Garmin banned in India-how to get permission

semmyroundel

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Hi all, still planning on a trip to India.
In keeping with good advice given here, I no longer are going to go through Iran and pakistan but across the Stan's, with a preparatory visit across France then all way to Galicia and back with the Doris on the back as she hasn't so far done any long distance trips as pillion.
I'm also going to take my InReach, however I found out that without permission it's illegal even to carry it in India, let alone a satellite phone.
If it was just me I'd wing it with just a mobile, but as I'll have her on the back I have to take extra precautions.
Does anyone have any experience of this, and how to circumvent it?
I was watching a ride report with two German guys who took a drone into China, they had to disassemble it prior to reaching the border and secrete the parts about the bikes (they had two bikes) so wondering if anyone has done something like this too?
 
semmyroundel said:
I'm also going to take my InReach, however I found out that without permission it's illegal even to carry it in India, let alone a satellite phone.

I no longer are going to go through Iran and pakistan but across the Stan's
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Two way satellite comms units are banned because terrorist groups are/were using them for messaging. Receive only GPS units are AOK.
Why do you feel you need one?

You cant get to India overland without going through Pakistan and then only one border crossing to India.
 
Redboots said:
Two way satellite comms units are banned because terrorist groups are/were using them for messaging. Receive only GPS units are AOK.
Why do you feel you need one?

You cant get to India overland without going through Pakistan and then only one border crossing to India.
Click to expand...
Thanks Redboots, the InReach was for two purposes, firstly safety, in case we have an accident or injury/illness when in some remote area as I would subscribe to the insurance that Garmin have for SOS needs.
Also, a way for family and friends to track where we are at any given time and keep up with progress.

Regarding entry into India, I'd rather go through Pakistan but my understanding is that the main route and best is western province of China and then across the Himalayas (with the added complications of cost and distance) this would also allow us the pleasure of travelling through the Stan's.

My understanding is that for someone with a British passport, I'd have some difficulties going through Iran, and with recent events there, I'm thinking that's not an option any more.
 
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semmyroundel said:
Thanks Redboots, the InReach was for two purposes, firstly safety, in case we have an accident or injury/illness when in some remote area as I would subscribe to the insurance that Garmin have for SOS needs.
Also, a way for family and friends to track where we are at any given time and keep up with progress.

Regarding entry into India, I'd rather go through Pakistan but my understanding is that the main route and best is western province of China and then across the Himalayas (with the added complications of cost and distance) this would also allow us the pleasure of travelling through the Stan's.

My understanding is that for someone with a British passport, I'd have some difficulties going through Iran, and with recent events there, I'm thinking that's not an option any more.
Click to expand...
The tracking part is easy to do with a phone, buying local sim's
Maybe a PLB is what you need. It (most) is only a locator beacon and is a one-time purchase with a battery life of around 5 years. There are a few that can send messages, but that would be no good for India.
Insurance? Not up to date but I used World Nomads.

Its donkeys years since I went through China but I don't think anything has improved as regards to "guides". You have to pay the company they work for plus hotels, food, fuel etc. Once in, we ran away but were caught up with at the Pakistan border. There are lots of places they don't want you to see and no-go areas in eastern China.

Have you asked about an Iran visa? It would be the simplest/best route. You cant get one at the border, but I think UK passport holders can still get them. We arranged to get ours in Almaty as they would expire before we needed them (return via), Depending what your travel times are, you can get them in the UK or get a letter from the Iranian embassy that says you are OK to have one and get it in Türkiye. I forget what its called...
I think we used StanTours for most of our visas to save the hassle of schlepping round the embassies.
 
Redboots said:
The tracking part is easy to do with a phone, buying local sim's
Maybe a PLB is what you need. It (most) is only a locator beacon and is a one-time purchase with a battery life of around 5 years. There are a few that can send messages, but that would be no good for India.
Insurance? Not up to date but I used World Nomads.

Its donkeys years since I went through China but I don't think anything has improved as regards to "guides". You have to pay the company they work for plus hotels, food, fuel etc. Once in, we ran away but were caught up with at the Pakistan border. There are lots of places they don't want you to see and no-go areas in eastern China.

Have you asked about an Iran visa? It would be the simplest/best route. You cant get one at the border, but I think UK passport holders can still get them. We arranged to get ours in Almaty as they would expire before we needed them (return via), Depending what your travel times are, you can get them in the UK or get a letter from the Iranian embassy that says you are OK to have one and get it in Türkiye. I forget what its called...
I think we used StanTours for most of our visas to save the hassle of schlepping round the embassies.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the recommendation of Stan Tours, I'll check on that as I need to get visas once I plan the route and maybe even if I don't (as a plan B) though central Asia does beckon...
 
