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UK to Australia 2013
Hello folks;
Not sure why I called it London...I live in Manchester... lol meant to say "UK to Australia"... can a mod change the heading... Just thought I'd drop line with regards to some plans next year. Me and my girlfriend/fiancée (will be wife by February) have been planning riding to Australia for a while (two up on the Africa Twin... its almost tempting to get another cg125 and do it on two of them rather than the twin... anyways). The rough plan is: Leave UK end of April-ish.. visit some friends in Europe... get to Turkey by June-mid June. Spend some time there with family (I grew up there and have family there). If all goes to plan will be meeting up with some friends from the UK and spend about a month or so (maybe more) travelling Turkey/ camping/ swimming/ eating /drinking etc. :D Then August/September time in to Iran, depeding on the visa would like to stay in Iran a bit, then Pakistan. Pak is currently bit of a gray area not really planned much, I might get in touch with Pak motorcycle club and CS and see if anyone can meet us and show us around a bit etc. I'd like to head down to Karachi do the makran coastal highway (hopefully it's not all tarmac) then back up to Lahore, then the mountains KKH etc then in to India... going to see how we like India. some people love it some people can't wait to get out, so we'll see... then it's Nepal I think, from around there fly the bike to Bangkok? Then it's abit vague after that. We want to do Cambodia and Laos, either backpack Vietnam or rent two bikes or even a car, whichever is easiest really. Would like to spend a month or so maybe in Thailand or on an island somewhere (I think making somewhere "home" for a bit and chilling might be nice). Then after that try get to East Timor through Malaysia, Indonesia (if the boat to Darwin is still running that is) if not seek alternative routes. So yeah, if anyone is planning a roughly similiar route with similiarish dates ,bare in mind Although leaving UK in late April/early May, we'll be in Turkey/Greece from June till early September, so our paths might cross. Might be able to tag along in some bits and have a drink or two and exchange notes :tank: (unrelated... I just wanted to use the tank...) so yeah... there is the "masterplan".. now where was I with sorting that bike... Have fun folks! Oli |
Hey Oli,
Hope you guys have a great trip. I am doing the exact same trip but in 2014. Same dates and countries etc. So if you write a Ride Report I'll be reading it keenly :) All the best and keep us posted, Nicola |
Seems like a generally realistic plan to me. Can surely be done two-up on an XRV750. I did sorta similar route with my GF on one DL650 in 2007-2008 (I´ve actually owned many Africa Twins in the past, they´re great bikes!)
How long is your entire trip duration BTW? We spent 6 months on the road (started from Helsinki, finished in Sydney), and we thought 8-9 months would have possibly been the ´optimum´ for us. We didn´t feel like we were rushed, but there is just so much to see and do everywhere! Also would have been nice to just chill out somewhere on some paradise beach, or nice hill station, a bit longer sometimes. Also keep in mind, that for a European, it will be much easier to return to Turkey on a bike one day, than it will be to return to Indonesia, for example. That´s why I might try to first move on a bit more rapidly, and in this way save a greater portion of the available time for the more faraway bits. But that´s just me. And I´m not saying there´s anything wrong with Turkey, absolutely not! For me, it was surprising, that roads weren´t so bad in general. Often bumpy and potholed, and with huge speed humps, but our bike had totally stock suspension, sagging just way too low with the huge load on board. Still we could do the trip just fine. On the other hand, we did not go to the rural areas of Cambodia, for example (though I´ve done them on other trips). Surely the by-roads on many countries will offer a lot more challenges, especially during the rains. |
Thanks Nicola, hope it all goes to plan for you too.
