Is turkmenistan worth it?
OK, so we were planning to go Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgystan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, Russia, having already given up hope of Iran due to the costs. We're leaving UK at the end of April, initially heading through the balkans.
Turkmenistan is looking like a potential sticking point. It seems there is a questionmark over the possibility of a tourist visa, and potential difficulties if the ferry is delayed.
We have the option of a tourist visa but only by paying £500 or so for the guided tour.
Now, everything I've read about Turkmenistan, and the stans in general, has me utterly convinced that this is the way to go, but my travel partner isn't willing to pay the £500.
That leaves going via Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine into Russia, then back into the stans to do the Pamir highway. My view on that route is that it is as boring as hell and largely ugly, featureless industrial wasteland, especially Ukraine, and will give us none of the satisfaction, achievement and adventure of going through Turkmenistan.
So I'd be really interested in your thoughts.
What would we be missing by avoiding Turkmenistan?
How would Bulgaria-Romania-Ukraine-Russia-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan compare to Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan? What we would miss? Is it just as nice? What are the roads like? What are the people like? What is the experience like? Is there even any contest?
Is there a way to get from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan by ferry so that we skip Turkmenistan but everything else is the same?
Most grateful for your thoughts.
Cheers,
Al
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