You are perfect:thumbup1::thumbup1:

Anyway, are you around in Russia or Mongolia in June or August?

probably in Moscow

Well, there i am going on my way back to the Baltic states in August.

But enough off Topic:oops2:

June 2013 Updates
 

Another week, another update ... another 100 useful waypoints here:

- fuel stations in very rarely visited regions, so hopefully knowing there is fuel there will spur more people to check out those areas.

- also I mapped out all the international Russian borders in the west - with Finland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Ukraine

- assorted other bits n pieces

As always, I will update the "Master File" on the first page.

Hello!

I just wanted to say thank you for your work Walter. I am currently in Beyneu preparing my entrance to UZ. I somehow rushed it from Spain to here due to poor visa planning.

I am probably one of the most idiot motorcycle travelers in the world.. I don't even know how to properly use mi GPS, but I am doing fine.

I just realised that I can put these waypoints in my unit, and choose them to show at the maximum zoom level.... and NOW ITS LIKE I CAN SEE THE MATRIX!!

This is incredibly helpful and will finish with my many hours spent wondering around looking for cheap accomodation while not being able to even read the signs on the buildings.

Despite my lack of skills at whatever subject... I still plan to make it to Vladivostok at the end of the summer :)

Thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks!

Hello,
I have a doubt about border crossings open to foreigners from Kyrghizistan to Uzbekistan.
I read the following somewhere on the internet:

"Dostyk/Dustlyk: main border crossing on the road between Osh and Andijon. Public transport and shared taxis are available on both sides.

Uch-Kurgan: border crossing on the road between Karakol and Namangan.

Khanabad: border crossing on the road between Jalal-Abad and Andijon. Update: may 2013, jalalabad- khanabat border was closed."

Now, Uchkurgan seems to be here: 41.112469 72.086577
In the file I see a boder waypoint in a different city with similar name here: 40.229996 72.060002

Wich one is the right one?
I will be coming from Bishkek and I will have to go to Tashkent, so I need to know if I have to ride to Osh or if I can enter Uzbekistan before.

Thanks!

They are both border crossings ... I have renamed the more southerly one "Fergana" for future updates of the file to avoid confusion.

As for the more northerly border you referred to, You are welcome to try it and revert back to us if it works for foreigners.

The actual border facility you would try seems to be at N41.10166 E72.17800

Note, about a month ago, Snoah tried a border nearby (Isboskan 15 km away) and was rejected ... he had to go via Osh. His report and maps are here:

ADVrider - View Single Post - RTW with Noah on a KTM 690

Remember that Uzbez / Kyrgyz borders are the most volatile in the region and are subject to open and close at short notice. What might be open one month may be closed the next. Even last years info can be out of date.

So as of last month, both the Isboskan and the next border along at Jalalabad-Khanabad (60 km further east) were both closed to foreigners. Let me know how you go at Uch-Kurgan.

But if I was a betting man, I would say the border guards at Isboskan who turned away Noah, would have told him to use the Uch-Kurgan border if it was open to foreigners on motorcycles - since its just 15 km away from where he was. The fact that he was sent back to Osh, implies that Osh was the nearest open border crossing for him.

I will try it in less then 2 months on motorcycle and will let you know.

So now we have the following borders:
-Uch-Kurgan (east of Namangan): we don't know if it's open (it looks like it was in 2012)
-Khanabad closed to foreigners as of last month
-Isboskan closed to foreigners as of last month
-Dostyk/Dustlyk (Osh) open to foreigners
-Uch-Korgon (southwest of Osh, now called "Fergana") : we don't know if it's open

I think this Uch-Kurgan/Uch-Korgon thing does not help as for confusion...:confused1:

Just to let you know, the "Kalybay Benzin" (name of the waypoint) gas station on the road between Karabutak and Aralsk in Kazakhstan is closed already since some time. Nearest gas station is south, in Irgiz (25 km off the M32; gravel road).
Cheers, Greg

Sent from my GT-I9100G

I will try to go from Uzbekistán to Kyrgyzstan in a few days, so I will pay attention to whatever you can add and report back with how I do.