Pecha, Well we are thinking of taking a whole year off, as the time is very right (if health is still good.. no mortgage, no kids, no debts..). My research money for a project I'm working on at uni runs out in March and I need a change of scenery..been in the same city, same workplace for 7 years now... The other half feels the same, so we thought of riding to Oz and looking for jobs there and stay a year or two (or longer or less.. see what happens eh?) A few people I know have done something similar and it is very inspiring. Good points about Turkey, although I lived there 16 years I haven't travelled it much.. so I need to get that out of the way, if you know what I mean. I am very much interested in Iran and Pak so wouldn't like to blast through there either but will depend on visas. I thought ideal time to dive in to Iran would be Sept as it would be a tad cooler than July/August..also eastern Turkey should be nice and cool-er around August. and we're free after March so might aswell set off early and tootle around a bit, spend some time with family. Also doing some head scratching along the lines of the Ted Simon Foundation initiatives... I've sorted the forks and rear shock out.. but haven't tested it yet fully loaded 2 up... might be needing a new spring on the rear as the shock was sprung for my weight with gear on... we''ll see. Thanks very much for your input though! :smile2: |
just thought I'd bump my own thread like a sad forum geek... just in-case there are any lurkers out there...
C'mon guuuys.. Pakistan will be fun!!! :mchappy: |
right, talking to myself again lol
Just had a thought and tweaked my route a bit.. so currently it is going to be (probably NOT go back in to Greece from Turkey for the HU meet anymore and head on to Georgia and Armenia): UK - Holland - Germany - Schweiz or Osterreich - Italy - Slovenia - Croatia - Montenegro - Albania - Greece - Turkey - Georgia - Armenia - Iran - Pakistan - India - Nepal - Thailand - Laos/Cambodia/Vietnam (backpack Vietnam) - Malaysia - Singapore (might not take bike in.. need to research this) - Indonesia - East Timor - Darwin Again giving ourselves a year with plenty of chilling out involved in bits we like, rough milestones.. get to the mountains by October (north Pakistan and north India) and Nepal by November - December-ish. |
About Iran
Hi dear oliver
you can have look for visa on this site:Iran Visa Application Form & Travel Information | London UK and you should get your pak visa in your home country I wish you a good travel If you have any question feel free to ask hosseinthebiker@yahoo.com greetings from Iran! Hossein |
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Plus we did the usual Modifications (from Rectifier to new Bearings, Wilbers Progessive Fork Springs, Tires etc, Main Spring...) I think it was verry worth it. Thought about a 42l Tank but didn´t do it in the end. Missed it in 43.000km only once or twice. The only problem we had constantly was the pannier holder. Have the Zegas but the Holder Frame I guess is form Givi... Way too thin, we had to weld it about 15 times in each country. So now we had the time and a workshop and reinforced it. As I did the welding by myself (and never done it b4) I guess we will have some more adventures on the road fixing it. But it was always fun to fix it. We met a lot of people we wouldn´t have met because of it ;) KKH will be an adventure riding 2up. But I guess it has been done several times b4. Good luck and have a safe ride! cheers Sascha nd Kerstin |
Hi Lionel,
The trip sounds good. I have recently had on of the last Honda Africa Twins. With me on, and my wife, there wasn't much carry capacity left. I am 92kg, and her is just 45kg. It was OK for short runs around UK, but I would question the feasibility of a longer trip to Turkey. In your shoes, I would buy her a smaller bike, perhaps no bigger than 250cc. You can both share to carry the luggage. If either bike broke down, your not stuck, and could still make your way to the next village (after securely locking the stricken bike) to get help for repair. Also, you don't appear to have any time constraints, so by your wife riding the 250cc, this will keep your hooligan speeds down. I just feel, as good as the AT is, it's not perfect for a 2-up, plus luggage to Turkey "kind of bike" vette |
Hi Sacha, Kerstin and Vette;
