je voyage depuis 9 mois, le but étant d'aller de France jusqu'à Bangkok sans prendre l'avion. Or j'ai atteint Bangkok il y a plus de deux mois, et comme tout le monde le sais, quand on goûte au voyage, on ne s'arrête plus!
Actuellement en Malaisie, je souhaite donc maintenant de traverser l'Indonésie jusqu'à Papua sans prendre l'avion, d'où je serai contraint de prendre mon premier vol pour le Népal/Inde, et rentrer tranquillement par la route de la Soie.
Je serai à Sumatra dans quelques jours en provenance de Singapour et disposerai d'environ un mois en Indonésie.Premièrement, je souhaiterais acheter une moto à Sumatra et la revendre sans doute à l'est du Nusa Tengarra. J'ai lu pas mal de choses, notamment concernant les problèmes de propriété, de transfert de dossier à la Police lors du changement de Province, ... J'aimerais donc savoir si l'achat est possible, si certains l'ont déjà fait, même si tout n'est pas très légal (comme souvent!), quelles sont les démarches indispensables? Sachant que je ne souhaite pas revenir sur mes pas, la location n'est donc pas la bienvenue! Bref, je prends toute information concernant ce sujet, je n'arrive pas à trouver suffisamment d'infos.Deuxièmement, j'aimerais rejoindre Papua par bateau, mais Papua, c'est loin! Et je ne trouve pas les bons horaires pour la Pelni (société qui gère les transports maritimes en Indo). Donc où puis-je trouver les bons calendriers/tarifs? Combien de temps dure le trajet si on considère que je serai à l'est de Nusa Tengarra ou au Timor? Autrement, d'où faut-il que je prenne le bateau?Merci pour votre attention!
Bien entendu, si vous avez quelconque question à me poser, n'hésitez pas à me contacter en privé ou sur le blog.
Bonne route à tous!
Pour répondre à ma question, après de plus amples informations:
- concernant l'achat d'une moto, ça ne parait pas possible, j'essayerai de me renseigner une fois sur place (dans 3 jours) mais tous les avis convergent vers la même conclusion!
Il est possible bien entendu de louer, mais il faut évidemment ramener la moto là où on l'a loué!
- Pour Papua, un ami malais qui y a passé pas mal de temps m'a confié que la vie sur place est très chère pour les touristes que nous sommes. Un permis est nécessaire, un guide, etc... C'est un peu le Tibet style!
Concernant le bateau je n'en sais pas beaucoup plus, mais le voyage semble très long.
J'abandonne donc l'idée et de toute façon en un mois je n'aurai pas le temps; mais je suis toujours preneur si quelqu'un a des infos. Ca pourra servir à d'autres ou pour un autre voyage.
Tu peux acheter une moto d'occase, avec les papiers bien sur, et la revendre une fois ton trip termine.
Ceci dit en Papouasie ca va pas etre pratique vu le peu de routes...
La Papouasie c'est pas si cher si on evite les pieges a touristes made in lonely planet.
Dans les villes les hotels sont chers par contre, mais a mon avis on va pas en Papouasie pour passer son temps dans des villes pourries et tres indonesianisees. Dans les villages on peut dormir chez les gens pour pas cher, mais faut se mettre d'accord sur les prix avant.
Le permis coute trois fois rien.
Un guide c'est pas la peine, sauf si tu veux traverser la Papouasie a pied.
Il y a plein de bleds ou on peut aller par soi meme, notamment sur les iles mais aussi dans l'interieur.
Meme si d'aventure tu prenais un guide ca ne couterait pas une fortune, mais bien sur faut pas suivre les conseils et adresses du guide laundry pas nette...
Merci pour la réponse, je vais voir pour la moto, je devrais être dans deux jours à Sumatra.
Pour la Papouasie, je vais surement remettre à plus tard, sinon en un mois, je vais courir et rien apprécier.