July Update
 

A small one this time:

Just wanted to say thanks again for the valuable resource. The following might be useful:

- OVIR (registration) in Astana: N 51.17123 E 071.42290
- a slight correction to the Uzbek Consulate in Almaty - a block further up the road at: N 43.26042 E 076.96330

Igor and Penny

will incorporate in August update, thx mate

How timely! How long did the OVIR registration take you? Any other pointers?



Cheers,
boarder

Well, we got lost and ended up at the police station. From there, a plain-clothed cop took pity on us, escorted us by car to the registration office, and bumped us to the front of the line. We were done in 15min, but be prepared for big queue.

Be as specific as you can with your dates and travel plans, even if you're not sure. They'll short-change your registration dates if you just appear to be drifting through, which means you'll have to re-register later.

Another useful one for Almaty - Eldoro restaurant: N 43.26078 E 076.95296

Run by local biker, Yeldos. Super nice guy, who'll go out of his way to make sure you and your bike are good to go. See him if you need parts, advice, or just a good pizza.

Sorry for the mini hijack, but it might be useful for somebody else running a search.

OVIR registration went fine. They'll only give you 10 days in Astana. After that it gets more complicated and they insist you get a translator. You get the all important stamp on your migration card in any case. So I got 10 days. Will see what happens when I leave. Process was quick. They open at 9, but you can show up earlier to pick up the form. You need 1 passport copy.

Thanks again for the coordinates.



Typed on my phone with my thumbs and gloves on

Walter - i sent some additions to the waypoint list over, did you get my email? Im continuing to add/make edits as i ride along, let me know if there's a different format, or anything else you want me to record differently - best tell me before i do it, as 5 minutes after ive recorded it, ive forgotten all the details!

thanks

I got them thanks PJ. Much appreciated. I will go thru them and sort them out in a week or two when I have some time. I have looked at them and they are fine. I normally just name them after the town or village they are in, but its easy for me to do that on the maps.

Once sorted I will include them in my next update.

August Update
 

Thanks to Seb, Igor, PJ, Steffen, Adam for adding some useful points here. I have distilled them out and have the following list of 80 August updates to the WP file:

As always, the up to date full set is available on the first post on page 1.

good for you you're not a betting man:-)

border at at N41.10166 E72.17800 (this is the uzbek side) is open.
I passed through from Kyrgystan to Uzbekistan four days ago.

Some guys I know, passed in the other direction last june.

Thanks for trying it ... I will add it to the WPs next update :thumbup1:

Almaty waypoints
 

Nice work mate, I've been travelling Central Asia and only now have I come across your waypoints. :oops2:

I'm in Almaty now and a couple seem to be no longer valid. One is the "Almaty Camp" - it's now a ski resort. The second is "Almaty 3 DORM" which doesn't seem to be accommodation. I asked the guy at the gate and he pointed me over to some bushes.

Can I suggest a good, cheap (by Almaty standards) hotel. Astana Hotel N 43.25236 E 76.90268 £38 for a twin room including breakfast. 100m from a massive supermarket, secure parking, 100m from a bank and there are about 5million ATM's, and loads of fast food and electrical shops. 15 minute ride to the Mongolian embassy and MyMotoTown

Thanks mate... some of the waypints, including those two you mentioned, are not supplied by me personally, but donated WPs so I have no way of checking them. Thanks for the update, I will incorporate it into the next edition.

PS, good luck sorting the triumph out

Sept Updates
 

Lets call it the September updates, even tho its still August.

Thanks dude!

Hello,

I recently did the road from Khabarovsk to Vanino and I marked the spots where asphalt is present (much more asphalt than previous years). How do I send the updates?

The unpaved parts are fine if it does not rain, even for a big loaded R1200GS like mine. The only issue is that I had a puncture, it became dark, I had to sleep in the cafe and next morning my bike had been robbed (its a long story).

Anyway, it is a not too bad road and the only way if you want to get to Japan. So go for it if you want to come to Japan via Shakhalin.

