For Travellers to Georgia
 

Just for info:

This morning I heard on radio, Georgian military highway will be closed at least for 20 days because of heavy floods.

More than 100 trucks affected from the floods.

anyone in Georgia right now?
 

Bad news! I`m in Batumi now and hoped to get there later this week. The rain has been coming down hard the last\next couple of days. Tomorrow I drive to Kutaisi and after to Tbilisi. I can only enter AZ on Sunday. Anybody around in Georgia right now?

Tom

Cheers for that Samy, 20 days you say , i'm leaving France on the 23rd May and hope to be in Georgia in 3 weeks !!!so fingers crossed
Phil

Do you have a written source?

My friend crossed there 48 hours ago without problems.

Confirm that the major landslide at Dariala on Saturday has shut the road from Tbilisi to Vladikavkaz. I rode up there yesterday yesterday (Sunday) and witnessed trucks / traffic lined up / some turning around and heading back to Tbilisi.

The latest news I have is that the road will not open for about 3 weeks - first is clearing the road / basic repairs and second is ensuring safety from further slides.

This is really major blow to the many bikers / travellers using this route - will keep the forum updated on the status.

Thanks, also to OP !

:frown: this is high on my list to do but hopfully it'll be back open when i get there

We just came back from Kazbegi and are back in Batumi to wait till the road opens again. Local people predict two weeks, but nobody really knows. Last night there was a lot of rain, delaying the rescue and cleaning activities. Up-to-date info on:
Agenda.ge - Search continues in Dariali Gorge after landslide

Edwin & Ivonne

Have been talking to Ministry of Interior folks last evening in Tbilisi - here is the latest. Rains of the past few days have slowed the work to remove debris and open a path for vehicles; new river tunnel through debris is at max given the rain of the past few days; work continues to test the stability of the slope / risk of a follow-on slide is high at this point. Time to opening - "off the record" - three weeks if all goes well.

Given the only other routes to Russia from Georgia are via disputed territories and these not open for civilian traffic. The next best route for bikers is via Baku, turn north and ride along the Caspian. I have not ridden that route and would appreciate hearing from anyone who has ventured that way.

Here is the best news link

Landslide update: rescuers keep on search for missing, hope melting away | Environment | Democracy & Freedom Watch

Hi cliffi
Whats the route north out of Sachre and Java ?
Phil

That is a route via South Ossetia - the territory of the war of 2008 - now a disputed territory. The route to Russia would require using the Roki tunnel which I understand is under repair. Only Russian military have access to the tunnel.

I have inquired about the route via Shatili -the border is closed. Other routes via Omalo or the Pankisi Gorge are closed as well - perhaps if you are a Chechan fighter your might get be able to use the later two routes.

That route up to Derbent/Dagestan is for only local people. Tourists and foreigners are not allowed... :oops2:

Thanks for info on the route north of Baku. I did see (can't recall which site it was posted on) that a motorcycle tour company was planning that route for the summer of 2014 and reported on the their trip in 2013.

I have asked some Azeri bikers and they tell me it is 'possible' to pass there - but it may cost some "extra fees".........

Samy, what you say is outdated and has been discussed on the HUBB.

The border between Azerbaijan and Russia / Dagestan near Derbent has been open for quite a while, independent of nationality.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...n-border-74279

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.