Hello,

I’m planning a trip from Italy to Australia departing around the 15th of October 2017. I want to cross following countries with my Suzuki V-Strom 650: Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, India, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and then ship my bike to Darwin.

I organized as much as I could but I’m having some difficulties / questions about crossing some of those countries and would hear from some of you who already did it.

Myanmar: I wrote to many “official” Myanmar travel agencies and they all told me the all more or less the same: 1. I need an ordinary VISA from the embassy of Myanmar. 2. I have to hire two cars (one for the guide and one for the military). 3. A special permit has to be requested through a Manmar travel agency at least a month before. I’m travelling alone and paying all by myself would exceed the cost for the whole trip. How did people travelling alone manage to travel through Myanmar? I'll arrive at the Indian / Myanmar border at around the end of November 2017.

Thailand: The Thai embassy in Rome told me, that I will need to request from a Thai Travel agency a temporary permit for my motorcycle not less then 15 days before entering Thailand. Did anyone else had to do this or is it something you can to right at the border paying a bit more?

Iran: I called the Iranian embassy in Rome asking what to do to cross Iran on a motorcycle and the officer told me that at the moment no border crossing are allowed on a motorcycle. Is that true?

Shipping: I plan to ship my bike from Singapore with ANL. But does anyone know if shipping it from Malaysia would it be any cheaper? Does anyone know any other shipping companies? The shipping list on HU is a bit outdated and some old companies don’t exist anymore.

I really appreciate your help!

Ciao,
Antoni

Hi there Antoni
I actually planing to do almost the same route (also solo) but I'll start mid-january 2018 :-) but starting from Luxembourg.
Sorry I cannot give you any answers but if you're ok I'll keep following you... because I think at some point I could use some advise :-)
CU
Guy

Merhaba,

Some current inf. I have for some part of your trip.

1-No worries for Italians for İran gates from surrounding countries..every week, 3-4 bikers who get in touch with me via internet for a route or technical problems, pass through turkey and enter iran or georgia..preferred route by most travellers is turkey,georgia,armenia, iran, not through azerbeyjan...Mostly travellers who will take the caspian sea boat to get to mid asia choose azeri route...Also no insurance available and must for georgia.

2-Gates of iran or the ones between Turkey-Iran or turkey-georgia have never been closed for motocycle passings.. carnet is a must for iran and pakistan..since many years, I remember only georgia gate batumi was closed a few times for several hours for all passengers because of landslides at the georgian side and computer problems at the turkish side..

you will definetaly have no prob. for this part of your trip except a natural disease period which very rarely happens...

For Myanmar passing, travellers always make a group on hubb to decrease the expenses.probably you can participate to one of them when you are in India..An example thread link on hubb..
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...thailand-92570

It seems that Thailand is the part that needs much study as they have a new system now and nothing is clear enough..
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...thailand-92570

In addition to above, travellers also try to make a group in zahedan-iran before entering Pakistan.Not for safety reason, just for having friends for the boring and slow levis following days between İran gate (there is only 1,taftan), and Multan city.

Wish you all the best...

__________________
Mehmet Zeki Avar
''Borderlines divide countries,HU friendship finds a way to reunited"
https://www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12?ref=tn_tnmn

Last writer is absolutely right about Myanmar. You will need a guide and permits to be able to cross the country. Its advisable to contact one of the agencies well in advance so you can prepare all the paperwork needed before you leave your home country. And it is of course much cheaper if you form a group of travellers that can ride through the country and share the costs.
For Thailnd its the same. You will need a guide and permits to cross the country. In fact the amount of paperwork needed is ridicioulos! An example, there are two types of IDP (international driving permits) one is an agreement from 1949 and the other is an agreement from 1968. Thailand had only signed the 1949 agreement so if you have the 1968 agrement IDP you will need to go to a traffic station in Thailand and change that into a legal IDP - and pay money for it. Best is to contact an agency well in advance and form a group.
There are reports that the permit and guide thing are not enforced by at all borders into Thailand, for example some small borders from Malaysia and Cambodia seems not to be enforcing these new laws and regulations about permits and guides. But the border at Mae Sot coming from Myanmar is definetively enforcing this law - so no way around coming from Myanmar.

About the new laws and regulations for overlanding Thailand - have a look here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1024579897597702/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/OverlandingAsia/

And take a look at the sticky thread in the "south Asia" section of this forum:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...7th-june-88229

And the south-Asia section in general: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/southern-asia/

From what I have heard and read its quite a hazzle to get into Singapore with a foreign vehicle. You need to pay an insurance that isnt exactly cheap and you need to get a sensor thinghy so that you can pass through the tollroads there. But it isnt impossible of course. I see that you have planned to not ride in Indonesia? I have also ridden from Europe to Australia - and for me Indonesia was the definitive highlight of my trip. And I have heard many other who have said the same. So it would be a shame to miss out such a fantastic country when youre down that way already. I shipped from Dili, East Timor btw to Darwin.

__________________
In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Try to ship fr Kuala Lampur. I might send my mc fr there to Australia at the end of november.
Been looking into Singapore but lots of paperwork to get there and not cheep.
Don´t forget the carnet for Malaysia

Hi Antoni, could you please share some insights about your trip?
I am planning the same route in May 2019 so any info, especially on Myanmar will be appreciated.