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flights from vlad to alaska
Does anyone have any recent information regarding flights from Vladivostock to Alaska or Canada?:frown:
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Mid August to Mid Sept ...read below.Emails to air cargo are unanswered so far...
Vladivostok air. ********************************** Hello, >> >>flight XF 367 on route Vladivostok - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is carried >>out on Mondays(schedule from August, 25 till September, 15). >>The departure time is 14:30, the arrival time is 19:35. >> >>Flight XF 711 on route Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Anchorage is carried >>out on Mondays(schedule from August, 25 till September, 15). >>The departure time is 22:00, the arrival time is 05:45. >>Minimal cost for the flight on route Vladivostok - >>Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Anchorage at a given moment is 75428 roubles. >>Nota that the price can vary. All information will be on the web site Ïðîäàæà àâèàáèëåòîâ, ðàñïèñàíèå ðåéñîâ, ïîêóïêà ýëåêòðîííîãî áèëåòà, ðàñïðîäàæà àâèàáèëåòîâ ïî âåá-òàðèôàì — àâèàêîìïàíèÿ Âëàäèâîñòîê Àâèà To transport the motor you are to address to Air-Cargo Company by e-mail air-cargo@mail.ru or by phone 8 (4232) 307-631 >> >>Best regards, >>the dispatcher of the call-center >>Natalia |
Quote:
Geoff ('Poor Circulation': Riding Around The World, ....................... on £20 per Day) |
I have a Russian speaking friend calling them to fnd out. This flight is actually two legs.
Vlad - Petropavlosk, and then Petropavlosk to Alaska. I have bought my ticket for PKC - ANC for Sept 8 ($1076) and am planning to fly from VVO - PKC a few days earlier ($511). There are plenty of optoins for this first leg. I will clear customs in PKC. What my friend has told me so far is that it is TECHNICALLY possible to fly the moto to USA, he is finding out the max size of the crate possible for that aircraft, and also that always important price. I am entering Russia today to Mongolia, internet may be few and far between. Will continue to post any news here. |
Vlad Air to Anchorage
In Vladivostok we hear from a local shiping agent that if we use flight: Petropavlovsk - Kamchatsky - Anchorage, ... we will still need 'Customs Clearance' in Kamchatsky,.. which can be expensive,.. we hear.
Can anybody confirm this? Max Crate Dimensions: 95cm High, 100cm Wide, 230cm Long Charge to Kamchatsky seems to be 3.50 USD per Kg. Charge onward to Anchorage seems to be 6.20 Euro per Kg. We're looking at a 'Container' direct Vladivostok to Anchorage, total $5,000. It will take 5 weeks and we're looking for additonal bikes to share the container/cost, .......... any interest?. (Hope to depart approx 1 week from this post, 14th July 2008) call: +7 964 810 8816 Many thanks, .... Geoff |
I'll be there soon
Hi guys,
I am in Ulan Bator, Mongolia and heading to Vlad tomorrow. I presume I will need one week to get there. My plan is to take the ferry from Zarubino to South Koreea and than get the bike shipped by plane to Anchorage. It will be fast and cost about 5000USD but I won't spend money waiting for things to happen, I will be in the same plane with the bike, I won't deal with Russian bureaocracy (customs in Zarubino are much better than the ones in Vlad) and I know it's gonna happen. If you want to join, we can get the bikes crated together and get cheaper (you pay for volume or weight, which one is more expensive and it's the volume that costs more; also instead of getting one crate for 1 bike, we'll get 1 crate for 3 bikes). If you have any other clear plan, with a clear price tag and a clear schedule, I'm joining. So, if you can wait one week, let me know, SMS me at: +40726177700 Best regards, Dan Dan Honciuc photography |
Vladivostok to USA Flight
Dan,.. I'm sitting in the 'Iron Tigers Box' in Vlad, .. and I just got your SMS.
