Bit of an old thread this, but I've a question for Tsiklonaut, or anybody else here who knows, on behalf of another GSer on a different thread who's looking to ride Dubai-UK and wants to know if he can ride through Iran with his girlfriend on the back. He was originally going via Saudi, but that's a non-starter without a wedding certificate. Forgive me if I've got this wrong Tsiklonaut, but one of your great pics looks like you may have had a lovely lady on the pillion, you may well be married of course, but if not, could you advise if you experienced any probs while in the Islamic Republic?
Iran
- Thread starter ExpatinIstanbul
- Start date
Bit of an old thread this, but I've a question for Tsiklonaut, or anybody else here who knows, on behalf of another GSer on a different thread who's looking to ride Dubai-UK and wants to know if he can ride through Iran with his girlfriend on the back. He was originally going via Saudi, but that's a non-starter without a wedding certificate. Forgive me if I've got this wrong Tsiklonaut, but one of your great pics looks like you may have had a lovely lady on the pillion, you may well be married of course, but if not, could you advise if you experienced any probs while in the Islamic Republic?
Iran is not a problem. Sue and myself rode through Iran, she on her bike, me on mine, but we travelled as a couple. She is married, a different surname on her passport to mine, but we never had a problem booking into a single room at hotels ... not once. We were accepted without question.
I am informed that allowances are made for tourists!
We hoped to return through Saudi where things might have been different, but that was not to be after the accident on the Karakorum Highway in Pakistan
I am informed that allowances are made for tourists!
We hoped to return through Saudi where things might have been different, but that was not to be after the accident on the Karakorum Highway in Pakistan
Myke Rocks
Registered user
I spent 2 years there. (Project manager)
The people are well educated, friendly, & the country is well worth a visit.
English is commonly spoken.
Go to "The Persopilis". Look it up.
Sacked by Alexander The Great circa 400bc. Truly astounding.
Remember distances are vast.
Currency is not convertable. This means that if you buy Rials as you enter the country, you cannot convert them back into pounds as you leave the country.
You cannot take Rials out of the country either.
When you enter the country, you must declare all foreign currency you have with you, and only change it at a bank at official rate.(You must keep Receipt) When you are leaving, they count your remaining foreign currency & your reciepts, & if they do not tally, you are in trouble.
When I was there, the official rate was awful, making it the most expensive country in the world.
The blackmarket rate was the opposite, making it one of the cheapest countries in the world.
In truth, the true value of the rial lies about half way between the two, but, becaue foreign goods may only be bought with foreign currency, it pushes up the blackmarket rate massively.
So: If you wish the best of both worlds, divide your currency before entering the country. Hide the currency you do not wish to declare. ( Bike must have somewhere)
Change some declared foreign currrency at offical exchange rate.
Keep the hidden currency until you meet someone who wishes to do a blackmarket deal, & change it with them.
You will get a great deal.
What do I miss most about Iran?
Islamic beer.
I am teetotal, but the taste of the non alcoholic Islamic beer in Iran still stays with me many years later, & If I was back there, it would be the first thing I would look for. Absolutely beautiful.
Myke
The people are well educated, friendly, & the country is well worth a visit.
English is commonly spoken.
Go to "The Persopilis". Look it up.
Sacked by Alexander The Great circa 400bc. Truly astounding.
Remember distances are vast.
Currency is not convertable. This means that if you buy Rials as you enter the country, you cannot convert them back into pounds as you leave the country.
You cannot take Rials out of the country either.
When you enter the country, you must declare all foreign currency you have with you, and only change it at a bank at official rate.(You must keep Receipt) When you are leaving, they count your remaining foreign currency & your reciepts, & if they do not tally, you are in trouble.
When I was there, the official rate was awful, making it the most expensive country in the world.
The blackmarket rate was the opposite, making it one of the cheapest countries in the world.
In truth, the true value of the rial lies about half way between the two, but, becaue foreign goods may only be bought with foreign currency, it pushes up the blackmarket rate massively.
So: If you wish the best of both worlds, divide your currency before entering the country. Hide the currency you do not wish to declare. ( Bike must have somewhere)
Change some declared foreign currrency at offical exchange rate.
Keep the hidden currency until you meet someone who wishes to do a blackmarket deal, & change it with them.
You will get a great deal.
What do I miss most about Iran?
Islamic beer.
I am teetotal, but the taste of the non alcoholic Islamic beer in Iran still stays with me many years later, & If I was back there, it would be the first thing I would look for. Absolutely beautiful.
Myke
We were there August last year (2009) on our way to India. We saw nothing of what Myke refers to
We changed our money on the black market, at the border, under the noses of the border guards and police... and got a good deal. We didn't have to declare anything, no receipts required, no receipts issued, no receipts asked for. I smile because I remember that it was Sue who did the negotiating, and as the money was counted out she would ask for any grubby or doubtful notes to be replaced, which they did with a smile and a laugh. "Don't look at me" I said, "She's the boss" Sue is always better at bartering than ever I will be! They accepted this without question and dealt with her
Some men would not shake hands with Sue, but would apologise and give the reason, but would hold her totally in any conversation. The ladies would go out of their way to speak to her and ask about where we came from, and tell us of how life is in Iran for them. Some couples would even send their English speaking kids up to us to invite us back to their homes to stay. How lovely is that.
Iran is indeed a beautiful country, the people so overwhelmingly friendly and very very genuine with it
Similar threads
