Planning a road trip from Ireland to SE Asia next year. Looking for advice from anyone who may have done something like this before. Trying to figure out what the best route is and what countries to avoid and how we might go about getting the permits needed for entering these countries. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Europe to SE Asia
I have never done this. My own driving in Europe and Asia is very limited.
While you are waiting for someone who has actually done a long trip like this - right now using your computer - do a simple Google, Bing or DuckDuckGo search.
Sample below:
From what I read this can be a paper work pain in the backside to accomplish.
Normal stuff - International Driving Permit - IDP, sufficient funds, more than one credit - debit card, insurance and so on. (Don't attempt this trip with a single credit card. You could lose a debit or credit card or have it stolen.) Of course a passport with sufficient time left on it to see you through your entire trip. Notify banks and/or card providers that you will be using their cards overseas BEFORE you start traveling.
Up to you.
I don't think it's feasible.
You have an obstacle if you try to go through Iran / Afghanistan / Pakistan in the form of men with kalashnikovs, it's very unsafe.
Or further north you have an obstacle in the form of the Himalayas.
Or via China, where they won't let foreigners drive. Not without sitting a Chinese driving test at any rate - they don't recognise other nationalities' driving licences. (I'm not 100% certain that's up to date, but was the case a few years ago.)
Having got to SEA, driving in many places there is the wild west and I'd expect problems getting insurance for your own car.
I think the furthest you can get under your own steam is Mongolia, going through Russia. Now that's a trip that sounds more fun.