We hear that currently 'Korea' is not the place to be taking a bike, .... ban on temporary importation,.. but it's third hand news. Flights from Vlad seem to be as folows: Monday Flights Vlad to Kamchatka, Kamchatka to Anchorage. $3.50 per Kg (Plus $120) Vlad to Kam $6.20 per Kg Kam to Anchorage Personal Flight $1,500.00 Max Crate Size: 95cm H, 100cm W, 230cm L (I guess only 1 std. bike per crate) We're holding out for LCL shipping to North America, but Flight option is there. I'll SMS you from here, but Amur Highway is currently awash with water, mini cyclone from Vladivostok north. Guy called Rik on BMW R100GS is hot on your heels coming out of UB to Chita,.. he's going to meet us at Iron Tigers in Vlad. Ride safe,.. Geoff |
hi Guys,
In Olgi, heading slowly to UB. I contcted Korean Air and they told me that they stop for refueling only, not unloading of cargo. Is there another carrier? Or perhaps I got wrong info... Rene Geoff - do you know if those prices are for a cubic meter or just the net weight of the box? Normaly air freight is done to the cubic meter.. |
Guys...contact wendychoi2 "hat" gmail "dot" com to confirm that a temporary ban exists...I doubt it as I would have heard about it, BUT stranger things have happened.
Wendy has shipped probably 10 bikes/vehicles out of Russian in the past 2 years. She works closely with the Dong Chung ferry folk. edde |
Blue 88,
Thanks for the invaluable info on exiting Vlad. We're planning to arrive in Vlad on Aug 6th and somehow get the bikes to North America (like you, preferably Alaska quickly). How long will shipping the bikes from Korea to Anchorage take? One thing that scares us about the marine shipping option is that we're told there's always additional costs like port charges, etc. that add up quickly. Another thing we've been told to fear is that customs clearance out of Russia can cost up to $1,000 US. I really don't understand that bs because it's no different than us riding our own bikes over a land border. Maybe taking the ferry to Korea will avoid that customs clearance charge? It seems that we can fit our bikes into the minimum Vlad Air crate dimensions (if we take the windscreen and the tyres off for the min height). Thanks so much for the quotes you put up here on HUBB. Judging by those quotes ($3.50/kg first leg and $6.20/kg second leg) we would each have to pay $787 for the first leg and $1,395 for the second leg (our GS's with crates will be 225kg each). That's about $2,200 before paying for customs clearance and other bureaucratic bs. Then the $1,500 per person to fly ourselves. Yikes! Anyway, we hadn't initially taken Korea as a serious option but now we'll start looking at options. Thanks again for all your pioneering on this. Cheers, Mike |
The $/kg cost is not your only cost...
Your cheapest/quickest option is to fly into Seattle/Vancouver...and ride up to Alaska and back there are two routes up there and back and the scenery is spectacular.
Messing around in Vlad will cost you more than the promised shipping when you account for Vlad customs clearance fees, air ticket differential, hotel/meals costs to arrange shipping etc. edde PS I heard back from my shipping contacts in Korea and they are unaware of a temporary ban...I'm wondering if Russian shippers started this as a rumor to reel bikers into shipping via Vlad? |
Latest information on Vladivostok Air
Hi Folks -
this is Volker and Hans writing from Vladivostok. Find enclosed the recent email, we were sending to Wendy - we will publish the result here, as soon as we get some. Our Vlad Air experience so far is rather confusing. We have our bikes boxed now at the Vlad Airport, cost per box is 17.000 Rubel, storage cost adds another 2000 Rubel/bike/day. A 650 GS Dakar sums up with 2 boxes to about 320 kg !, the box gets included. The given rates for shipping above seem correct, regardless nobody in the company is capable of telling us a complete price from Vlad to Anchorage. We are only given details til Kamchatka, and from there its all a new story - so far not the very most professional approach to the matter. In addition creditcardpayment is not accepted unless 3,5% extracharge on the bill - our estimated bill pointed out for the total of 2 bikes and 2 person to Anchorage lies roundabout 250.000 Rubels (approx. 