Georgia route planning: Through Russia or Turkey?
 

I plan to drive from Berlin to Georgia. I would like to spend as much time as possible in the Caucasus, so I'd like to make the drive down to Georgia as short as possible.

I’m wondering which one is the better route from Central Europe to Georgia: North of the Black Sea through Ukraine/Russia or south of the Black Sea, through Turkey?

Considering that it is apparently still impossible to go through Crimea or the Donezk region in Ukraine (correct me if I’m wrong), I would need to take a huge deviation north through Charkiw. Still, even with this detour, it would be slightly shorter from here vs going through Turkey (~3400km vs 3600km).

But looking at Google Maps, >1000km of the route through Ukraine/Russia would be on small single lane roads, while going through Turkey, it would be motorways or at least double lane roads all the way to the Georgian border.

So I gather it would be quicker and less stressful going through Turkey?

Am I missing something? How difficult are the borders (Bulgaria/Turkey, Turkey/Georgia, Ukraine/Russia, Russia/Georgia)?

If it were me, I'd choose the Turkey route. You'll have more varied options in landscapes and routes. It's a personal preference thing of course, but I find the northern and north-eastern parts of Ukraine less interesting.

That part of Russia has some interesting sections, but not really much terribly exciting (again: imho).
Turkey has some really interesting landscapes and you can do sections along the coast and mix it up with sections through more mountainous areas.



border crossing between Bulgaria and Turkey is usually pretty uneventful if you pick a smaller one. At the larger crossings it can get very busy, meaning long waiting times, especially in holiday periods.
Turkey to Georgia is easy at turkgozu (to Akhaltsikhe). The Sarpi border (to Batumi) isn't a big deal either, but you'll have to navigate a lot of waiting trucks.

Between Russia/Georgia there's only one option. I've only crossed there in the other direction (Georgia to Russia) and there are looooong queues there. But they wave motorbikes to the front.

This might be a solution: https://visit.varna.bg/en/transport/preview/60.html


I'm thinking of such a trip too. Haven't any precise plans yet.....

Yeah, I'm planning on taking the ferry from Batumi to Odessa on the way back. On the other way though, I think I'll drive over land.

You have an option to take a ferry either from Odessa, Ukraine or Varna, Bulgaria.

Turkey has some nice riding and Northern Caucasus as well

If you go via Russia you'll need a Russian visa, which takes time and money to get. Although Turkey is a visa country as well the visa is very quick and cheap. The other thing is passing through places like Dagestan and Chechnya you may find them friendly, or you may not.

Route to Georgia
 

Hello, you need at least 5 days no matter whether overland or by ferry. With the ferry you have the advantage that you arrive well-rested. The route over Turkey is very nice. But there are also many border crossings in the Balkans Leipzig started, drove through Ukraine to Odessa, then by ferry, arrived in Poti on Saturday morning. Greetings from Leipzig

Yes, I'm planning to do that on the way back. On the way down; I think I'll drive as a bit of an adventure. ;-)
Did you book the ferry in advance or did you get tickets at the port?

Grüße aus Berlin

I took the ferry from Batumi to Illichivsk (Nr Odessa) in 2013 there's an office where you can book in Batumi. I had to pay US$ cash for the voyage and the ship stopped for two days off Russia to refuel (they forgot to mention this!). The ship is a roll on roll off and takes mainly lorries and railroad cars, allow time (hours for me) for all the bureaucracy at the Ukraine end and don't give in to the requested bribes.

Hello to Berlin, I bought the tickets in the port of Chernomorsk, they are only available there and not in the city at UKferry !!!! In the largest and most striking building far and wide. Price was $ 180 including meals. The whole procedure in the harbor is quite lengthy and annoying. The crossing is fun with all the truckers. You should be drinking safe! The meals post-Soviet. If you hand the Stewart $ 20 in hand you get a single cabin.
You can contact me via watsapp.
0172-7806493
Greetings from Leipzig

Great info. How do you get along language-wise? I presume English or German-speaking people are pretty scarce around there....

From my experience in Georgia almost all 45+ people will speak Russian and young working in tourist industry will speak some English and Russian. In Azerbaijan the percentage is much lower so Google translate is your friend.

BTW Azerbi and Turkish are mutually intelligible so you can use offline Turkish translate in the pinch.

In Ukraine/Russia everyone will speak Russian this goes without saying.

Wow, that's cheap! Did you travel by motorbike? The Ukrferry page states a price of >500 Euros, for me and my car...

Sounds like fun! bier

Looks like Greece is closing border.. not sure what implications are and duration.

Ja, das wird eine schwierige Reisesaison.Letztes Jahr war die Einreise in den Iran nicht möglich,dieses Jahr kann man nicht planen. Alles ist möglich.

Yeah for the easiest way down, you would want to go through Turkey. Roads are very well maintained and borders are quite easy to cross. The quietest border crossing is Malko Tarnovo (just south of Burgas), but if it's too far out of your way, you can just go through the main one at Kapikule and skip the queue (everyone does it on a bike).

Through Russia would also be nice, but you definitely need to get a visa ahead of time and plan your route more carefully.

I won't be able to skip the queue since I will be going by car. ;-)
Was there a huge queue when you crossed? Are there separate queues for trucks and everyone else?

Driving the Balkan route maybe in July and August will turn into a nightmare on the main route. Endless queues, tolls and constant waiting - maybe more relaxed at smaller border crossings.

“As of 2 March 2020, Turkey has decided to exempt visa requirements for the members of the European Union Schengen area, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland as well as the United Kingdom citizens for touristic travels to Turkey for every 90 days within 180-day periods,” https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/new...ntries-and-uk/ I believe Germany didn't require one anyway but as I'm a UK passport holder it's a newbie for me and may be of interest to others reading this.

Georgia closed borders with Azerbijan and Armenia due to covid19

Georgia doesn't have strategic food reserve and with border.closings/supply chain interruption there will be hiccups.

Hi
I crossed from Georgia into Russia in September 2019. Border crossing was easy. Once crossed I drove to Grozny for a few days then from Grozny I drove to Sochi then onto Anapa where I left my vehicle in storage and now due to Covid 19 I haven’t been able to get back to continue my travels but its looking like things are starting to open up again.

Safe Travels
Ray
Instagram:raycooknz

Did that too.

Made a reservation at UKR Ferry before, and got my ticket there.

Just for the bike I had to go to the building you mentioned and had to check in there and pay some parts of the money there.

The rest is as you described.

only thing with the ferry:
You might have delay, we had 2 days.

And if you drive over Turkey, you can have some nice parts too.
As a German, you dont need a Visa for Turkey.
I am not german and did it online with evisa.

I rode in Balkans in 2017. Border crossing from Bulgaria to Turkey near Burgas took 3 hours. The way back from Turkey to Bulgaria in Kapikule was a little bit more complicated, they requested every vehicle to pass a "disinfection" procedure. As we were on a motorcycle, it was not fun.

We were in eastern Turkey and Georgy in 2018, it was gorgeous trip, these are amazingly beautiful lands! Turkish autobahns are very good, it won't take much time from you to drive from Istanbul to Batumi. Batumi's suburban roads were not in good quality, but closer to Tbilisi it became better.

If I were you, I'd go by land over Turkey on the way to Georgy and take a ferry on the way back. When you just start a journey, your mind eagers for new landscapes, later it becomes replete. Russian visa is complicated, and there is nothing to see on the way to Georgy.