Round the Black Sea from the UK Aug 2010
 

Have posted the following on the trip planning page.
Looking for advice for a trip around the black sea, was planning on a quick trip through western europe,( done this area so often, and quite boring) then slowing down in the Ukraine on the black sea coast, am hoping there will be cheap accomodation, as do not fancy camping, but have heard the guest hoses, cheap motels/hotels are few and far between in the ukraine ?.

I know there is no access through georgia, so whats the advice, on through russia, or I understand there is a crossing from the crimea to russia, then onto sochi and the ferry to trabzon/turkey, slowish ride along the coast there,maybe some detours etc.
Have friends who are riding directly to Istanbull will meet up with them, then and ride back along the northern black sea coast, and back to the uk.
Another rider would be welcome, will post this on the travellers seeking travellers.
I only have permission for 1 month, will be leaving Early Aug, meeting with the other guys about the 21st Aug, but all a little flexible.
Any advice will be welcome, Martin

Sounds like a great trip. I can't advise you on most of it, but I would definitely check out the Crimea. While most of it is rather flat and boring, the southern coast is spectacular. I would check out Yalta and then ride east along the coast to the Kerch Peninsula, where you can catch a ferry to Russia (I think like an hour trip). There are many little resort towns along the coast, I would imagine there are some cheap lodging choices down there but not sure. The road along the coast is pretty cool, twisty through the mountains overlooking the sea.

Once you're in Russia, the Sochi area is pretty expensive as far as I understand, so you might want to stay in smaller towns. And then the ferry to Turkey, there are other threads here on that topic, sounds fairly straighforward.

Correct - Sochi is the Monaco of the Black Sea!

However in villages all along the Russian coast you see cars (generally older ones) parked with cardboard signs or flags on them - particularly later in the afternoon.
These are advertising that the driver has accommodation available nearby. A sort of informal home B&B arrangement. Ours, with comfortable clean beds, warm shower, proper toilet and kitchen for making our own food, was 5 minutes walk from the sea shore and cost about 500 rouble each (about £10).

This was 2008 and I am sure the cost will have gone up since.
The next Winter Olympics will be based in Sochi and is already increasing awareness, interest, visitor numbers, demands and prices.

Black Sea Trip
 

Martin

We did this trip in March - May 2009.
We have reasonably up to date information on the route.
We went UK - Turkey - Georgia - Russia - Ukraine - North to Finland, and then back again to the UK.

Drop me a skype, or a email with your questions, and I will be happy to help you out.

Ryan

Black Sea - Summer 2010
 

Hi there Martin etc. I'm flying into the UK from Australia next week for an extended motorcycle trip of 5 weeks or so. Im freewheeling it but one of the preferred potential routes I am very interested in is riding around the Black Sea, enjoy some real riding in the mountains in Romania, then head east, indirectly across Ukraine to Russia, through to the west coast of the Caspian Sea, to sneak down to Turkey (if possible/safe-ish to do so) and from there to head back west to eastern europe. Be very interested in advice, like minded company etc to help me enjoy doing so. Im leaving UK on 21 June but fairly flexible.
Bruce - 45y/o
R1200GS
bruce.graham.anderson@gmail.com