.

Sent from my GT-I9082 using Tapatalk

aditya raj kapoor 8 Jan 2014 13:50

Hey kayjay thats great! Would lov to hear from u about the trip logistics. ..

Sent from my GT-I9082 using Tapatalk

theoverman83 31 Jan 2014 17:27

Anyone update their plans?

I've got a company that will go at reasonable rates. Its a 5 day Itinerary through Kashgar.

$1800 for 1 bike
$2500 for 2 bikes
$3300 for 3 bikes

And so on.

Contact me if interested.

momo034 31 Jan 2014 18:28

My updated plans
 
Unfortunatly I think I am opting out of the overland to Kyrgystan. Im on an older model Royal Enfield. Great bike but not the most reliable. I will surely run into some mechanical issues in the 1000k stretch through Pakistan and I'm not too keen on that happening on a lonely stretch of highway on a day I happen not to have no escort. Even with escort its been dodgy lately...not sure if anyone read that some Spanish cyclist who had an armed escort of 12 soldiers got ambushed by Taliban and 6 of his armed escorts were killed. This just happened a few weeks ago. I also just got news from a couple who just passed through a few weeks ago and said they didnt always have an escort.

Anyways, I'd probably be going for it if I was on a more reliable bike. So, along with another rider I am air-freighting the bike from Delhi to Kyrgyzstan. In the end its actually cheaper, albeit less romantic. If anyone is interested in joining in on this option the more we get the cheaper it will be. ETD is mid-May. Message me for details.

Best of luck to the overlanders...I will always feel I missed out.

little foot 5 Feb 2014 11:16

Hello,

My partner and I are currently on our way to Finland from Australia. We're looking to trace a similar route - Nepal, India, Pak, China, Kyrg, etc.

Interested in sharing costs for the China crossing if possible. Looking at our rough itinerary we're aiming to arrive Armritsar/Lahore around the 9th June. Could possibly make it about a week earlier but not much more than that. We're thinking we'd probably have two weeks in Pakistan.

theoverman83, what tour company did you get that quote from?

Cheers, Erinn

theoverman83 18 Feb 2014 02:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by little foot (Post 453292)
Hello,

My partner and I are currently on our way to Finland from Australia. We're looking to trace a similar route - Nepal, India, Pak, China, Kyrg, etc.

Interested in sharing costs for the China crossing if possible. Looking at our rough itinerary we're aiming to arrive Armritsar/Lahore around the 9th June. Could possibly make it about a week earlier but not much more than that. We're thinking we'd probably have two weeks in Pakistan.

theoverman83, what tour company did you get that quote from?

Cheers, Erinn

Silk Road Adventure Travel I believe. Early June may work out of me. Lets see. Lets stay in touch. :-)

pecha72 18 Feb 2014 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by little foot (Post 453292)
My partner and I are currently on our way to Finland from Australia. We're looking to trace a similar route - Nepal, India, Pak, China, Kyrg, etc.

Hi, me & my GF did roughly the same in reverse direction 6 yrs ago (went south side of Afghanistan, means Iran-west Pakistan-India).. and Burma was realistically not possible back then, right now it looks to be changing, but still probably not easy, and I understand some eastern states in India will also require permits.

Even with no Burma, or eastern India, it was still probably the best trip we´ve ever done! Before that I used to spend my winters in South/southeast Asia, and during that time, I made several riding trips in those regions as well. Wishing you the best of time & good luck on your trip, and please let me know, if I can anyhow be of assistance (..and also, when you´re planning to arrive in Finland!) Pekka

Le Manalou 15 Mar 2014 18:17

Hello,
We are actually in Nepal, we booked a travel from Nepal to Kirghzistan for the 21 april with "Chengdu Greatway Tour", actualy we are 3 french car and they charges 7000€, it's possible to find 2 more car. The agence said that it's possible to start the process until the 10 april.
Regards
Le Manalou


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