First Time Overland to India

Emma667

Hello everyone,

My boyfriend and I (both 24) are planning to travel to India from Portugal overland for the first time, and realy need some help on the best way we should go about it, really hope you can help:

- We realise that our basic plan must be flexible and ready to be changed at any point, but any recomendations on what type of transport to get there, i.e. bus, train, in a campervan with someonelse planning to make the trip, etc... (all on land of course)?

- What kind of itinery we should be considering, bearing in mind all political problems in various countries. I have been considering the route that goes through Russia, but really need tips from start to begginning?!

- Since we will be travelling through various diferent countries and various diferent temperatures, how should one go about packing clothes, etc.. to cater for such weather changes, bearing in mind it will be in a backpack? And what would you consider absolutely necessary to pack?

- What time of year is best to arrive in India?

- Visas? Should they be obtained in our country of Departure before leaving or is it better to get them, as necessary for each respective country as we go along?

- Once we arrive in India, we are looking at continuing on to Nepal, Tibete, Thailand, China, South Eastern Asia in general, obviously not in that order, but would really appreciate any ideas of itineries, tips about getting to and from, about each place, etc...

- Basically any information you think may be helpfull would be realy greatly appreciated by these two absolute rookies! We are ready for whatever comes our way during the trip and are flexible to eventual/obligatory changes of plan!

I know half of this must be a bore, but thank you for any input!

KIndest regards

Emma Adams

P.S. If anyone reading this is planning something similar and would like to join forces let us know!

docgirl2005

Wow, let me try to help you with at least one question you have. We traveled from Bangkok to Chennai twice on Thai Airways/partnered with Air India. So we flew from New York to BKK to MAA. Thailand is a wonderful stopover if you havent been there. Very different from India--especially certain areas of Bangkok and Phuket!!

Why dont you consider Thailand? A firsttimer to Thailand might enjoy BKK, Ayyuthaya, Phuket. So you get a taste of all. Then you can go to India from there? Or vice versa?

Emma667

Thanks for the info Docgirl,

our objective is the actual travelling to India from Portugal by LAND ONLY (except perhaps crossings to a country where flying may be absolutely the only way to get there!) and the experiences we will come across in doing so.

Sort of a lifes university experience I guess! We thought the trip itself to India would be an experience initself and once we got there we would be central to all other surrounding countries we would like to visit.

We definately want to go to Thailand, we have been told it is a good place to chill out after the harshness of India! And as we are really open to whatever comes our way, working included, we have been told Thailand is not so bad for finding work in. Any ideas about that?

docgirl2005

Wow I am so sorry I didnt read or understand properly. Well that overland adventure sounds amazing!

Yes Thailand has alot of opportunities for work but unfortunately my pursuits there have been for play not work
Its a wonderful stopover after India or before India...very different!

Lots of firang in Thailand and many settled there permanently. I dont know if I was considered "firang" since I am originally from India but lived in the US all my life. who knows? But Kata Noi beach on Phuket is gorgeous. Please fill us in on your itinerary! Sounds great

Darmabum

first of all, what a great sounding trip! Great idea. I wish you both well.

As for questions, you might consider a separate post for each question. Obviously you do have lots of questions, perhaps they might be better answered with only one per page, it can get a little overwhelming (as I'm sure the planning is for you) to have thousands of questions floating around in your head.

As for arrival timing in India, I've found the fall - September and afterwards - a pretty good time to arrive regardless where in India you plan to arrive. Rains are over, skies are clear, temps are down.

I generally travel in the north/central parts of India (Rajasthan/Ganges Valley) so my thinking is based on that knowledge. I have little experience in the south.

Again, Great Trip!
Namaste
Scott

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Emma667

Thanx Darmabum,

I'll give it a go! Not too great at this yet!

Oh, I don't suppose you would have any advise on working in India?

Thanx again

Take care

wonderwomanusa

I did the overland trip 3 times in the 1970s and it was truly magical, but times and global politics have changed so much since then. We went through Europe to Istanbul, then through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, to India.

At present, it's wise to avoid Afghanistan, so you can go from southern Iran to Pakistan (Quetta) and then to India.

