Looking for buddies to cross China together - JUN 2014, enter from Kazakhstan
 

EDIT: Our plan has changed - now plan to enter from Torugart, Kyrgyzstan. Please see the latest Post.

Hi everbody,

I'm planning a trip from Europe to Hong Kong with my friends. We plan to depart western Europe before Easter 2014, then travel via Ukraine/Russia/Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan. After that, we plan to enter China from Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan at late May, travel for around 40 days (+/- a week) , and exit China at Shenzhen. Our preliminary route looks like this, crossing mainly the non-Han regions of China that are more difficult to reach by public transport:
http://goo.gl/maps/VwVPC

To cross China with foreign vehicles, we will need to hire a guide and have the guide to pre-arrange a lot of permits and paperworks for the drivers and the cars. This overhead cost is huge (EDIT: about 75000 RMB), but it is for the entire group. If there's more vehicles in the group, the average cost per vehicle would be cheaper.

There is 1 car (2 people, myself and my friend) and 1-2 motorbike in the group currently. And we are very happy if more cars or bikes can join our trip through China to share the cost and have more fun:)

Cheers
Albert

Are your dates fixed, Eastern Europe will be damn cold around Easter

I'm going to leave PORTUGAL around Easter:)
So I'll pass through Eastern Europe around late April to Early May. By the time I arrive Eastern Europe and Russia, probably it will be more than 10 degrees during daytime.

And as I said, I plan to arrive KAZ/China border before the end of May.

Hi Albert
I am leaving central Europe in may. Had planned to head east with no great route in mind. I'm very serious about joining up with you, just have to sort out my personal admin to leave earlier. Away with work at the moment, do you have Skype so we can chat. I'll send you a pm when I'm back from this trip next week with my Skype number
Nick.

Yes I have skype. Please PM me.

Updated 18/8 - We may enter via Torugart Pass in Kyrgyzstan instead of Kazakhstan with this route: http://goo.gl/maps/xTeH2

Happy with that,

Albert, I'm sorry but I'll be pulling out before we get going. I don't want to run the risk of being refused entry with a big bike into Vietnam. I'll not be able to turn round and return to china and would have to abandon my bike....ain't doing that.
I wish you every success and a safe journey, maybe our paths will cross.


Nick

Signature;- Current bike, 1991 Africa Twin RD04

When I was in Mongolia earlier this year there were Riots in Turpan and the Kaskar province was closed to foreigners . Dont know if this is still ongoing.

Hi, Me and my girlfriend just arrived from Kyrgystan. We left our bikes in Osh and we plan to go to China or Mongolia. The trip is planned on 2014 and all depends on budget. If we get enought people who are willing to share the guide. Please let me know how many you are so far. dobias.michal.sk@gmail.com

Well, we just have 2 people in a Jeep and 1 people riding Bike so far.
You are very welcomed to join us:)

(UPDATE)

1. We will arrive Torugart Pass around 30th May, and then travel into China.

2. Updated route: Torugart Pass to Kashgar, G314 to Urumqi, G312 to Dunhuang, G215 and G315 to Chaka Lake, G109 and G214 to Yushu, S217(Sichuan) and G317 to Derge, G317 to Chengdu (with detour to Sertar), G213 and G321 to Guizhou, G321 to Guangzhou, and then down to Hong Kong.

====

Anyone interested in joining us?

Hi,

out of curiosity.
How is it going? Are you still planing to do cross following the route mentioned?

Cheers
Angel

We made it into China. A few dramas at the Torugart crossing but nothing too serious. The route as Albert posted is going ahead. As soon as we can we'll make a ride report and get some photos up.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

Hi Nick, would it be possible to have an update of the border crossing into china? I'm doing a similar route to you and would be very useful to get an idea of coast/guides/documents that are needed.

All the bet