Hello all. I am new here and must confess to being a biker rather than a 4X4er (for now at least!).
Next year I am planning to ride my motorbike from London to Kuala Lumpur. As part of this, I am going to cross China and Tibet (from Kyrgystan into Xinjiang and leaving from Yunnan into Laos). As you may know, taking your own vehicle into China requires the use of a Chinese travel agency to get the necessary permits and documentation as well as providing an obligatory guide. This isn't cheap; so I have organized a group of about 6 bikers interested in joining me for the Chinese leg of the trip. However, we would like to find a 4X4er to join the group as this will avoid the additional expense of renting a 4X4 in China (with driver) to transport the guide. The proportion of the cost of the trip to anyone interested will reflect this arrangement.
The trip through China and Tibet will last around 30 days and will be in September 2012 (exact date and route to be confirmed by group consensus). Some of the riders I have interested so far intend to head south into Nepal from Lhasa, while the rest of us will carry on to Laos.
If anyone is intersted, or would like further information, please reply to this thread or drop me a PM.
Cheers all.

Hello again everybody. To update since my last post: I have now got the final prices back and a Chinese tourist agency lined up. It took a fair bit of research and negotiation to find the right company at an affordable price. The trip will be 35 days in September 2012 from the Kyrgystan border to the border with Laos via Tibet; the idea of different entry and exit points for different members of the group proved to be too complicated and expensive; so it is now a fixed entry and exit point for everybody.
The price (including all the necessary paperwork and obligatory "guide"; excluding accomodation, food):
Based on 6 motorbikes and 1 4WD (with 2 people) it is USD 11572 for the group. That is £7545 divided by 7 vehicles is £1077 per person or about £30 per day. Although the 4WD would have 2 paying customers, as they would have to carry the guide, I have counted it as 1 person. If you see what I mean?!
Based on 8 people with 8 motorbikes and 1 4WD (with 2 people; same route, duration, conditions): it is USD 13225. That is £8618 divided by 9 vehicles is £957 each or about £27 per day.
So, not a huge difference in price between 6 or 8 bikes.
Sorry about the mixed currencies; the quotes were given in US$, but I think in GB£!
If anyone is interested or would like more information, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Cheers.

Have sent you a private message regarding this trip will be interested and have a Range Rover

Hello ovalandrover. Thanks for the PM, I have replied to it, but I think maybe I haven't enough posts to allow me to PM yet, so I have sent you an email. Cheers.

Hey mate!

I am glad I found you, with all this plans!

Well, I have a similar plans, but for 2013, and my final destination will be Nepal, Kathmandu! I want to ride all the way from London to Kathmandu by motorbike. Probable you will take the same routes than I will. so, my question is, have you already planned the way? the roads? countries to cross... this sort of things?

Best,

Joas

Hi,

We could be interested with our Land Cruiser.
Already set up with tyres, lifted suspension, snorkel, roof tent, inverter, seperate fridge, and seperate freezer, and "built in reliability" any way, we all help each other yeah?

Will you please post up the proposed route. Thanks,

vette.

Hello uk_vette. I have PM'd you on the HUBB re. this trip.
Cheers.

wuming said:

Hello uk_vette. I have PM'd you on the HUBB re. this trip.
Cheers.

Click to expand...

.
Thanks Wuming,

That is some great information you have detailed
My only query is how I would get back from the China/Laos border.
That western side of China is really rough and bleak at the best of times.
It is almost all uninhabited, and for a good reason.
Extreemes of temperature, and sand, sand, sand.
There is almost no development there at all.

I am living on the Eastern side of China, in Weifang.

A route that one of our group recently undertook was from
Dover > Calais > Germany > Poland > Lithuania > Latvia > Moscow > Novosibirsk > Ulaanbaatar, (Mongolia)
He played around Mongolia then returned the same way almost.
Only needed 2 visas, 1 for Russia, and 1 for Mongolia.

If I had my way, my ideal route, I would continue from Ulaanbaatar southwards to Inner Mongolia (Chinese automonous region) looking for entry into China there, then to Hohhot, which is the Inner Mongolia capital, then onto Biejing, and Weifang which is 700 km south of Beijing.

Just my 2c.

You have planned a great route, make no mistake, it will be adventurous, and you will enjoy it thats for sure.

Vette

Hello uk_vette. If you are looking to do a round trip, then you could travel from Laos through China to Mongolia (I think someone on the HUBB was asking for people for this route) and follow the route you mentioned in reverse back to the UK. I am freighting my bike back from KL, easy enough for me but for a 4WD not so much!
I have been to Xinjiang before and kinda liked it's relative remoteness and extremes, can't wait to ride there!
Cheers.