China 2014
 

Just started planning a trip from the UK to China in 2014: Russia > Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan > China > possibly Mongolia > Russia

To share the cost of hiring a guide in China we are looking for another 2 or 3 couples to join us for at least the China section which we expect to be between 2 & 3 months.

We have a Mercedes Vario camper (not 4x4 so no serious off-road stuff!) and would be looking for others with self-contained vehicles.

PM for more details.

Andy

China Trip 2014
 

Hi Chris,

New to this,just joined HU.
My wife and I are planning a trip to Thailand in 2014 and are looking to join anybody going through the China section into Laos our outline plans are to leave England mid to late March and take around 3 months to get to Thailand. We are both from the UK and we have just purchased 1 Merc 814D that we are in the process of converting into a motorhome to make the trip.
Dave & Les

Hi Dave & Les,

We want to exit China into Mongolia so, as the Chinese require self-drive groups to enter and leave China together, we won't be able to join up with you.

Hope you can find someone going your way.

Andy

Hi Andy,

Thanks for your response

Kind regards

Dave

UK to Thailand
 

Hi,

We will be driving our Merc 814D (not a 4x4) from the UK and are looking for others willing to share the cost of a guide entering China and exiting into Laos, travel date into China around June/July 2014. We have driven in many countries in the Far East.

Dave & Lesley

Andy, I am somewhat curious by your statement of no 4 X 4 driving.
Most of Mongolia is basically off road, there are very few roads as most everything is dirt tracks etc. This means driving through rivers, through bogs, over mountains, etc. The only finished road that I know is from Ulan Bator north to Siberia. There are some roads being built, but many times you end up leaving the road and back onto the dirt stuff.
Most of the time you can make it without being in 4 wheel drive, but it is nice to have.......I would at least have a winch on the front of your vehicle. Most Mongolians will be happy to tow you out of tricky stuff.
Mongolia is a fantastic country with amazing sights away from the capital.
But don't go in the winter.....if you break down in the countryside when it is -50 Centigrade it could be the end.....so be smart.
Have a wonderful trip.
David

Thanks for the advice David, I can assure you that we don't plan to go in winter!

I am aware of the 'road' conditions in Mongolia and will take advice on routes nearer the time. There's a series of photos showing road conditions on a trip across Mongolia in 2004 starting here: Siberia 2004. - I don't suppose things will have changed much...

Although our Vario is not 4x4 it does have a difflock which will probably help a bit but I agree that a 4x4 would be good and I am in fact looking for an 814DA 4x4 van at the moment. If I don't find one then it would be very desirable to have a 4x4 travelling with us :)

Having said all that, so far we have no-one committed to travelling with us in China, so the trip may not go ahead anyway as we can't afford to do China on our own, due to the tour guide costs.

Andy

My travel plan for 2014 hits some of your route... Travelling by bike (self contained! :rofl:)

My initial route plan is as follows:

Section 1: Starting from the UK to Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece and Turkey.

Section 2: Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, KKH into China, Pakistan, India Nepal.


before going onto the rest (that isn't important to you for this trip)
Section 3: Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Section 4: Australia , New Zealand.

Section 5 : USA.

Cheers

Mark

Hello trackdayrider we are interested in the section 2: Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, KKH into China, Pakistan, India Nepal. How do you think China through? In group? Our problem is that it's very expensive to through China.

See my new thread about this trip


any takers ?

Hi Andy


My wife and I are planning to drive our 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter camper / pannel van to Sydney from Ireland next year. This would be via Istanbul, the Stans. Mongolia, China and Malaysia. I have been looking at the costs and China is expensive to get a vehicle into. If we could join a group, this would make it a lot cheaper.

The timeing would idealy be to leave Ireland around March and be in Mongolia June 2014.

Trevor