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Hi Griffdowg,
After doing more research, I also feel route 1 is far easier.
Calais, ---->Germany, ---->Poland,----> Ukraine,----> Russia,----> Kazakhstan,----> Kyrgyzstan -----> Torugart Pass, then into China and towards Kashgar, the first city of size.

We would spend 3 weeks in China, before exiting via Inner Mongolia, Outer Mongolia and back to UK.

As you say, the Russian visa will have to be a multi entry business visa.

For China, and the notoriously difficult temporary import, temporary drivers licence, and the all guide costs.
My Chinese wife has been studying hard, and will sit exams around middle of December.
If she passes, then she can become an English tour guide.
The loose plan is to set up a small adventure tour company here, and if it all works as planned, she then offer tours around the interesting parts of China.
Her, as the guide in our Land Cruiser, would fore-fill the Chinese law requirement for foreigner travel.
She would do the temporary vehicle import, temporary Chinese number plates, arrange temporary drivers licenses.
We would plan for small groups of up to 2 or 3 other vehicles, totally 4 vehicles at the most.
That would take the group to 6 additional persons, with ourselves making the party to 8, after that, the group could become to diversified, and you can't do that in China.
The route has to be planned, laid out, and approved by all the PSB (Public Security Bureau's) who's jurisdiction you will travel through, and the group needs to stick to it. This is typically why the Chinese tour company's charge so much.
She would advise on completing the Chinese tourist visa, which really isn't that difficult.
Land Cruisers or Land Rovers as these are very comprehensively spares supported throughout China that I know of.

Vette

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