Across Asia 2013 by bike (& horse & foot & river)

[takeonafrica]

Hope it's ok starting a new thread where all the help can be in one place!
My plan is to fly out to Irkutsk next March and then work my way back with the bike (the pedal sort!) through Mongolia and central Asia to Turkey.
I'll (hopefully) get a 6-month multiple entry visa for Russia.
Questions:
1. Can I get a multi-entry visa for Russia in UK more than 45 days before travel?
2. Is it possible to get a Mongolia visa for more than 30days? (60 would be good)
3. And could I get it in Russia (Ulan Ude)?
4. Is it feasible to get some equipment sent out and shipped back to/from Ulaan Bataar? (or indeed elsewhere in central Asia)
5. Can you get an Iran visa in central Asia? (as UK citizen)

Appreciate any help!

[craig.iedema]

Most of these questions are answered here already by looking in threads! But here goes anyway.

Originally Posted by takeonafrica

1. Can I get a multi-entry visa for Russia in UK more than 45 days before travel?

Yes when you apply you get to chose the start date

2. Is it possible to get a Mongolia visa for more than 30days? (60 would be good)

Check embassy website

3. And could I get it in Russia (Ulan Ude)?

No, Irkust

4. Is it feasible to get some equipment sent out and shipped back to/from Ulaan Bataar? (or indeed elsewhere in central Asia)

Yes, there is a lot equipment being shipped in and out Mongolia.

5. Can you get an Iran visa in central Asia? (as UK citizen)

Looking at this website http://www.iranianvisa.com (which took me just a tick to google) it should be possible.

Also for such a long trip consider looking at getting a concurrent passport. It will allow you to send one anywhere in the world while, travelling on another.

[Maelduin]

Don't Know anything about Russia.
But I do know you can extend a 30 day Mongolian visa in Ulaanbaatar. I paid for just 7 extra days, but I believe up to 30 isn't a problem. This was last year.
30 days seem to be the length of the standard tourist visa, so maybe you'll have to contact a travel agent inside Mongolia to help with getting 60.

Having stuff sent out to UB shouldn't be problem. A good guesthouse should be able to help you out there.

It may not be part of your route, but, just to let you know, you can enter China through the (now open to foreigners) Bulgan border crossing in the far west Khovd prov. It's a good option for traveling on to Urumqi where Khazak and Kyrgyz visas can be got.

I picked up an Iranian visa in Dushanbe (with the help of a online travel agent)

Best of luck

[takeonafrica]

Thanks.
That's interesting about the Bulgan border - I hadn't considered that (I've been to Urumqi and Xinjiang before) and was going to go back to Russia and cross into Kazakstan from there. But maybe Urumqi would be easier for sorting visas.
Good to know that you got the Iran visa - I'd heard at one time it was hard for UK people to get them...
Back home tomorrow with fast internet and guide books so can get proper onto the planning then!

[Maelduin]

On the Iranian visa; I'm not from the U.K myself, but did met a british guy there who was being charged something over 200 euros for his visa!
Just so you know.

[takeonafrica]

Looking at the Russia visa website again - says you can't get a multi-entry visa unless you have had a Russia visa and used it before - is this actually the case? Or has anyone recently got a multi-entry business visa having never been to Russia before?

May need to re-think my original plan if so....

[craig.iedema]

Originally Posted by takeonafrica

Or has anyone recently got a multi-entry business visa having never been to Russia before?

Yes my wife and I both have used multi-entry business visas this year. (6 months).

[bob66]

Hi

do I understand well.. you ship your bike to Irkutsk. What company do you use for this?

I have a summer 2013 plan to ship the bikes in UB and do a round trip, from UB via north of Mongolia to Tashanta and back via Lake Baikal to UB. We have an offer from Pan Europa (from Germany). But it would be interesting to fly to Irkutsk and do this trip from there.

In UB I can recommend you Oasis Cafe. For visa extending the office is near the airport.

Greetings,
Bob

[Chri8]

Hi

a bicycle is different from a motor-bike. For Russia I recomend Aeroflot for bicycles, as they have a piece concept, which makes it a lot cheaper than the weight concept of Transaero or S7 (depending on your overall weight).

Greetings

Christian

[bob66]

hmm.. I didn't pay attention to what you said in the first post - it's a bicycle not a motobike

Bob

[bob66]

Originally Posted by takeonafrica

Looking at the Russia visa website again - says you can't get a multi-entry visa unless you have had a Russia visa and used it before - is this actually the case? Or has anyone recently got a multi-entry business visa having never been to Russia before?

May need to re-think my original plan if so....

I also had a multi-entry business visa for the first time in Russia in 2010. The guy from stantours helped us with all the papers.

Bob

[takeonafrica]

Very excited, I just have to tell you... I got my 1-year Russia visa today!!

(for info - never been to Russia before, applied for 1-yr ME BV through RealRussia for LOI and application. V easy, they were v helpful and quick answering all my inanane questions, no hassle. total cost £394!)

So, looks like the trip is on! Here's the plan (if you can call it that) ... Take On Asia

Can't wait.

[Gunnermon]

Yes, you can extend your normal one month tourist visa by another 30 days at the immigration office near the airport. Apply for extension, they give one within 1-3 working days. If you need any specific info needed on Mongolia, let me know. info@adventuresmongolia.mn Home Goodluck