Avoiding the cold in Middle East in winter - is it possible?!

[huffalump.fairy]

Hi

Just joined and this is my first post, excluding the intro.

In mid Sept, we're setting off touring with currently no plans (and still missing a large amount of equipment including a bike and tent but I can't seem to post a wanted ad on here)! The original idea was to cross Europe as quickly as possible and get to the Middle East...except it turns out it's flipping freezing there too in winter! I know it gets cold at altitude but I didn't realise just how cold it is over the entire region. I am not a fan of the cold and want to avoid it as much as possible. Based on the current political situations in various countries combined with the very cold weather in the northern parts - is it possible to get across the Middle East in winter without cycling in snow and temperatures below about 10 degrees. Average weather stats say no but just thought I'd check in case anyone has a great route suggestion!

Thanks

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Having done something similar, and researched it extensively, you have 2 choices. 1 is a very cold winter, or 2 is a very hot summer. We chose the later but even we ended up staying on the Island of Rhodes for 6 weeks to wait out the worst of the weather in Turkey and we only cycled in temperatures going down to -15C and that was warm compared to what was going on in Eastern Turkey at the time (-40C at night).

Had you considered reserving your route? I'm not sure what the weather is like in south asia at this time of year but you might be better off 'cycling home' so to speak...

 

[Ticktockmy]

I guess this is your first cycling tour, whilst it might sound a great idea, without proper planning, a great tour can become a nightmare, as you are already finding with the weather. Frankly this late in the season I would stay in Europe, and use the experience to gain confidence in your own abilities and your companions. There is more to cycle touring than we can every think of before doing it for the first time. Weather, reaction with the locals, language, equipment failure, border controls can and does sometimes take days to get cleared to quote a few.
As you have not suggested your idea as to where you finally want to end up, it is very hard to give you some ideas, because the further north you go the earlier the weather start blocking the High level passes,
Travel further south and whilst the weather is milder, you find yourself running into the various countries where unpredictable and known political strife can become quite a formidable barrier to your planned route.
SatNav's idea sounds like a good idea if you were to start in southern Asia and time your journey west to follow the thaw, you could have a nice journey home via China and the Stan's.

 

[huffalump.fairy]

Thanks for replying

We don't have an end destination or a timescale at the moment, although if we can work it in I'm keen on Tajikistan. The plan is to take no planes so it will ultimately be a circular route involving bike, train and boat. My job is to promote sustainable travel and I'm pretty keen on that ethos!

I have travelled a lot independently over the last 10 years, have done a week alone on a mini cycle tour around Sri Lanka (during which I didn't camp) but this is my/our first big cycle tour so I'm sure it will be a quick and possibly painful learning process!

We had pretty much ruled out crossing the Middle East in winter, although I am going to check the train routes to see if that might open up a winter option. The back-up plan is possibly Southern Spain and Morocco but it would be great to make our across across Europe and East if possible. Any suggestions?!

 

[steveindenmark]

Without a bike I wouldnt worry about the weather

What bike are you thinking of?

Steve

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I'm not actually sure that there is currently a viable route across the middle east, especially not to Tajikistan and the Silk Route.

All of the 'usual' routes are currently out.

• Iranian visa regs changed during the summer and now all British passport holders have to have an escort. that rules out the standard, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan option.
• The Ukraine is out for obvious reasons which rules out going up and over the Black Sea
• so that leaves on the Turkey, Georgia/Armenia and into Azerbijan option and Russian roulette with getting a space on a ferry (freight) across the Caspian Sea before your visa expires... and that one is a nightmare at the best of times from what I have read of others' journals (it was something we decided against doing). Most seem to end up taking a plane out of the country over to Kazakhstan instead.

None are great options and none will avoid the cold winter or flying around/over the problem areas at the moment.

 

[huffalump.fairy]

SatNav - thanks, that is really useful. Will have to have a closer look at the Middle East. I was unaware of the Iranian escort requirement. A bit gutted about that!

Steve - my boyfriend has bought a Ridgeback Voyage so preferably something not too dissimilar to that!

Thanks

 

[Brains]

I think I'd be thinking in terms of cycling to somewhere you can either get a well paid job for the winter, so the cold does not matter, such as the Alpine ski resorts, or heading for Southern Spain for the winter, either way you then start heading east in March/April.
I would have thought Ukraine was do-able, its a massive country and the fighting is confined to a small corner of it, and the situation will have significantly changed a couple of months from now

 

[Crankarm]

In the Middle East I wouldn't be so worried about the cold, more the bullets, bombs and the risk of kidnap. No chance I'd go there with or without a bike!

 

[Globalti]

I thought the Middle East was the Gulf and the Levant? I didn't think it included all those dodgy former Soviet states further east in continental Europe?

I would advise against going to any of those areas, TBH. Cyclists are viewed as the lowest in the traffic pecking order, driving standards are shocking, alcohol a big problem and you would be quite likely to come back in a box. Is there something you need to prove? Your lack of understanding of the areas you plan to visit is very clear.

Houses and budget hotels in the Middle East that I know are poorly insulated, have single glazing and no proper heating so your dislike of the cold is not going to help. Conditions are often wet, miserable and depressing; I've been colder and more depressed and homesick than ever in the Middle East in winter because there's often no relief from the cold. If you wanted comfortable accommodation you'd do better to tour Scandinavia, brave the cold riding and enjoy decent accommodation. You can ride in snow and ice with the right tyres.

Have you considered the insurance requirements of the trip?

 

[steveindenmark]

SatNav - thanks, that is really useful. Will have to have a closer look at the Middle East. I was unaware of the Iranian escort requirement. A bit gutted about that!

Steve - my boyfriend has bought a Ridgeback Voyage so preferably something not too dissimilar to that!

Thanks

There is one for sale on Manchester Gumtree but it is a 56 frame.

Steve

 

[Georgina in Egypt]

My friends are currently driving by car from Vienna to Tehran. I can post their blog link if it's of interest? Some is in German but my phone translates it automatically.

 

[Ticktockmy]

I thought the Middle East was the Gulf and the Levant? I didn't think it included all those dodgy former Soviet states further east in continental Europe?

I would advise against going to any of those areas, TBH. Cyclists are viewed as the lowest in the traffic pecking order, driving standards are shocking, alcohol a big problem and you would be quite likely to come back in a box. Is there something you need to prove? Your lack of understanding of the areas you plan to visit is very clear.

Houses and budget hotels in the Middle East that I know are poorly insulated, have single glazing and no proper heating so your dislike of the cold is not going to help. Conditions are often wet, miserable and depressing; I've been colder and more depressed and homesick than ever in the Middle East in winter because there's often no relief from the cold. If you wanted comfortable accommodation you'd do better to tour Scandinavia, brave the cold riding and enjoy decent accommodation. You can ride in snow and ice with the right tyres.

Have you considered the insurance requirements of the trip?

That's all the things that makes the trip enjoyable and interesting, that why so many of us take these journeys. LOL

 

[ColinJ]

That's all the things that makes the trip enjoyable and interesting, that why so many of us take these journeys. LOL

It takes all sorts ... I'm definitely of the 'avoid adventure' type - I could happily never go east of Berlin or south of the Costa Blanca. I would like to spend a year touring somewhere like the USA, but TBH, there is plenty in western europe to keep me entertained for the rest of my life.

 

[huffalump.fairy]

My friends are currently driving by car from Vienna to Tehran. I can post their blog link if it's of interest? Some is in German but my phone translates it automatically.

Yes, that would be great, thanks!