Vladivostok to Anchorage - Korean Airlines

[Sam I Am]

I'm planning on winding up in Vladivostok in September and am trying to find a way to get me and the bike to Anchorage. Been looking at the ferry to South Korea solution, but see on the Korean Air Cargo site â–’â–’ Korean Air Cargo - To be a respected leader in the world airline community â–’â–’ , that they fly 737's with cargo and passengers from Vladivostok to Seoul, then 747's (cargo only) direct Anchorage. From the Korean Air passenger site Korean Air it looks that passengers are shunted through Seattle, and then to Anchorage. The 737's apparently have a cargo door restriction of 48x34 inches, but I would think is good enough for most bikes.

I'll contact them and find out if there are any further restrictions, rates, etc... but in the meantime ... has anyone ever used this carrier for air shipping out of Vladivostok? It would seem to be pretty straightforward.

P.S. If you're checking out the Korean Air cargo site, Vladivostok is listed under "Europe". Took me a while to find it.

[Sam I Am]

Well I might have answered my own question. I spoke with the Korean Air Cargo office in Los Angeles and was told that freight from Vladivostok is limited to 40 kgs. Apparently the door is 34" HIGH and 48" WIDE and they only have one guy loading by hand. Maybe I'm just rediscovering stuff everyone else knows?

[MountainMan]

Hi Sam,

Yep, for reasons of feasibility, cost, and time the vast majority of people, go by ferry from Vlad to Korea, by air from Korea to North America (eg. Seattle) , and then ride up to Alaska. There's a few writeups on this which make good background reading, but it's a good working assumption to start with. All those places will be cool in comparison to a summer in the 'Loops' although the Gobi Desert may make you think of home. Cheers.

[King Croesus]

Hi,

I been following the discussions on shipping from Magadan/Vladivistok to Anchorage for almost a year now, but it seems like there is very few that have posted any clear info and contacts for freight forwarders.

Me and my friend is doing an RTW on two off 1939 model Nimbus bikes with sidecars this year, ETD in April. See KCCD - Kong Krøsus - King Croesus. It will approximately we will ship the bikes from Russia to Alaska, so I'm quite interested in info here as well.

Does anybody have info on:

1) Potential freight forwarders with contact info
2) Estimated lead time (depending on shipping route of course) and frequency of vessels/planes
3) Prices

I know Kudu expeditions is doing this route and will ship in September, so I have sent them a mail asking how they do it. If I get any feedback or find anything myself I will let you know.

Best regards,

Tormod

[Sam I Am]

I just posted this in another thread, but it seems to fit here too:

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I've been looking into getting my bike shipped from Vladivostok to Anchorage in September and after numerous emails and phone calls to Korean shipping companies (my sister-in-law speaks Korean ) this is the best that I've been able to come up with so far.

Hanjin (a large world-wide shipping company) will pick the bike up at the ferry dock in Sokcho and transport it by bonded truck to Seoul (Inchon) for about $700 US including custom fees, airport fees, etc. They insist that it be wood crated, however. From there it can go either Korean Air or Northwest Air to Anchorage. I have not investigated other US destinations. Also, I have not investigated whether this will work in reverse, but don't see why it wouldn't.

Korean Air rates are $2.80/kg, 1,600 kg minimum. Northwest's rates are $2.80/kg, 600 kg minimum, so a significant savings. Not sure why there is any premium and I am not just paying the cubed weight, but that seems to be the case. But in any event, according to Hanjin, (and the best I can figure out) the difference between the two airlines is due to the fact that Korean Air has a regular daily shipping schedule to Anchorage and Northwest's is on a "confirmed" basis. My impression is that in a practical sense, it just means that you have to book a specific schedule with NW and cannot merely show up at Incheon and expect it to go out on the next flight. For a $2,800 savings, I can be flexible. My last email from Hanjin suggests that if I notify them when it is leaving Vladivostok (or Zarubino) on the ferry, then they will make arrangements and confirm with NW.

