travelling to India overland?

icetea · Sep 21st, 2004, 20:33

hmm..yes..I have also heard of people who managed to do this route..and loved it...
there will always be good and bad examples......

but you see..the difference is that you are trully a traveller...and that helped you build up your confidence....while I am not a traveller...I just happen to be travelling to reach a destination

...and even though I would enjoy being one....I don't have your experience...

for a first long trip...I don't think even you would advice someone to go alone on such a route

volga_volga · Sep 21st, 2004, 21:25

well i won't call myself a "true traveller"... i just happen to go places

have never been travelling for longer than a month at a time.

but if you are looking for an overland route just to save on the air ticket, then yes, i'd agree, you won't enjoy the trip as much... why don't you look for a good air fare then? aeroflot?

icetea · Sep 21st, 2004, 22:11

yes, thank you volga volga ...it's exactly Aeroflot that I was considering. It's the cheapest I could find (although still not cheap, by my standards, lol).

Plus some Yemenia Airways and Royal Jordanian Airways flights...even cheaper than those, only that they don't fly from anywhere nearby my country.

but I was considering cutting down on those expenses even more :-p.....going by train til Istanbul or Tehran...and then taking a cheaper flight from there...etc.

Shiver me Timbers · Oct 13th, 2004, 00:11

Hi, I'm resurrecting this thread in search of more information.
Recent posts on this forum have ignited a desire in me to do the overland route, particularly Maree and Volga Volga's detailed accounts of their time in Pakistan.
The Turkey/Iran/Pakistan/India route has been discussed at great length already, but the option I'm looking at is the more obscure one. I'm seriously thinking of abandoning my original plan (fly to Mumbai in February), and taking on the 'Silk Road' route:
Turkey/Georgia/Azerbaijan - (ferry across Caspian Sea) /Turkmenistan/
Uzbekistan/Kyrgyzstan/China (kashgar). From here, take the Karakoram Highway to Islamabad.
Now, if anyone has any info on the following, I would be extremely grateful:
1. I've heard about visa difficulties at the various borders, e.g. corrupt officials etc.
2. When is the Karakoram Highway open? Is it unusable in winter?
3. What are temperatures in Central Asia like in summer? Unbearably hot or OK? I don't mind anything under about 35C.

The reason I favour this route over the obvious Iran/Pakistan route, is the highway, particularly the Hunza valley, which fascinates me (did you know cancer does not exsist amongst the locals due to their unique lifestyle).
I know it can be done going south to north, but that would mean I'd have to come back south again in order to reach India, unless I took the route through Tibet (not something I fancy).

Anyway, like I said, any help or info would be much appreciated.

Conor.

Shiver me Timbers · Oct 13th, 2004, 00:31

Sorry to keep going on, but I forgot one or two things.
Any info on the following?:
Can visas be obtained at borders, or do they need to be got beforehand?
General costs and time of trip Istanbul to Lahore?
Thanks.

volga_volga · Oct 13th, 2004, 01:24

Good on you, Conor M!! I'll be watching this thread, as I am interested in Silk Route journey albeit theoretically at the moment (i don't have more than 4 wks holidays at a time, although I met a couple in Pakistan that did one of the Silk Road routes in 4 wks).

Here are the sources I would recommend:

The Silk Roads: route and planning guide
I ordered one second hand from amazon but am still waiting for it

the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Central Asia forum - lots of experts there for visa and border crossing and passes and weather info (I sent you a PM on Khunjerab Pass closure; here is the reply: ""The KKH between Islamabad and China border does not close. It is Kunjerab Pass (over 4,730 mtrs or 15,514 ft) that is closed - between 15 November and 15 May (official closure and openings)").

Have you seen my Hunza album? I have just posted it today. Hope it'll inspire you more

Hunza: the World's roof

Sorry can't help with other C.Asia info but I do encourage you to post on the LP Central Asia branch (also check out the sticky thread there). Myself am thinking a quick C.Asia intro by flying to Samarkand and Bukhara for a weekend since I am working in Moscow in the next few weeks

I will be watching this thread - pls post any replies you get anywhere else! thanks

V-V

Shiver me Timbers · Nov 3rd, 2004, 05:23

Hi Volga, sorry for the lateness of the reply, but I got a good bit of info on the Thorn Tree. If you wanna check it out, go to my post 'The Silk Road Route' at

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/ca...&STARTP AGE=4

it's right at the bottom, could be on page 5 by the time you see it.