Cheers!

Export the waypoints from your Garmin to mapsource or basecamp, save the file and email the file to me. wcolebatch(aatt)gmail(ddoott)com

MrHicks? I havent got an email with waypoints yet ... you OK with it?

Sorry. I'm on the road. Will do it as soon as I can.

I also had some waypoints.

What I would recomend:
It is nice to have a lot of gostiniza waypoints in Russia, it sometimes makes planing easier, when you are on the road ant only want to do milage...

I also started with naming the gostinizas with "Wifi", if they support that.
It is also nice to know where you can find Wifi in the evening.....

And thanks for everyone, who helped starting this collection, it was really helpful on the road......

Thanks for the waypoints attachment. A great help for planning. It's brilliant.

October 2013 Updates
 

A mix of fuel stations, hotels and cultural sights.

Nov 2013 Updates
 

Hotels (some with wifi thx Klaus), Watercrossings and others

Colebatch,
Once more you show outstanding dedication to stop us numpties getting lost in your beloved land.
Top man!

Hi Walter!
you are absolute legend, the epitome of adventure traveler-motorcyclist, and the essence of humanity......thank you for all your effort...and sharing...i just hope that some day i will be able to give to others as you are giving....

Respect!!

I am planning a trip next year with my wife and have just found this thread. Thank you so much for the waypoints, it is very useful. If I find anything of use on our travels I will be sure to send it to you. :)

You are going to have fun - thanks to Colebatch,
Ride safe,

First update for 2014
 

Thanks to Noah and a few others, here is the update file for Feb 2014.

Happy Siberia planning !

Thanks Walter, Noah and others. Hope I can make us of this next year, thats the dream!

Andrew

Jun 2014 update
 

Main file on first page of thread, is as usual, also updated: Here up the changes since last update (primarily Tajikistan and Uzbekistan additions)

sorry, just retweaked those June updates ... added a few more

September updates ... Thanks to the Hobo for some great "110" wps

November 2014 Updates
 

A few top ups here to help with winter planning ... cheers Paul

:thumbup1: thank you for keeping the updates coming Walter

Cheers kind Sir for compiling and maintaining the waypoints database, an awesome resource for us mere mortals! :thumbup1:

The winter will be spent reading through your previous trip reports and dreaming of summer :mchappy:

This is just an amazing resource and great help in planning trips. Thanks for your continuous effort in keeping the file up to date, Walter.
And of course also to anyone that is contributing data. :clap::thumbup1:

What application do I need to get to make this work on the mac? Eventually to download onto my montana.

Get garmin basecamp as a download and you can plan a route and use ( import ) the waypoints

Garmin: BaseCamp Updates & Downloads

Thanks Colebatch for all the effort you've shown to fellow riders. I downloaded the file and I'm sure I will be using it next year on my Hungary-Magadan-Hungary bike trip.

Great job and a lot of work.

By the way let suppose it will be a dry summer in 2015 in the old summer road area, would you try it solo with F650Gs Dakar packed up?
Thanks for help.

Hi,

Just a (silly) question...:innocent:
I don't have any GPS, only paper maps but I'm interested by your file for my next 2015 trip in Russia/stan's:scooter:(but with my car)
Is it possible to download it to a file to be printed ( Windows 7).

thanks in advance.

RR.

Old Summer Road? Solo? If you have a sat phone or a spot tracker and are feeling confident, then sure. If not, stick to the Kolyma highway. If you break down or have an accident in the abandoned section (Between Kuranakh Sala and the Hunters Camp near Adygalakh), it might be weeks or even months before another vehicle comes thru there.

Feb 2015 Updates
 

just a couple ... updates to Mongolian borders and adding in Adygalakh and Kuranakh Sala to the Old Summer Road waypoints so the abandoned section of road is more clear.

Thanks downloaded the waypoints POI .

will check if we can use on our route :thumbup1:

March 2015 updates
 

21 new WPs

:thumbup1: Thank you very much for the tremendous work, Colebatch.

