Caravanistan

Hi,

Firstly I would like to thank you for making such a well laid out informative site. It has been invaluable for us while planning our trip.

We are very keen on visiting some of these Central Asian countries, but of course there poses a number of different challenges.

Firstly we will be heading from Pakistan via the Karakoram Highway through China and into Kyrgyzstan. All in our own 4x4. This is the most challenging part, passing through China.

I was wondering if you could give us any advice or recommendations regarding tour guides, borders etc. Also the time of the year that we will be travelling may restrict us to some degree. We are planning on entering China in mid to late March 2014.

I have contacted, Chinaoverland, NAVO and XinJiang & Tibet expeditions. We are yet to receive a reply.

We would love to do the Torugart Pass but think it may be impassable at this time of the year. Instead the Irkeshtam Pass seems like a good alternative.

Reading some of the information on your site, you mention that there is a border open to foreigners in Tajikistan. This is only a few hundred Km from the China/Pakistan border. I cant imagine that any of the tour companies would be willing to come that far to escort you for such a short distance.
Have you heard much about this border crossing?

Any info or recommendations would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Jerome.

Hi Jerome,

Irkeshtam is easier and cheaper than Torugart, it depends on your itinerary.

We travelled from Kyrgyzstan into China last year and spent 6 weeks in China. Navo is absolutely superb, efficient , friendly and of the very best we have ever worked with. Highly recommend. I do hope this is ok to recommend. It seemed there was a request for recommendations.
Many thanks, JB
please feel free to be in touch with me

admin: through the e-mail or pm button on the forum

"Irkeshtam is easier and cheaper than Torugart"

Hi Steven, Do you mean that Chinese agencies charge less money for crossing this pass with my own 4x4?
Or other topics?

RR.

Good question. Of course, for people without their own car, it's easy: 300$ vs 0$. But since you will need the tour agency anyway for the drive through China, perhaps you can get it for a similar price to go through Torugart, or at least, it will not cost so much more. I reckon Torugart will still be a bit more expensive because you need a permit and a Kyrgyz tour operator to join you on the Kyrgyz side.

Thanks for your reply, steve.
So, through Irkestam, you don't need Kirghis permit nor tour operator (except Chinese agency for the Chines side?
RR.

Exactly. see http://caravanistan.com/border-crossing ... htam-pass/ for all the details.

Thanks, Steve!