Vette..Thanks for your input. I'm going to Australia not Turkey :P (well will be going through it) and my name isn't Lionel.. its Oli (Oliver) we have managed round europe two up on a fazer 600 with camping and did france and back on the Africa...after the Fazer the AfTwin is heaven. Hopefully we can manage to Oz aswell. I've also done Turkey and back on a ZXR400 and a holdall (on my own).. that did hurt though...lol. But I do agree with lighter smaller bikes. Unfortunately my partner has left learning a bit late so doesn't have a licence so it has to be two up. My options were AT or a BMW GS... went with the reliable option :P Sacha and Kerstin: yeah I'm plodding along slowly with the mods. First mode was to have the seat cut down on the rider half (so my feet can reach the floor better, and also two gel pads. Fuel pump is sorted. I have Pooratech pannier racks, but will be using cloth panniers and the standard honda/givi topbox. Moved back and bolted down to the rack. Just to put things like the tent and first aid kit etc important type things in but try to keep it light. I'm not sure how much weight we'll be carrying just yet. Aim is to pack as normal..and ride to the suspension man and get a stiffer spring, and get it set up. I also had the rear subframe strengthened (just incase). Going to treat the first leg until Turkey as a practice run and just leave stuff we haven't used etc with family there and iron out niggles. anyways thanks for all your inputs and happy new year :) |
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So actually I think such a trip can be done and has been done on any kind of bike, even on push bikes. We rode now 100.000km two up though various countries, all terrains. We tough of buying a bike on the road for my wife but we decided not to do so. For us, 2UP the XRV is the perfect bike in terms of reliability and handling as well. Sometimes I thought it would be great to have a lighter bike but this was only when it comes to fun rides... IMHO the Africa Twin was built for such trips even 2up. 2 Bikes easily doubles the cost and the trouble at boarders etc... cheers Kerstin and Sascha |
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We are planning to travel to India between May and Nov Initial plan and most prefered was via Tibet and Nepal? But this seems to be a issue as China still not issues visa's for Tibet to overlanders? (min 5 same nationality per group) hence we are looking at Iran-Pakistan. We are driving a Overland truck interested in joining for part of the trip. Our plan would be 30 days Iran and KKH in Pakistan then towards India. Cheers Fearless Around the World by 4WD robert.vandenhoven@facebook.com |
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Have fun and take care! Oli |
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Keep in touch Fearless |
Just a quick update. We have moved out of our flat and are now living with the inlaws. Ow and my thesis got accepted just in time so I is officially a Dr (alas not a real medical one)
Setting off this Thursday (16th), Dover - Dunkerque then to the Hague to a friends birthday. Then we leave there on the Monday the 20th. 1st milestone is to get to Turkey by the 13th of June so will be blasting through Germany, Austria and Italy, then take it a bit easier around Slovenia and all the way down to Greece then to Turkey. So yeah hope to bump in to some of you. Also pakistani visa got a bit complicated so we withdrew our applications (as we need our passports), we got our Indian ones, Iran ones should be OK from Turkey, then will apply to the Pakistani ones in Tehran, might get lucky who knows. Indian visa expires 1st of November. Will make our minds up regarding Baloch once o the road, if we get the Iranian visa we will go as far as Bam then head to the coast and catch the ferry to Dubai and fly out either to Pakistan or to Kathmandu and pop back in to India. If there are a few of us though might be tempted to carry on from Bam throught Baloch. We'll see. Bike is mega heavy (got cloth panniers all around.. still heavy) will just have to get used to it. All the bastid medication I need to carry (funny bowels :D :D ) doesn't help. Ah well it will get lighter as days pass and re-stock in india. Take care folks and hope to see some of you on the way. We are going to spend a bit of time in Turkey with family then travel Turkey, probably through Ramadan. All the best Oli |
Hi Oli,
Good luck with setting off tomorrow, we set off two weeks ago now doing the same channel crossing as you plan to. We are now in Croatia taking our time through Europe due to the Iran elections. We also plan to spend a fair amount of time in Turkey and plan on a very similar route to yours after. Let me know your plans would be great to meet up and do some of the riding together. Do you have a blog we can follow? Cheers, Paul Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD |
Hi Paul;
We've been sitting the rain out in Ljubljana last couple of days (it's just rained everyday since we left the UK). Tomorrow heading to the Plitvice national park for a couple of days, then towards split etc... where are you folks now? Hope it's going well.. We had very very a minor run in with a slovenian bus on a road you wouldn't expect a bus to be, through a tiny village where the bus was as wide as the road.... it was OK in the end. |
Hi Oli,
Sorry for no response, we have been reading your blog so felt like we knew where you were. You guys don't seem to be having too much luck with the weather, but hopefully the rest of the journey will bring you sunshine. We've seen you are now in turkey, what's your plans now? We're in Iznik at the moment but will be travelling down to Afyon today. Plan is to reach capadoccia on Saturday, spend two days there then head up north/north east and reach the Dogubayazit border between the 22 - 25 June. You may be following this but here is another thread with other people we're going to try and meet with to cross iran/pakistan http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ad.php?t=70548 We got our visa issued in Istanbul yesterday. We paid for same day as we wanted to get going but it was expensive - 270 Euros each! We'll write abit more about this on the other thread. Amy Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD |
Hi Amy;
We keep reading your blog aswell and having a bit of your "ahead information" is good. We're going to be in Turkey for a while now. We are planning to get in to Iran around the 1st - 2nd week of august. So you guys will be well ahead ahead of us. Our Turkey plans are to spend the next week at the seaside then get cracking with the Iran visa and do some Turkey travelling. If you guys decide to head to west/southwards in Turkey let us know. I'll follow the other post aswell, curious how many days of Iran visa you guys got. We need to sort our Pak ones in Iran as we couldn't get them in the UK and there is no chance of it in Turkey. If it doesn't happen we're gona head to Dubai and ship to Nepal All the best anyway and take care Oli |
Oh no that's a shame, we had been looking forward to meeting with you guys. Maybe later on in the journey? You may catch us up.
We're in cappadocia at the moment and will go north east from here to start making our way to the border. We got 20 days on our Iran visa (we were advised to apply for two weeks and give a brief itinerary, which we did). We've read this can be extended once in Iran if needed. Keep in touch and have a nice time in the sun! Amy |
Hello all;
Just an update. With all the recent killings, explosions etc etc in Pakistan we have decided to avoid it. I really wanted to see the northern bits but after the recent shooting I doubt they'll let folk foreigners up the KKH for a bit. So our new route after Iran is to cross to Dubai and spend some time in UAE and Oman and do some desert stuff. I think it'll be a nice alternative to Pakistan. Then ship from there to Mumbai or Kathmandu and come back in to India. Taliban's "foreigner killing branch" also makes nice reading.... BBC News - Nanga Parbat attack: Taliban say new faction killed climbers I will also investigate whether we can get from the Arabian peninsula to Karachi and ride up the Indus valley to Lahore. These are just thoughts anyway. But currently not going to Balochistan and the Northern areas. |
Hi Oli,
I'm currently in turkey heading the same direction as you it seems. let me know if your about and we can maybe meet up somewhere in the next few weeks either here in turkey or in Iran. Cheers, Ben. |
Hi Ben;
It would be nice to meet at some point somewhere. I think we will get back on the bike (fully loaded) and head towards the black sea region (north) from Izmir towards the end of July or 1st week of August. Will head towards Trabzon and attempt getting an Iran visa. If not we'll hang about and apply from a visawebsite thing. Then will be going through Georgia and Armenia (we might not bother though, need to research it a bit more) When are you in Turkey till? what are your plans? if you want a nosy here is our blog: Chasing the Sunshine Take care and have fun! Oli |
hi Oli,
currently in Sile, north of Istanbul waiting for my carnet to be sent through from the uk, probably be a few days. Aiming to enter Iran in about 2 weeks, roughly. looks like I'll be ahead of you somewhere but maybe you'll catch up a bit later on. keep in touch and maybe we'll meet at some point. cheers and all the best on your travels. Ben |
