Trabzon or Batumi ferry to Sochi?
 

Anyone has any recent news on those ferries? Are they running?
Can we put motorbikes in?

Have you considered riding through Georgia? Cheaper, quicker and easier. Plus, you'll get to see the beautiful Georgian Military Highway through Stepantsminda (Kazbegi). I did it in 2012 when the border had just opened up to internationals.

Edit: Moreover, British passport holders do not need a visa for Georgia... not sure about the French.

Hi Stephen,

Yes we are going to ride across Georgia, but I am looking at alternatives, just in case!

There was no Sochi to Batumi last year, from sochi there was a ferry to Turkey which was hit and miss.

Also there was a Ferry last year from Odessa to Batumi / poti

If it was me then i would rather plan my trip to not include one of these hit or miss ferrys for both the black and caspian sea

I agree with Stephen the views on his suggested route is amazing, i will have updated my ride report from last year to this route by tonight so you can see yourself

While my priority would probably also be the Georgian Military Highway, I understand Maria's concern to have a backup option.

In February 2014, the website Ferrylines announced a new ferry connection across the Black Sea:

On these two websites you find relevant information for the trip

Batumi - Sochi and

Samsun (Turkey) - Batumi (Georgia) - Novorossiysk (Russia)

Greetings,
Achim

Thanks for the info guys.

As Achim said, I like to have a plan B.. And C ... And even D.... Just in case.....
I would hate to get stuck, so I always have alternatives when designing trips....

Quote:
Starting May 2014, Paradise Cruise & Ferry put the comfortable MS Isabella I to sea on the route Odessa (UA) - Yalta (UA, Crimea) - Sochi (RUS) - Batumi (GE) in the Black Sea. The company offers one weekly departure from each port. Staying in Russia, Ukraine and in Georgia is visa-free for passengers!


It is good to have many options however i am afraid i am now going to have to point out that Crimea is no longer part of Ukraine as it is now part of Russia and the Yalta stop over about states it is part of of Ukraine (Yalta UA, Crimea) which is now incorrect

As there is currently blockades in other harbors associated with the now Russian Crimea personally myself i cant see a Ferry Cruise ship leaving the Ukraine harbor of Odessa to arrive at the now Russian harbor of Yalta in Crimea to then head to Sochi and go to Batumi or the other way round until this has all blown over as far to much bureaucracy at the moment

Before as EU citizens we did not need a visa to go to Crimea as it was part of Ukraine however i think now we will need one as it is part of Russia but firstly the Russian government will be far to busy changing other rules/issues out regarding and the official border post check points to allow tourists to cross will be way down the list for the next few months.

If i was heading on a trip soon for now i would avoid Crimea until it has fully joined Russia, this is not for safety reason however more for bureaucracy


I myself traveled to all these areas mention above last year

So, has anybody actually used a ferry from Turkey to Russia? We were planning to use the Georgian military road as suggested by many, but after the recent landslides the border crossing will apparently remain closed for the next few weeks. :frown:

We are in Tblisi at the moment. We have a phone number to use to find out about the landslide. We are also going to try the ferry if the road is blocked. I will keep you posted

Thanks mate, that would be great. We rode from Trabzon to Batumi yesterday and are now also considering getting an Azeri Visa and crossing over from Georgia to Russia via Baku and Dagestan.

Crossing at Kazbegi would be our first choice however. We are also on 690s with off road tires so getting through there should be no problem, as long as the border guards let us...

This thread is the perfect place to put any up to date information you might have:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...eorgia-76334-2

Cheers,
Lukas

Our Russian visa starts 2nd June, so we aim to get in that day. Riding to Batumi tomorrow (Monday)
Where are you staying? We were planning to find the one and only camp site in town, google says its right on the Front.

We are staying in the Light House B&B, cost is 100 GEL for two people sharing a room, breakfast included (enough but only limited selection). Very nice and friendly place with safe parking for the bikes in a closed courtyard.

Please let us know if you hear something from your contacts, we wanted to cross over into Russia by the end of the week.

Cheers,
Lukas

We may come to your B&B tomorrow. We still have a week left in Georgia. We can call our contact from the B&B.

Simon

Dear All,

Georgia has border problem.

call embassy for your country and get fresh news from passing.

This is last photo near border from my friend. 600 meter soil erosion and waiting 2 month delayed.

http://www.volkanyaldiz.com/wp-conte...526-WA0000.jpg

Sincerely

Wow, that's a serious landslide! Hopefully no one was hurt.

We have just tried to exit via Abkhazia in the North West. We got turned away at the border, we need an Abkhazia visa available on line, but takes up to 5 days.
Looks like a ferry to the Ukraine is our quickest route out bier

:eek3: That's a pretty serious pile. I would imagine if it's "wet" it will take a while before they can even start to clear it.

Hi exrm193,

I'm currently in Tbilisi and obviously can't get thru to Russia as the road is closed. Did you get any reliable information about ferries? Looking for any info on alternatives, as I'd rather no hang around for an Azerbaijan visa...

Cheers,
Jamie

Since we got some conflicting information about a second alternative crossing next to the mud slide we tried to find out for ourselves last week, unfortunately we got stopped and turned around on our way north from Tbilisi, about 100 kms before reaching Kazbegi.

We were in Batumi and Poti and were told there are no ferries to Sochi, only the Ukraine which was too much of a detour for us.

Fastest route to Russia now seems to be Azerbaijan, transit visa only costs $20, we handed our application in in Tbilisi on Thursday and are hoping to pick it up today.

Will report when we get it.

This seems to show a ferry from Batumi to Sochi:

JSC "Commercial seaport of Sochi" - Schedule: Regular Passenger Lines

?

LukasM,

Same here - I got turned around by the plod on my way up the military road this morning. They spoke good English and were very clear - absolutely no way through.

Like you, I'm thinking transit visa for Azerbaijan as the ferry is too much of a detour, as I'm heading for Central Asia.

Btw, if your still in Tbilisi tonight and fancy a beer, gimme a shout.

Cheers,
Jamie

For those looking into the ferry make sure that they know you want to take a motorcycle, we were told the one to Sochi is passenger only, and was booked out for at least two weeks.

Jamie,

Will do. 2 of the guys I am traveling with only handed in their application on Friday so they will probably have to wait a day longer. They are from the UK and sure do like their beer!

We are staying in the old part of town near Shardeni street, very good nightlife.

Jamie

Next ferry to the Ukraine is Wdnesday from Poti. We are buying our tickets tomorrow (Tuesday) in Poti
We are staying in Batumi until then. Poti is a port and not much more.
I've sent you a PM with my mobile and email if you want to make direct contact
Simon

We picked up our Azerbaijan visa this morning, so it took less than 2 business days. Heading out tomorrow morning, taking a little shortcut across the Caucasus and then crossing into Russia to Dagestan.

I have not taken this route recently but did some research a few days ago for a German forum (the Wüstenschiff).

Apparently, the Turkish company Sari Denizcilik which used to run a ferry between the two ports, has stopped operations in 2012. Another company which had briefly been in service for the winter games in Sochi does no longer maintain the line.

And if you go to the website of the Port of Sochi website you will only find a single line which runs from Sochi to Batumi in Georgia and is a passenger only line (hydrofoil) which MIGHT take bikes on board.

Greetings,
Achim

Updates?
 

Hi guys and gals
Any updates or latest info on the road? My own research suggests they are working hard on a temporary road but it was still not open as of 6 June.

Any info gratefully received!

Malcolm and Sara

Sounds like it might be open
 

Maia at Greenhouse hostel in Tbilisi just emailed me and said that the road is open for cars and bikes.