Tenté de refaire une transaharienne à moto, serait-il possible de connaitre le statut actuel de la frontiere entre tam et arlit ainsi que l'état de la piste si quelqu'un y est passé ces 3 dernières années, merci
mille merci pour ces infos
par vos postes j'ai cru comprendre que vous étiez un vrai pistard...bravo...
je pars mi octobre à mi novembre dans le sud algérien, puis remonte sur paris
puis j'espère redescendre pour passer par la transaharienne debut janvier pour aller dans le golfe de guinée avant de remonter vers dakar courant mars
Depuis qqss Mois; Le passage dans cette région est stricte trop réglementé , Depuis la signature Finale des accords trilatéraux (Algérie -Mali-Niger) en Mars 2009. ……Le passage est Impossible pr un Touriste étranger…….. Les Groupes du GIGF et la Gendarmerie National font la ronde 24/24… et ça Pr plusieurs Objectifs sécuritaire et accords politique ( Immigration Clandestine, ………….) .Appuyé de temps a autre par les Héli de l Armée………Appel l Ambassade du Niger et d Algerie a Paris pr confirmation avant de faire qui que ce soit...Merci.................Bonne Chance.....................
"La Vallée du Mzab, un Bijoux de l'architecture, cette Merveille en plein désert, qui ne cesse de fasciner les architectes du monde entier, c'est une perle Rare et nous devons la préserver et nous en Inspirer dans le but de préserver notre patrimoine et de perpétuer notre Culture". (UNESCO).
Pour Confirmation et pour connaître la Nouvelle Réglementation et les derniers Infos sur cette Partie du sud d'Algérie et le Nord du Niger et du Mali et leur Frontière terrestre commune ( et ça a partir du Mois de Mars 2009) , je te suggère d appeler l Ambassade du Niger et l Ambassade d Algérie a Paris……..avant de faire le premier paset surement perdre ton temps, gaspiller ton argent et tes énergies pr rien.
Bonne Chance a toi…………..
"La Vallée du Mzab, un Bijoux de l'architecture, cette Merveille en plein désert, qui ne cesse de fasciner les architectes du monde entier, c'est une perle Rare et nous devons la préserver et nous en Inspirer dans le but de préserver notre patrimoine et de perpétuer notre Culture". (UNESCO).
L'armée malienne a tué 26 "combattants islamistes" en attaquant mardi, pour la première fois, une base de la branche maghrébine d'Al-Qaïda sur son sol, a affirmé mercredi à l'AFP une source militaire.
Cette offensive a eu lieu un peu plus de deux semaines après l'assassinat d'un otage britannique, revendiqué par Al-Qaïda au Maghreb islamique.
"Lorsque nos troupes ont pris possession de la base des combattants islamistes, nous avons compté 26 éléments ennemis tués. Certains étaient même enterrés dans une fosse commune par les salafistes qui ont pris la fuite", a affirmé à l'AFP, sous couvert de l'anonymat, une source sécuritaire dans le nord.
L'opération a été menée dans l'extrême nord du Mali, à la frontière avec l'Algérie, sur le territoire de la localité de Garn-Akassa située à l'ouest de l'oasis de Tessalit, selon cette source sécuritaire.
Une source indépendante, également jointe par téléphone dans le nord, a de son côté déclaré: "C'est sûr que des Maliens en armes ont pris le contrôle d'un périmètre jusque là considéré comme une zone d'action des salafistes. Mais les bilans qui nous parviennent pour le moment font état de 16 morts".
Cette source indépendante a plus tard précisé : "Il a été retrouvé sur le terrain une fosse commune où les salafistes ont enterré une quinzaine de leurs combattants tués, avant de prendre la fuite. Par ailleurs, un véhicule de l'armée malienne a sauté sur une mine. Il y a eu quelques victimes".
Un responsable au ministère de l'Intérieur avait annoncé, il y a deux semaines, qu'une "lutte sans merci" allait être menée "contre tous les groupes terroristes".
Aqmi venait de revendiquer avoir tué, pour la première fois, un otage occidental, le Britannique Edwin Dyer, capturé en janvier au Niger voisin, en même temps que trois autres touristes. Un ressortissant suisse, Werner Greiner, reste actuellement aux mains des ravisseurs.
Selon une source sécuritaire, l'attaque de mardi a visé "le groupe d'Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, (l'émir) d'Al-Qaïda, qui a tué l'otage britannique". Cet homme algérien avait été décrit comme "un islamiste violent et brutal" par un négociateur ayant tenté d'obtenir la libération des otages.
Mercredi, le ministère de la Défense a annoncé dans un communiqué: les forces armées "sont engagés dans des opérations militaires dans la bande sahélo-saharienne depuis le 10 juin".
Il n'a pas précisé ce que recouvrait cette "bande sahélo-saharienne", qui peut correspondre à une très vaste zone incluant non seulement le nord du Mali mais également les pays voisins (Algérie, Niger, Mauritanie).
"Ces opérations se justifient par la fréquence de menaces (...) croissantes dans cette zone et qui revêtent aujourd'hui un caractère transfrontalier portant notamment sur les entraves à la vie quotidienne des populations, des prise d'otages" a souligné le ministère.
