Overland route from Southeast Asia (Malaysia) to South Asia (India, Nepal, or Pakistan)
I'm contemplating an overland advernture trip starting in Southeast Asia (possibly Malaysia or Singapore) to South Asia, ideally to the Hunza Valley in Pakistan, but just getting as far as any entry point to India, Nepal, or Pakistan might suffice.
I see there are some mountains in my way. There are also some countries not easy to pass through, like Burma (Myanmar), some borders which might not be open, or at least not to non-locals (I have an Australian passport), some conflict zones, and the non-triviality of entering Bhutan.
So it seems there are potentially routes both south of the mountains through various countries, depending on what's possible after taking into account the above; and north of the mountains across an apparently large expanse of China, about which I don't know much. (How stupid of me! That area is Tibet, which requires special permits to enter so also may not be too easy...)
Which of these routes is the more possible, safe, and/or affordable?
Best Answer
Since you consider Myanmar difficult, the best route would be:
Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, China. There, avoiding Tibet and Qinghai completely, going through Yunnan, Chengdu, Xi'an, Lanzhou, Urumuqi, Kashgar and from there into Pakistan. The interesting part here is that you basically travel along the silk road, which is very interesting. I did that 2 years ago, it was fascinating.
If you think Myanmar is fine (I would think so), it is obviously Thailand, Myanmar, India (possibly Bangladesh) and then Pakistan.
I would consider the first route as more expensive, but more safe in terms of health risks and road safety. Since you will pass less through tropical climates, there are less risks to my experience on many levels. If you take public transports in China you might have a much more comfortable experience than through Bangladesh.
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What acts as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia?
India \u2013 the Bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia Its central location within the region allows it to be the bridge between the SA economies such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and the SEA economies. Nepal and Bhutan, the two landlocked states, also can access the SEA region through India.Is it possible to drive across Asia?
Almost all of the road is paved but not every section is in the best of conditions. It is possible to drive a normal car to reach China. However, if you decide to take a detour through Central Asia and visit remote locations the road conditions will decrease dramatically.Is Nepal in Southeast Asia?
Being part of the Indian Subcontinent, it is considered to be in the region of South Asia. Nepal is not in Southeast Asia but is a popular tourist destination for many reasons.Can you drive from Europe to Southeast Asia?
It runs from Europe to Turkey, Iran, the subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. We drove this route from 2003-2006. You will have a great, beautiful journey with lots of sights along the way and, depending on the country, you will find beautiful places to rough camp. You can do this with any overland vehicle you like.SOUTH-EAST ASIA || World Geography Mapping
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Answer 2
As you have already realized, the Himalayas form a giant fence between South Asia and China and the small gap between the mountains and the Bay of Bengal is plugged by Myanmar.
Getting into Myanmar nowadays is reasonably easy, crossing at Mae Sot or Mae Sai, but leaving is a problem. You need a permit from the Burmese government to leave at Tamu (this company claims to be able to get you the paperwork in a month or so), and you need both a visa for India and a permit from the Indian government to enter at Moreh.
It's not impossible though.
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Images: Nothing Ahead, Nothing Ahead, Nothing Ahead, Quang Nguyen Vinh