Pour info, mon pote malaisien, qui m'a raconté ce que j'ai écris précédemment sur la Papouasie, voyage sans guide.
Au fait j'ai retrouvé le site de la pelni pour les intéressés: www.pelni.co.id
Ben ton pote malaisien je sais pas comment il voyage, mais peut etre que pour lui les etrangers vont juste a Raja Ampat plonger et ensuite faire un trek dans la vallee de Baliem, donc la evidemment ca coute.
Mais la Papouasie ne se resume pas a ces deux coins, et heureusement!
C'est comme au Tibet d'ailleurs, j'y suis alle plusieurs fois et l'ai traverse dans tous les sens, et je me suis jamais plombe le budget.
Deja pour ce trip tu serais tres inspire de prendre un visa de deux mois avant de partir que tu pourras rallonger au gre des possibilites!!
Tout est possible pour la moto, tu pourras bien t'amuser dans la moitue ouest de l'indonesie pendant des années.....ne serait que dans une seule ile comme sumatra!
Bonjour à tous,
je me permet de relancer le sujet, car en tout bon voyageur désorganisé, je reste tenté par la Papouasie, même si j'ai changé d'avis à maintes reprises!
J'ai regardé les ferrys qui pourraient se rendre en Papouasie via le site de la pelni, et je pourrais éventuellement m'y rendre tranquillement en une dizaine de jour via Larantuka (Flores) - Makassar - Bau Bau - Ambon - ...
Je pourrais éventuellement rester une semaine sur place, mais c'est là que je me pose des questions: où amerrir? Sorong, Fak Fak, Kaimana, Timika? Quel est l'endroit le plus sympa pour s'enfoncer un peu dans le décor? D'où est-ce que je peux prendre un avion facilement pour Bali? Les vols sont-ils fréquents?
Je te l'ai deja dit, il y a peu de routes en Papouasie.
Enfin remarque y en a une assez longue qui descend de Sorong jusqu'a Bintuni, mais faut aimer les routes sportives.
Autour de Jayupara y en a bien quelques-unes aussi mais ca te fait loin.
Depuis Nabire y a moyen de faire un peu de route aussi remarque mais idem, ca te fait loin.
Depuis Manokwari le reseau routier est pas enorme, a moins qu'ils aient construit des routes depuis la derniere fois que j'y etais.
Fak Fak et Kaimana je suis passe mais sans m'arreter donc je peux pas dire, mais pour autant que je sache il y a pas grand chose comme routes.
Au niveau avion Sorong et Timika sont bien connectes a Bali avec des vols quotidiens, Fak Fak et Kaimana je sais pas de sur mais vu la taille de ces bleds je parierai pas la maison dessus.
Va visiter ce site, ca te donnera une idee des vols:
lionair.co.id
Fais une recherche et regarde ce qu'offrent d'autres compagnies comme express air ou Mandala.
Fais un peu gaffe, la Papouasie c'est pas le tout d'y aller, faut aussi en partir sans planter le visa. Parce que la sanction c'est 250000rps d'amende par jour, plus un enorme mal de tete a batailler avec les moustachus assoiffes de fric de l'immigration...
Ceci dit, pour une semaine a peine je pense pas que ca vaille le coup de te taper un si long voyage, car tu auras pas le temps de bien t'eloigner des villes et de voir des trucs interessants (les villes en Papouasie sont tres indonesianisees de nos jours et a mon avis ca vaut rien)...
Voyager à moto › Thaïlande / Indonésie · 4 replies
Je tenterai bien un truc un peu fou qui me trotte dans la tête. Acheter une moto sur BKK d'occasion c'est possible avec un visa touristique? Demande t'on le…
Avec mon mari, nous partons à Bali en septembre pour 3 semaines. On souhaite louer un scooter à partir d'Ubud, avez vous de bonnes adresses de location sur…
Quelqu'un a t'il l'expérience d'avoir embarqué un scooter pour Nusa Lembongan, soit depuis Penida, soit depuis Sanur? Je sais que les bateaux pour Lembongan ne…
Quel mode de déplacement me conseillez vous entre location d’un scooter, d’une voiture ou prendre un chauffeur avec voiture pour un roadtrip de 15j de vacances…
Hello everyone.
