From Australia To Italy

[Franco74]

Hi,

I'm riding my 1200GS from Melbourne to Italy end of March 2016.
I'll ship the bike from Darwin to Singapore, ride through SEA to Cambodia then fly to Japan and cross into Vladivostok end of May. June to end July russia-Mongolia-Stans-Iran-Turkey-Europe.

If anyone wants to join along the way we could ride together.

Happy Travel!

[curranp]

Hi Franco,

I am planning a similar trip, but end of March is probably too soon for me (at this stage I have a bike and a passport ). Do you have any advice on what documentation I need and how I might get it? http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...helpsmilie.gif

If I can get the documentation sorted I would be interested in joining you.

Regards

Paul

[Franco74]

Hey There,

Sorry for the late reply.
For the start of my trip i only needed two visas that may take more time to obtain, that is Russia and Cambodia. I started looking into around january but i wasn't in a hurry. I did my visa through the Visa machine, in sydney and so far they have been pretty good. if you want to be in russia around june there should be enough time for you to apply, however you may have to start the trip further out say Japan because you need to wait for your visa in australia (unless you have two passports).

I have two passports and i'm getting my Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran visa on my italian passport which i'll collect at some stage along the route.

The other thing you need is a Carnet de Passage en duane. I got mine in two weeks from the RACV, easy, all info on their website.

Hope this is useful, Franco

[curranp]

Thanks for the information Franco.

I assumed that you had already started your trip so wasn't too concerned about not getting a quick response.

I had a lot of trouble getting detailed information from Timor-Leste, Indonesia and China, so I am now looking at shipping my bike to Germany and exploring Scandinavia before making my way bake to Australia.

Regards

Paul

[mario1981]

Hi Franco,

we maybe run into each other in Russia. My bike is on it's way to Vladivostok and I will leave Vladivostok on the 10th of May riding to Europe via Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan...

See you hopefully on the road! What is your time frame?

[M.Aziz]

Hey Franco,
Im doing a similar route but starting in Japan Hopefully around mid May. I'm applying for a carnet and submitting my visa applications for Mongolia and Russia tomorrow.
Is there a reason you are getting the Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran visa on your Italian passport or just makes it easier?
Also where will you be applying for these Visa's along the way?
Not being able to get Visa's along the way and getting stuck illegally in a country is what worries me the most. Im not sure on what route to take once in Kazakstan but the safest/most expensive route is via Iran.
How did you get around the Iran visa requiring a tour guide?
I speak Turkish and my friend has family in Iran so once I'm In/around Turkey things should get much easier.
Regards,
Mus

[robtho]

Originally Posted by M.Aziz

Hey Franco,
Im doing a similar route but starting in Japan Hopefully around mid May. I'm applying for a carnet and submitting my visa applications for Mongolia and Russia tomorrow.
Is there a reason you are getting the Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran visa on your Italian passport or just makes it easier?
Also where will you be applying for these Visa's along the way?
Not being able to get Visa's along the way and getting stuck illegally in a country is what worries me the most. Im not sure on what route to take once in Kazakstan but the safest/most expensive route is via Iran.
How did you get around the Iran visa requiring a tour guide?
I speak Turkish and my friend has family in Iran so once I'm In/around Turkey things should get much easier.
Regards,
Mus

I did much of the same trip last year and left my bike in Tbilisi when it got too cold for my old bones. I'm heading back to Tbilisi in late July to collect the bike and continue on into Turkey and wherever else the front wheel takes me so maybe I'll see you on the road. I'm back in Japan now, which is a wonderful country to travel around by bike. You might find this google maps page useful. https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...s.kZ_uTqIYPc5U

[Franco74]

Hi Mus,

Yes as you mentioned it is easier for me to get the central asia visas on my italian passport, which is currently in London and i will get it sent once the visas are ready.
Iran: my agent has told me that all i need is an authorisation code, not sure if this applies to european passport only.
I've already applied of these visas and i've used the Visa Machine , i can't really tell if doing through an agent makes it easier or not but in the last couple of weeks i had a few issues with them but i hope all will be solved. Then russian visa is notoriously a bit thorny.

The turkmenistan visa is a bit sticky too, there are two ways , one is through booking a guided tour, i've been asked USD 780 for 5 day tour, the other is to try to get a transit visa but i've heard mixed reports. at the moment don't have visa for turkmenistan yet.

Through Iran is the safest option so far as i hear report of conflict on Armenia Azerbaijan.

Sorry for the late reply, are you travelling alone?
what bike?

I hope to catch up with you, i should be in Japan around second half of may.

regards Franco.

Originally Posted by M.Aziz

Hey Franco,
Im doing a similar route but starting in Japan Hopefully around mid May. I'm applying for a carnet and submitting my visa applications for Mongolia and Russia tomorrow.
Is there a reason you are getting the Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran visa on your Italian passport or just makes it easier?
Also where will you be applying for these Visa's along the way?
Not being able to get Visa's along the way and getting stuck illegally in a country is what worries me the most. Im not sure on what route to take once in Kazakstan but the safest/most expensive route is via Iran.
How did you get around the Iran visa requiring a tour guide?
I speak Turkish and my friend has family in Iran so once I'm In/around Turkey things should get much easier.
Regards,
Mus

[Franco74]

Hey Mario ,

That will be great if we could catch up..... stay tuned....


Ciao

Originally Posted by mario1981

Hi Franco,

we maybe run into each other in Russia. My bike is on it's way to Vladivostok and I will leave Vladivostok on the 10th of May riding to Europe via Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan...

See you hopefully on the road! What is your time frame?