Hi olionel, paulhamblett, Twilly,
a newbie here in the forum. I came across this post looking for some info for a very similar trip I am expecting to do next year at more or less the same time (starting around March). Good to know you are all right out there. I already added your blogs to my feed to keep track or your experiences throughout your journey. I am going to Turkey next Friday 12th July with some friends and will spend a few days on Kusadasi and Cesme from 14th to 18th July (Capadoccia from 12th to 14th). If you happen to be around it would be nice to meet for a beer and listen to your plans and experiences in your trip so far. Let me know and take care! |
Hey all
Just an update. Current plan is to leave izmir around 20th aug and head to Cappadocia, then to Trabzon for iran visa. Turkey visa runs out 5th sept so will probs exit around then (getting good value for the 90day allowance) to Georgia, then Armenia. Will be entering iran aound the 15th or thereabouts +/- 2 days. Then current plan is to stay max iran visa they give us then head to Bandar Abbas to Dubai. See Oman, try a guided desert tour then seek out shipping the bike to either İndia/nepal or Karachi (depends on price and our Pak vida, will try again in İran). Then if india shipping is too much money, we'll copy paul and amy and ship to Bangkok. Then go to Nepal and hire a bike there and go back into İndia. Should be getting to nepal around the dry season hopefully. İf we get pak visas and shipping to karachi is ok, we'll ride up tne indus valley to Lahore and enter india there. We've decided notto risk our asses since the trouble inthe northern regions. All the best to everyone, hope to meet someof you somewhere Oli P.s. Hi hebbo, hope your turkey holiday went ok. We headed south around when you were here. Enjoy the blog and have a great trip when you set off. Ps.2 hi ben, hope iran is good and you got the visa all ok. Take care Oli |
Hello;
Another update. We have finally set off from western Turkey and came to Goreme, Cappadocia via Konya. We'll be setting off towards Trabzon on Sunday and will be there until we get the Iran visa. Then we'll head further east and might pop down towards Kars, depending on how many days left on Turkey visa.. the 90 days is nearly up...then in to Georgia, Armenia then Iran. Have fun! Oli |
hi Oli,
Glad to hear your on the road and are enjoying Turkey to it's fullest. Iran was great fun with some excellent riding and wonderful hospitality. Got pretty hot however, especially towards the south and east, some vast distances too. Currently relaxing in Lahore and planning to push north a bit at some point. Crossing Baluchistan was without problems, I teamed up with an overland bus from the UK also and we were escorted together all the way through to Punjab province. The escorts are friendly enough and you feel secure with them although they do slow you down considerably with change over and check points. Quetta felt quite tense and an NOC is needed to proceed from there which is a day wasted sitting in offices. All reports here suggest that the north is reasonably secure and there are many travelling about happily. There is a huge number of local 'adventure' bikers whizzing all over the mountains on their 125's, they recon security forces have a grip on things up there and there is a steady flow of foreigners. This is just my experience so far, I hope to give a similar positive report in a few weeks when I'm leaving the country. The people here are truly wonderful and the food is to die for (pardon the expression)! Safe travels mate, maybe I'll see you in India, I'll be there until sometime in December or there abouts. Stay safe and enjoy yourselves!! |
went same way a few months ago
Hi Guys,
Following your trip with interest. Must admit, little bit jealous but then I'll get back on the road soon enough. Went similar route myself last year, finishing in January. Still working on video but there is episodes 1-3 here Europe, Turkey and Iran so far. Pakistan - Episode 4 will be next week. Hope you may find something in there of interest. |
Hi all;
