Melbourne to India to Italy in 7 weeks?
 

I'm thinking of arriving Melbourne April 1 and making it to Sicily, Italy for the Moto Giro d'Italia in the 3rd week of May. It's the 50th Anniversary of Tartarinin & Monettis trip round the world on Ducati 175s.

I'm thinking flying me and my Duc to India. Then Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey. I'm not sure if I can make it through Iran since I have a USA passport.

Does anyone have any route suggestions? I might have to make it through the 'stans into Russia and around that way.

I don't like having to do this on a time limit, so I hope to backtrack.

--Dave

Seems a shame to try and rush through all these countries. It's also going to co$t you...

Why not fly the bike to Italy and then just travel East? US passport may be a problem, contact the Iranian Interest section at whatever embassy takes care of them in the US to find out whether they will give you a visa. Whether you will get a staight answer remains to be seen.

That route is a bit tricky for you.

Afganistan is just no possible for anyone. Forget it. I doubt very much whether you would get a visa for Iran too. Check by all means, but honestly, I don't think so. Which makes for a very strange route, with lots of plane journeys.

And as for the timeframe, well, you need a good few months to travel in just a part of India. Seven weeks would be possible India to Italy, but not stopping much. But with shipping issues as well...hmmmm. With room allowed for possible shipping hassle, I would realistically assume that you have about three/four weeks on the road.

Unfortunately, the stans too, are time consuming, with loads of unfriendly borders.

How about a European tour instead - ship to somewhere in scandinavia and loop southwards? Or even go the other direction, shipping to LA, ride the US and ship (which is to say, fly) again out of NY of an east coast town? Some ideas.

Sorry to be negative on the India idea - it is a brilliant riding route you suggest, but international politics is not on your side right now.

Simon

Fly to Turkey/Greece and go from there mate. Which ever has the cheapest flights. Heaps to do there, and you can go up through Romania .. heaps to do for 7 weeks.. no problems. Go back through to India on your own time frame.

See errr someones postings on the Iran Visa .. on the Hubb somewhere err kbaretta? .. it is possible with persistance.