Regards.

Just a notice, the Hotel Europe in Volgograd is gone, they seemed to build an new house on that place. We took another Hotel, the Astoria, not so cheap but great and comfy rooms.

Thx. Will delete it from the next main file update. bier

Vanino Road Fuel
 

G'day Walter, just came over the Vanino road a few days ago and note that there is now no fuel between Vanino and Lidoga.
Also on Sakhalin there's a fantastic new Hostel, the Pervy Sahaliniski in Yuzhno, they are on at N46' 54.640 E142' 44.864 We paid 850 rubles each for a 3 bed dorm room, bigger dorms are cheaper. Secure parking in a compound.
Should be in Tynda tomorrow and will be studying the waypoints to work out the longest distance between fuel on the BAM heading west.
We are 3 riders, two on DRZ400S with 16L tanks and one on a F650GS with standard tank.

I'm sure I read somewhere that these points had all been uploaded to OSM. Or was I dreaming? Can't seem to find anything that says that now!

I'm using OSM on my Garmin, and don't want to confuse things by duplicating data.

Will let you know of any amendments or additions I find over the next two months. Currently in Georgia, heading to KAZ and MON before the the ROB.

Thanks for all the hard work!

Even if they are all in OSM, which in my experience they are not, I prefer Walter's curated list over anything else. It's high quality highly biased for bikers. Many of us have contributed.

I usually run his list through a conversion script I wrote that prefixes all his way points with CB. That way I know which way points are his and can decide accordingly.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Thanks boarder.


How is everyone using loading these - as Waypoints?


Others may disagree, but I think they should be loaded onto the GPS as a Custom POI file (which is different - they won't be listed in Favourites). I've been playing around with this a bit. You can then view them by category, i.e. Lodging, Fuel, Campsite, etc., and possibly sub-category. Just like the maps' inbuilt POI's, except they're listed under 'Extras' on my Zumo 550, under 'Where to'. Also you aren't governed by any max Waypoint limit, and can't accidentally delete them. So many advantages.


But to do this, the Waypoints need separating into individual GPX files (one per category). I started doing this, by sorting them by icon and copying them, but to be honest the icons didn't seem to always be correct. If this were sorted (either icons or preferably separate files) I think I can produce a proper POI file (and post it here). This then simply needs copying to the Gamin\poi folder of the unit. The reason I haven't done this is that I'm not too sure what some of the less obvious ones are. I did start, but didn't feel happy knowing I might be categorising things incorrectly!


What do you think Walter?

Can't comment on Walter's waypoints having been converted to POIs on OSM (although in 2013 they hadn't been), but some tracks (=road/dirt road) like the BAM were on OSM (labelled Sibirsky Extreme Project).

That's what I did using Mapsource.

I use them as way points. Custom POIs is just way too much work with very little advantage.

I do it from Basecamp these days. I usually delete all the old CB_ prefixed waypoints and just dump the new ones in there for the area I am going to. It's pretty easy.

The Zumo has a lot of limits which I don't really remember now that I use a Montana.

BTW, what bike are you riding on your current trip?

I'm on my 1190 R, in Georgia (Kutaisi) tonight, just been over the Zagar Pass, very nice!

I did look into the Montana, there was something I wasn't keen on, but can't remember. Music?

Minor update July 2015
 

Just removed a few places that have disappeared and added the updates mentioned on the forum above.

Sorry I'd intended sending you these when I left KAZ. I think they're mostly pretty useful, fuel in sparse areas etc.

Meant to include this in the file also

I have also some waypoints for the list.

Some Hotels and gas stations in the stans which do not longer exist and some new ones , spezially gas stations in northern Uzbekistan

But it will take some days

Just emailed you some more points, between Almaty and Barnaul (inc KYRG). There are two deletions there also, which I hope is clear (Closed fuel stations)

On this way I also found some closed Gas stations.

So that can be very important when you slowly run out of gas and rely on the gas stations:mchappy:

Ian - I found out today that you can import waypoints into maps.me as well
I exported them from basecamp as a .KML file and saved it to the same folder that maps.me placed my bookmarks file in on my phone.

