Iran

[ExpatinIstanbul]

Hi Bora, thanks for that info, and the great link. It looks like they had a fantastic time.

 

[Bedouin]

Hello all - does one need a "Carnet de Passage" for Iran?

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

Hello all - does one need a "Carnet de Passage" for Iran?

We're working on that one ourselves. We've had conflicting information from various sources, some saying we can organise everything at the border for a few hundred dollars, some saying we have to leave $2,000 deposit (in Turkey that is). I'm going to the relevent organisation this week to make certain.

 

[(RIP) petcul]

I'm heading eastwards in August. You might find this link helpful.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/travellers-seeking-travellers/august-09-trip-41268#post231691

 

[byker_tr]

don't go in summer. may or september are the best times to go there, summer will be too hot to enjoy.

.. some saying we can organise everything at the border for a few hundred dollars, some saying we have to leave $2,000 deposit (in Turkey that is).

since last year, it is usd200 for Turkish registred bikes. You have to pay this into bank account before you get to the border.

 

[KazakDan]

Iranian Fixer

Hi
I am trying to arrange the same route. In fact I was in the Iranian Embassy in Almaty today, however they don't know much. The guy at the desk said as long as the visa is good you can ride through which is clearly not true.

I discovered, through HUBB, that there is an Iranian guy called Mr Hossein Ravanyar ([email protected]) who is able to organise an Iran-only carnet for 200 Euros plus 200 Euros service charge.

We have exchanged a few emails and it all sounds fine, except today he requested a bring a few goodies (on an already fully loaded GS12, two-up...) inc and MP3 player for the car, a second hand cell phone, an expensive bottle of whisky and a Micheal Jackson DVD for his daughter. "... and I'll try my best to organise your carnet." Hmmmmm.

I asked if this was in addition to the fees or in lieu of them.. no response received as yet. I am sure he must try this with all his travellers. I will let you know how it pans out.

Re: selling a bike in Iran: I understand that it is still the case that only the police are allowed bikes bigger than 200cc.

We will be crossing the country in August- I know it will be HOT, but we have no choice. MX armour and a t-shirt is all I'll be wearing...

Any one in Iran from about 2nd to 14th Aug - it would be good to meet up - PM me.


Dan

 

[[email protected]]

I was Iran last year,
safe, nice people, very good roads, cheap petrol, mega distances

tip:

1/ don't miss the Kaspian to Tehran road [Chalus/Chaloose - Karaj], amazing pass

2/ the road through Dasht-e Kavir desert [Semnan to Aranak/Jandac/Yazd]

MUST:
Esfahan, Yazd

"some" danger: south-east border

many picture and report and maps from the trip there here:
http://www.bmwgs.cz/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=29&thread_id=1633

[if you don't understand czech , another report is writting in greek [better? ] http://www.bmwbikers.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6034]

have a nice trip!!!!!!!

 

[DrFarkoff]

Guys after living there for a while on a project, which was 10 years ago but you don;t live and travel there without getting a feel for things especially when the yanks make a mistake with a cruise missle!

I'd suggest the following.

If you have a Brit or Yank passport I'd give the country a miss this summer BUT If you're determined then best to avoid all major nothern cities as the place is a hotbed of fanatiscm at the minute

Rural and southern states have always been more sympathetic to travellers

There are quite a few traditions and religious aspects that you should observe while in the North (particulalrly "christians" fraternising with muslim females in a public place)

Have your papers in order and speak politely and smile at the checkpoint gaurds if they say "Chai Mikhaii?" it means "Would you like Tea?"
It is polite to sit down and have some and wil make your transit much smoother, If you can't drink tea ask "Kaffeh Dah~ree?" it's a Polite "Is there Coffee?"

"Bahlee" Means Yes

"Nah" Means No usually accompanied with a lift of the head like half a Nod

Nah~Boh~Bah? Means Are you Sure? a humourous thing for Kharijee (foriegners to say)

"Hasta, Nah~Boh~sheh" is a tradiional greeting that will be met with smiles

"Hoo~bee? Is "How are you?"

"Hayley Hoobee!" is "Very good thank you!"

"Mahm~noon!" is "Thank you!"

"Ho~tah~fez!" is Goodbye

"Kah~meh Farsi Ger~oof~tam!" ........ I have a little Farsi

"Man Has~tam Ach~hi~yeh *******!" I am Mr ******

"Man Meek~ham Me~ram beh ........." I would like to go to...........

"Par~viz~hi~yah Kharijee" Forieigners (international) airport

"Benzin" "Benzine" Petrol (I think it has been 10 years)

"Ahb" is water

Kaffeh ... Coffee

Chai ...Tea

Behr~enge ... rice

Morgue...Chicken

Chello Kebab ... Yum You have to try this it's really nice

I'll see what else I can remember if you wish

Good Luck and the Best Advice I can give is to treat everyone with utmost respect and civility at all times

Do NOT carry any alchol into the country! PERIOD
Do NOT fraternise with Young Iranian ladies unless they are accompanied by relatives or husbands

Be aware that many are (read as when I was there) wanting to leave but they need a sponsor from foriegn countries and they may ask you to be one!

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

Lots of good stuff there Jaythro, cheers. It looks as thought the current upheaval would be worth giving a miss, so there's a delay on going. We're probably going to pop up to Bulgaria for a few days, then there's a sailing trip on the horizon to make up some R&R time.

