Ca fait a peine six mois que je suis rentré du Maroc, et il me tarde déjà de reprendre la route 😛
Je réfléchis à un projet de voyage à moto vers le Liban. Des personnes ici ont-elles déjà fait cet itinéraire ? je compte traverser l'Europe, la Turquie et la Syrie. Jeme demande aussi s'il pourrait etre judicieux de faire certaines liaisons en ferry...
N'hésitez pas à partager vos infos si vou sen avez 😉
Salut,
Je te comprends, je suis rentré en mai d'un voyage en Turquie et Syrie et je n'ai qu'une envie, c'est de repartir.
Nous voulions aussi aller jusqu'au Liban, mais je dois dire que nous avons été un peu freinés par les formalités aux frontières. Je m'explique, rien d'irréalisable à condition d'avoir du temps. En effet, nous avons mis 5 heures pour passer de Turquie en Syrie. Donc si le passage Syrie-Liban est aussi long, idem pour le retour, à nouveau 2 frontières, ça fait des jours de perdus... et nous n'en avions pas beaucoup (1mois).
Pour les liaisons en ferry, nous avons pris le ferry d'Ancona (italie) jusqu'à Baudrum en Turquie et le retour par la route (Bulgarie, Roumanie, Hongrie, Slovenie, Italie). Si tu as le temps de flâner dans ces pays pour les
visiter, c'est trés bien, sinon pour simplement les traverser, ça ne présente pas grand-intêret et le ferry est une solution interessante (et pas forcement plus coûteuse).
Je me demande si il existe des liaisons en ferry pour le Liban au départ de Grece ou de Turquie ? (toujours pour éviter ces pertes de temps aux frontières).
Bonne reflexion.
JL
salut,
on est partis pour le meme périple, peux tu nous donner les coordonnées de la compagnie maritime que tu as emprunté ?
Une idée des tarifs pratiquée et durée de la traversée.
On par pour cet été dans le sens contraire du tien
Merci
Bonjour,
Au niveau passages de frontières, a part du temps, as tu rencontré des problèmes?
Pour la Syrie as tu eu des difficultés pour faire entrer ta moto?
Cet été je pars pour le même périple.... Vivement Juillet..
Salut Cacobulo,
Non, désolé, je ne me souviens pas du nom de la cie maritime. C'était une compagnie grecque car nous avons du transiter par la Grece et nous avons mis 2 jours et 2 nuits (avec un arrêt d'une journée dans une île grecque). Il n'y avait pas de liasons directes avant début mai il n'y a pas de liaisons directes Italie-Turquie.
Mais en été tu ne devrais pas avoir de problèmes pour faire un trajet direct, pour le tarif il me semble que c'était dans les 250 euros (mais je n'en suis plus très sûr). En ete ce sera sûrement plus cher.
Bon voyage
JL
Aucun problème particulier au passage des frontières. En Turquie c'est du "velour" et en Syrie, à part le temps et la difficulté des documents ecrits en arabe, ça se passe bien.
Nos 3 motos étaient récentes (-de 5 ans) pour des motos plus anciennes, je ne sais pas.
En résumé, ayez tous vos documents (passeports, GC, assurances etc... bien à jour), prevoyez quelques photos d'identité au cas où, et beaucoup de patiente.
Mais ces pays valent bien le sacrifice
Bon voyage
JL
Salut Jean-Louis,
Merci pour ta réponse.
ça y est, on est en train de préciser notre itinéraire. En fait, on prendra le bateau à Ancon pour la grèce qu'on traversera ensuite d'ouest en Est. Les dates de bateau pour la Turquie ne nous conviennent pas, et nous feraient perdre une semaine. Je crains que la traversée de la Turquie du nord au sud ne soit un peu longue. Si j'ai bien compris, tu l'a effectué dans le sens retour, qu'en penses-tu ?
Tu ne parles pas du Carnet de passage en douane, en avais-tu un ? Vu les contraintes que ça représente, nous pensons nous présenter à la frontière sans, j'espère que nous n'y seront pas bloqués pour cette raison. Nous allons nous aussi rentrer pas la route : Albanie, Monténégro, Bosnie, Croatie, Slovénie, Italie, combien de temps vous a-t-il fallu pour rentrer par l'itinéraire que vous aviez choisi ? Nous pensons mettre une semaine et demi, c'est peut-être un peu court ??
Autre petite question : Qu'avez vous choisi comme type d'hébergement en Syrie, y a-t-il possibilité de trouver autre chose que des hotels ?? Auberges de jeunesse, chez l'habitant, tente ???
Vivement cet été....
Je crains que la traversée de la Turquie du nord au sud ne soit un peu longue. Si j'ai bien compris, tu l'a effectué dans le sens retour, qu'en penses-tu ?
Un des axes les plus rapides du pays ; 2 journées de route ...
Autre petite question : Qu'avez vous choisi comme type d'hébergement en Syrie, y a-t-il possibilité de trouver autre chose que des hotels ?? Auberges de jeunesse, chez l'habitant, tente ???
En Syrie il n'y a pas d'hébergements chez l'habitant.
Salut,
Nous sommes aussi partis d'Ancona, puis traversée de la Grèce jusqu'au Pirée, puis re-ferry pour une île grecque (je n'arrive pas à me souvenir du nom) en face de Bodrum. De là nous avons pris un bateau turc jusqu'à bodrum.
Nous avons traversé la Turquie du sud au nord jusqu'à la mer noire et longé la côte (tant que c'était possible) pour arriver à Istanbul. Nous avons évité les grands axes, favorisant les petites routes dans les montagnes, et même fait quelques pistes faciles. Les paysages sont tellement beaux, les gens rencontrés tellement accueillants que la route nous a semblé courte.
Après Istanbul, nous sommes passés en Bulgarie puis la Roumanie, la Hongrie, la Slovénie et l'Italie. Nous avons mis 4 jours pour traverser de Bulgarie jusqu'en France (nous sommes à Menton et Cannes), mais en roulant toute la journée sans rien visiter, ce qui ne présente aucun intérêt, mais nous étions pris par le temps. Le dernier jour nous sommes partis à 6H30 de Budapest et nous étions chez nous à 21H30 (1300 kms). C'est la raison pour laquelle je disais dans un de mes précédents mails que le ferry peut être une solution plus sympa et pas forcement beaucoup plus chère, (compte tenu des repas, hôtels, carburant et péages), si tu ne prends pas ou si tu n'as pas le temps de visiter les pays traversés.
En Syrie nous avons dormi à l'hôtel. Il y en a de toutes les catégories, du chicos-cheros au pourri. Dans des prix raisonnables (15 à 20 euros chambre pour 2) tu peux trouver une chambre sympa et propre. Mais prends bien soin de la visiter avant car tu peux avoir des surprises.
Dernier point nous n'avions pas de cpd, mais nos motos étaient récentes (2ans). Je crois que c'est obligatoire pour des machines anciennes qui sont susceptibles d'être vendues la-bas.
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!