India to Indonesia overland..

boomboom

Hi folks..

As this happens to be my first post here,let me briefly introduce myself, am Dev a 26 years old software professional with a Thai company and operate out of Hong Kong/Singapore. I shortly plan to undertake a bi-cycling trip from India to Indonesia and had some queries regarding the same..

Attached below are the details with regards to the visa requirements for an Indian national for the countries I would be visiting over the next few months.. Please do correct me where you might have updated info on..

Nepal : Free entry permit.
Bhutan : 14 days Free Visa on arrival.
Bangladesh : 15 days Free Visa on arrival.
Myanmar : 28 days Visa on arrival ... (Uncertain)
Thailand : 15 days Visa on arrival.
Laos : 15 days Visa on arrival.
Cambodia : 30 days Visa on arrival.
Malaysia : 30 days Visa on arrival.
Singapore : 4 Days Free Transit Visa.
Indonesia : 30 days visa on arrival.

Though I have traveled to most of the countries before barring Bangladesh & Myanmar, I am a wee bit uncertain on the visa on arrival rules with regards to crossing borders overland.

Would appreciate any info one could extend of the above..

P.S the info is from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_passport

capt_mahajan

Boomboom, welcome to indiamike.

Sounds like a real interesting trip.

praveen_yadlapalli

All the best!

ananda2193

I would contact the embassies of the above countries for the correct info where you are. I know as an American I get a 2 month visa for Indonesia which cannot be extended there. You must leave the country and then you can return for another 2 months. It can be expensive as Indoonesia is all islands.
BTW, there's a nice ferry from Penang, Malaysia to Medan, Sumatra. Takes about 5 hours and cost's around $30 u.s.

Khak

Entering a country at some international airport and entering a country at some remote border location may be different e.g. can immigration officials at a border location stamp visa on the spot?

__________________
~Khak~

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capt_mahajan

At any regular border post, even if remote.. yes, they can.

However, they may not be fully aware of rules as they apply to non-neighbouring country citizens. So I really don't expect you to have any problems for Bangladesh, Nepal or Bhutan, provided your stated rules apply. Other countries, you may face some problems.

So, to add to ananda's advice, I would suggest take something in writing from each embassy or it's website with you to make your case.

PS: If budget permits, I would even consider taking a visa for all the countries anyway. Rules can change during your trip, and you don't want to be stuck at some border with an official telling you 'apply for a visa in your country of origin (India)'

boomboom

@Capt_mahajan & ananda2193: Thaks for the warm welcome & also the advice/suggestions. As mentioned earlier I have been to most of the countries written above.. Just that I always been to these places over flight.. Am sure its a different ball game overland altogether.

Yeah, believe it can be tricky at times if the country's Visa reg are prone to frequent changes e.g Thailand (Can be a nightmare, coz sometimes even the IMMI chaps are really not aware of the rules)!! Worse being the fact that at times some port of entry/ would be permitting for a cross over n the very next month they would have changed.. Then they're are countries like Malaysia that only permit a VOA by flight to all its airport but then not via land.

Its happened to me once before while on a Visa run over a holiday, where I was given wrong information at one of the embassies, of all places. With their info I decided to cross border.. try n get my visa renewed at the new counsulate only to be told "Pls apply in home country or country of work permit!

Thats the reason why I'd like to hear from somebody with first hand experience.. Anyone.. been to Bangladesh from New Jalpaiguri to Haldibari with VOA (I guess that the Bangla check point).

boomboom

Have thought on those lines as well, but then been dwelling on the fact that most countries require you to send in a copy of the return tickets/ outbound journey for them to issue a visa.. And since am doing a multiple destination over land, am just not have any of that..

Any work around?

brownboy66

Welcome boomboom. That's quite a trip you're planning. I can't comment on Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh - but would advise caution in relation to Burma. You may want to check out one of the various foreign service web sites (UK foreign office, US state department, Australian department of foreign affairs) for their latest travel advisories. They all have embassies in Rangoon - so the info is reasonably up to date.

From what I understand - boarder crossings into Burma are possible - but strictly controlled by the military. There are 4 permitted boarder crossings in total (two into Thailand, and one each for India and China) - and approval to cross the boarder must be obtained from a government authorised travel operator (which then gets approval from the ministry of tourism) prior to arrival at the boarder. I'm not sure what the story is after that for travelling through Burma as its illegal to travel outside of authorised tourist areas - so I'm not sure a bike trip would be possible (Check out the australian department of foreign affairs website as they have quite detailed info on the boarder crossings). There are also some very strict laws regarding religious material, foreign currency, historic artefacts, etc. Also - keep and eye on the latest advice re banditry, landmines, that sort of stuff (also applies to a certain extent to Cambodia and Loas).

Apologies if this sounds alarmist - its been a few years since I was last in these countries, and events can change quickly. Still, you can never be armed with too much knowledge.

My suggestion would be as much as possible - get approved visa entry before you get to the boarder. Visa entry on arrival for some countries can be notoriously unreliable - and in the worst case - arriving somewhere without a visa may be consider an offence.

good luck.

boomboom

Thanks brownboy66 for the inputs and info. I would check on the various travel advisories for sure. Besides been to Cambodia and Laos before and never quite experienced it to be as infamous as other travelers tend to portray them.

Had been via Aryanphratet/Poi Pet border (Thailand- Cambodia), though I'd admit I really didn't feel too safe at Poi Pet. But then had no trouble getting around Phonm Pehn, Angkor and Sihanouk ville.

Would take caution regarding Burma, and maybe skip it if deemed ness.. But guess would have loved getting to Rangoon and Bagan though.

Besides I was still looking for some leads on the Indo-Bangla border on a VOA.. anyone?

brownboy66

Cambodia has settled down a lot these days. Was much different when the Khmer Rouge was more active. Phnom Pehn, Siem Reap, Kampot, Battambang, Sihanoukville, etc - all the big settlements are fine - although getting there can be challenging! Laos, I think, has always been highly under rated. Great country - lovely people. Aryanphratet - Poi Pet are pretty civilised so if you've already been there then you know the score.

Forgot to ask - is your overland trip part of a organised tour? Re Burma - just not sure if the travel restrictions have eased up. Its not as if the military junta really care about attracting tourist and public perceptions in the west if something goes wrong.

great idea for a journey though...