Trip around the world starting in Southeast Asia.

[Stirletz]

Hi guys!!! I have this dream of riding a moto across the world. I wanted to start in Thailand, go through Laos, Cambodia and uo through Vietnam and then north and explore China before heading west. I have a great travel bike f 650 gs 2009(800cc) but after reading about travel restrictions in Burma, Thailand(recent) and China(dont know how long that has been) I am doubting wether that would be worthwhile for me. I am therefore considering buying a motorcycle perhaps in Thailand and still carrying through with the trip. Does anyone have any advice on a trip such as this? If I buy a motorcycle in Thailand will I be able to take it through the other countries without the hassels alloted for regular "imported" vehicles? Does it make sense to buy a bike in each of the countries I visit in turn? Do these ridiculous guide enforced passages extend to other countries in the region? Laos? Vietnam?

Also does anyone know why these countries are so hostile to motorcycle travellers? I am sure there is some kind of reason that makes sense. The rest of the civilized world lets you get around as long as you respect the law and have a carnet and your docs in order, while host countries benefit from tourist money...

Appreciate your help in advance!!!

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[mark manley]

Hi Stirletz and welcome,
You could always start your trip somewhere else, SE Asia has become one of the more difficult places to travel with your own bike. As to buying in each country it is very easy to rent in most of them, even crossing borders with local bikes is not always easy so buying might not help.
Myanmar has actually got easier than a few years ago when no travel with your own vehicle was allowed, China was also out of bounds to all but backpackers until travel with a guide was allowed.

[Snakeboy]

The first question thats comes to mind is WHY do you want to start your trip in the country that has been the most difficult country towards overlanders the last year? The most discussed countries on forums as well as facebookgroups?

Do yourself a favour - start somewhere else. Why not start where you come from? I wouldnt ship my own bike to Thailand - even if I got paid to do it, which is costly enough just to be honored by having to pay for guides, permits, paperwork an mass which also is very expensive and then be very restricted to your guide. And neighbouring countries can also be hard to go through as well. Myanmar - guides and permits needed, Laos not too bad but a bit restrictive to let in foreign vehicles through certain bordercrossings, Cambodia - well seem to demand Carnets although not a Carnet country and in most other cases also permits from central authorities in Phnom Penh, Vietnam - has been as good as impossible to get into but maybe it has become a tad easier nowadays - officially you need an expensive permit, some guys have been able to enter without, but I wouldnt count on either of this options to be honest, China - permits and guides needed and very expensive, Malaysia - Carnet needed difficult to get mandatory insurance and kind of an dead end cause you need shipping to take you further.

To sum it up - to start in the most inconveniant country in the most inconvenaint part of the world seems TOTALLY UNLOGIC to me. But of course others could have another opinion.

To buy a bike in Thailand as a foreigner is possible but not easy. You need an official adress (recidency sertificate) which is not always easy to obtain, especially on a tourist visa or a visa excempt which I presume you will be entering the country with. But if you are lucky enough to be able to buy a thai plated bike on ylur own name you should be able to take that thai plated bike into Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia. Other countries would be difficult. Mind you - Laos normally dont let in smaller bikes of 125 cc and less (since Thailand dont let in Lao plated bikes 125 cc and less) so you will need a bike of lets say 200 cc at least.

If youre thinking about taking a thai plated bike for long distance travel Im not sure how that would work out. For example - where to get a Carnet for a thai plated bike? I think thats impossible my friend - but prove me wrong if possible.

A Vietnam plated bike should be possible to take into Laos and Cambodia but not Thailand. Although in these parts of the world you never know. Into Thailand is normally not allowed. Some "smart" backpackers have paid locals to take their vietnamplated bikes across the borders to Thailand and then continued themselves - unneccesary to say this is very illegal and will only make it harder for lawobeying travellers in the future.

Thailand is lead by a military junta that does exactly what it wants, China is a one party communist state and Myanmar are still run by a military government that still supress political activity especially amongst etnical minorities - so what can one expect from those countries.....?

[Stirletz]

wow thank you thats a lot to take in and brings up more questions...
i.e. if i do get a Thai plated bike can I bring it to Vietnam? China?

What about a Vietnamese plated moto into China?

How about purchasing/renting situation in China?

What is also the situation with importing my moto to Russia, the easter part of it? (Siberia)

The reason I want to start in Thailand is because I want to explore that region of the world as I have been there before backpacking...and have truly enjoyed it. But now I want to do a more complete tour of the land on a motorcycle.

I have already gone down to SA on moto and altough its great I did not find it equally fulfilling.

I have a dream of visiting Tibet, Mongolia and the going West wprking my way toward Europe.


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[Snakeboy]

A thai plated bike into Vietnam I would belive is very very difficult, I havent heard about anyone that has been able to do that other than a very expensive organised tour with guides etc. As I mentioned above - a thai plated bike should go if luck and faith works together into Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia. And Myanmar with a guide and permits of course.

Vietnamese plated bikes into China - well I dont know about that but as far as I know ALL foreign plated vehicles that wants to get into China needs guides and permits etc. And that is very very expensive. You will need to sell a kidney and a lung to be able to afford that if doing that alone.

