Crossing China from Mongolia to Laos Sep. Oct 2015

[Elisha1]

We are a couple with an Expedition truck planning to cross china overland from Mongolia to Laos in 30 days. We prefer to start as late as possible in September or beginning of October so we will get to laos at the dry season that starts in November We are currently in Lake Baikal, Russia planning to go to Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia park our truck for the winter and return next year to resume our traveling. We would like to share the costs of the guide in China with other travels who intend to take the same route around the same time. The difference in cost is pretty significant if we do it together. Anybody?

Cheers Elisha

[daveandles]

Hi Elisha 1,

Well you have one amazing trip in front of you, My wife and I have just completed the same trip only last month. We are now in Thailand and I must say that the guide is very important, our guide was called Spring and we both can highly recommend her, we met some people in Ulaanbatar then again in Thailand that used a very well known Dutch/Chinese company and payed big money and they was very very disappointed with there guide.
So like I say we have just completed the trip and if you need any information please feel free to ask.
Our web site is Plodd - A Trip of a Lifetime.

Good luck with you planned trip

Dave

[Elisha1]

Hi Dave
Glad to hear from you. Tried to communicate with you a few days ago through your website.
I have read your travelogue very carefully and got a lot of info, so thanks for investing the time and energy to put it all on the net .
I trying to form a group of vehicles to cross china together so we can share the the costs I already have one potential vehicle and I hope we will have more by the time we need to commit to a guide.
I am in contact with the Dutch/Chinese agent that you have mentioned and I'm very interested in getting Springs' contact details so I can ask her for a quote having read your recommendation.
Two questions:
1. Was Spring the agent who took care of all the paperwork?
2. Can you pls. give me an idea of the cost of the cost of he part?

Thanks
Cheers Elisha

[daveandles]

Hi Elisha1,

In answer to your questions,

Spring did complete all the paper work and the Chinese customs officers on the border seem to know her very well, they did not even open the refrigerator.

One other very important point is that when we were getting quotations Spring was the only guide that included the cost of the vehicle bond in her price and that is quite considerable so you must make sure that all guides are quoting like for like and ask all of them do they anticipate and extra costs.

I would also like to point out that the road toll charges in China added up to quite a lot of money and the same for entrance fees, you pay to see everything, for example we went to a lake area and you pay to go into the 30 or 40km area around the lake and on another occasion we went to some waterfalls and again had to pay.


I will send the other details in a private message as you are requesting Springs contact details

[daveandles]

Hi Elisha,

I was wrong with the guide cost the price I told you was per person so it was double what I said.

Sorry about that

Dave

[laroche]

Originally Posted by Elisha1

We are a couple with an Expedition truck planning to cross china overland from Mongolia to Laos in 30 days. We prefer to start as late as possible in September or beginning of October so we will get to laos at the dry season that starts in November We are currently in Lake Baikal, Russia planning to go to Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia park our truck for the winter and return next year to resume our traveling. We would like to share the costs of the guide in China with other travels who intend to take the same route around the same time. The difference in cost is pretty significant if we do it together. Anybody?

Cheers Elisha

hello
we are 2 on a side car URAL we are French and actually in France and we hope to be in Mongolia in August 2015 and cross china in Sept 2015
we absolutely travel with other because it's very expensive and we can't take the guide with us
our speed is around 55 Miles/hour
It may be possible to travel together
thanks

[Elisha1]

Hi christian
For us, driving an 11 ton truck, slow speed is not a problem at all. We never go above 80 kmh. The problem I can see is driving on the Chinese highways with a motor cycle. From reading other travelers posts I know that it is not allowed. The question is if side cars are considered a motorcycle and thus banned from using the highway, which will be an issue for us. Do you have any information about it?
Cheers Elisha

[jobinard]

Hi Elisha, bonjour Christian,

i see we're posting on the same forums ;-)
Elisha i wrote a private message to you yesterday, to update you about agencies proposals and tell you about another vehicule who could join us. Tell me when you have time to read it (my time to be pushy ? ;-) but i was so happy yesterday to have those good news

Christian, please let us know what the agencies tell you about considering a side-car like a motorbike or a car (meaning if they allow you on chinese highways !)

cheers from Marseille
Maryline

[Phil Flanagan]

Hello DAVEANDLES

We are also planning a china trip for 2015 though entering from Nepal.

I would very much appreciate the contact details for 'Spring' and also details of any quotes / costs received.

Please post or private message.

thanks.

Phil.
www.philflanagan.com

[laroche]

Originally Posted by jobinard

Hi Elisha, bonjour Christian,

i see we're posting on the same forums ;-)
Elisha i wrote a private message to you yesterday, to update you about agencies proposals and tell you about another vehicule who could join us. Tell me when you have time to read it (my time to be pushy ? ;-) but i was so happy yesterday to have those good news

Christian, please let us know what the agencies tell you about considering a side-car like a motorbike or a car (meaning if they allow you on chinese highways !)

cheers from Marseille
Maryline

thanks
I await the responses of agencies to determine if a side car is a motorcycle or a car !!
regards

[Lilian van der Wijngaart]

Hi,

W're two motorcyclist looking for compagnions and share the cost to travel through China, from Mongolia to Laos in augustus - september 2015. Maybe we can join up.

Cheers
Guido and Lilian

[laroche]

Originally Posted by Lilian van der Wijngaart

Hi,

W're two motorcyclist looking for compagnions and share the cost to travel through China, from Mongolia to Laos in augustus - september 2015. Maybe we can join up.

Cheers
Guido and Lilian

ello
yes, it is a good idea if we can be many to share prices
A sidecar like a motorcycle can not ride on highways.
After contact with different agencies I think that voyageotibet has the best rates.
should arrive in Laos before 1 October, Chinese National Day, (the only problem is still the rainy season ) or after 7 October
regards

[Lilian van der Wijngaart]

Christian,

Nice. Though it's maybe a pitty for you that they dont see your bike as a car
Did you contact chinaoverland as well?
We did and we have a proposal from them.
I suggest we do a PM from this point.

Do you have a maximum on days in mind to travel through China?
Do you have contact with other motorcyclists with same plans?
October in Laos seems good to us.

Regards,
groetjes
Lilian

[laroche]

thank you Lilian,
no, I do not have a precise day; 3 weeks, 1 month ...... but I would prefer not cross to go through Beijing (too crowded !!!)
and should not be in China the first week of October because of the national holiday.
thank you for the agency I have contact, I await their reply
I contact you in PM
I have no contact with other bikers
regards
christian

[daytrippersbr]

Hi guys, we are a Brazilian couple in a land rover defender looking for other overlanders to share guide from Mongolia to Laos, ideal would be july-august but I´m seeing that a good group is being formed for september so we will probably change to join. Can anyone let me know hoe are the plans going? Thank you very much!