:thumbup1:

Walter- a question for you
 

Just a thought:
Would it not be simpler (and less work for you) if anyone wishing to contribute any points/tracks/ alterations relevant to this section etc just posted these in this thread?

I think someone with Mr Colebatch's experience needs to moderate them, otherwise we'd just as well put them onto OSM.

..:confused: - could you please elaborate?

The reasons IMHO are:

1. To compile into a single file.

2. To deal with deletions (closed gas stations etc).

3. To filter the amount of waypoints, i.e. avoid too many of the same type close to each other.

OK thanks Ian I understand your thinking.
It does put the onus on Walter to keep checking/deleting/updating/uploading which he may not wish to continue to do and/or make demands on his time which he may or may not have
.
IMHO, now most of the work has been done, it is a simple thing for anyone interested to amend their own once new places become recommended and/or amended.

Over to you Walter

I dont mind either way. if people want to just post wps here and each user collates them thats fine.

In any case, i will still produce an edited version both for myself and for sharing here. My experience is that most peoples WPs are a data dump from their trip and 80% of WPs I get I already have or cut them out due to not being particularly relevant. Unless each uploader is editing the WPs according to a consistent set of rules, someone else will need to do it anyway. Either the end user or someone like myself.

A significant effort
 

Exactly so.
It's a specialist resource and pretty much only because it is overseen by the original poster.
All credit to him. :thumbup1:

Here lies a database of waypoints for North Asia, but there is nothing obvious elsewhere in the HUBB for, say, Europe, South Asia etc.
There are random postings with tracks and routes and waypoints attached but no overall, coherent data monitored and edited by someone or other.

The ones I've sent, and am still collecting, are all hand-picked!

It's a great resource I have been using for years and I am very grateful for it. Much better than anything else out there. Let's not change it as long as Colebatch is up for it. Not sure why we have this discussion. He is still curating it and passionate about the region. Just contribute and enjoy.

Typed with my thumbs on my phone

A few more
 

G'day again Walter,, I've got a few more for the list.

Almaty - "Freerider" it's a workshop, spare parts, bike sales and hostel all rolled into one. Not a huge selection of spares but at least you can get oil and use the workshop facilities. You can get parts sent there also. I didn't stay at the hostel so can't comment on it. N 43 12.908 E 076 53.885

Almaty - "Five Seasons" Hostel with secure parking and free wifi. Lots of parking and in a nice quiet area with good access to the city. Clean rooms, hot showers and good kitchen facilities. N 43 13.686 E 076 56.031

Bishkek - "Spice Brothers Biker Bar" Open air bar, mechanic, and hostel. Just on the outskirts of the city but with lots of buses passing for city access and on the right side of the city for access to the consulates. Good place to meet with local bikers, get some minor or major maintenance carried out on the bike and get a feed. The hostel is pretty basic at the moment but it's cheap. I had the stator on the DRZ400 sorted here. The mechanic removed it and had the right connections to get it repaired.
N 42 49.593 E 074 38 501 I don't know why this keeps coming up as a skype number???? Bloody computers.

Bishkek to Osh highway - "Tourist Camp" Across a small steel bridge and behind the trees is hidden a really nice little lodge. Spotlessly clean rooms, steaming hot showers and good parking for bikes. Bed in a three bed dorm for 700 som, they even have a swimming pool fed by a mountain stream.
N 42 09.734 E 072 51.854

Biysk - "Help Post - Black African" The man in charge here is Igor AKA Black African, it's the local bike club set up on his own property on the outskirts of Biysk. Igor has a car repair business and can sort out any bike structural problems for those in need, he will also know of any places for spares or tyres if they are to be found and where you can buy bike oil. Some accommodation available in the clubhouse for a nominal cost. If bikers use this they should consider that Igor personally bears much of the cost. He refused payment for some of the work he did for me so I had to work out other ways of compensation like doing big grocery shopping trip and slipping some cash into a place he would discover after I left. N 52 35.305 E 085 15.425

Osh - "Guesthouse" Secure parking and some of the nicest rooms I've seen on this trip, these are more like a 3 to 4 star hotel room with in-room refrigerator, tea and coffee facilities and cable TV . Owner lives on site and speaks good English. Room price includes a cooked breakfast.
N 40 30.951 E 072 47.406

Enjoy.