I'm looking for campsites around BOLZANO (South Tyrol) for early September.
I'll be on my motorcycle with a small tent.
I've noticed that some campsites have exorbitant prices.
If you've traveled through the Dolomites by motorcycle or otherwise and camped there, I'd love any tips on places and prices where I can stay for one night or several.
Thanks to all of you, and happy travels.
I’m starting to think about a trip that’s really close to my heart: Algeria by motorcycle, specifically the southern part of the country. It’d be for January 2025, and I’ve got two main questions:
Is it possible for an individual on a motorcycle to travel freely, outside of any organized tour, or does the regulation require some kind of supervision in the Algerian Sahara region?
Is the Hoggar massif accessible by road or by (rideable) tracks?
Beyond the official recommendations, I’m really looking for your firsthand experiences.
Thanks so much for your answers, and sorry if my questions are a bit newbie!
I just realized I’ve been registered on VoyageForum since... March 28, 2012 😊. Yet, I’ve barely participated until now.
August 1, 2026, will mark a somewhat special milestone: 5 years on the road.
We left Switzerland on August 1, 2021 with a simple idea: let chance decide our direction. We placed a bottle of wine on a world map, spun it... and it chose our first destination.
A year later, when we arrived in Morocco, we faced a new choice: continue toward Africa or head to Asia. This time, a tarot card game made the decision. Since then, we’ve tried to keep this journey as open to the unexpected as possible.
Today, that adds up to about 120,000 km, 46 countries, and over 1,800 days on the road—mostly by motorcycle, but also by sailboat, train, bus, hitchhiking, or on foot when adventure calls.
Our guiding thread isn’t just the motorcycle, but service exchanges. Instead of simply passing through countries, we try to stop regularly to lend a hand to the people we meet. So far, that’s about 600 days of volunteering.
Over the years, we’ve:
renovated a house in Croatia
made earth bricks in the Moroccan desert
helped sail a boat through the Greek islands
looked after houses, dogs, horses, a camel... and lots of other animals
worked at a street art festival in Morocco
created videos for local associations and projects
worked the grape harvest on the Tibetan plateau
been accredited as "media" for the World Nomad Games in Central Asia
Some of the moments that have stuck with us the most include six months in China, a night spent on the Great Wall, the Pamir Highway, the Silk Road, three months in Taiwan, and the incredible encounters in the mountains of Central Asia.
We travel on Falkor, our lucky dragon—a 2014 BMW F800GS that’s been with us since the start and is starting to have some great stories of its own.
While we share our adventure on Instagram, Polarsteps, and YouTube, that’s not why we’re here. The forum’s rules about promotion are clear, and I totally get them. If I’m finally taking the time to write, it’s mostly because after five years on the road, I thought our experience might be useful to other travelers.
Happy to chat about:
preparing for a long motorcycle trip
visas and borders
the Silk Road and Central Asia
riding in China (with or without a motorcycle)
volunteering and service exchanges while traveling
gear, daily life on the road... or just the unexpected moments that make long-term travel so special
Looking forward to swapping stories and hearing about your adventures too! 😊 Greetings from Thailand, and happy to chat! ✌️
Hi there! My daughter and I are heading to Malta and I’d love to rent a scooter. Does anyone know any good places to rent from and what the budget would be for a week?
Hello, I’m retired and planning a roughly 3-week motorcycle trip (1200gs). The dates aren’t set in stone yet, and everything’s open to discussion—I’m pretty flexible with the planning.