Also, check out the guy's travelblog, excellent info on the route.

vistet · Nov 3rd, 2004, 05:47

Visa information/service : check out Stantours page. No experience of them myself , recommended by a traveller on TT. Lots of other good info as well

freenote · Nov 3rd, 2004, 06:19

Exelent photo's of the Hunza valley V V .Maybe one day,I'll be there (it will have to be soon)

volga_volga · Nov 4th, 2004, 13:07

Conor, thanks, I have followed the post on the LP - this guy is in Pakistan now according to his last article dated Nov, 3. BTW I'm off to Samarkand for this weekend as a "taster" for 'stans and the Silk Route, and hunting for some good photos of Registan... I'll keep you posted!

freenote, cards are in your hands!! don't wait too long or Hunza Valley will run away

it is a beauty not to be kept waiting for too long

V-V

Shiver me Timbers · Nov 4th, 2004, 23:23

Excellent site Vistet, Turkmenistan looks like the tricky one. Perhaps a transit visa would suffice, I'd really like to avoid all those LOI's.

vistet · Nov 5th, 2004, 09:17

Another good source might be Trailblazers Silk Roads guide - it is written by the same guy who wrote Silk Road by Rail which appeared to be well researched/lived to me. Should be an update and elaboration of the first book. Some good dry wit included.

icetea · Nov 11th, 2004, 22:37

everything about train travel...

http://www.seat61.com/India.htm

Visas can be obtained at the borders...except for India, of course...

Sep 21st, 2004, 21:25	#17
volga_volga Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,459	well i won't call myself a "true traveller"... i just happen to go places have never been travelling for longer than a month at a time. but if you are looking for an overland route just to save on the air ticket, then yes, i'd agree, you won't enjoy the trip as much... why don't you look for a good air fare then? aeroflot? __________________ Tibetan Orphanage School in China My other favourite place is Pakistan Travel Forum

Oct 13th, 2004, 00:11	#19
Shiver me Timbers Colder than a well digger's ass Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: North Atlantic Posts: 1,621	Hi, I'm resurrecting this thread in search of more information. Recent posts on this forum have ignited a desire in me to do the overland route, particularly Maree and Volga Volga's detailed accounts of their time in Pakistan. The Turkey/Iran/Pakistan/India route has been discussed at great length already, but the option I'm looking at is the more obscure one. I'm seriously thinking of abandoning my original plan (fly to Mumbai in February), and taking on the 'Silk Road' route: Turkey/Georgia/Azerbaijan - (ferry across Caspian Sea) /Turkmenistan/ Uzbekistan/Kyrgyzstan/China (kashgar). From here, take the Karakoram Highway to Islamabad. Now, if anyone has any info on the following, I would be extremely grateful: 1. I've heard about visa difficulties at the various borders, e.g. corrupt officials etc. 2. When is the Karakoram Highway open? Is it unusable in winter? 3. What are temperatures in Central Asia like in summer? Unbearably hot or OK? I don't mind anything under about 35C. The reason I favour this route over the obvious Iran/Pakistan route, is the highway, particularly the Hunza valley, which fascinates me (did you know cancer does not exsist amongst the locals due to their unique lifestyle). I know it can be done going south to north, but that would mean I'd have to come back south again in order to reach India, unless I took the route through Tibet (not something I fancy). Anyway, like I said, any help or info would be much appreciated. Conor. __________________ Europe to India Overland / Andaman's Tips / Pakistan Tips / Flickr Photos / IM Photos

