Kazakstan to Europe?

**malmoerik** · #1 3 Feb 2004

Hi there,
I'm planning a trip which eventually will take me to Uzbekistan. I was told by David Berghof (German tourist operator in Turkmenistan) that "you can probalby race back to Europe in a week from Tashkent", which me meant would be the same amount of time I would have to spend organising air-transport for my bike.
Any first hand experience of this route? 1 week, doable or not?

/Erik

**usl** · #2 3 Feb 2004

Tashkent-Buhara:600 km
Buhara-Merv(Turkm.): ~ 600 km.
Merv-Mashad(Iran):~ 200 km.
Mashad-Tehran:900 km.
Tehran-Tebriz:600 km.
Tebriz-Turkish border:300 km.

From there on.... too many variables...

Cheers,

Note: I am in touch with David for some visas also and he sounds trustable.

**malmoerik** · #3 4 Feb 2004

Oh yeah, no doubt David is the man. I'm doing a 10-day Turkmenistan ride with his company, I fully trust him. I just thought it was a bit over the top to travel through Kazakstan, Ukraine and Eastern Europe in one week!

**usl** · #4 5 Feb 2004

Hi Malmoerik ;

When are you planning to ride through Kazakhstan to Europe?

I am also planning trip up to Bishkek and eventually i will pass Kazakhstan, Shymkent-Aktobe- Atyrau and enter Russia from Astrahan.

If the time fits maybe we hook up for some steps riding.

**malmoerik** · #5 6 Feb 2004

We'll enter Turkmenistan on 5th June and Uzbekistan on 16th. The original plan was to fly back to Europe from Tashkent about 26 June, but now we're concidering riding back, through Kazakstan and Ukraine. I and my friend Carl are 28, Swedish, but both live in Switzerland.
How does this fit your schedule?
/Erik

**usl** · #6 7 Feb 2004

Unfortunately not.

If all goes right, i will be entering Turkm. around 20th of April and will be heading back home from Bishkek through Kazakhstan around 20th of May.

Have a nice trip,

**Goetz** · #7 7 Feb 2004

HI erik
I´ll give it a try.
First of all a funny thing. YOU are the one David B was trying to get me to TURK in june. Building up a group for TURK. But no worries mate the guy is all right. We´re in contact too.
We´ll be going more or less the opposite direction. KAZ-EUROPE or vice verca.
Heading from Tashkent to Malmoe you need at least 2 visa. KAZ + RUS. BUT: for KAZ there is no more invitation needed. For RUS you´ll need it. Then U can hit FIN and be at home in Malmoe.
Or CH: UA needs another visum.
Tashkent - Zurich will be an estimated 5000km on the road.
choose and have fun
goetz

**Chris of Japan** · #8 9 Feb 2004

Just for your information, the Shymkent-Aktobe road is in VERY bad condition. It gets bad after Aralsk. Give yourself plenty of time. And watch out for nails etc. in the dirt "parking lots" of roadside shops! I got a really bad puncture there last year.

**malmoerik** · #9 9 Feb 2004

Hi thanks for roadinfo. Without any experience of the region, getting from Tashkent to Zurich does not quite seem like something you "race in a week". I figure it is about 2600km in Kazakstan, 1000 in Russia, 1200 in Ukraine and another 1200 in Europe. Well, 860 km a day for 7 days, not quite what I dream of.
I think we'll have to fly!

Cheers
Erik

**malmoerik** · #10 9 Feb 2004

Hi again Goetz.
I saw you were making inquiries on another thread about what fuel tanks to fit on your dakar? What have you decided to go for? We're thinking of just buying two metal tanks and strapping them onto our touratech cases on the back. Maybe we'll try to get a mechanic to weld or bolt a "rest" on the cases for the tanks.

**usl** · #11 9 Feb 2004

Hi Chris ;

Can you be more specific about the road conditions between Shymkent-Aktobe? and especially Aralsk-Aktobe. By the way, whats the distance between Aralsk and Aktobe?

Thanks,

**Chris of Japan** · #12 10 Feb 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by usl:

Can you be more specific about the road conditions between Shymkent-Aktobe? and especially Aralsk-Aktobe. By the way, whats the distance between Aralsk and Aktobe?

No big problem till you pass Aralsk. Then big motorcycle-swollowing holes in the road, some a meter deep. Sandy paths on the side of the road made by trucks/cars that can't go around the holes in the road. Not the end of the world, but it takes time. And there is NOTHING of interest out there.
Give yourself 3 days Aralsk-Aktobe. Maybe it won't take that long. But don't plan to go fast.
Not sure about distance, look it up on a map.
I stayed with a Dastan Construction company road crew for a day, and they say the road will be improved within 2 years. They were busy repaving the thing. Maybe it will be better next year.

**Goetz** · #13 15 Feb 2004

Hi Erik
we´ll probally go for the same thing, jerry cans.
But an advice: mould a u-shape from aluminium or some tin, fix it on the rear peg and put the jerry cans in there, fix it with 1 or 2 straps. Low center of gravity and more weight to the front will be your plus.

There is a real professional solution fron touratech, giving you 39 l on a Dakar.
But: 1.380 €

Goetz

------------------
ïóòü = öåëü

**malmoerik** · #14 16 Feb 2004

Hi Goetz. Yes I know about Touratechs 1380-tank. I was actually in their shop last week and one of the guys there showed me exactly the kind of U-shape you were talking about.

Anyway, we bought the crashbars, pannier-system, foot-rests and bags and fitted it all yesterday. Seems like high-quality stuff.

Erik

**simmo** · #15 17 Feb 2004

Dont forget to allow a couple of hours minimum at the border posts. I rode from Turkmenabat (NE Turk) to Ashgabat in a day. It was a very long day into the night. Dont forget to have a meal at the italian restraunt in the Hotel Nissa Ashgabat, excellent! UZ-TKM border crossing took 3+ hours. Good views of movie set Ashgabat from the balconies of the hotel also.

alec

PS there is a guy calling himself "George Bush" at the UZ-TKM border north of Tukmenabat who can show you through all the steps in the right order if you change some money with him. I changed 20USD and he gave a genuine rate. I refused to show the TKM officials the UZ customs declaration when they asked for it !

http://users.netlink.com.au/~asimpson

[This message has been edited by simmo (edited 17 February 2004).]