Touring - Partner(s) wanted for Europe to Asia tour (May '06).

I'm planning a tour from Europe to Asia, and am looking for partner(s).

I'm a 35 y/o m (US passport), experienced hiker, trekker, camper, cyclist (touring, randoneuring). The age/gender of partner(s) is not relevant, but a relaxed attitude and used to "roughing it" safely is. I do smoke cigarettes and enjoy having a few beers, but no illegal stuff whatsoever.

My plan is to start in France in May. Then head down to Spain along an el Camino route, then zig zag back eastward (having built up good "tour legs"). I'm thinking I'll spend 6-7 weeks total prior to crossing into the Ukraine.

This is a northerly routing through Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Krygyzstan, into to China (TAR).

My daily average (on a fully loaded bike) is about 100K/day. Sometimes more (ie when riding through boring plains). Sometimes less (ie headwinds & climbs).

This will be a budget tour utilizing campings, "free" or "wild" camping, hostels, guesthouses and perhaps hotels (rarely) for accomidation. Everyone interested should be self sufficient (ie used to-and equiped for loaded touring with camping). Visas are the responsibilty of individuals.

My time alloted for the tour is open ended. Routing through SE Asia may be a possibility, however touring Nepal then into India (as a backwards loop) is currently most likely.


[Edited] Clarified route a bit better.
[Edit 2] Further clarified 1/26/06

That would be awesome. I wish you very much luck. I also wish to go at all costs. I've been itching for some Euro-touring.
Randoneuring sounds like a challenge-which events have you tried?
Any calculations regarding your trips' cost? "the Stans" I love that. I think your wild camping is the way to go always. I've only toured in the US but for a solo rider people sure are great help. Almost everybody is interested and offers to help in some way. I'll bet next starting next May you'll have a permagrin. I will stay in touch, please do the same.

That would be awesome. I wish you very much luck. I also wish to go at all costs. I've been itching for some Euro-touring.
Randoneuring sounds like a challenge-which events have you tried?
Any calculations regarding your trips' cost? "the Stans" I love that. I think your wild camping is the way to go always. I've only toured in the US but for a solo rider people sure are great help. Almost everybody is interested and offers to help in some way. I'll bet next starting next May you'll have a permagrin. I will stay in touch, please do the same.

Thanks! I've done a bit of the local Brevet series, but nothing beyond 400Km (with success).

I'm not sure regarding expenses, but I've currently saved (easily) enough for this trip. Costs in the Western countries are high, and drop considerably as one heads East.

For Western Europe I guestimate an average 50 Euro/day (60$US at the current rate) food, pay camping/hostels (or pensions), and site entrance fees combined. This includes the very affordable costs for the weeks hosteling along the El Camino route (5euro/nite average), as well as some eating out.

Eastern Europe (west of Ukraine) probably around 35 Euro/day, perhaps a touch more depending upon sites/fees, but again includes eating out (probably moreso than in Western Europe).

Ukraine eastward I estimate the required budget to drop considerably (excluding food costs in some regions), where free camping will be more frequent.

Airfare/Visa costs are excluded from the above rough estimates

I'd be intertested. You tour the same way I do, down to a T. I did the Camino 3 months ago, thw whole way from here. Took me one month. What route are thinking of going east from Spain?

I'd be intertested. You tour the same way I do, down to a T. I did the Camino 3 months ago, thw whole way from here. Took me one month. What route are thinking of going east from Spain?

I'll probably bus/train back across Spain/Southern France, then ride through (portions of) Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. A little loop in the Balkans would be nice, depending upon time constraints.

[edit] Pointing out that this will be a Northerly route avoiding the ME, then back down through the "Stans" (Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Krygyzstan, ?Uzbekistan, ?Tajikistan, China).

Camel, have you figured out your route from China into Tibet? I will be starting a tour in Bali this summer and make my way through SE Asia and into China. I'd like to ride from Chengdu to Lhasa and then on to Kathmandu and into India. China /Tibet would be in Spring of 07. Have you been able to get any good information about length of visa for China/Tibet and 'open' routes?

Thanks,

i was planning to do almost the exact same tour, only starting late june... however, i decided to nix the asia portion of it in order to focus more on europe and have a chance to go through turkey. anyway, good luck!

Camel, have you figured out your route from China into Tibet? I will be starting a tour in Bali this summer and make my way through SE Asia and into China. I'd like to ride from Chengdu to Lhasa and then on to Kathmandu and into India. China /Tibet would be in Spring of 07. Have you been able to get any good information about length of visa for China/Tibet and 'open' routes?

Thanks,

Chengdu into Lhasa seems to be the only "open route" as far as I can tell. The PSB has seemingly relaxed a bit, but this can also change on a whim.

My routing will be left untill I cross into China, because of possible changes. I also have alternate route ideas should the TAR be completely forbidden. I also have alternate ideas should there be problems and I'm unable to obtain a Visa (political problems/bird flu-whatever), and I need to avoid China entirely.

Length of Visa depends upon nationality, AFAIK. Currently it apears Americans can only get a 30 day tourist (?F) Visa initialy. Apparently it is not that difficult to obtain extensions up to 90 days once in China, from a large cities PSB office.

i was planning to do almost the exact same tour, only starting late june... however, i decided to nix the asia portion of it in order to focus more on europe and have a chance to go through turkey. anyway, good luck!

I've cycled bits of Europe up to Istanbul over my previous tours. Cycling further East around Turkey is on my list of "must do's" one day.

I hope the political situation were more relaxed, allowing Americans to travel independantly onwards through Iran. Some day...

That's pretty much what I've been able to learn from my research. I heard the Lhasa to Kathmandu route is open (with the right permit) but that the Chengdu to Lhasa route has only just been opened up to travelers, and then only when traveling organized with a sack wagen. Bikechina offers the ride from Dege to Katmandu and we would realy like to do it, but the price is probably too high for us.
As far as visa, I also hear you only get a 30 day and can extend it to a max. of 90 days once in the country. It might be possible to fly or train from Chengdu to Hongkong and get a 180 day business visa there..... Not sure about that one yet though....

Bikechina offers the ride from Dege to Katmandu and we would realy like to do it, but the price is probably too high for us...

Perhaps not, talk to Peter. If he's a trip scheduled as you near spring '07, perhaps you could add yourselves to it. More riders reduces the price as well.

Riding through Russia is recommended. I did it in 1993 and went back for some more in 2003. Some of the best hospitality I've encountered. Have a look at red-line.moonfruit.com for some pics. Good luck with your plans.

Hey murmansk thanks for the link. Pretty impressive rides you've done! Trans Siberia in 1993, NICE!

For you're 2003 Russian tour, did you require Visa support? If so who did you end up using?

Americans do, and I was planning on going through the Russian Cycle Touring Club for a 3month multiple entry business Visa. On my current route I'll probably only be cycling 1 month in Russia (between Ukraine and Kazakhstan), but the extra time on the Visa may come in handy as a "plan B", should I need to re-route further on.

I managed to get a visa through my contacts in the travel industry where I was working at the time. For the 1993 trip we were in touch with Orion cycling club in Volgograd http://bikeclub.volgadmin.ru/english/index.htm
Can't remember thename of thebloke I was in touch with at the time, but they just wrote us the appropriate invitation saying we were joining one of their trips. In 1993 getting a visa was relatively easy as we didn't have to specify where we were going each day - just as well as we were moving on each day for 5 months!
A lot has changed in Russia since 1991, but red tape is something that they still like!

Thanks for the follow up Murmansk, appreciate it. A few folks have suggested Cycling Club Orion, I'll keep them in mind should the Russian Cycle Touring Club fall through.