I tried dealing directly with Korean Air, but they insist I handle everything through an agent, and would give no indication of their rates. They only confirmed that they would handle the cargo. I have not contacted NW directly, but seem to be getting the straight goods from Hanjin. And as it seems that they will be able able to handle everything from Sokcho to Anchorage, I'll probably stick with them.

My contact at Hanjin is Kim Deok Kyung, deokkkim {AATT} hanjin {DDOTT} co {DDOTT} kr . Mr. Kim I think is trying pretty hard for me. Seems to be a nice guy, and gets back right away if I have a question. Might be an option for some.

[akliz]

I don't know how relevant this is, but it looks like Vladivostok Air will be resuming flights between Vlad and Anchorage in July 09 and will run them through mid-September 09:

VLADIVOSTOK AIR

If I remember correctly, they did ship bikes last summer.

Oh yeah, I'm new here And I don't work for Vlad Air, just did some looking in to it last summer for some folks planning a trip this way.

[todderz]

It will be Petropavlovsk, not Vlad.

And as far as I know there's no easy way to get there from Vlad...

[Kennichi]

yes there is you can get a passenger carrying cargo ship via Vanino to there

[todderz]

Hmm, that could be very helpful.

Is there any reason why it might be cheaper or easier to go that way rather than via Korea?

[Kennichi]

Say why are you going to Vladivostok anyway? , Zubrino is open again but only on Mondays you save yourself $50 and customs of Vlad customs headaches going through Zubrino Wendy Choi says its open and if she says its open its open.

I'm considering Vanino to get a ship to Magadan maybe or at the very least Sahkalin, so we don't need to ride the Magadan bit twice. My original insane plan was to ride to petrolpavlosk (its possible but there is a 200km section where there isn't even a track and a need for a 2000km range). But you need special permission to go to the pennisula out of the southern section that is.

The Vanino ferry goes first to Sahkalin then to Busan, (with a separate ship that goes to Wakkanai.

From some difficult phone calls they take passengers for about 800 ~ 1200 roubles bikes / cars are an unknown quantity 7~8000 roubles was said but it is a well travelled route as many bikes and cars are exported from S Korea and Japan.

Google maps says there is no road satellite photos say otherwise the HUBB says different also and there is a sealed road for much of it , then turns to a gravel track , you need a 300~400km range to make this section line of sight its 200km but the road is twisty very very twisty.

I'm probably going to convince my wingman to go to Sahkalin at the very least and back for a few quid as very few people visit this place. And see what happens.

But as it is off the beaten track we will probably strap big jerry cans at Khabarosk , if we can get to Magadan good , if we can't we just visit Sahkalin get back onto russian main land (Sahkalin is russian turf so no need for an extra entry visa) and ride down to Zubrino / Vlad if the Zubrino trek does not exist.


Problem is of course nobody has recently been out there to see if this is possible and the boats to magadan are infrequent and have no real schedule.

[todderz]

Zarubino is only open on Mondays?

That's where we're heading. Time constraints rule out heading for Magadan for us.

[kito]

hi kennichi you say it is possible to ride to petropavlovsk .is that from magadan? thats some range about 5 or 6 jerry cans is that??

[Chris Cowper]

Last September we rode from Mongolia across to Vladivostok and back to Vanino via Khabarovsk, caught the ferry to Sakhlin and then on to Wakkanai on Hokkaido in Japan. This is a terrific ride and they tell me it is far cheaper and easier to ship to Anchorage or Canada from Tokyo or, even better, Yokohama. Japan was cheap and great riding as well. See my post on the shipping section of Horizons for all the details. The Bikers in Vladivostok, Khaharovsk and on Sakhlin will look after you.

[mikecbrxx]

Hi all

I've been in communication with a local in Yakutsk Oblast for a while now, trying to plan my trip next year. He has put me in touch with some people who regularily travel the old road to/from Magadan and also with an English speaking agency in Magadan who can help with onward travel.

When I get more info, and an answer from the agency, I'll post it up here.

Mike

[mikecbrxx]

Just heard from my contact in Magadan....and the news is very good. I have asked for confirmation before posting the details. In fact, if what I have been told now is confirmed, I will put the information in its own thread with a link here.