Travel Times - Central Asia

[Mikedav]

Hi guys, great forum with tons of information...I was wondering if you could help me with journey times for a Central Asian trip?

I'm doing the Mongol Rally (virtually a package tour compared to some of you I know!) but I'd like dates for a Turkmenistan Visa etc. Calculating how long it takes to cross the following countries is proving tricky...can anyone assist?

My estimates:

2 Days - Czech Republic to Turkish Border
3 Days - Turkey
4 Days - Iran
2 Days - Turkmenistan (pushing hard to get through it)
4 Days - Uzbekistan
2 Days - Krgyzstan
4 Days - Almaty, Kazakhstan to Russian Border
5 Days - Russia through to Tsagaannuur, Mongolia
7 Days - Mongolia to Ulaan Baatar

= 33 Days.. +2 for good measure = 35

The above including an extra day in each for time at borders, break downs, rests etc...but assumes a good 8 hours or so driving per day. Is this realistic, optimistic, pessimistic...? If we budget to be in UB in 35 days, are we going to manage it?

Any info, tips or advice appreciated

[maximondo]

Your Russia and Mongolia times are pretty correct.
Not allowing for any break downs or waiting for gas station to open or the guy to come back to the village while your in Mongolia.

[jopos]

3 days Turkey is to short. We drove end 2008 in 8 days from Bulgarije to Iran with only one day rest in Istanbul.
Also we drove 7 days in Iran, but that was from Turkey to the Pakistan border.

You can see some small movies and a dutch (or translated) diary on Going East - Home

Enjoy!

[JoeSheffer]

I agree. I think you're really going to struggle with that amount of time in order to get through Turkey...it's a huuuuuuge country.

[Mikedav]

Thanks guys, no worries, I'll allow a bit more there then. We do intend on doing some pretty solid driving to get through to Iran...as the roads are relatively good (compared to where we are headed). The aim is 10-12 hours a day hopefully. Looking at the map, as other teams have done the Mongolia leg in under 7 days (with no roads) I am sure 4-5 for Turkey will be enough...

Any other thoughts?

[Mikedav]

This link

Travel to Palandoken

Suggests Istanbul to Erzurum is a 2 day trip, is that about right?

[jopos]

2 days?
On a motorbike I think you realy need at least 3 days. We did need 4 days including 1/2 day sightseeing.

Don't forgett you need time to get fuell, to find hotels and on our trip we spend almost 2 houres staying and waiting at checkpoints.