TP , the Georgia-Abhkazia border will function like the Serbia-Kosovo border. Since Georgia doesnt recognise the independence of Abkhazia then to Georgia, it is NOT a border there ... just a "checkpoint". However to the Abkhaz, it IS a border, because they claim they are independent. Georgians wont accept you coming from Abkhazia, because they will say you didnt enter Georgia at a recognised border crossing and have no entry stamp for Georgia (since in their eyes you entered Georgia at the Russian / Abkhaz border - which obviously is not a legitimate border crossing point in Georgian eyes, as they have no border guards there and no-one to stamp you in there). That I believe is why you cant go Russia - Abkhazia - Georgia. I ran into this problem at the Kosovo-Serb "border" a few years back. An "International" can freely travel from Serbia to Kosovo, but not from Kosovo to Serbia, for the same reasons. I remember the Serb border guard looking at the Kosovo entry stamp in my passport, and specifically saying, "you entered Serbia here, but that is not a valid Serbian entry stamp."

Going Georgia - Abkhazia - Russia however, poses no such problems. If you are already in Georgia, and the Georgians still claim Abkhazia, then you arent leaving their country (in Georgian eyes) by travelling to Abkhazia ... its not that its not an international border point, its not a border point full stop in Georgian eyes, because it isnt a border. If the Abkhaz will let you in there, and from Daniels reports they do, then there is no problem.

I was hoping to do a quick black sea loop later this year, counter clockwise of course.

I also have some "official" information from Abkhasian representative here:

Sochi ferry to Georgia
 

Hi,

As I mentioned in an earlier post I plan for a Black Sea Tour starting at 1st of July. The route is Romania-Ukraine-Russia-Georgia/Turkey-Bulgaria-Romania in 17 days. I plan to do this with my girlfriend, 2up on our Transalp.

I've just check the the Operator website regarding possibilities to cross from Sochi to Batumi or Poti in Georgia.

According to the website Commercial Sea Port of Sochi , the lines between Sochi and Batumi are for "For RF, Georgia and CIS citizens only". This means that foreigners are not allowed to cross from Russia to Georgia by land or sea.

The only options remains the ferry from Sochi to Trabzon which runs once a week and has no fixed schedule.

Can anybody confirm this? Any other news or information regarding the area?

Also, according to my calculation the distance between Kerch and Sochi is around 490 km. Is it doable in one day or is it better to find accommodation and do it in 2 days? How are the road conditions?

Thanks in advance,
Adrian

Hi Adrian,

You can make counter clockwise tour around the Black sea easier through Georgia and Abkhasia. You just need to obtain Abkhasian visa but it's easy. Otherwise the only confirmed option for you is Sochi - Trabzon ferry which is very expensive. For the rest of the boat options I don't know... We are starting similar trip in Aug but through Georgia - Abkhasia - Russia.
As far as I know the road from Sochi to Kerch is very beautiful but there is very serious traffic during that time in the year and the travel is slow so one day probably is too tight, but for 2 days you should make it. There is some info about that road in the forum.

Best regards
Nikolay

Gday Nikolay
 

When do you leave on your trip?

We will be taking a ferry from Venice to Igoumenitsa on either Wednesday the 24th or Friday the 27th of August and travel Northern Greece/ Turkey/ Georgia/ Armenia/ Georgia/ Abkhazia/ Russia/ Ukraine/ Romania/ Hungary and to be back in Germany by the 8 or 9th of October. Happy to meet up for a beer if our paves cross. We plan to make a base for four or so days in Tbilisi around the weekend of the 10th of September. We are two Australians (blokes) riding Australian registered Triumph Tigers.

Happy to hear from anyone who has a recommendation of a place to stay in Tbilisi or others places or must do roads around Turkey and the Black Sea.

Cheers

Brett

hi,
I will start the journey on the 1st of July and hope to be back on the 18th of July.

If you pass through Romania on you way back send a message, maybe will hook up for a ride or a beer

Have a safe trip,
Adrian

Unfortunately we will be a bit ahead of you. We are leaving on 14th or 15th Aug and I hope we will enter Georgia 7-8 days later... However we can exchange phone numbers in case I need to inform you some "surprise" on the road. :)

Adrian, if we have some free time in Romania, I will call you for a beer.

