Hi All,

Back in the planning stages of the very delayed Aus to Lon trip and thought it might be good to put some findings on here to spark a conversation on what is possible for travel in the region.

We were just on the phone with Timor-Leste consulate this afternoon who have confirmed that tourists are now welcome back into Timor. I think this is updated since the end of the year, as there was something posted on the Darwin Consulate's website around then.

We also got in touch with ANL who manage the shipping from Darwin to Dili - they put us in touch with the freight forwarder who is sending over some details. It sounds like you have to get onto container which they will fill and then ship to Dili. Since the last 2 years there have been delays of a month waiting for space on a vessel, but the route is still going regularly.

Onward, Malaysia and Thailand have both announced easier border entry from February. Thailand has included a requirement to stay in a specific hotels on days 1 and 5 of your trip for testing (but there seems to be many options for different borders). Indonesia is currently the sticking point with them opening the country slowly in stages. Currently only Bali for fly in, but I think they will not be far behind their neighbours.

There are then, of course, problems in Myanmar and China. I don't see either opening in any reasonable timeframe. Perhaps China will ease up after the Olympics, but everything points to a later year opening which won't work for those mountainous crossings. Myanmar may not open for years.

This leaves the option to crate and fly/sail the bikes to India. Happy to do so, perhaps flying out of Bangkok is a possibility but I haven't looked this far into it. I believe sailing might be more difficult, particularly from Thailand - perhaps better down in Malaysia? And where do people start in India then? Chennai? Calcutta? We had always thought we would come in from the top of the country, so this opens up a whole new route through the country.

We hope to leave late May for this trip, so the borders are only going to get better and better over the next couple of months (touch wood). I am wondering if there are other travellers like us, sat in Australia, waiting to start the journey up to the Northern Territories later this year?

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Planning for RTW Aug20. Currently in Australia, trying to keep the bike pointing up.
Subscribe to RidingOnEggshells on Youtube to see how we're doing.

Thailand land borders are still closed. You can fly in with the correct requirements fullfilled - but crossing a land border is still impossible. From my understanding its the same in Malaysia. Also note that Thailand in 2016 added a requirement for guides and permits for overland travellers. Its wasnt 100 % enforced precovid but it seemed to be more and more enforced up to the time covid arrived. How it will be post covid nobody knows but my guess is that it will become more and more difficult to cross land borders in SE-Asia….

Although I have no personal experience with buraucrasy in India all I have heard and read about it seem to be a nightmare. Buraucrasy in Thailand can be rough too. From my understanding flying a bike Nepal to Kuala Lumpur or opposite would be the easiest option - but again its just what I have heard and read.

Anyhow - we all hope for opening of land borders in SE-Asia soon, but I wouldnt hold my breath….

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

Malaysia already opened a land border with singapore, and the border with Thailand was supposed to open for tourists in December. It was paused with omicron, but I am hopeful that they renew the plans in the next few months now that they are making entry easier.

Yes, India is crazy for bureaucracy - lived there for 5 years, so it's nothing new. But the Nepal idea is not bad, we were hoping to get there to visit an old stomping ground, so it might actually solve a logistical question.

As for Thailand, you can only try to get a pass from the officials. I used to teach in Isaan - maybe I can appeal to the Thai respect for educators and we will get away with no guide, but you only know when you get to the border.

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Planning for RTW Aug20. Currently in Australia, trying to keep the bike pointing up.
Subscribe to RidingOnEggshells on Youtube to see how we're doing.

I think the Singapore / Malay border is open to locals only, not for 3rd country nationals at this point. Malaysia is also closed to (most) non nationals (my wife is Malay and they won't let me in). This will hopefully change sooner rather than later; when are you planning to set off? As snakeboy said, these countries are beginning to open up, but only for arrivals by plane at this stage. I am currently in Cambodia and plan to go to Thailand in a few weeks; the required paperwork is a real ball ache!

Is India even open to non-Indian arrivals by land?
As of three weeks ago, India was only issuing tourist visas for air arrivals, and only for 30 days from the time of issue (not arrival), non-extendable.

Source of info, Consulate General of India, Perth, Western Aus, 13 Jan 2022.

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Hear the challenge, learn the lesson, pay the cost.

Yes,I heard that. That one is also not ideal, but if we are shipping, then we can just arrive at an e-visa port like Mumbai, and hustle to get out of the country within 30 days. The visa is online, so I think it shouldn't be overly complicated to do in another country then fly over once it is approved. Hopefully they will go back to issuing traditional visas in the next 4 months, but if not, the limitations become part of the adventure.

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Planning for RTW Aug20. Currently in Australia, trying to keep the bike pointing up.
Subscribe to RidingOnEggshells on Youtube to see how we're doing.

Ah I hadn't realised it was only for Nationals, but that makes sense as it seems to be a pretty limited crossing anyway. I think it is the fact that they are opening land borders at all that gives some hope. We hope to be able to cross into Indonesia in June and Malaysia in July, but we will have to see how the next few months unfold.

I hope you can get to visit your wife sometime soon!

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Planning for RTW Aug20. Currently in Australia, trying to keep the bike pointing up.
Subscribe to RidingOnEggshells on Youtube to see how we're doing.

Heading off on a similar route in June from South west WA to Darwin then Dili then westwards…


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Sounds like we have similar plans. Perhaps we'll meet at Kakadu!

We have been told to contact the freight forwarders in a couple of weeks for a June shipping and Darwin drop off date.

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Planning for RTW Aug20. Currently in Australia, trying to keep the bike pointing up.
Subscribe to RidingOnEggshells on Youtube to see how we're doing.

I feel like you might be few weeks ahead of me. Received similar info from ANL - just give a months notice or thereabouts.


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