Europe the Stans and back

[dmitrij]

Hi,

I just found out that I will have about 10 weeks free next summer, so the question is, will that be enough to travel from the UK to the Stans, and I mean all of the Stans, apart from Turkmenistan? I am thinking of riding down to Turkey, ferry to Kazakhstan and then the rest of the Stans and out to Europe via Russia, would 10 weeks be ok considering I am on Honda CG125? I am not really intrested in taking my time in Europe as Ive been before many time, but the Stans seem interesting, Smarkland is been my dream for years.

This seem a sensible trip? and how much would this likely to cost? I shall camp as much as possible, or stay with people for free, Im guessing visas will add up. But the CG is good on fuel so the costs could be kept low, as food is cheap and I speak Russian, so less likely to get ripped off.

[Ahe59]

Hi,

I am ging to do the same thing in 6 weeks, not all the Stans...

I follow the route from Netherlands to kazachstan via Ukraine and Russia and then to Uzbekistan, tjajikistan, Kyrgistan and via Kazachstan back to Russia and Ukraine (not the same road)

Turkmenistan, Afganistan and Pakistan are not in the planning.

I start the trip at 7 may 2010

if jou have 10 weeks then you can try to reach Mongolia and lake Baikal

[Ahe59]

About the costs

To get Visa I think about 500 euro for 5 countys (LOI includes)
maybe you must book Hotels in Uzbekistan in order to get the visa, I am trying to book three nights and a couple of days to be free.
The petrol is cheap there, sometimes you can only get ron 80 but in the bigger citys you can get normal ron95.
I calculated about 2500 euro for the trip, including some maintenance at the bike like oil and filter change, new tyres and new chain.

[M'jos]

Went via north cape (amsterdam -northcape- finland -russia- mongolia-russia kazak-kyrg where i am now) but think 10 weeks surely should be feasible.. visas can be best arranged via visa agency, worth the extra cost.. got a loi for uzbek that way, saves hassle of booking hotels..? Mongolia is highly recommended to include btw.

Am now on my way to uzbek-turk-azeri-georgia-turkey

if questions, drop a mail

@ ahe59, my weblog is in dutch, if any questions, drop a line, be happy to help you out too?

[mcagol]

Out of intrest how lomg does it take from Moscow to Mongolia? and what are the roads like.

many thanks

[doosey]

I was going to do kazakhstan in 2011 but thinking of bringing it forward to next year to meet work demands, was going to do it on my bmw f800gs now thinking of doing it on something cheap and cheerful and leaving bike at my inlaws in Taraz, i scheduled 4 weeks, should be ok for a one way trip?
also had different info regarding carnet, im fairly sure i dont need one for kz,anyone know any differnt?

[dmitrij]

Originally Posted by M'jos

Went via north cape (amsterdam -northcape- finland -russia- mongolia-russia kazak-kyrg where i am now) but think 10 weeks surely should be feasible.. visas can be best arranged via visa agency, worth the extra cost.. got a loi for uzbek that way, saves hassle of booking hotels..? Mongolia is highly recommended to include btw.

Am now on my way to uzbek-turk-azeri-georgia-turkey

if questions, drop a mail

@ ahe59, my weblog is in dutch, if any questions, drop a line, be happy to help you out too?

Thanks for the info, i looked at the blog, nice bike and gear (my dream bike), i think my trip will be different as im on a cg125 no mods, just a duffle bag, but i may splash out and get a side stand for the bike.

[Ahe59]

Originally Posted by mcagol

Out of intrest how lomg does it take from Moscow to Mongolia? and what are the roads like.

many thanks

I think the roads are OK, you need 10 days from Moscow to Ulaan Bataar.

@M'Jos thanks, nice Blog to read