Trip Costs

ON THE ROAD COSTS

 

The purpose of this page is to provide information that is very difficult to do research about. Hopefully this list of costs that are unique to the nature of our trip can help other people who are trying to plan a similar adventure. Most attractions, activities and optional extras are not in this list, except for a few cases of attractions that are particularly memorable and we would deem “must see”. Accommodation and food are not included because this is really down to personal preference and plenty of information about these aspects of travelling is already available on the internet and in guide books.

 

All numbers are the total amount to be divided between four of us, unless specified otherwise. Conversions to dollars are AU$ and approximate at the time of our visit to that country.

SHIPPING

 

Shipping from Darwin, Australia to Port Klang, Malaysia $2,065

 

Fees at Port Klang - International Circulation Permit and Malaysian Insurance RM410 ($130)

- Delivery Order RM505 ($160)

- Port Charges RM360 ($115)

- Deposit on the shipping container RM200 ($65)

(This is the ridiculous deposit we are supposed to get back when we arrange the relocation of the container our car was shipped in. Day 24 - A very brief visit to the fine country of Singapore) 

 

 

 

PHILIPPINES

 

Departure Tax P550 pp ($12 pp)

 

Flights from Manila to Boracay $296

 

Flights from Boracay to Manila $485

 

Boat to Boracay (one way) P600 ($14)

(inc. Environment Tax and Terminal Fee)

 

 

 

MALAYSIA

 

Road Tolls RM375 ($120)

 

 

 

THAILAND

 

Boat to Koh Phi Phi (one way) B1,200 ($37)

 

Koh Phi Phi Cleaning Tax B80 ($2.50)

 

"Customs Departure Fee" B25 (70c)

 

 

 

BURMA

 

Visa fee B500 pp ($16 pp) (Day 44 - A day in Burma and a drive through the Thai Highlands.)

 

 

 

CAMBODIA

 

Visa on Arrival US$20 pp (+ 100Bhat pp ($3 pp) "fee" that we refused to pay.) (Day 55 - A disgustingly luxurious night spent in No Man's Land.)

 

Angkor Wat 3 Day ticket US$40 pp (1 day tickets are US$20 pp) (Day55 - Friendly Cambodians, Currency confusion and a day at Angkor Wat.)

 

Tolls 14,000 Riel ($3.50)

 

"Fee" at border when exiting US$2 pp (this was not the place to be questioning "fees") (Day 76 - Cambodia-Laos border crossing: A caravan and a tin shed)

 

 

 

 

LAOS

 

Visa on Arrival US$30 pp (Day 76 - Cambodia-Laos border crossing: A caravan and a tin shed)

"Fee" at border when entering US$2 pp

 

Puncture repair 25,000 Kip ($3) (Day 79 - Car incidents.)

 

Puncture repair kit 140,000 Kip ($17.50)

 

 

 

 

 

CHINA

 

Pre trip:

visa AU$128.50 pp

 

NAVO deposit AU$861.75 pp (Day117 - The incompetency of NAVO: Part 1 - Kazakh visa troubles, Day 118 - The incompetency of NAVO: Part 2 - Our sub-par tour guide)

 

On the road:

NAVO payment AU$861.75 pp (Day117 - The incompetency of NAVO: Part 1 - Kazakh visa troubles, Day 118 - The incompetency of NAVO: Part 2 - Our sub-par tour guide)

 

Toll roads 1,228 Yuan ($192)

 

Great Wall of China Juyuaguan Pass 25Yuan pp ($4)

 

 

 

 

 

KAZAKHSTAN

 

Kazakhstan visa 140 Yuan pp ($23) (applied for and collected from Consulate in Urumqi, China). (Day117 - The incompetency of NAVO: Part 1 - Kazakh visa troubles, Day 118 - The incompetency of NAVO: Part 2 - Our sub-par tour guide)

 

"Agent fees" for Kazakh visas US$960 pg - this was refunded to us by NAVO when we proved to them that we realised the "agent" was a conman. (Day117 - The incompetency of NAVO: Part 1 - Kazakh visa troubles, Day 118 - The incompetency of NAVO: Part 2 - Our sub-par tour guide)

 

New car window 12,000 TT ($80) + a bottle of coke for Denner while he fitted it. (Day 121 - The inconvenienceof having one's car broken into.)

 

New key barrel for the ignition 30,000 TT ($200) (Day 131 - Trevor’s Revenge.)

