Trip planning for 2008

[geordie_e]

Hi All,

Im looking at planning a trip to Finland for an international rally in june 2008.

I did Sweden this year, so my leg outward is going to be

Netherlands
Germany
Sweden
Ferry from Stockholm to Finland

My return leg is going to be

Finland
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania

Now here is a question, there appears to be a coastal road starting in

Klaipeda

and going to Gdansk

It looks like it goes thru part of russia? I hope I make sense and is this route possible

Cheers
Will

[PaulM]

You will need a visa to go along the costal spit as it passes through Russia (Kaliningrad).
It's not a problem though because you can go through the gap between Belarus and the Russian enclave at the southern end of Lithuania and into Poland.
We did this two years ago. Give me a shout if you need further info.
Cheers
Paul

[geordie_e]

Thanks for the reply Paul,

I really think doing the coastal split is worth it (ive googled it on google maps and it looks lovley !).

Does it go all the way ? I know you have to get what looks like a short ferry trip at the the start.

How hard is it to get a visa (dont intend on staying just transiting thru)

Cheers
Will

[PaulM]

I'm not an authority on Kaliningrad but I believe that you can go about half the way along the spit before you reach the Russian border. I would imagine that the visa costs would be prohibitive (unless you're minted!) for transit. Try realrussia.co.uk
Cheers
Paul

[geordie_e]

Thanks again Paul,

Ive just looked at the website and didnt realise its quite expensive (just as a transit route).

Looks like its back to the drawing board/map !!

Cheers
Will

[PaulM]

Hi Will,
We crossed on a minor crossing point between Alytus and Augustow south of Kaunas. We were waved to the front of the queue by the border officials - all very friendly.
Enjoy your trip.
Cheers.
Paul

[insureguy]

I took the same route into Latvia crossing the border north of Augustov, Poland. It avoids the Visa and possibly a legnthy border crossing. During the same trip we crossed from Latvia, east of Rezekne, into Russia. The border crossing took 3 hours. The ride from Kaunas to Augustov, while not coastal, is very pretty and the Lithuanian roads are in great condition...Poland...no so good. Jon

[geordie_e]

Hi Jon

thanks for the reply,

Russia is def off for this trip ( I cannot justify a visa for a short visit)

Im still planning the return leg.

Estonia down towards Poland. Do you have any GPS co-ords for the best border crossings? Are they all the same ? ie no visa requirements ?

Cheers
Will

[insureguy]

Will, I need to check my GPS log. The border between Poland and Latvia is only about 40+ miles or so. If I remember, there was only one major crossing and another one just east. I'll check and let you know which route it was. BTW, we were in and out of Russia in 4 days....2 in StP and 2 in Moscow. It was a blast!

[insureguy]

Will, it was A5 north from Suwalki. We overnighted in Augustow and headed north through Suwalki towards Kaunas. The crossing is rural, but there were only a few cars when we passed through. One of the Latvia agents was a little strange. He saw the Russian Visa in our Passports. He smiled at us...said, "Russia?" Then he pointed his finger at us and said, "bang, bang". We were never quite sure what he meant.

[Tony P]

Will/Geordie
I did this by bike this summer on my way back from Russia via Est/Lat/Lit.

There is a regular ferry crossing across the lagoon from Klaipeda to the Curoniun Spit, taking 10 to 15 minutes. From memory, it cost about $2 (or 1 GBP) for me and the bike.

Shortly after is an entry toll into the 'nature reserve' - again about $2.

Half way down the spit is the border with Russia (Kaliningrad) where you need all the usual Russsia documentation, insurance, Visas etc and 120 Roubles ($5). Kaliningrad is just as much Russsia as the separate, bigger bit, that goes to the Pacific - except people smile more! No doubt the influence of it's Prussian past and returning German claimants.

The spit is an interesting and beautiful strip of land, sometimes less than a kilometre wide. It is all designated a Natural Park - the first in Russia. A fairly wild sea coast of sand dunes to the west and on the east a tranquil lagoon with decreasing salinity as you go south. The Lithuanian section appears better managed with Nature Trails, Activity Centres, holiday village/fishing port etc. The Russian section is more wild and natural - except for the inevitable DPS (Roads Police) checks and speed traps!

The rest of Kaliningrad region was flat and rather boring - rather like the flat coatal areas of west Flanders, Belgium. Kaliningrad city was modern and fairly lively. I left Kallingrad into Poland to the south of Bagratiovska.

I have no knowledge of the costal spit to the south into Poland (but I will consult my maps for roads etc when I get home from Russia at the end of this week).

Without Russian Visas etc, you can cannot enter Kaliningrad region but you can cross directly between Poland and Lithuania further inland. You can also still enter and travel the northern half of the Curonian spit from Klaipeda but you will have to go back that way. This keeps you in the EU for all documentation, insurance and visa purposes (all now in Schengen area, if not an EU citizen).

Enjoy - I did.

[janc.]

To avoid Russian area we usually follow the route Riga-Kaunas-Suwalki-Augustow-etc. This summer (2007) we made a cycle around the Baltic Sea and after Lithuanian-Polish border took quite small roads near to coast to Gdansk. Nice town btw, worth to see
And all Baltic states are in EU now, so no visas needed.

[Tony P]

Further to my post No 11 above, I have looked at all the maps I have and it does not appear you can continue south on the costal spit from Kalingrad into Poland. There are no indications of roads or tracks beyond Primorsk where you would anyway need a ferry to cross the gap of the inlet to the southern lagoon.

There is a border crossings from Russia (Kalingrad) into Poland on the land side of the lagoon, at Mamonovo.

[geordie_e]

Many Thanks for all the replys,

Ive looked and googled it to death and doesnt look like you can do the coastal split which is a shame (maybe ride up and down it on another trip in the future).

Ive now booked my ferry from newcastle to holland arriving holland 9th June and going up to sweden thru germany to meet up with the rest of the club and on to the rally on the 13th june.

after the rally I will leave the gang behind and make my way back thru estonia, stopping at poland and germany (auswitch and colditz castle being 2 things I def want to see)

Returning to Newcastle on the 23 june (half day off work to go back to work in the afternoon :confused1:

Cheers
Will

[rydalong]

If you are going to the 13. - 15.06.08 Rally in Säkylä, geordie e, please let's try and meet up there to compare notes.
Sweden last year sounds familiar.

A small group from around here ride Calais > Berlin > Gdansk > Kaliningrad > Riga > Tallinn > Helsinki > Säkylä > St Petersburg > Vilnius > Warsaw > Auschwitz > Prague > Calais.

Please send a PM. The system won't allow a PM from here as there are not yet enough posts from rydalong. Thanks.