Anyone ride in central asia recently? I nd advises...
Hi all,
I am planning a ride in Central Asia this end of May, for approx 4 weeks. I am a newbie in motorbike riding and so far, my most extreme riding experience was riding the steep-narrow-winding-damaged asphalt road in Laos mountains (fr Huay Xai to Na Meo - Laos/Vietnam border). I hv no off road experience as yet. I will most probably do this Central Asia ride alone and camp most of the time.
I am flying my Yamaha FZ150 bike from Malaysia to Bishkek, and ends in Tashkent. From Bishkek, I want to go straight to Almaty and see the steppes in Kazakhstan. I dont want to spend many days in KZH (4 days max) as Kazakhstan is expensive. Plz suggest me where to go and which route to take.
Then I will re enter Kyrgyzstan and I need advises on how to view this country at its best in about 8 days. The highlights will be Song Kol and Issy Kul. I would also like to do a mild 1 day trekking somewhere nice and cheap (plz advise me on how to do this cheaply). I know that the best of places / view is only reachable via off road, but due to the lack of off road riding skill, plz suggest me an easier route. I can ride on loose gravels as long as its not ascending and descending.
After Kyrgyz, I wanted to ride on the famous Pamir Highway M41 from Osh to Khorog via Khargush Pass (along Panj River to Ishkashim). I hv heard that the part from Khargush Pass to Ishkashim to Khorog is tough, but I would like to hear fr those who had use this road recently. I hv seen some videos in youtube regarding Pamir Highway, and the river / stream crossing is some what worries me (especially that I am going to ride there in early June where there will still be snow in certain areas, and in other areas, snow is melting). While riding on M41, I want to visit Kara Kul. Lenin's Peak will be too tough for me, I think. From Khorog, I want to visit Dushanbe and after that cross the border to Uzbekistan. I will allow about 7 days doing the Pamir Highway (starting from Osh) + Dushanbe.
In Uzbekistan, I want to visit Bukhara, and if I can get the transit visa, I want to enter Turkmenistan for a short trip to Ashgabat (2 nights in this city including travelling time). I will leave my motorbike somewhere near the border (is there any safe place?) and take public transport to enter Turkmenistan.
My last few days will be back in Uzbekistan, and straight to Tashkent via Samarkand. I will fly home from Tashkent.
I hv checked the countries map in my Lonely Planet book, however there is no description about the road - be it a highway, a major road or a minor road. I'm afraid if I didnt ask for infos from the experts here, I might choose minor road which is tough and beyond my ability / riding skill. Plz help me in planning my itinerary and choosing not so tough road (plz state the road / highway number) to take. My interest is landscape, river, lakes, scenic view and historical monuments (in Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan).
Plz advise me a good Central Asia laminated road map (with topography) to purchase online and good sites to pitch my tent.
Very sorry for the too many questions posted here, and thanks in advance.
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