I’d like to ride from Mahajanga to Morondava, sticking as close to the coast as possible—using roads and tracks—in September 2026. If you’ve got any suggestions, let me know! 😉
hi
planning to ride through Rajasthan on a motorcycle in January 2027 and I’d love to hear about the road conditions.
I’ll be riding with a buddy on a Royal Enfield that I’ll rent in Delhi.
Thanks for your tips!
hi there
I’m planning a 3-week motorcycle road trip in Rajasthan, renting a Royal Enfield in Delhi in January 2027.
I’d love to get some tips on a fun itinerary and hear your thoughts on the roads up north.
I’ve ridden a motorcycle in southern India—Kochi to Madurai—about 10 years ago.
Thanks for sharing your experience, and I’m all ears for any great tips you’ve got!
Best regards
hi there
I’d like to ride the RN 12 by motorcycle in September.
I’d love to know the main challenges—I ride a 300cc and do enduro in France.
Thanks for your tips!
I’m planning a motorcycle road trip to Armenia and Georgia in September 2026 or May 2027. I’m looking for one or more riders (male or female) who’d like to explore these countries with me.
Along the way, we’ll visit Cappadocia, the capitals Yerevan, Tbilisi, Sofia, Skopje, and other cities—we can finalize the route and roadbook later.
This trip requires experience with long motorcycle journeys, as we’ll cover around 7,000 km over 5 or 6 weeks (or more, depending on sightseeing and time spent).
I don’t expect dozens of applicants, since motorcycle riders are few and far between on this forum, but I’m putting this out there anyway.
Hi, I’d like to take a 15-day "break" to get away from the surrounding hustle and bustle.
Why not explore the Peloponnese!
I’m not particularly drawn to museums, ruins, or monuments.
I want to experience local life—small villages, seaside spots, beaches, and the interior if the landscapes are extraordinary.
Ideally, coming from Athens, I’d take a bus or train to get as close as possible to a starting point, then rent a scooter (125cc) to explore by taking secondary roads or even coastal paths. I’d stay in 2-3 places for a few days each to discover their surroundings.
Do a loop.
What do you think would be the ideal itinerary?
From Athens, the best option would be to take either a flight or a bus to Kalamata. Rent a scooter and head either west or east. Is there a tertiary road (very lightly trafficked) or a path where I can ride slowly, take it easy, and enjoy the scenery without being bothered by traffic? I’d like to go all the way to Monemvasia, still hugging the coast. I need to find a way to avoid returning to Kalamata to drop off the scooter and catch a flight—maybe a small town where the train stops so I can head back to Athens.
Thanks in advance for your tips.
I want to rent an off-road style motorcycle to get around the coast during my trip to Ecuador. I’m only finding options in Quito. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Hi there,
I’m planning a sidecar trip to South America for 4 or 5 months at the end of this year.
I’m looking for info on shipping my vehicle by sea—possibly to Uruguay or another destination, as I haven’t finalized anything yet.
How do you get visas for the countries I’ll be crossing: Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile? Are they e-Visas, obtained at the border, or through embassies?
Where can I get vehicle insurance?
Lastly, if any bikers want to join us (my partner and me), we’re open to that possibility too.
Patrick
I’ve got 15 days off in June and I’m pretty undecided about where to go for a motorcycle road trip. Two strong desires are pulling me in different directions: Corsica or Norway.
Corsica has been a dream of mine for a long time: legendary roads, stunning landscapes, a unique vibe, and the perfect mix of sea and mountains. At the same time, I’m wondering if 2 weeks might be *too much* for Corsica—risking feeling like I’ve seen it all too quickly, especially on a bike.
Since I also have an extra week free in May, I could use that specifically for Corsica. Maybe splitting it into two trips would make more sense? If so, which routes or regions would be the most interesting to plan for a 7-day trip?
On the other hand, Norway is *super* appealing. The landscapes look incredible, totally different from anything I’ve experienced, and it’d be a real “wow” trip. I know 15 days is still short for such a vast country. Getting all the way to the North Cape seems pretty much impossible in that time, but I’m curious about what realistic routes could be planned.
