Hey guys,

Pyndon and myself are currently in Samsun, Turkey, and had been planning a nice route across Georgia and then on to Russia. Our visa dates for the Stans later on are getting a bit tight, so waiting a few weeks with an uncertain re-opening date of the Georgia/Russia crossing is not going to work for us.

Colebatch recommended we look into a ferry from Trabzon to Soschi, is that our only option other than going over to Azerbeijan?

Cheers,
Lukas

The Roki Tunnel from Russia into South Ossetia is open for every nationality.

The problem is that the Georgian side keeps the border with South Ossetia closed (between Tskhinvali and Gori) and therefore there is no transit possible through South Ossetia.


AFAIK, there are two alternative routes while the Georgian military road is blocked by landslide:

1. Georgia through Abkhazia into Russia (but not the other way, again due to Georgian refusal)

2. Azerbaijan into Russia (Dagestan)

Travelbug,

I was only 40 kms away to that border yesterday.

It seems it is not clear. Everybody say it is open for locals. You say vice versa...

A few people will be thanking you for posting this right now Travelbug, I can see the Azerbaijan Embassy in Batumi being busy now :D

We met some UN peacekeepers at a service station near Tblisi a couple of days ago. We have a phone number for them and they get a daily briefing as to the condition of the road.
Our Russian visas start on June 2nd, so we aim to cross on that day either by ferry from Batumi of by road if it is open
We are heading for Batuni tomorrow (Monday)

Samy,
in the link I provided there are examples of foreigners (Scottish, Austrian) who crossed that border recently, including my closest friend.

:)

I think that the Azeri government tries to portray itself more open than before

-> Eurovision song contest
-> GT race
-> F1 grand prix
-> Hazar islands property development
-> many, many new (luxury) hotels
...
:thumbup1:

We are now in Batumi and were at the Azerbaijan consulate this morning. They stopped giving out visas here a couple of weeks ago, and it will be some time before they are able to do so again. Apparently a system change connected with going to electronic visas. They told us to go to Tbilisi and get it there, should take 3 business days.

We also went to a tourist information desk and had one of the ladies there call one of her contacts in the government (supposedly somebody from the border patrol?), she told us that there is an alternative border crossing just next to Kazbegi called Larsi that is now open to let traffic through. I haven't been able to confirm that from anybody else, and I've now been waiting for 44 minutes in the foreign ministry hotline without anybody picking up....

Does anybody know how complicated it is to get into South Ossetia or Abkhazia from the Georgian side if you already have a multi-entry Russian visa?

You can enter Abkhazia, then to Russia, but it will be slower than getting the Azerbaijan visa ... because the Abkhaz entry permit takes 5 days: See link MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPUBLIC OF ABKHAZIA

I dont have any first hand info from people who have crossed via South Ossetia, but I understand its much harder to cross into from Georgia.

If you get in, then one way or another you have a shot at getting thru the Roki tunnel to Russia.

If you are not a Russian citizen, in order to travel to South Ossetia you must receive permission from the Foreign Ministry of South Ossetia. If you do not get this permission you will be denied entry to South Ossetia. Contact the consular section of the Ministry of Foreign affairs in South Ossetia by e -mail: consul.mfa-rso@yandex.com.

Read up on getting in and out here:

http://wikitravel.org/en/South_Ossetia

Georgia to South Ossetia to North Ossetia

I emailed them last year and never got back to me, i also went to the border and the Georgian guards said it is not open and i must go back

Surly you would think that a mutual agreement for another transit route with no extra visa would be open like Abkhazia or South Ossetia to Russia just whilst the main route is cleared up.

No reply from theBritish Embassy AGAIN today (Wednesday).
We will go there tomorrow and knock on the door.