Mike Kruger
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8/7/2020 7:00 AM
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No tours for me in 2020, I’m afraid. But what’s it like for others? I thought some of you might be interested in this thread in the Facebook group “Bicycle Touring & Bikepacking” today. I’ve edited out the names.
Mike Kruger
Anybody currently touring in western Europe or Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam)? How’s the vibe? Is everything open up again after Covid lockdown?
Any issues in crossing the border? Are people still friendly or tense up and nervous? We’re currently in New Zealand (which in its own bubble) and wonder how’s the world out there during this time for cyclists. We want to get out and tour again soon.
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I live in Viet Nam. We're just in the midst of our second wave...so many provinces are back in lockdown...particularly Da Nang. International borders are closed. As far
as I know both Laos and Thailand are also closed to international tourism. Vietnamese are taking it very seriously.
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I’m in Cambodia. No borders open in SE Asia.
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I can't think of many places that are safer than NZ right now! Stay!!
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I’m living in Thailand, vibe is good, but as said above, because borders closed to tourists
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I live in South Korea. The country is open for cycle touring, and there are various fun routes to take. Shops/restaurants/etc are open, with currently just a handful of
new corona virus cases detected each day, and the authorities are doing an excellent job of tracking/tracing any contacts. Mask wearing is standard in public, but otherwise you're unlikely to be affected in any way. You will have to undergo a compulsory 2-week
quarantine period on arrival though. Right now we have heavy rain and flooding in several areas, but come September-October the weather should be ideal for cycling.
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2h
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Tristan
Natsirt
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Marcus
White
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Don’t forget, the quarantine costs 1.4 million won unless you’re a legal resident (~$1200 USD).
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That being said, it’s a lovely country for cycle touring. There are at least 1500km of long distance bicycle paths between cities. I just finished a 2000km tour around
Korea today.
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The UK is having a free for all, it seems, compared to SEA. Anyone's welcome here.
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Totally not true. Depending on the country from which you enter, you may have to go into quarantine after arrival in the UK. The situation is fluid around Europe, with
infection rates rising after the re-openings in late June, not to catastrophic levels like in the US, but still rising. So, for example, since I live in Spain, I will have to quarantine if I go to the UK or Denmark; I will have to be tested on entering Germany,
etc. You need to look at the specific restrictions in the countries you intend to go to.
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I was exaggerating. My point was more in comparison to SEA, and indeed even compared to other countries in Europe, the UK is particularly open. Quarantine regulations
in the UK are pretty pathetic, as is testing. Generally speaking, I agree with you - it's so fluid that I wouldn't really trust going anywhere right now. The UK Government actually encouraged its citizens to start going on holiday. Then there was a spike in
Spain, and those that went were told they would not need to quarantine on return (most people did not, and will not). It really is a shambles.
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Don’t even want to think about crossing borders for now
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you can't get into Vietnam at the moment, and Thailand I think is the same.
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just hold tight for now.
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I live in Myanmar. All land borders are shut. Air borders only open to relief flights and you'll have at least 2 weeks quarantine, plus multiple COVID tests at your own
expense.
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You're in possibly the best place in the world right now. If you're really desperate to tour I'd try to cover every inch of NZ first, it's pretty good for touring after
all.
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Where in New Zealand? I'm looking forward to going back there once the borders open again
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There's very little, or no, opportunity to cross borders in SE Asia, but riding within Thailand and Vietnam (and probably other countries) is fine, except for a couple
of provinces. A major outbreak in would change everything.
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Bali has a controlled opening on 11th September, 14 day quaranteen i believe, see how that goes. I think its possible that other countries will follow a similar plan if
it goes well. I am in Thailand, 0 cases is the plan for the future I think.
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You pay for your quaranteen and covid test so it won't be 30 dollars for a visa and away you go. More like 300 -500 dollars.
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Western europe is unpredictable. Travel advice is changing every day for many regions. E.g. for Belgians
https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en
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