On your own motorcycle to Nepal

Particulars for this trip:

Motorcycles
On this tour you will ride on your own motorcycle, which must of course be well prepared for the long journey. We mainly ride on asphalt roads. The quality of these roads can in parts be pretty bad due to weather conditions. Therefor his trip is suitable for many type of motorcycles. However, due to the changing conditions of the quality of the road,  we recommend to avoid driving on a motorcycle with low ground clearance. Furthermore your motorcyle must be equipped with a set of new light all-road tires.

Support Vehicle
We travel WITH support vehicle. From The Netherlands to the Turkish-Georgian border  will be with our own support vehicle. From then onwards we will use a local support vehicle with local driver. In each country, this will be a different one. In principle, the luggage and any spare parts and equipment can go in the support vehicle. The support vehicle does not cross the border, so at the border crossing you need to carry all your gear yourself on your motorcycle over the border. On the other side of the border there is again a support vehicle waiting for you.

Mechanic and Technology
This trip is done without mechanic. This is not possible because everyone participates on their own motorcycle so there are going to be many different types of bikes. You therefore need to make sure that you bring the most essential items with you. Some technical knowledge of your bike would certainly be useful. In places where we stay for a couple of days, it is possible to have repairs done or change tyres in a bike repairshop.

Clothing 
Mandatory items are a helmet, motorcycle jacket with protection, gloves, a good hard-wearing pair of (motorcycle) trousers with protection or separate knee armour, and sturdy high (mountain) boots. The lower lying regions of the tour can get very warm, especially during spring and autumn; a summer motorcycle jacket with protection is therefore recommended. Then you can, if necessary, in colder parts of the mountains, wear extra clothing under your jacket. Also useful are a good pair of sunglasses and a helmet with visor that protects against dust.

Visa 
Several countries require visas. For wich countries also depends on your own nationality.  For most European countries, the following countries below require visas: 

• Turkey
• Georgia
• Iran
• Turkmenistan
• Uzbekistan
• Tajikistan
• Kirgizia
• China
• Nepal

International driving license and Carnet de passage
For most countries you need an International Driving License. This can be purchased in the Netherlands at an ANWB shop and in UK from AA, RAC or Post Office.

For Nepal you need an international Carnet (a so-called "Carnet de Passages en Douane") for your motorcycle. This is issued by the ADAC, the German sister club of the ANWB and AA. You can arrange this yourself. 

Accommodation 
During this tour we generally stay in smaller hotels, in en-suite rooms. We use double rooms unless you have booked a single room. In very remote areas, we use very simple guesthouses, sometimes with multiple use bedrooms and shared bathrooms. In these cases, a single room is not possible. 

In Turkmenistan, we will camp for one night in the desert near Derweze. All camping equipment is provided by our local agent.

Motorcycle Transportation 
The end of this trip is in Kathmandu in Nepal. Nepal has no sea, so shipping the motorcycle from this country is not possible. Transportation back of your motorbike is by air freight. We can arrange this for you. We did not include this in the travel sum.
Air freight costs depend on the weight of your motorcycle. But on average you have to take into account 1,500 for a regular motorbike. These costs include the crating, customs clearance and all paperwork in Nepal. Any handling costs at Schiphol or any other destination are not included.

More details about the trip and items to bring can be found in the tour’s handbook which you will receive approximately one month prior to departure.