Alright, so it's official. Policy is: "no road travel for foreigners in Pakistan" - at least that's what the consular attache told me in London. So no visa for me.

I will try re-applying in Athens, but wonder what the best strategy is.

Should one NOT mention the word "motorcycle" and let the authorities believe the travel will be by air, and risk turning up at the borders and being denied entry?

Realistically, if I show up in the Iran/Pakistan border in 3 months' time with a valid tourist visa but no special provision for the bike, what's the chance I'll be turned back/arrested/whathaveyou? It'll be a pretty grim situation, since I won't be allowed re-entry to Iran (one-way visa only, which by that point should be expiring anyway), so I'll have nowhere to go.

Opinions/experiences about not being too truthful and forgetting to mention that I'm travelling overland next time I apply very much appreciated.

Alexandros

PS: I presented the London consulate with a signed LOI, copies of my passport, the ID of the person inviting me, 2 pictures, my planned itinerary with dates and the application form. They didn't read the rest when they got to the "motorcycle" on the application form...

PPS: I forgot: I didn't bother doing the referral process that Pete & Caf are going through, since I was told it would take "4 to 6 weeks" and would probably yield a negative answer anyway, and I thought I'd take my chances with another consulate. Pete & Caf, any news with how that went?

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2011-2012: 5 months in Chile
2009-2010: 5 months in Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-India