There is public transportation on this route,and it's a great way to be familiar with local people... especially if you do as they do. You can't go by land from India to Thailand, so public transportation might be best for the entire trip.

If you leave Europe in July/August and expect to get to India in September/October, there's no clothing problem, except that from Turkey on East both women and men should be more covered by their clothing.

Get visas as you go. For example, if you get a visa in Portugal in June, it starts elapsing as soon as it is pasted into your passport, so when you got to India in October, you would have only 60 days before the visa is finished.

webtraveller

WWUSA, I wonder how safe is sourthern Iran to Pakistan (Quetta)route? Though you avoid Afghanistan, you still are passing through the safe haven for the Taliban etc.. A western person is a wonderful chance for them to kidnap and get ransom. They need money now a days. Also remember, travelers are not with a social services organization, that makes more easy their job. Just a thought. You might have better information. But thought I would ask anyway.

WT

wonderwomanusa

None of these are without problems.

Frankly, I don't think any of the overland routes are terribly safe these days. The OP mentioned going through Russia, but one has to go south from there -- through what? Uzbekistahn? Afghanistan?

Russia to China to Tibet and down through Nepal?

While I'd love to go overland again, I'm happy just to fly into Delhi or Dum Dum ...

Hope we will see you, worldtraveller, at the upcoming SF Bay Area meetup

invidious

The Orient Express might be a good option. Then you can take a flight on the last leg.

Shiver me Timbers

Hi, I did the trip in 2005, the most popular route is Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-India.

Baluchistan is really no problem as long as you're staying to the main road.

My advice is to get your Iran and Pakistan visas in advance if possible, it will make your trip that much simpler, and means you won't have to hang around cities like Ankara and Tehran.

It's a great trip, mainly because it gets more and more exotic as you go on, you are eased into each country without any of the culture shock associated with landing straight off the plane.

As far as safety goes, Turkey and Iran are two of the safest, while any dodgy areas in Pakistan are generally off-limits to tourists anyway.

My favourite country was Pakistan - don't miss the north!

Transport is easy by bus, train, whatever - it's not really an issue.

If you have any other questions, just post to this thread or PM me.

Conor.

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Europe to India Overland

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Shiver me Timbers

By the way, the route through Central Asia is safe as well, and I met lots of trqvellers who went Uzbekistan-Kyrygzstan-China-Pakistan-India, it's a spectacular trip with loads to do, the visas are a headache though.

The best place to look for advice on it is LP Thorn Tree's Central Asia branch.

Also, if you're interested, there is a small number of travellers going to Afghanistan every year, including LP founder Tony Wheeler, although the south is off-limits, the rest of the country is relatively stable, although the situation is getting worse I understand.

Emma667

Wow,

thanx everyone for your great input and advice.

Really apreciate it.

Hmm, so it would seem that Afganistan and the South route in gerneral is perhaps better to avoid, although I regret to miss Turkey (perhaps a return route this way could be considered).

Yes, we are certainly contemplating the North route Wonderwomanmanusa suggested from Russia, Mongolia, China, Tibet, Nepal, especially as these are main places we really want to visit especially from a Buddhist point of interest.

Anyone know anything about Kazakhstan just out of possible interest?

How about Pakistan from India? (if we came the North route from Russia, China, Etc... it might make more sense direction wise) Any problems? Is it my understanding that in Pakistan we should stick to the North for safety reasons?

Once again thank you so much for your help.

Take care

Emma

Shiver me Timbers

No, the south route is fine, as long as you stick to the established route, you'll have no problems going from Iran to Pakistan.

The best route from China to the subcontinent goes through Pakistan. You take the Karakorum Highway from Kashgar in Xinjiang down into Northern Pakistan. A spectacular trip, I'm thinking of doing again next summer.

martinez

Hi EMMA667,
Conor has given you about the best advice you need with regard to routes,i would just like to add that you will be travelling through some countries that are VERY conservative Islam,and as a consequence you might wish to consider Benefits of dressing in a way that is not offensive to Muslems..yes,yes i know it is a drag ,but having lived in Pakistan and Afghanistan,i am personally aware of the difference it will make to anybodies trip through those parts.. Happy days, Martinez(tavira)