 

[SPLworldtrip]

Hi There,

We are hoping to visit Iran in September/October but have just had our visa's declined obviously with everything going on out there I guess its understandable but really dissappointing. We are using Magic carpet and they said they can reapply in one month which we will definately do. Wish us luck! Your pictures all look fantastic and thanks for the info posted its really helpful.

We will be going in via Turkey and hopefully jumping on a ferry to Dubai from there.

Anyone got any other advice or info?

Thanks a million

 

[Micky]

Hi There,

We are hoping to visit Iran in September/October but have just had our visa's declined obviously with everything going on out there I guess its understandable but really dissappointing. We are using Magic carpet and they said they can reapply in one month which we will definately do. Wish us luck! Your pictures all look fantastic and thanks for the info posted its really helpful.

We will be going in via Turkey and hopefully jumping on a ferry to Dubai from there.

Anyone got any other advice or info?

Thanks a million

Just today we've posted our visa applications off for Iran, after receiving confirmation from Magic Carpet Travel with application reference number

We set off from the UK on the 1st August. I hope we get them, applying for the Carnets for Iran, Pakistan and India... don't wanna fork out that money without having the visa's in place

Keep you informed

Mick and Sue

 

[SPLworldtrip]

oooh Good Luck Mick and Sue Hope they go through ok.

Just out of interest when did you put your application into magic carpet I wonder how come yours went through and ours didnt?

I'm glad for you though

 

[Micky]

oooh Good Luck Mick and Sue Hope they go through ok.

Just out of interest when did you put your application into magic carpet I wonder how come yours went through and ours didnt?

I'm glad for you though

We only applied for the visa's, by post, on Monday this week (22nd) to the Iranian Embassy, and haven't had a reply yet. We applied via Magic Carpet Travel, cost us £120.00 each for obtaining a visa application number, which we sent off with the application. We understood that obtaining this number almost guarantees the visa. The alternative to paying Magic Carpet the £120.00 each would have been to spend two or three days in London to do so ourselves, which would cost more than the onetwenty quid

If we can't get the Iranian visa's in place before we set off then Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Saudi, United Emirates, Oman and then sail from Muscat to Karachi is an option. We have our Pakistan visa's in place. We'll then ride through Pakistan in to India, Nepal and Bhutan... our ultimate destinations.

All the best with it matie

 

[Micky]

We only applied for the visa's, by post, on Monday this week (22nd) to the Iranian Embassy, and haven't had a reply yet. We applied via Magic Carpet Travel, cost us £120.00 each for obtaining a visa application number, which we sent off with the application. We understood that obtaining this number almost guarantees the visa. The alternative to paying Magic Carpet the £120.00 each would have been to spend two or three days in London to do so ourselves, which would cost more than the onetwenty quid

If we can't get the Iranian visa's in place before we set off then Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Saudi, United Emirates, Oman and then sail from Muscat to Karachi is an option. We have our Pakistan visa's in place. We'll then ride through Pakistan in to India, Nepal and Bhutan... our ultimate destinations.

All the best with it matie

Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Just received our passports back from the Iranian Embassy...

We have the Iranian visa's therin. Gracie and me going Long Way Home II

 

[Popeye]

That's good Micky, made up for you

 

[Paco]

Hi micky only joined today to try to find out as much as poss for our trip. three of us heading down through europe, giving iran a miss at the mo, but from greece across to india over to malysia, thai, laos, vietnam then across to ride the states.trying to do as much home work as poss but nothing like talking to the horse its self, wonderd if you have any input at all from fuel to exusts n cats, tools to tyres, insurace to safety ext. we riding three gs adv any help would be apreciated.

 

[Micky]

Where to start Paco ?

For individual countries check out Horizons Unlimited, there's a wealth of information on there regarding paperwork for different borders

Prepare the bikes as best you can

Don't carry too much

There's nothing that can't be sorted

Get an International Translation of your V5 reg.doc

Don't plan too much because it will restrict you

The problems you envisage will not be the problems you encounter, the problems you encounter will come out of the blue

Enjoy

 

[jopos]

Videos and a small story from our motortrip from Holland to Nepal crossing Iran on www.GoingEast.nl

Enjoy!

 

[xdayzgrr]

A few of us are thinking of a trip to Iran this summer. Any advice or thoughts from the good people of this parish who've been there?

u have some turkish,expatin?it can be very useful in there,so many azerbaican turks live in iran,they can be very helpful in ur trip with ur turkish.many of iranian can speak turkish too in teheran,i have been there for a two weeks for a biz trip.
dont forget bout ur papers,u must keep originals with u,they dont accept in border if its copies u have,there will be a problem.
another important thing is,dont carry any pornographic(im not talkin bout playboy r hustler,sometimes any fashion magazines,or some newspapers r time magazine etc.) or drinks with alcohol.
in some regions u cannot take some photos,but i dont have any infos bout that now.

so;i livin in ankara if u need some help in ur route;just send me pm r mail.

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

u have some turkish,expatin?it can be very useful in there,so many azerbaican turks live in iran,they can be very helpful in ur trip with ur turkish.many of iranian can speak turkish too in teheran,i have been there for a two weeks for a biz trip.
dont forget bout ur papers,u must keep originals with u,they dont accept in border if its copies u have,there will be a problem.
another important thing is,dont carry any pornographic(im not talkin bout playboy r hustler,sometimes any fashion magazines,or some newspapers r time magazine etc.) or drinks with alcohol.
in some regions u cannot take some photos,but i dont have any infos bout that now.

so;i livin in ankara if u need some help in ur route;just send me pm r mail.

Thanks for the advice X, but this trip got cancelled for the foreseeable future. Perhaps in a couple of years..........