Oct 13th, 2004, 01:24	#21
volga_volga Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,459	Planning the Silk Road trip Good on you, Conor M!! I'll be watching this thread, as I am interested in Silk Route journey albeit theoretically at the moment (i don't have more than 4 wks holidays at a time, although I met a couple in Pakistan that did one of the Silk Road routes in 4 wks). Here are the sources I would recommend: The Silk Roads: route and planning guide I ordered one second hand from amazon but am still waiting for it the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Central Asia forum - lots of experts there for visa and border crossing and passes and weather info (I sent you a PM on Khunjerab Pass closure; here is the reply: ""The KKH between Islamabad and China border does not close. It is Kunjerab Pass (over 4,730 mtrs or 15,514 ft) that is closed - between 15 November and 15 May (official closure and openings)"). Have you seen my Hunza album? I have just posted it today. Hope it'll inspire you more Hunza: the World's roof Sorry can't help with other C.Asia info but I do encourage you to post on the LP Central Asia branch (also check out the sticky thread there). Myself am thinking a quick C.Asia intro by flying to Samarkand and Bukhara for a weekend since I am working in Moscow in the next few weeks I will be watching this thread - pls post any replies you get anywhere else! thanks V-V

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Sep 21st, 2004, 20:33	#16
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	hmm..yes..I have also heard of people who managed to do this route..and loved it... there will always be good and bad examples...... but you see..the difference is that you are trully a traveller...and that helped you build up your confidence....while I am not a traveller...I just happen to be travelling to reach a destination ...and even though I would enjoy being one....I don't have your experience... for a first long trip...I don't think even you would advice someone to go alone on such a route

Sep 21st, 2004, 22:11	#18
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	yes, thank you volga volga ...it's exactly Aeroflot that I was considering. It's the cheapest I could find (although still not cheap, by my standards, lol). Plus some Yemenia Airways and Royal Jordanian Airways flights...even cheaper than those, only that they don't fly from anywhere nearby my country. but I was considering cutting down on those expenses even more :-p.....going by train til Istanbul or Tehran...and then taking a cheaper flight from there...etc.

Oct 13th, 2004, 00:31	#20
Shiver me Timbers Colder than a well digger's ass Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: North Atlantic Posts: 1,621	Sorry to keep going on, but I forgot one or two things. Any info on the following?: Can visas be obtained at borders, or do they need to be got beforehand? General costs and time of trip Istanbul to Lahore? Thanks.

Nov 3rd, 2004, 05:23	#22
Shiver me Timbers Colder than a well digger's ass Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: North Atlantic Posts: 1,621	Hi Volga, sorry for the lateness of the reply, but I got a good bit of info on the Thorn Tree. If you wanna check it out, go to my post 'The Silk Road Route' at http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/ca...&STARTP AGE=4 it's right at the bottom, could be on page 5 by the time you see it. Also, check out the guy's travelblog, excellent info on the route.

Nov 3rd, 2004, 05:47	#23
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,777	Visa information/service : check out Stantours page. No experience of them myself , recommended by a traveller on TT. Lots of other good info as well

Nov 3rd, 2004, 06:19	#24
freenote senior member refused Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: cornwall UK Posts: 1,554	Exelent photo's of the Hunza valley V V .Maybe one day,I'll be there (it will have to be soon)

Nov 4th, 2004, 13:07	#25
volga_volga Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,459	Conor, thanks, I have followed the post on the LP - this guy is in Pakistan now according to his last article dated Nov, 3. BTW I'm off to Samarkand for this weekend as a "taster" for 'stans and the Silk Route, and hunting for some good photos of Registan... I'll keep you posted! freenote, cards are in your hands!! don't wait too long or Hunza Valley will run away it is a beauty not to be kept waiting for too long V-V

Nov 4th, 2004, 23:23	#26
Shiver me Timbers Colder than a well digger's ass Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: North Atlantic Posts: 1,621	Excellent site Vistet, Turkmenistan looks like the tricky one. Perhaps a transit visa would suffice, I'd really like to avoid all those LOI's.

Nov 5th, 2004, 09:17	#27
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,777	Another good source might be Trailblazers Silk Roads guide - it is written by the same guy who wrote Silk Road by Rail which appeared to be well researched/lived to me. Should be an update and elaboration of the first book. Some good dry wit included.

Nov 11th, 2004, 22:37	#28
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	everything about train travel... http://www.seat61.com/India.htm Visas can be obtained at the borders...except for India, of course...

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