 

Fixing two flat tyres (one hole, one bent rim) 5,000 TT ($33)


Secure parking in Almaty 200 TT per night ($1.30)

 

 

 

KYRGYZSTAN

 

 

Kyrgyzstan visa US$95 pp (applied for and collected from Embassy in Almaty, Kazakhstan). (Day 124– Visas for the Stans: Part 1 – It’s not all bad.)

 

Welding bracket for roof box 200 Com ($4)

 

Staying in a yurt at Song Kol - 350 Com ($7) pp per night, including breakfast

Meals (lunch/dinner)              - 250 Com ($5) pp per meal

Horse riding                           - 200 Com ($4) pp per hour + 200 Com ph for a guide

(We stayed for two nights and had two dinners and a lunch on top of our included breakfasts. We planned to go horse riding for two hours, but the guide was useless and we finished after an hour and a half. There were six of us to split the cost of the guide.) (Day 152 -Life as a nomad.)

 

 

 

 

 

UZBEKISTAN

 

 

LOI from Stantours US$40 pp (applied for and collected in Almaty, Kazakhstan) (Day 124– Visas for the Stans: Part 1 – It’s not all bad.)
 

Uzbekistan visa US$75 pp (applied for and collected in Almaty, Kazakhstan) (Day 139 – Visas forthe Stans: Part 2 – Uzbekistan here we come.)

 

Welding bracket of roof box again 10,000 Som ($4)

 

Welding right hand fog lamp 5,000 Som ($2)

 

Carwash (in and out) in preparation for Turkmenistan 20,000 Som ($8) (Day 180 - Trev’s (Trevor Winston Elroy Walter Katter) Ultimate Makeover.)

 

 

 

 

TURKMENISTAN

 

 

5 day transit visa US$35 pp (applied for and collected after 18 days in Tashkent, Uzbekistan) (Day 161 – Visas Part 4 All the way to Europe. and Day 178 – Visas Part 5 Granted entry to a Stalinist State.)

 

Taxes at border: “Compensation of the fuel cost” US$41

                           “Vehicle disinfecting” US$1 (There was a puddle of water to drive through.)

                           “Entry and transit passage” US$30

                           “Third party liability insurance” US$35 (Compulsory.)

                           “For processing the entry permit US$5

                           “Bank services” US$2

                                    Total US$114 + US$11 per person

 

 

 

IRAN

 

 

Passport photos for Iran visa with covered head for females (Eilidh only) 100 Com ($2)

 

LOI from Stantours US$55 pp (applied for in Almaty, sent via email for reference) (Day 124 – Visas for the Stans Part 1 – It’s not all bad.)

 

Iran visa 70 Euro/4,109 Com pp ($85) (applied for and collected in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) (Day 145 - Visa part 3 Success at the Iranian Embassy)

Visa express fee 35 Euro/2,055 Com/US$42

 

Patched flat tyre 70,000 Rial ($2.50)

 

Fuel filter 45,000 Rial ($1.60)

 

 

Secure parking in a hotel in Tehran 20,000 Rial per night ($0.70)

 

 

 

AZERBAIJAN

 

Visa with no LOI US$160 pp (obtained in Tashkent) (Day 161 – Visas Part 4 All the way to Europe.)

 

Taxes at border: Road tax US$20

                           Insurance US$20

                                  Total US$40 (Day 208 - Back In The USSR)

 

 

Parking in Baku 3 Manat per night ($3.60)

 

 

 

GEORGIA

 

Repair LPG tank 20 Lari ($12) (Day 223 – Witch’s hats and double denim.)

 

 

 

 

ARMENIA

 

Visa on arrival 3,000 Dram pp ($7.15 pp) ( 225 – Spray jackets vs Pleather jackets.)

Road taxes and fees on arrival 21,500 Dram ($51.20)

Compulsory insurance 10 days minimum 3,200 Dram ($7.60) (We could have bought 15 days insurance for 4,800 Dram, but didn’t enquire about any greater lengths of time.)

 

Tyre repair 5,000 Dram ($11.90)

 

Exit fees at border 6,600 Dram/28.90 Lari ($15.70)

 

 

 

 

 

NAGORNO KARABAKH

 

Visa 3,000 Dram pp ($7.50) Applied for and obtained in Yerevan, Armenia ( Day 226 – On our way to an internationally unrecognised state.)