There was quite recently a man who posted his story about buying a bike in China and riding it around there for some weeks. 100 % legal - absolutely no, easy - definetively not, possible - yes. Worth it - well that depends. For example - it is difficult to find accomodation in China because most hotels, hostels, guesthouses are not allowed to house foreigners as they dont have the license to do that. The expensive ones often have - the ones from 70-80 $ a night, the cheaper ones doesnt have license to house you. Also remember many internetsites are blocked in China such as facebook, Google (me thinks?) etc. Can you read chinese? Roadsigns etc?

Im not sure about asian plated bikes into Russia, I really dont know. Maybe some others can answer about that. I think russian visas are harder to obtain - depending of nationality of course than maybe vehicle temporary imports.

[yokesman]

You can buy a motorcycle freely in Malaysia, reg fees just pennies as is the ins.
Being an ASEAN country will help in getting in, but with the current maybe ?
It was reported in the last few days a couple got into Thailand without the headache, so all is not set in stone yet, donot know the particulars.
In Malaysia money and any address will get you a title in your name.

[Stirletz]

Malasian bikes are easier to go through all the other south east asian countries? When I went to a HU meet in North Carolina late summer 2013 there was a guy there who said he rode through all the South East Asian countries before tackling the rest of the globe... perhaps because of this?

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[Stirletz]

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

A thai plated bike into Vietnam I would belive is very very difficult, I havent heard about anyone that has been able to do that other than a very expensive organised tour with guides etc. As I mentioned above - a thai plated bike should go if luck and faith works together into Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia. And Myanmar with a guide and permits of course.

Vietnamese plated bikes into China - well I dont know about that but as far as I know ALL foreign plated vehicles that wants to get into China needs guides and permits etc. And that is very very expensive. You will need to sell a kidney and a lung to be able to afford that if doing that alone.

There was quite recently a man who posted his story about buying a bike in China and riding it around there for some weeks. 100 % legal - absolutely no, easy - definetively not, possible - yes. Worth it - well that depends. For example - it is difficult to find accomodation in China because most hotels, hostels, guesthouses are not allowed to house foreigners as they dont have the license to do that. The expensive ones often have - the ones from 70-80 $ a night, the cheaper ones doesnt have license to house you. Also remember many internetsites are blocked in China such as facebook, Google (me thinks?) etc. Can you read chinese? Roadsigns etc?

Im not sure about asian plated bikes into Russia, I really dont know. Maybe some others can answer about that. I think russian visas are harder to obtain - depending of nationality of course than maybe vehicle temporary imports.

Thank you for all the great info! Do you have a link to the post? or title perhaps?

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[Pan]

I have thoughts in the same direction .
Buying a Thai registered mc.
I would ride through Myanmar, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, to Europe.
Send mc sea freight, to K. L. Malaisia. Ride back to thailand.
This requires carnetter.
It is possible to get the carnet in Malaisia, for a Thai registered mc?

[Nuff Said]

Hi
To say you can't stay in many hotels in China is totally wrong?
And normally this information has come from internet post or from a friend of a friend.
You will find more hotel that does except western tourist then don't?
4 of the big chain hotels that operate in China DO take western tourist and prices start at $15?
IMO Rent in Thailand very cheap too which then you will be able to ride most of the countries around Thailand with not too much problems.
Then Buy a bike in China full legal and insured with it in your name (need the correct visa and an address in China) or in the shop's name with a letter of authority to allow you to exit china on the bike.
Also, ATA are available in China and your option to get to the EU are greatly improved without great expense.
How do I know all these facts........ live in China now for last 8 years
have 4 bikes all in my name and have travelled from China on a Chinese plated bike to the UK and back visiting 26 countries.
No problems...
Also, travel from China on a Chinese plated bike NOT in my name to Thailand before the Ban many times.
No information from a friend of a friend just pure facts.
For the rest of the world, i can't see a Chinese plated bike haveing no more restriction than any other country?

Before someone points out BUT you need a Chinese DL to ride in China?
I question that? to be total legal yes but in real terms, you will be in more of a bigger problems if the bike is not insured or legally plated.

BUT if you have no Chinese DL then the insurance is void ???? No, the bike is insured regardless who is riding the bike?

There are 14 countries that border China these are Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Laos, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Tajikistan, North Korea and Bhutan.

Not including Hong Kong or Macau.

No other countries come close to the amount of border China has?

All are the option to get out from China some easy some very hard?
6 very easy
4 not so easy
3 very hard
1 why would you go?

A thai plated bike into Vietnam I would belive is very very difficult, I havent heard about anyone that has been able to do that other than a very expensive organised tour with guides etc

Been done by some Germany rides (members of the HUBB) on Thail plated bikes with no guilds but I did here it cost a GoPro to get out?

Can you read chinese? Roadsigns etc?

80% of road signs are in Pinyin?

Im not sure about asian plated bikes into Russia, I really dont know. Maybe some others can answer about that. I think russian visas are harder to obtain - depending of the nationality of course than maybe vehicle temporary imports.

Chinese plated bike in Russia no problem?