6850 Euro ) This does not involve any Customs clearance whatsoever might turn up on the way ! That is as far as we know by today- Sunday 20 July - if you guys have any further information to help along, please do not hesitate to contact us ! We may not forget to say, that the Russian bikers all over Siberia and the Far east, namely now the people around Friedrich, Julyi, Jelena, Paulina and Ruslan , the Russian Samurais, The Iron Tigers and Cerberus Guys from Kemerobo and so many more on our way have given us the greatest support you ever can get in a bikers life !!!! THANK YOU FOREVER FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR US !!! Cheers for now Volker and Hans www.ride-of-change-2008.de ""Hello Wendy, this is Hans and Volker adressing you. We are 2 german motocyclers on a worldtrip. Right now we reached Vladivostok/Russia and need to get to Ancorage/Alasca (either directly via Kamchatka or as an alternative via Seoul and Seattle/USA or Vancouver/Cannada). We checked Vladivostok Air and it seems to be very difficult and costy, including major customs bureaucracy. Spreading the internetnews on Horizons unlimited forum and meeting Felix Bergmeister ( he sends his regards by the way ) we only now found out , that you handle shipping to Korea and sending bikes (and us) by Korean Air to the US. Is there any trueth about rumours we heard from travellers, that Korean Air has stopped to fly motorcycles ? And if so, is that a temporary or permanent stop. Would there still be an alternative seaway to ship the bikes? If we shipped the bikes by you via Korea to the US, what would the exact procedure then be? Could you maybe give us a short manual of procedures and rough prices included. The bikes are now packed at the Vladivostok Airport though not embarked yet. The Box dimensions are 220 x 100 x 90 cm, the aproxximate weight is 230 kg per box and bike. If needed, we can also ride them again. Any URGENT INFORMATION is highly appreciated and expected by some more travellers who are on their way to Vlad with the same question - we will forward it as soon as available. We all are pretty much pushed for time for the Alascan winter being on the way. Thank you so much in advance ! right now you can also try to call us temporarily in Vladivostok at + 7 423 26 35 474 or on our mobile +49 170 435 92 48 "" |
Vladivostok
Mike: Big Bike Rally in Hoddka on I think 7th August,... 'Facing The Ocean Rally',.. well worth a visit if your here. (South of Vladivostok)
Hans & Volker,.. we will call you guys tomorrow (Monday) and we are talking with Wendy too. The 'Bike Importation Ban Korea' turned out to be incorrect (As much info out here is),.. so sorry about that. Also we hear that 7 Dutch guys are heading to Vlad,.. currently Chita +500Km,... the Amur Highway is one mighty busy road at the moment. We understand that customs clearance exit Vladivostok is circa $500,.. but that's local information which means it's actually anything from $0 to $1,000. Geoff |
who's in Vlad right now?
Except 2 germans, here are the british/nz couple. If somebody else, call or sms me at +79241313041, we've got idea to come together tomorrow evening (22 July) for a little party before everybody leaving.
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Avoid Vladivostok Air to Alaska
This is Thursday 22nd of July !
Eevrybody on their way from Vlad to Alaska ! :nono: Vladivostok Cargo is regarding our experience from the last 6 months and especially the last 4 days a total mess and chaos- sorry for the harsh words. Since we contact them they keep telling us new prices everyday, adding more than 1000 Euro to the bill from yesterday to today by exactly the same person telling us the prices. Prices will only be given to Kamtschatka, fumigation transportboxes and customs clearance stays fully unclear. According to our information unfumigated wooden boxes will not be allowed to enter US. Great idea to find that out, once U are there ?? Once we had the bikes boxed for a ridicoulous amount of 40.000 Rubel !!! they said they will not do fumigation, as according to international rules this was not necessary with plywood. As a matter of fact the wooden boxes were half plywood and half substantial wood. No Certificate or stamp would have been given to us. They only kept saying , this was no problem. The Compannies storage room was nothing but a mess compared to UPS or DHL storage. So were the desks in the office.The whole setup is highly unprofessional.Yet people are very friendly nevertheless- nothing wrong with personal relations at all. Regarding all the above we decided to stop all Vladivostok Air traffic , paid an enourmous bill for 2 wooden boxes and got the bikes together driving out of the boxes again. Thebikes are now parked in Vladivostok Centre. We will now forward them through Wendy Choi in Southkorea via Zarubino and recommend the same procedure to you - unless you wanna do some real pioneertask - at the real risk of being stucked in Kamtschatka ( which is very beautiful indeed) or maybe you like a new pricesurprise every morning ?! It was a steep learning curve we took - but it was one !:oops2: Just our 2 cents - hope that helps somebody to prepare better. Hombre and BABA www.ride-of-change-2008.de:mchappy: |
Another fellow to Vladivostok on 24th July
Hello Hans, Volker, Shustrik and everyone!
