Iran Afghanistan Pakistan
 

Hi Everyone,
My girlfriend and i keep occasionally looking at the possibility of an overland trip from UK to New Zealand, we always seem to get stuck when it comes to detouring round these 3 countries, we can't go via Russia and through China cause you can't take your bike into China. You can't seem to go to the south of Iran then ferry to India or ferry to Africa then to India.
What's the current situation in travelling through these countries and any good advice?
We're currently festering in the Uk and need to get out!!!!!!!!

Stu & Collette:mchappy:

:scooter:Hey Stu!

I was just looking at this site - for the first time in ages and you're here!!!!
I think it's a sign and we just just go anyhow + bugger the nutters out there ha ha haaa


love collette (call you later x x x) :stupid:

Unfortunately :stupid:

Are you worried about the 470% cost of the Iranian Carnet listed on this website?

In my Silk Road planning this is the only country that appears to need a Carnet and I think I'll avoid Iran purely for this cost - big shame.

As others have said: Iran is a great place to visit. Just try to avoid the escorts from Bam to the border. I think you will find that N Pak is still open, at least the Eastern parts, KKH and Skardu. You don't need to go through Afghanistan, look at the map.

You also need a carnet for India, Pak, Nepal, Malaysia (if shipping in or out), Indonesia, Oz and Timor Leste. However, the 470% is not the "cost" of the carnet, it's the deposit which you get back. (If it is 470%. I've never heard of this figure.)

If you can get the visas for Iran and Pak then just go and have fun! I did and we just arrived in NZ.

iran carnet
 

470% is the insurable value for the carnet so if your bike is valued at 10k you have to pay insurance (in australia @ 2%) on 4.7x10k=47,000, then 47,000x0.02 = 940. this is the premium. I think iran is the most expensive, but other places (australia) are 200% so still $400. You only pay on the highest % of the places you go. Don't avoid Iran just for the sake of saving a few hundred bucks.

just arrived in Iran...
 

we have just crossed the border from Turkmenistan into iran. the border was not a problem at all. Very easy and everyone was really helpful. The carnet is essential for Iran.
Speak to Paul Gowen RAC in the UK. he is really very helpful - this has been mentioned many times in HU.
Re the cost of your bike....just really undervalue it! Dont make it so low that it raises questions...but no one checks as far as we can tell and we have had a carnet on and off over the last 7 years of our travels.
cant say much about Iran at the moment as we have only just arrived - but so far everyone has been happy and friendly and very welcoming.

Cheers for info so far
 

:helpsmilie:Hi thanks for all this info

- we had looked into travelling through here a year or two ago, so we had heard about the carnets (not the 470% tho - i'm now glad we went for the old + cheap 650gs's!!!)
We were wondering more about the politics out there at the moment - have there been any recent problems crossing from iran - pakistan - india?
And are the guides out here a bit dodgy or just an unecessary 'expense'?
Is travelling via china becoming a possible alternative now - I thought this was pretty much no-go unless you dished out for an organised tour?
Anymore info is always :welcome: !!