Also does anyone know why these countries are so hostile to motorcycle travellers? I am sure there is some kind of reason that makes sense. The rest of the civilized world lets you get around as long as you respect the law and have a carnet and your docs in order, while host countries benefit from tourist money..

No easy answer to this question, it depends on what country you are talking about?
But let's take 2 for now

China ???? don't need your money and the Chinese Government are anti motorbikes full stop.

Thailand ????? blame the Chinses for this restriction. ( can't drive and don't know there left hand from there right )


Can't find a better-recognized Russia square then this...








links ....

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...na-i-did-82852

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...frontier-90255

[Snakeboy]

So where do you expect one to find information such as about possibilities to stay in chinese hotels other than from friends who have been riding through China, from tripreports here on the forum etc? Is that information worthless? My friend Mika who is a member here have been riding through China , and he was the first, or at least one of the first guy riding through China without guides etc. He have also posted his stories and ride reports here and I have also heard them directly from him. He had problems finding accomodation. Cheap accomodation was in general non accsessible for foreigners and he was even thrown out of places were he at first was allowed to stay after the police made a visit to the hotel/gh. The same is reported from the guy who just recently posted his adventures in China here. I cannot finds his postings here for the moment and doesnt remember his name/nick but he had a paralyzed arm and he was buying a bike in China and riding it around there for a good bit of time. He had also problems finding accomodation and he was slso thrown out of places he had been allowed to check into - if I remember his stories right.

But of course we shouldnt belive in such statementd as they come from the internet and from friends and thus of course are all lies.

Well I can of course - tell my own experiences from riding through China if that would matter. But then again it will just be another story on the internet wouldnt it? And thus not reliable. Well I rode through China in 2014, 30 days and around 6000 kms, entering from Kyrgizstan and exiting to Laos. It was an organised group. And the whole itinerary and accomodation was booked long time in advance. But then again 2-3 times it happend that we had to deviate from our original route and had to improvise and find accomodation "out of the book". And for those poor guides of our who had to do it they had a really hard time to find a place that could actually house us. Local police, regional police, higher authorities had to be called and had to approve that foreigners could stay in a hotel without license to do so. I remember especially one remote little town somewhere in Yunnan where there were only one little guesthouse and because of a landslide we couldnt get further so we had to spend a night there. And this little guesthouse had of course not permition to house foreigners and thus it took our guides several hours to get recognition and approval so that we could stay there. So accomodation isnt easy for foreigners in China - thats sure!
Well - dont belive me as this is just another internetstory.....

Thaiplated bikes or other foreign bikes into Vietnam - as I mentioned in my other post - yes some come through without any permits or in organised tours, with expensive organised tours you will come in and with a hefty permit one seem to come in nowadays. But just rocking up at the border will hardly be very succesful. There are dozens of reports of peoplewho have been denied at the vietnamese border. But then again - some people dont belive in tripreports on the internet. I find a bit strange that someone that mistrusts stories written on the internet such as here on the Horizons even bother to write here themselves, as netstories isnt reliable at all. But youre definetively right - one shouldnt belive all one reads on the internet.

[Snakeboy]

Originally Posted by Stirletz

Thank you for all the great info! Do you have a link to the post? or title perhaps?

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No sorry - tried briefly to search for it but couldnt find it. Its just approx 2 monts sincw it was posted. The man had a paralysed arm or similar if that makes it easier to find. It should be here somewhere buy I just cannot find it for the moment...

[Snakeboy]

Originally Posted by yokesman

You can buy a motorcycle freely in Malaysia, reg fees just pennies as is the ins.
Being an ASEAN country will help in getting in, but with the current maybe ?
It was reported in the last few days a couple got into Thailand without the headache, so all is not set in stone yet, donot know the particulars.
In Malaysia money and any address will get you a title in your name.

Several malaysian rider have been riding around the world on their bikes so if one as a foreigner can get a bike registrated in Malaysia that would be great. And also a lot let hazzle in the rest of Southeast-Asia too as in Thailand one would be exempt the new guide and permit nonsense.

How are the prices on bikes in Malaysia compared to for example Thailand?

[Nuff Said]

His name was Tom (The 1 armed guy you are talking about)
I had the pledge to meet him in Chaing rai the other month.
The point I am making that good reliable up to date information up
about China is hard to come by. ( But Toms post is nearly spot on and I did say so in a reply post?)
Yes, hotel in very small towns you could experience difficult finding a hotel that will except a western person.
But you are never too far away from a larger town that does (100km max).
Also, the police are generally very helpful and if you are stuck the police will always help out and get you signed into an out off way town hotel.
It all come down it knowing the rules in China.
I seen town which holds over 1.000.000 being built over the last year or so things change very fast with regards to china so internet posting from 2 years or longer IMO is just out of date.
By the way, i read the SUN newspaper

[Nuff Said]

No sorry - tried briefly to search for it but couldnt find it. Its just approx 2 monts sincw it was posted. The man had a paralysed arm or similar if that makes it easier to find. It should be here somewhere buy I just cannot find it for the moment..

Posted the link once already never mind here it is again

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...frontier-90255