Ace to Ace in Iran
Pioneering British motorcycle expedition organisers GlobeBusters have led a group of riders across Iran for the first time in four years. They had anticipated it being the most politically challenging stage of their current expedition, from the iconic and world-famous Ace Cafe London to the opening, in China, of Ace Cafe Beijing!
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises tourists to avoid “all but essential travel” to Iran, but GlobeBusters' local agents reported that, providing groups are accompanied by Iranian guides and steer clear of borders with Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, there would be no problems. Securing visas proved more difficult, because there is no Iranian Embassy in London, so visas were obtained from the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul.
The group of fifteen motorcyclists, from the UK, Russia, Switzerland, South Africa and Australia, crossed the border into Iran without incident and spent eight days in the country, including a stop in the capital, Tehran.
“Other than being in dire need of a real beer, it was a hugely positive experience” reports expedition leader Kevin Sanders, who is riding a 1200cc Triumph Explorer GlobeBuster Special Edition adventure bike. “There were no restrictions on where we could ride, no police checkpoints, nothing but welcoming smiles and everyone wanting to practise English. City roads are crazy, but great riding over the mountains into Tehran. And fuel is only 20p a litre!”
Having emerged from Iran on its northern border with Turkmenistan, the Ace to Ace expedition will continue to follow the ancient Silk Road through Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, before entering China in the North Western Xinjiang Province. They are due to reach Beijing this July. The Chinese capital is home to one of a growing number of officially-licensed Ace premises, planned to include opening in countries as varied as Switzerland, Japan and USA. For more information visit www.globebusters.com.
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises tourists to avoid “all but essential travel” to Iran, but GlobeBusters' local agents reported that, providing groups are accompanied by Iranian guides and steer clear of borders with Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, there would be no problems. Securing visas proved more difficult, because there is no Iranian Embassy in London, so visas were obtained from the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul.
The group of fifteen motorcyclists, from the UK, Russia, Switzerland, South Africa and Australia, crossed the border into Iran without incident and spent eight days in the country, including a stop in the capital, Tehran.
“Other than being in dire need of a real beer, it was a hugely positive experience” reports expedition leader Kevin Sanders, who is riding a 1200cc Triumph Explorer GlobeBuster Special Edition adventure bike. “There were no restrictions on where we could ride, no police checkpoints, nothing but welcoming smiles and everyone wanting to practise English. City roads are crazy, but great riding over the mountains into Tehran. And fuel is only 20p a litre!”
Having emerged from Iran on its northern border with Turkmenistan, the Ace to Ace expedition will continue to follow the ancient Silk Road through Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, before entering China in the North Western Xinjiang Province. They are due to reach Beijing this July. The Chinese capital is home to one of a growing number of officially-licensed Ace premises, planned to include opening in countries as varied as Switzerland, Japan and USA. For more information visit www.globebusters.com.