Getting the visa only takes an hour or two so there's need to bother thinking about anything in Ankara. As I say you just need to bear in mind that the Baku embassy only open on Monday and Friday.

Despite what Christian says I'm pretty sure an LOI is required and definitely is for a Brit. I wouldn't want to try to get a visa without one. As I said before, the embassy in Baku wouldn't let me use any other dates than those on my LOI, which indicates that it's pretty important. And I had to show my LOI again when it was my visa reissued in Turkmenbashi, so it seems pretty necessary to me.

With regard to boarding the ferry a day or two before your visa begins, it's worth trying but I've heard stories of Azeri border guards not letting people aboard until their visa is valid, which is utterly ridiculous. They were happy to let me on the boat a day before mine started but I've heard stories where that hasn't happened.

Bear in mind that with Azerbaijan you will have a 72 hour temporary import for your motorbike. Therefore any plans B & C must take into account the fact that you must be in and out within 72 hours. Or your bike must be with customs at the border at which you wish to leave. Therefore if you spend 3 days in Baku trying to sort out the ferry, you won't then simply be able to go North if there's a problem with the ferry since your bike will already be with customs and won't be released.

Haha, zandesiro there's nothing heroic about it; just unlucky I guess!


Mike

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