My friend Dan (he posted 6 days ago on this thread from Ulaan Bataar) is on the way to Vladivostok, where he'll arrive on 24th July (Thursday). He is now with a guy with a Caterpillar truck (the motorcycle is in the back of the truck with the radiator broken/spoilt). He had a crush and now he is injured with a painful, possible broken elbow and arm.:oops2: Could any of you, or more, meet him when he arrives on 24th in Vlad, and help him get the motorcycle down from the truck and then to a garage (he cannot drive at the moment) and afterwards himself to a hospital? Please, can you let your numbers here (i'll send them to him) so that he can call you, sms you. Or maybe you want to send the numbers directly to him through sms. Dan's telephone: 0040 726 1777 00 :helpsmilie: We really appreciate any help and wait for feedback, thanks, Cristina PS: Hans and Volker, Dan has similar plans with yours regarding the shipment, through Wendy/Korea... |
Shipping out of Vlad is still not a reliable or cost effective option. Your friend Dan should ship out of Korea.
Considering his recent accident, when he arrives in Vlad, he could contact the Dong Chung Ferry folk to find someone who can help crate his bike, IF the Vlad biker community can't help him. The Dong Chung Ferry folk in Vlad will help expedite Russians customs exit processing for the bike. Wendy at AeroKorea will coordinate with Dong Chung ferry folk to get the bike out of Russia, via Korea to the US. Check the shipping section of the HUBB for details. I put Wendy's contact info there a while back. HTH PS. Relative to his potential broken arm, he should see a local doctor if he broke it. When I suffered a broken leg in Mongolia, I saw a doctor when i arrived in the capital city...they do have qualified medical personnel in these remote parts despite the noise you may hear on the Internet. |
For Hans & Volker, Vladivostok
Hans & Volker, .. we have 3 telephone numbers for you and receive your SMS, .. but we can't get replies to you.
Leaving Vlad for Zarabino on Friday, Ferry to Sok Cho,.. Bikes Freight from Busan to Seattle, .. arrive Seattle circa 15th August. Wendy Choi in Seoul is handling it. A couple of German and Dutch bikes currently staying @ Hotel Vladivostok but we have only left notes, didn't meet them. Geoff |
Vladivostok Vlad Moto Iron Tigers
Dan and Friends,
Vlad Moto Bike Repair/Sale \s and home of Iron Tigers. I'm there now. My telephone is: +7 (964) 810 8816 Address in Vlaid is: Vlad Moto Co, Box Number 107, IRYSHSKAYA Str 23, Vladivostok 690089, Russia Vlad Moto Number is: 4232 36 75 17 They will handle bike and help Dan with logistics, finding medical help, accomodation and onwards travel. Geoff |
Ferry from Zarubino to Sok-Cho
Hello everybody,
For the people in Vladivostok, could you post here the days (and hours) when the ferry from Zarubino leaves for Sok-Cho? Geoff, I see that you leave on Friday for Zarubino and from there with the ferry to Sok-Sho, so you probably know the schedule fo it...please share it, Thanks, Cristina (in behalf of Dan) |
Hand and Volker, how can you be reached?
Does anybody knows how Hans and Volker can be contacted?
Dan tried the phone numbers posted by them a few days ago... Hans, Volker aka.Hombre and Baba, please give a sign:-) Bitte, send a sms to Dan directly (+40726177700) so that he can also reach you. I gave Dan two numbers of yours: + 7 423 26 35 474 and +49 170 435 92 48, he tries to reach you as well... Dan has the same plan as you do: via Zarubino, to South Korea and from there (Wendy) to Alaska. He will be in Vladivostok today (24th July). The truck which brings him will leave him 50 km from Vlad, but he's in touch with Shustrik (maybe you are in contact with him..).He'll need help with the bike drive, his arm is in gypsum now (and should stay like this 6, 7 days) :mchappy:Cristina |
Hi Vlad guys,
Thanks for doing all the leg work there on getting to Alaska. I say p*ss on Vlad Air. I am going the way of Blue88 and ferry to Korea, then ocean freight to Seattle. Blue 88 - any prices on this yet? And looking at your post it seems like once you are in Korea, it is about 14 days shipping time from Korea to Seattle, does that sound right? Cheers, Rene |
Thank you Hans, Volker, Geoff, Dan and Edde.