 

 

 

 

TURKEY

 

Visa on arrival US$60 pp for Ben and Tunkles and all Australians and Canadians, US$20 pp for Eilidh and Denner and the whole rest of the world.

 

Entrance fee to Pamukkale 20 Lira pp ($11)

Entrance fee to Efes 25 Lira pp ($13.50)

Entrance fee to Troy 15 Lira pp ($8)

 

Car ferry across the Dardanelles between Canakkale and Gallipoli( fault line between Europe and Asia) 29 Lira per car ($15.50) (Return for free on the same day.)


Parking in Fatih (centre of Istanbul) 15 Lira per night ($8)

 

 

 

BULGARIA

 

Vigniette for one week 10 Lev ($6.50) can be purchased at the border or at petrol stations within 30km of the border

 

Entrance tax €5

 

 

 

GREECE

 

No particular costs for driving in Greece.

 

 

 

MACEDONIA

 

Car insurance, compulsory on arrival at the border, 15 day minimum €55




ALBANIA

 

Secure parking in Tirana 200 Leke per night ($2)

 

New headlight bulb 600 Leke ($6)

 

 

KOSOVO

 

Car insurance, compulsory on arrival at the border, 15 day minimum €30

 

Secure parking in Pristina €2 per night

MONTENEGRO

 

Car insurance, compulsory on arrival at the border, 15 day minimum €15

 

 

BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA

 

Car insurance, compulsory on arrival at the border, 3 days €26 (5 days was €50)

 

Secure parking in Sarajevo 15 Marks per night ($9.55)

 

 

SERBIA

 

Secure parking in Belgrade 80 din per hour ($0.90)

 

 

HUNGARY

 

Secure parking in Budapest 6,000 Florins for 4 nights ($26)

 

Entrance fee to Széchenyi Baths 3,550 Florins pp ($15.50)

 

We chose not to purchase a vignette and just use the free roads, but for information on the toll road system visit http://www.motorway.hu/payment/matricainfo_en

 

 

 

AUSTRIA

 

Secure parking at Park and Ride in Vienna €3 per entry, upto 24 hours

 

We chose not to purchase a vignette and just use the free roads, but for information on the toll road system visit http://www.tolltickets.com/country/austria/vignette.aspx?lang=en-GB

 

 

 

GERMANY

 

No particular costs for driving in Germany.

 

 

 

CZECH REPUBLIC

 

Secure parking in Prague 400 Kc per night ($20) (Our hostel paid for this because of problems they caused us with our booking.)

 

We chose not to purchase a vignette and just use the free roads, but for information on the toll road system visit http://www.highwaymaps.eu/czech-republic/

 

 

 

SLOVAKIA

 

No particular costs for driving in Slovakia.

 

 

 

ROMANIA

 

Vignette for 7 days €3 (€7 for a month)

 

Two brand new snow tyres €210

 

 

 

MOLDOVA

 

10 day tourist visa, applied for and issued within one day in Bucharest, not necessary for holders of EU passports €65 pp

Accommodation booking for exact dates of visa

 

Secure parking in Chisnau 15 Leu per night ($1.20)

 

 

 

TRANSDNIESTRIA

 

Secure parking in Tiraspol 30 Ruble per night ($2.70)

 

 

 

UKRAINE

 

15 day tourist visa, applied for and collected in Prague after 2 days, not necessary for holders of EU passports 4,130 Kc pp ($220)

Accommodation booking for exact dates of visa

 

Wheel alignment 180 Hryvna ($21)

 

Secure parking in Odessa 7 Hryvna per night ($0.82)

Secure parking in Cherkasy 8 Hryvna per night ($0.94)

Secure parking in Kiev 35 Hryvna per night ($4)

 

 

 

POLAND

 

Secure parking in Krakow 20 Zloty per night ($6.20)

GERMANY

 

Secure parking in Berlin €1.50 per hour/€15 per 24 hours

 

One new tyre €159.25 (It was very difficult to find the size of tyre we need as Europeans don’t tend to drive this style of 4x4, and it was impossible to find a second hand one. Had we bought four in Romania instead of two we could have paid €90 per tyre instead of €110, meaning that we would now have four new, matching tyres and have saved money. That’s the benefit of hindsight.)

 

 

 

Pre Departure Costs

Now with only 8 days until departure, most of our pre-trip costs have been paid. See the updated table here for what we've been spending on what.

Obviously there will be a lot to add to this list as we go - even still before we leave. But for anyone who's interested, here's a summary of what we've had to outlay so far.