So I’m wondering:
Is it better to save Norway for next year, take 3 weeks off, and do it *properly*?
Or are 15 days enough for a first amazing taste of the country?
I’d love to hear about your experiences—whether it’s Corsica (ideal duration, routes) or Norway (what’s realistic in 2 weeks on a bike).
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Hello,
I'm thinking of buying a used small motorcycle to travel around the country for a month and a half.
I've done this in other countries without putting the registration in my name—is that possible in Guinea given the apparently frequent checks, or do I have to go through the paperwork?
Thanks.
Hello,
My dream is to ride Route 66 by motorcycle. I have a disability—while I’m not in a wheelchair, my walking mobility is reduced.
The ideal scenario would be to have a motorcycle driver and ride as their passenger on an organized trip.
Are there any guides or services like this offered by travel agencies?
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Hello,
I’ve got a plan with a friend to go on a motorcycle road trip in 2028 or 2029, starting in Santiago de Chile and ending in Ushuaia, for about a month.
Has anyone done a trip like this before, and what’s the best time of year?
I’ve heard there can be quite a bit of wind depending on the season.
Thanks for any tips!
Cheers,
PA
I'm seriously considering heading to Nepal to do some nice motorcycle loops... my goal is also to do the Kailash Yatra round trip from Kathmandu, in a small group with a guide, in May '26... but here's the thing—I'm solo! So if you're up for sharing a similar adventure, hit me up... Cheers, Frankoys
It's all in the title: I'm heading to Krabi soon and want to rent a scooter for a few weeks, but after reading comments about all kinds of scams, I'm reaching out to ask where and how (read: *the right way*) to rent one.
Thanks for your tips and advice.
Hello everyone! Like every year, a winter migration is on the horizon (revised plan): this time, it’ll be Dakar, or even Abidjan, via Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal.
Looking for an experienced motorcyclist or pillion rider—small build preferred—on a GSA 1250 with a comfy seat and luggage setup, available from early November to late December 2025. I’d like to plan the trip together (important to me) to make sure we’re on the same wavelength.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Didier
Looking for travel companions to ride from France to Senegal by motorcycle.
I’m Paul, 37, and I’ve already done a bit of riding in Morocco.
For now, I’m solo, riding a 1998 SUZUKI DR 650 with some basic gear to keep things smooth. I’ll have a tent so we can do a few nights under the stars.
We’ll need to coordinate departure dates—"ideally in November."
I’m currently checking out routes to take. Any tips would be welcome! :)
I’m heading to Vietnam and Laos with a buddy next week for a month.
We’re thinking of renting motorbikes, especially to do the Ha Giang Loop. We don’t have an international license, just our Belgian one. Is that enough? If not, is it risky?
In November, we’re planning to do the Ha Giang loop and the RC4 by motorbike without a guide. 😎
We’re looking for a decent place to stay/rent in Ha Giang.
If anyone has any info, we’d be really interested.
Hello! We’re planning a motorcycle trip that will include a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau in June 2026.
We’re unsure (still debating) whether we should stay at a hotel on-site and get to the memorial with an Uber (leaving our bikes at the hotel) and book a guided tour, or base ourselves in Kraków and take a tour that includes transport.
One thing’s for sure—we’d prefer a guide in French since we don’t speak English 😅.
Could you share your experiences or advice?
I understand we need to book online rather than on-site.
Thanks in advance for your replies!
Hello,
Next October we’re planning to ride the Ruta de la Plata by motorcycle—a historic Spanish route that runs from Gijón to Seville, also known as the N630.
Has anyone here already ridden it?
Unfortunately, I’m worried that parts of the N630 may have disappeared or merged with the A66 motorway, forcing us to ride long stretches of highway, which we’d rather avoid.
Thanks in advance for any tips or details about this route!