We're in Tbilisi now. Did a bit of a zigzag of Georgia. Entered from Kars (Turkey), from the Turkgozu border to Georgia. Went to Borjomi (ace), then to Mestia in the Svaneti region, via Zugdidi. Then were strongly discouraged by the locals not to take the old road from Mestia to Kuatisi (anyone done this?) I didn't fancy it 2 up loaded after all the jeep drivers told us not to go. Maybe one year with a few more bikes it could be fun? Then we stopped in Kutaisi for a night then to Tbilisi via Gori (Stalin museum... bit one sided like...). Tbilisi is ace though will spend another night or two here and then set off towards the wine region for a day or two then leave for Armenia. Wont be pissing about this much there, just pop in to Jerevan for a day or two then in to Iran. Got 30 days for Iran (so will try to fill it best as we can). I read your blog with interest last year Steven, glad your enjoying ours. Ash, when are you're in Iran let us know. Our current plan is a bit of a Zigzag of Tabriz, the coast, Theran etc etc all the way to Bam. Then we're gona head towards the port to cross to Dubai. All the best folks and have fun! Oli |
Hey kids;
Just an update again. Got to Esfahan today and will be here 3 nights, then onto Shiraz few more nights then to Banda Abbas to catch a ferry. Need to find out when this goes yet. Been in Iran 17 days now hopefully leave before visa runs out. Worst case we'll extend it in Shiraz (apparently its the easiest place). On our way into Iran from Armenia we stopped at this depressing ex-soviet town called Kapan. The road to there is great with nice twisties and views etc but the town is brilliantly depressing. All is well, we're both enjoying Iran very very very much. Been mainly couchsurfing but having a couple of hotel breaks. All the best and we'll do a mega blog update once we get to Dubai. Can't access it here and didn't want to bother with a filter blocker incase someone called me a spying Yorkshireman :P Have fun! Oli |
Hi there!
This is my first post, but so far you're doing the trip I want to take in reverse. There's a few of us here in Oman with ADV bikes, so make sure to let us know if you come to Muscat. I just bought a KLR and hope to ride it back to the UK next autumn when my contract is up. By the way, no one told the weather that it's October. It was 42c here yesterday lunchtime, but the early mornings and evenings are getting much more pleasant. Ride safe! Steve |
Hi Steve;
Will def let you know. We made it to Dubai today. Will aim to get to Oman around 11/12/13'ish then spend a few days exploring. My bike is on a UK plate, paperwork was tedious today at Sharjah.. do you know if I'll have to go through it again when I enter back to Dubai? I also put a separate post on this, reply to there if you can. And happy trip planning for next year! All the best Oli |
Seems like you have quite big and interesting trip planned there, good luck with that. Would like to take such adventure to my plan in nearest future, hopefully will get my vacation schedule soon.
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Unfortunately it looks like I'll be the only ADVer in town next week. Everyone seems to be buggering off for the holidays. I'm ashamed to admit I haven't actually taken my bike anywhere yet (only had it 2 weeks and work is brutal at the moment) so can't offer much in the way of route guidance. The sights here are pretty easy to find though and the roads are good. Drivers can be lunatics, but you know that already ;-) Drop me a message when you get to Muscat. I do know where to find a beer! Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4 |
Hi again Steve;
We did a very quick Oman trip (4 days) and were in Muscat for pretty much a day. The old town looked all revamped and a bit sterile. Muttrah seemed lively though. Anyway, we liked Oman very much from first impressions and would love to return to in the "cool season" for more of an outdoorsy camping trip as it seems to have loads of cool landscapes. Might see you in the future and take care Oli |
No worries mate. I know how it is.
I went out yesterday to have a quick ride, and ended up doing a circle route to Sur. 571km! I just bought a GSA and I won't miss the saddle or vibration of the KLR. I was willing the ride to be over by hour 7. :scooter: Save travels on the rest of your trip! |
Hello all;
Just an update. Currently in Cambodia and heading to Laos in about 10 - 15 days. Then should be in Northern Thailand early Feb. Spend a week or more doing the northern roads and head south following the Burmese border-ish. Then depending on visa days will spend a bit on Tao and head into Malaysia. Month in Malaysia/Singapore then into Indonesia. Let us know if we may cross paths for drinks, stories etc All the best Oli (& Charli) |
Hi Olionel
How did you get your bikes from Oman to S.E.Asia? We are planning a trip and hope to get to India. China is difficult and expensive and Pakistan is looking very hostile at the moment so I was interested in your thoughts about shipping from Oman to India. I will check out your blog. bier |
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