Travelling Overland From Europe to India

Well, that's very definitive about Pakistan!

So, where do you get a ferry to Dubai? And then from Dubai, how do you get to India? I know there are a few cruise ships that go from Dubai to India but they probably don't take regular travelers, just people who booked a whole cruise.

I know there is trade by boat between Dubai & Iran but I don't think they take passengers.

I'd like to know how you would this. (I'm always looking for interesting routes to places I want to go.)

There are passenger ferries from Bandar e Abbas in south Iran to Dubai and reports of passenger ferries to India from there. Definitely cargo. Any more info would be appreciated.

Hi! I visited the Pakistani embassy here in Dublin today, they told me I could get a visa with a letter of introduction - didn't mention anything about transport restrictions.

I have doubts about this, IM member Wazen has been in Pakistan for the past few weeks, indeed he may still be there, and he has reported no problems getting around.

I wouldn't give up on Pakistan at all if I were you, it could be a case of the London Embassy being particular. You could try and get a visa in Turkey or Iran along the way.

On shipping options, don't hold your hopes up, but some options have been discussed here: To India via the Ocean, and here that it leads onto: Travelling west from India, where I also mentioned having seen something (just on some TV show from last year) on ferries Iran-Dubai (notably here).

It would no doubt take some serious looking into. The first thread is definitely the better on it so far, in general.

Tried at the consulate today without mention of the previous refusal, refused again with the same explaination. Will try Bradford tomorrow. 3rd time lucky...

Peace

I think (and since you mentioned on the other thread not being able to afford the shipping options if there are any -- there's no real reason to assume it could be done cheaper), the rational conclusion may have to be that you'll have to throw in a flight in your otherwise overlanding scheme.

Shiver, it's true Wazen was just there, but he has a different nationality, and then regulations may change at the drop of a hat, and yada yada and whatnot (and then he was already in there, which may very well have an effect as opposed to people wanting to travel there now). I would in fact not suggest to try getting the visa along the way instead -- well, you certainly could try, but it would seem unwise to me to count on getting it in any way. Then again if regulations were to change again while you're on the road, sure, give it a try, why not. But just don't count on it then.

On that note, and to bring this all back to the overlanding Europe-India theme that this thread's all about; I've advised in the past that there should still be bus companies doing it, pretty much like in "ye good olde hippie days"; but then when I was checking on it for someone just recently, all those travel companies' sites that I could find for it now at all (many of them UK-based) mentioned they may resume it in the future, but that they currently don't. It seems to be a simple case of there being a UK government advise against travel there (to Pakistan, I mean); which effectively means that such a trip cannot be insured, which is of course a no-no to any such company.

Reading the Thorn Tree Pakistan branch, it seems to be a case of the UK consulates being particularly awkward at the moment.

Ifollowspirit, this may help - this agency will send you a Letter of Invitation and Hotel booking receipt free of cost. The Pakistani Embassy here in Dublin told me it was compulsory.

I have no idea if it would help you, but I don't think it would harm your chances. If you e-mail them and tell them your problems, they may try and help in some way.

Flight wise, I'm thinking a ferry from Bandar Abbas in southern Iran to the UAE, and then a cheap flight from Dubai to India may work out the cheapest option.

Let us know what happens!

To expand on this a bit:

According to my new(ish) Lonely Planet Iran, there are ferries from Bandar Abbas to Sarjah (a short taxi ride from Dubai) usually on Saturdays and Mondays, for 320,000 Iranian Rials - that's about €22. Considering the other day I saw Indian Airline flight Dubai to Delhi for €98.00, that's about €120 from Iran to Delhi, not bad at all.

Just to point you towards this thread from the Thorn Tree, the guy was told no overland travel, and so, got rejected.

I'm just wondering if you told the London Embassy that you were entering from Iran, and that was the reason they turned you down. If so, I would tell the Bradford consulate that you're flying to Islamabad or Karachi.

The guy eventually got his visa in Bradford, check it out:

(Edit): as I read down I see you've replied in that thread already. All I can say is good luck!!!

Hopefully this will still be useful for other travelers.

I'm wanting to go the other way (out of India, to Europe/Germany)

regarding the alternative route (India-Nepal-China-Russia-Belarus-Poland-Germany)

What are the difficulties/costs? (they must be startling if people don't seem to do it as much?)

I have some friends who will be in Russia doing the journey middle of next year, so if it is not too hard/costly to make it to Russia from India that would be nice.

J

You could do well by reading and digesting this thread and its links in its entirety, for starters.

Hi !

Some days ago I had seen some Strangelooking Vehicles on the Vasantkunj road. I had seen 2-3 Wagons very Old may be of 1940-50.
On back of one Vehiclae I had found their Itinary, Russia-Mangolia-China-India-Egypt. They had printed a map on it. Which was showing they had come from Russia by road via Pakistan & heading for Mumbai. From they had marked Sea route to Dubai & from there by Road to Egypt. All guys were Veterans of 60 plus.

Can any one knows about this Trip ???

Hi there, just to update, am now back in Syria after 5 wonderful weeks in Egypt and Jordan (Petra - WOW!). Will be spending a couple more weeks here, and maybe drop into Lebanon, before heading for Iran by November, and hopefully India by December.

Petra is somewhere I definitely plan to visit soon, it sounds awesome. If you end up in Tehran, drop me a line if you fancy a mini IndiaMike meetup, I've got a shiny new visa!

There's that word "Petra" again , it's defiantly on the must visit list .By-passing Israel i see , shame ,but in todays political climate it might give rise to a few problems !!

enjoy the desert ..Salam alachem