For must do roads in Turkey,please check the facebook page of our club and photos of bikers who has been here and done it.
So many files and photos.
Wish you all the best.
zeki.
personal page and photos
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=547244272

club page and photos.
istanbul bisiklet motosiklet ihtisas klübü | Facebook

Change of plans
 

Thanks for the information guys, but when I looked closer at the cost of the extra visas for Russia and Ukraine it pushed out budget alittle to far. So now we plan to return via Turkey/ Bulgaria and Romania instead.

Still very interested in any suggestions of a place to stay for a few nights in Tbilisi.

Cheers

Brett

Not good news from Inguri river border. here is Ilpo's experience: Caucasus Tour–Day #27 - Ilpo Juvander

He was turned back by Abkhasians. But as he does not speak Russian he could only understand that can enter on foot but not with the bike. Strange as he have permit to enter. I'm trying to contact MFA to ask but yesterday at 17:00 nobody was picking up the phone. As our plan is to start on 14-15 Aug I don't feel so comfortable with this crossing anymore. Also I understand that some Italians were turned back 2 weeks before Ilpo.

I already started plan B - investigating the possibility to cross on Nizniy Zaramag (S.Osetia - Russia) but there is even more unclear and probably not 100% safe.

Anyhow, what do you think about Ilpo's experience? Could it be that they are asking for bribe or insurance and he doesn't understand. I don't believe too much in that as Ilpo is experience traveller... I'm thinking of some political change there, as the president elections in Abkhasia are on 26 Aug. Stupid thing... I don't want to use the ferry Trabzon - Sochi and if we can't cross the border probably we will do totally different trip to Russia only from Ukraine.

please understand
georgian-abkhazian border is a kind of non-existent and unofficial. you can't stamp your passport there/ you can walk in but to ride in one must have Colebatch's negotiation skills and/or some spare money of course

you can try to load your bikes onto some truck BEFORE the border - they don't check local trucks and cross into abkhasia like simple tourists for New Afon ( sacred religious place ). try that 'cos Osetian way won't work anyway

It's non-existent for the Gerogians. Abkhasian consider it КПП Ингур. And they issued me and Ilpo a clearance permit that I can enter Abkhasia on that КПП: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&p...yZDgy&hl=en_GB

I selected in visa application Ingur river border and wrote motorcycle and they issue a permit. Why they issue a permit if they do not allow entry!? Also it's confirmed that by on foot or bicycle you can pass there without any problem. It looks like the problem is only when you are with some vehicle... The option with loading bikes on truck is too risky. If they find the bikes we might have serious problems. It's better to try to speak with the guards but it looks like a gamble...

Georgia - S. Ossetia is indeed not possible: Порядок въезда на территорию РЮО | Министерство иностранных дел

loading onto a truck is the same as talk to them. if they find the bike be nice say it's broken and you can not fix the problem in Georgia you need to get to russia to the official dealer in Sochi. if they say no you'll just ride away.
for abkhasians you are a guest it's very important and official rules are secondary in this situation. ask for help and back it up with a smile and a sum of money. it's not EU and in a very little way it's Russia, in fact it's a no man's land so law there is the last thing you can apply to. be logical in the most primitive way.
serious problems there can start with darkness so try to get everything clear before the night

especially for those who are trying to understand WHY
russians do not permit to cross into RUS thru Caucasus. everyday life in Ingushetia traffic jams.

‪Пробки на Кавказе. Нива против Land Cruiser.flv‬‏ - YouTube

Abkhasia is NOT like this especially during holiday season but they are still highlanders in black clothes.

Just spoke 20 min. with the consular department of MFA Abkhasia. The guy there (I suppose foreign minister or consul) was extremely surprised that they do not allowed motorcyclist on the border. Started to asks the colleagues and made few phone calls and at the end he told me with sad voice:
"Sorry. You are allowed only by foot on that border." He told me, you know the political situation is complicated, etc, etc and he also just understand that the tourists are allowed only on foot. I get the impression that somebody else is regulating the border and these guys in Sukhumi are just administrators and understand the changes if somebody calls. He told me that this probably will change in the future but not in near future. So we don't have any legal way to enter Abkhasia from Georgia. Sad story...