My first comment would be a its a long and a lots of conversation and decisions to be taken before you can confirm the travel and planning should start before at least 4-5 months. 

Travel Agent :- 

- Now the first thing we have to understand is to ride/drive in china we cannot go on our self's like the other countries, we cannot travel solo, it has to be a group at least 4 people traveling together, we would need a guide with us always present during the travel time. And the whole trip should be organized by a travel agent with pre decided route and travel dates.

   

- NAVO Travels 

   Contact:- leslie.lan@navo-tour.com , murielle@navo-tour.com

   My experience with Navo was ok , professional , they charge a little high , they do not operate in                   Tibet region which is the most important region of china travel this is where it is most strict and                   support for travelers is needed, since Navo doesn't operate in this region they hire a different                       organization as a guide in this region. 

- Lotus Kora Journeys Travel Agency 

   Contact:- what's app :- +8614789011177 Insta:- tenzintashi881 email: journeyslotuskora@gmail.com

   My experience with Tashi was under Navo he was my guide during the Tibet region and he is local of         Tibet , good guy and can plan your experience accordingly as you want. 

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I would say contact both of them , give your expected dates and which country you want to exit Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Vietnam, then is to have a clear conversation as in what all is included in the package and what is not, what other special requirements you need and fix down to a price, negotiate very much with Navo as they would have a good range of price. 

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Visa for China:- This is one of the most unknown and mysterious point in this preparation.

- First thing doesn't matter if you have a stamp visa of china but if have to ride into china you have to take a group visa.

- Next is this visa for Indians can only be applied in Nepal and through a agent.

- Now once you have decided the agent they will give a reference of agent you can use that guy or you can use this contact given here.

- This agent will also ask you for the same documents. but you will have to give your original passport to the agent and the normal processing time is 5 working days so reach Nepal at least 2 weeks before your china entry date and start the process.

- the cost for a group visa with the agent charges for 4 people will be around 22000 - 25000 INR.(depends on the agent too).

- Reach Nepal , contact your agent , handover him the passport sign some documents and you can go ahead to see Nepal in the processing time. 

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China visa Agent :- Shivam Group - contact - +9779813373319, website:- info@shivamholiday.com 

My experience with Ram sir (Shivam group) is he is straight forwards, good guy and yes he charges a bit more than what other might charge but if he has taken the responsibility he will get it done. So I would say go with Ram sir for your visa service. ​

- So once you have fixed your travel agent and your visa agent the travel agent will send a letter to the china embassy in Nepal and the visa agent which the will use to get visa approved.

- This is going to be a paper visa so stamps on sticker on the passport. and the visa will have all the group members names and details written on the paper visa.

- Remember to have a copy of this visa with all the travelers.

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Documents needed :- these are for Indians so kindly check if you are an international traveler.

1) Passport 

2) Original Rc card only owners vehicles allowed

3) No need for Carnet

4) Photos of vehicle from all the directions

5) Bank statement

6) Proof of Job or Business 

7) Photo ( of person applying for visa )

With the changes in rules and regulations these required documents will change and the travel agents will send a list of needed documents so nothing to worry.​

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Note:- If you are going to exit from Nepal and go to china then you need to get stamp out done in your passport from Indian immigration at the border. And if you are not going back into India through the border, but you might ship it back or fly back to India, than you need to get you carnet stamped for the vehicle also at the Indian Customs.

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Nepal border :-  Before reaching the Nepal - China border friendship bridge Rasuwagadi , the road to the border is under construction and bad ( its off road ) so take care and time.

- At Timure you will have the Rasuwagadi customs office this were you get your Nepal stamp out.

- This place will have a lot of crowed so reach early and get your stamp out.

- Then reach the border the Nepal side of immigrations will check your language and ask you to wait for crossing.

China border :- By this time your guide would have reached the china border.

- Your guide will inform the china border about your crossing, then the army officers will ask you cross the bridge and tell you to wait.

- The internet at this border is very slow so prepare your self with some light food for the waiting time.

- Then you will be asked to unload your language and load proceed for checking ( best is to have top box and panniers or else you will have to unload everything).

- Here you will meet your guide, handover him all the documents ( original visa, all passports and others if he may ask) and he will explain your days plan what would the process be like.

- Then you will be going for immigrations of china , they will take photos and check you phone for photos that are not allowed in china, then they will stamp you in but since this is group visa they will not put any stamp on the passport.

- The rider will be asked to go near the bike/car then they will check your vehicle - Vin number/chassis number and vehicle documents then they let you in. 

- The co-passengers will meet you on the other side with language.

- Congratulations you have entered China.

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Preparations for China

1) Google maps don't work so download offline maps and apple maps work so always ask the guide the place name in English.

2) Internet is a bit off and VPN is not stable so download your songs.

3) Currency exchange and Sim - This is where the main issue is, Non of our cards will work so carry currency in dollars cash so that you can convert inside China. Sim mostly this included in package so once you reach your first village near the border the guide will get the sim for you.

4) Its going to be cold and windy so carry you jackets and good gloves ( different gloves for different conditions) wind proof, water proof, and carry a set of woolen gloves on which a wind proof gloves can fit you with proper grip and rain jackets that can fit over your ridding jacket, trust me have a rain jacket that can fit on  ridding jacket you will thank me latter.

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Ridding conditions to Know :- 

- See the roads are good , so nothing to worry about that, but these are going to be high altitude and very windy. ( My Himalayan 450 got pushed to switch lanes and got pushed on barricade so be  prepared)

- Its going to be cold so buy warmes from India. Don't miss this you will not get in china, if you miss in India must but from Nepal.

- Have water proof socks ( Rinox water proof socks it works) 

- Always have covers for language. 

- Its long and straight highways very boring and tiring so carry chocolates and take good brakes have water while ridding.

- Insiders alert about the washrooms in highways, but the best thing is that fuel bunks and hotels every 100-150 kms so no need to worry there. 

- You cannot fill petrol in the bunks by yourselves so always have your guide with you. 

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Congratulations you are ready to ride in China.

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