Le communiqué a également présenté l'action de l'armée comme une réponse à "l'usage d'armes prohibées comme les mines terrestres et l'assassinat crapuleux dont fut victime récemment un officier des forces armées et de sécurité, le lieutenant-colonel Lamana Ould Mohamed Yéhia Ould Bou".
L'officier avait été tué la semaine dernière à Tombouctou (nord-ouest) par des hommes qui pourraient appartenir à Aqmi.
La Défense n'a pas précisé le nombre de troupes engagées ni les moyens déployés sur le terrain. "Dans le désert, vous pouvez avoir tous les moyens et perdre une guerre", a fait valoir un officier interrogé à ce sujet par l'AFP. "C'est la connaissance du terrain qui est déterminante".
bon bon bon.......🙁 merci de l'info tout d'abord
fin du plan B par Bordj Mokhtar....
j'irai donc à tamanrasset fin octobre, "prendre la température"puis remonterai
et en 2010 ce sera la route atlantique avec un plan de replis sur l'égypte si la météo politique reste trop agité ou si la région ou les rapports nord/sud sont destabilisés par le passage de la grippe(j'ai gardé une ancienne 650GS pour ne pas me faire étrangler par le CPD)
bonne route vers le golfe de Guinée, A+
hi there! I’m heading to Vietnam with a biker friend for 3 months, starting from Hanoi... the plan is to do the northern loop, return to Hanoi, then head down to Ho Chi Minh City... and probably ride back up through the mountains. We’re leaving in February. Just a little detail—we’re two retirees, both 63, used to riding motorbikes, and we have French and international licenses... we’re looking for good tips and advice since we’re planning to buy 125cc Chinese bikes locally. Thanks to everyone, and happy trails—life is beautiful!
Hey everyone!
New to the forum, but not so new to Asia 😄
I’m Nico, from Switzerland, currently based in Bangkok. I love taking my motorcycle out to get lost in the mountains and small villages of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and more. I’ve been roaming around this area for a good fifteen years now, racking up quite a few kilometers—especially in northern Vietnam.
This time, I finally decided to tackle the Mae Hong Son Loop, clockwise. I’d been to Pai several times before, but oddly enough, I’d never done the full loop.
So, I’ll try to give you a little recap here, day by day, with the roads, stops, places worth checking out… and those that didn’t quite blow my mind 😅
I also filmed the trip, so I’ll post the corresponding video at the end of each day if that’s okay. If it’s not allowed here, just let me know, and I’ll remove them without any issue.
DAY 1 — Chiang Mai → Doi Inthanon → Mae Chaem → Khun Yuam
I left Chiang Mai after renting a Honda ADV 160 from Pop Motorbike. Not exactly an Africa Twin, but for what I had planned, it was more than enough.
Quick hotel note: I stayed at the Lanna Thaphae Hotel before leaving. Around 30 € per night, super well-located, and probably one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in. A crucial detail for any motorcycle road trip, obviously.
The plan for the day was pretty straightforward:
Head toward Doi Inthanon… and see what happens.
Flawless Swiss organization.
First stop along the way at Wachirathan Waterfall. A really nice waterfall, very easy to access, but don’t expect to channel your inner Indiana Jones—it’s crowded, touristy, and swimming isn’t allowed. Still, it’s a pretty stop along the way.
Next, up to Doi Inthanon.
The road climbs steeply, and my little 160cc started to realize that carrying my 80 kg to Thailand’s highest point probably wasn’t part of its youthful dreams. I was maxing out at 34 km/h in some spots.
But it made it. Good little bike.
The summit is nice—the forest is beautiful, and it’s cool—but I have to admit, it didn’t completely wow me. Glad I went, but not necessarily the highlight of the day for me.
Because then comes Route 1192.
And that’s *much* more my thing: small mountain roads, beautiful scenery, hardly any traffic… the kind of road where I usually start taking way too many unnecessary detours just because a little side road “looks fun.”
Stopped in Mae Chaem for a bite to eat, then headed to Khun Yuam to finish the day.
A little over 200 km in total.
Khun Yuam is… quiet.
*Very* quiet. 😅
A cute little market, a couple of cafés/restaurants, and zero chance of ending up in a club until 4 AM. But after a day on the bike, it was perfect.
Stayed at the Mit Khun Yuam Hotel, around 20 € for a small but very decent room.
All in all, a solid first day and a pretty relaxed start to the loop. Part of this leg is mostly about getting out of Chiang Mai and really diving into the mountains, in my opinion.
Because for me, the really interesting stuff starts over the next two days…
And a few slightly questionable route decisions will also make an appearance 😅
If anyone’s planning the Mae Hong Son Loop, feel free to ask your questions—I’d be happy to answer!
I also filmed this first day, so for those who’d rather see the roads and landscapes than read my rambling, here’s Day 1 😊
DAY 1 VIDEO
I’ll post the next part in the coming days with Day 2: Khun Yuam → Mae Surin → Mae Hong Son.
And that’s where it starts getting *really* fun. 😉
That’s all for now! Looking forward to contributing as much as I can to the forum!
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
I’m planning a 10-month trip to South America, and I’m looking into options for shipping a motorcycle to Buenos Aires by air or sea. If anyone has any info, thanks in advance!
christian
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! ✌️
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.
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’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!
