Driving in China
We're trying to drive from London to Singapore and as Burma seems impossible to drive through we need to go around through China. However China also seems difficult because it's almost impossible to drive in China without first getting a Chinese driving license. Instead perhaps we were considering hiring a driver to drive us from the Nepalese border to Laos or Vietnam. Does anyone know how much this would cost, or if there is a better way of doing this? It's seeming pretty impossible at the moment1
... considering hiring a driver ...
The costly and near impossible factor of ‘driving in China’ is not with the driver. It is relatively easy to get your own driver license in China. It is the import and export of your vehicle that is the biggest problem. Therefore, hiring a driver will only increase your cost but not eliminate your vehicle import/export problem.
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The Chinese Drivers License is the least of your worries.1- How are you going to get a Permit for Tibet without a tour? Can foreigners take a Non Chinese registered vehicle to Tibet? How will you get a TAR Permit if you are in a private vehicle?
2- Foreigners can not take a vehicle into China. Foreigners can not import a vehicle either.
3-Foreigners can cross the borders of Burma, with China you need a permit and a escort, have no idea with a car, as the escort is with you from the border to Lashio. The border crossings with Thailand, are limited in movement, and you need to fly onward within Burma, you can not move over land, due to military/security issues. Its best to fly in and out of Burma via Bangkok>Yangon, but possibly new service a few days a week from ChaingMai to Mandalay.
But, back to the Chinese Drivers License, that is a royal pain in the backside in itself. I think it would be easier to ship the car from India to Thailand, but who even needs a car in SE Asia...??
Edited by: Cosima1 on Feb 11, 2013 5:17 PM
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Even though I have a Chinese driver's license, I am not allowed to drive into Tibet.5
There is a company called Navo Tour who can help you to get the required documents to drive not just in China, but also in the Tibet Autonomous Region. I have come across many foreigners over the years who have used this company without too many problems.6
JPDeM, foreigners can also normally drive into the TAR. Though you can't drive the overland route from Chengdu to Lhasa, because the eastern portion of the TAR has been closed to foreigners for over 3 years. However, you should be able to drive from Xining or Golmud to Lhasa (at least it was possible as of June 2012). Your guide will need to meet you in either Xining or Golmud with all of your paperwork, but it should be able to be done. I live and work in Tibet and own my own vehicle, so my situation is a little different. However, I have had several friends drive to Lhasa and even outside of Lhasa who own their own vehicles.8
But would it be possible to self-drive from Nepal or is that just out of the question?9
@Losang - under current rules, to get the Tibet permit there must be 5 of us of the same nationalities. The guide must be with us at all times. I guess I would need a pretty big car. Not really possible.10
In any case, I live in Beijing so I am not even allowed to buy a car. I drive rented cars or other people's cars.12
#5
... a company called Navo Tour who can help you
Correct. They are one of the legit and able operators. ... a company called Navo Tour who can help you
http://goannatracks.com/Home/China__Overland_from_Laos_and_Traveling_China_and_Tibet.