OP - ad had been said, satnav in India is allowed.

I’m curious how you plan to get to “The ‘Stans”.

I believe the land border between Georgia and Azerbaijan is still closed. You’re a braver man than me if you’re willing to try Armenia and I assume you’re not up for Ukraine.

That leaves Iran, which you say you don’t fancy or Russia down to the Caspian or Russia and Kazakhstan.

What’s the plan?

BTW I suspect permits to enter China in the east by road and to traverse Tibet are not simple to obtain these days. I did it six years ago. The crossing into Kashgar took three DAYS 🤣
 
Apple Watch Ultra as well as latest IPhones support ( via a Satelite) SOS calls too.

 
Redboots said:
The problem is the 2 way sat comms. They don't like it (up 'em), so would probably ban them as well.
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Does that mean, if I have a latest iPhone I can’t travel to India or that part of the world in general?
 
Are you still doing this? I wanted to go through Iran initially but then saw the British couple who have been taken hostage by the government there.

Looking into China now, and seeing how you can get into China with a foreign bike.
 
Pepsie said:
Are you still doing this? I wanted to go through Iran initially but then saw the British couple who have been taken hostage by the government there.

Looking into China now, and seeing how you can get into China with a foreign bike.
Click to expand...
Getting a UK bike into China is (or at least was) possible. Question is where from. Unless you fancy Ukraine or Iran, I’m not sure how you get there by land from UK these days - or is Georgia-Azerbaijan land border now open again?
 
richardbd said:
Getting a UK bike into China is (or at least was) possible. Question is where from. Unless you fancy Ukraine or Iran, I’m not sure how you get there by land from UK these days - or is Georgia-Azerbaijan land border now open again?
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As far as I know you can still cross from Georgia into Russia or Azerbaijan into Russia (obviously not a great option due to the war going on but seems its relatively safe)

Or you can get a truck to take your bike over the border from Georgia into Azerbaijan for around $400 and you'll have to fly in.

And yes seems it's possible to go into China, I just have to find a good tour agent.
 
Pepsie said:
As far as I know you can still cross from Georgia into Russia or Azerbaijan into Russia (obviously not a great option due to the war going on but seems its relatively safe)

Or you can get a truck to take your bike over the border from Georgia into Azerbaijan for around $400 and you'll have to fly in.

And yes seems it's possible to go into China, I just have to find a good tour agent.
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Russia maybe but rather you than me right now.

I thought that the land border between Georgia and Azerbaijan was still closed though. It didn’t reopen post Covid and I’m pretty sure it was still closed just a few months ago - or am I now out of date?
 
Why not go from Georgia to Azerbaijan via Armenia? Or are there issues I'm not aware of that would make it difficult?
 
richardbd said:
Russia maybe but rather you than me right now.

I thought that the land border between Georgia and Azerbaijan was still closed though. It didn’t reopen post Covid and I’m pretty sure it was still closed just a few months ago - or am I now out of date?
Click to expand...

I've heard from a few people who have travelled to Russia recently, and as long as you sort out your visa properly, it's all pretty alright (just have to sort your money out mainly, as you can't use your card.) but as you say I'd still rather avoid it wherever possible. Getting a visa is a little bit easier for me than for UK as I'm a Dutch citizen so I can use the eVisa scheme.

Freight trucks can still cross into Azerbaijan, and foot passengers have a way to get in to but I haven't looked into that much as it sounds like a right pain. Normal traffic is not allowed.


Aidan1150 said:
Why not go from Georgia to Azerbaijan via Armenia? Or are there issues I'm not aware of that would make it difficult?
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Azerbaijan has closed their land border with everyone, and there's also quite a lot of tension between Armenia and Azer - they've recently signed a peace accord or something but, it's still a very volatile border. AFAIK there's freight trucks being allowed to cross into Azerbaijan from Georgia, so you would just have to get on a flight to get there yourself - but I might skip it altogether and go through Russia on the E30.
 
Thank you for that @Pepsie I wasn't aware of that and hope you didn't mind my query.

It is over ten years now since I was in Armenia and we entered from Georgia and returned back into Georgia again. I remember Armenia as being very poor but very beautiful. We had thought back then of going into Azerbaijan to get as far as Baku and the Caspian Sea but a three day visa was quite expensive so we didn't go. I wish now that we had.
 
Aidan1150 said:
Thank you for that @Pepsie I wasn't aware of that and hope you didn't mind my query.

It is over ten years now since I was in Armenia and we entered from Georgia and returned back into Georgia again. I remember Armenia as being very poor but very beautiful. We had thought back then of going into Azerbaijan to get as far as Baku and the Caspian Sea but a three day visa was quite expensive so we didn't go. I wish now that we had.
Click to expand...

There's still time :D
 
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