Thanks. Will incorporate those

Walter, here's another one for Kyrgyzstan that Kurt and I stayed in: a turbaza on the south side of the big reservoir between Bishkek and Osh, west of Torkent.

The location is: Lat: 41.752928 Lon: 72.925465

The turbaza has a beach on the reservoir, a nice view, a pool, decent rooms, and a very good and cheap cafe on its grounds.

Thanks mate :thumbup1:

September 2015 Update
 

Here is the update file since July.

Full file on front page as always.

A set of selected/edited waypoints just emailed, final from this trip, now in Vladivostok. There are a few in there which are existing ones marked as DELETE, like closed fuel stations. And there should be no duplicates of existing ones.

Fuel in Mongolia
 

Walter,
thanks for the wapyoints file. Here's a bunch of petrol stations that are either not in your file or been upgraded to 92. When not mentioned, it's diesel and 80 only. We're on 4 wheels and running on DT, so I can't comment on the quality or shortage of 92.

In fact, after 10'000 km in Mongolia, I think most of the towns have diesel and 80 benzin on sale, so listing then seems moot. OTOH, they're building many brand new petrol stations, most of which now carry 92 octane, which could mean a lot for people with newer bikes.

I reckon that, if you can use 80, then you can go pretty much anywhere without worrying in Mongolia with 250 km of range (excluding some remote parts of Gobi and the far East maybe). And with 500 km you could make do with only 92.

On 4 wheels with a spare tank of diesel, you could now even go wherever you want and only top up with your credit card... it seems you can use plastic in all aimag capitals.

That's how fast Mongolia is changing.

Laurent

Are OSM ( open street maps) still the best maps for this region ??

I'm doing a trip from UK to Mongolia through Russia, Ukraine, 'the stans' and into Mongolia.

Cheers, Ted

Yes and no ;)

Helpful as always ;)

A vague question usually solicits a vague answer Ted!
Free? Paying? Electronic? Paper? Topographic? Atlas? Etc.

I've uploaded all the maps I need from osm, with the waypoints from on here,
They are great,
On my iPhone and iPad I've gone for maps.me for offline maps very fast and very detailed, great for zooming in and out,
Also got inReach mapping not the best but good as a backup.

Hi Ted,
Yes the OSM were pretty good and accurate around central asia and Russia when we used it last year. Very useful in big towns and also if you plan "shortcuts"!
Not that useful in Mongolia but you will understand what I mean when you get there. Make sure you load them. But also ensure you take Walter's waypoints, very useful.

Cheers,

For my Garmin Montana.


By the way, have you found a Tablet that will run Garmin Basecamp ??

Everything is said here :thumbup1::thumbup1:

I found them very useful in Mongolia.

Hotel Waypoint Wolgograd
 

Adress:
Mini-Hotel Lambert, ulitsa Kachintsev, Wolgograd, Oblast Wolgograd, Russland

GPS:
48°44'20.8"N 44°30'40.5"E

A nice Hotel near Custombike, Denis (Dean) Panterof`s partner for tires.
(mine was fixed there Perfectly).
Bike ist locked behind a concrete wall and a solid steel door :-)

Hi Colebatch - thanks for download of asia waypoints - Im new to the Garmin - can you tell me in which directory I should place this file - the garmin POI seem to be .gpi extensions - will that matter if I drop a .gdp file in it?

Thanks

Hi Guys - can you tell me in which directory I place the waypoints on the garmin - thier POI folder has .gpi file extensions - these waypoints are in a .gdp extension file

will that matter?

thanks

Thanks folks
 

Folks, thanks for all the GPS POI's, much appreciated