After all this very good information you have posted, we have decided the best (if not the only) decision is to go thorugh Wendy in Korea. This should make our lives so much easier. We hope to fly the bikes to Alaska sometime around the 10th of August. Dan, it sounds like your arm may mend in 6-7 days. Very relieved to hear that. Hopefully you are feeling well and this hasn't slowed you down too much. Like Cristina (for Dan) we'd very interested in anyone could post the ferry departure schedule from Zurubino and how long the ferry ride takes. Thank you all and safe riding, Mike |
Oh, I should check this thread earlier.
Well, Dan has called me yesterday and keeping me in touch about his way. It seems he's arriving late tonight, be cause only about 10 AM he has left Khabarovsk. Tonight we're going to pick him up from Caterpillar truck to Vladivostok. I've already found garage for repair his bike, so no worries. Just waiting for news from him by call or sms. |
Ferry Zarabino to Sok Cho
I only have the information for the ferry I will be taking,.. as follows:
Departure Days: Saturdays, Mondays & Wednesdays Documentation Check-in: 14:00 to 16:00 Ferry Departure Time: 18:00 each of the 3 days Crossing Time: 17 Hours Cost: $220 for Person (Lowest Economy Rate, no bed) $300 for Bike (Add maybe $100 for various 'Customs Charges to be safe) Tickets: Passenger Tickets from Hyundai Hotel in Vladivostok, (accept Rubbles and Credit Cards), Bike Ticket from Zarubino Port (We think Rubbles but possibly Dollars Only,.. check) If ferry delayed due to weather,.. it shunts back 1 day. There are rumours of a Ferry direct from Vladivostok to Zarubino,.. but Rumours in these parts are often just that. We're taking Ferry from Vladivostok to Salvyanka, about 50Km north of Zarubino,.. just for the fun of it really. Wendy will assist at Korean end. Dan,.. hope your back on the move again soon, Hans and Volker,.. sane problem,.. all phone numbers seem to come to a dead end,.. but my Russian Cell Phone has stopped working too. Hope this helps, ...... 'Blue88' |
Another option is to drive directly from Vlad to Zurubino.
You can purchase your passenger and bike ticket directly there at the port. There is guest house in town and a much calmer atmosphere than Vlad. The road to Zurubino is partially paved but after Chita/Khab...its less of a pain than the potential hassles you'll face in Vlad... Just saying... Blue88 and others, please add in your shipment details into the shipping section of the HUBB...this will hopefully prove useful information to future travellers. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tri...t/shipping.php |
Just entried to home, Dan is OK, took a shower. KTM in garage. Good night, Vladivostok :-)
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Safe and? sound
Hi,
this is Dan. I am in good shape (my left hand is in gyps but not broken, just trauma, and with some painkillers I hope I can drive and get the bike shipped to Alaska). Shustrik and his friends picked the bike and me from the truck and, hmmm,it already sounds lame and completely repetitive to re-re-re-confirm how wonderful these people are, and it is impossible to thank them properly. There is a lot to say, I'll try and save it for a latter post but now I feel completely dum, knowing how people help each other here and knowing how things happen in the west. What are the reasons for which Romania (because that's what i can personaly talk about) was like Vladivostok in terms of "helping each other" 20 yeears ago and why it is "like everywhere in the west now" is a subject that I intend to develop in another post. I know that it depends from people to people and from personal experiences to other ones, but the level of involvement, the disregard for their own matters in favor of solving the ones of a stranger, the fact that nothing in return is expected, the overall attitude is something that (please forgive me for the extrem comparison) few priests will show in the western world. I do not want to insult anybody, there are political and economical reasons for which people act in certain ways and this is not a post to make judgements; all I want is to tell you that for myself these happenings are learning lessons about people, about the level to which we take our "good actions" and the reasons for that, about the real "value"of money. Yes, I might be biased, and these are the experiences lived by myself but I have to share it to the people that I know have ears for it. And I guess it is these lessons that we all look for when we choose to ride a bike a bit further away from home. And yes, maybe I went too far from the OP, but I feel that I had to say something and I ask for your forgiveness if I bothered with a few out of topic phrases. Now, going back, we'll try to get the KTM fixed tonight (lukily I have with me as spare parts what was broken in the transport except the left radiator/but we'll bypass that one till Anchorage where a new one will be waiting in a few days) and hopefully I can head tomorrow morning to Zarubino with Hans and Volker. And, yes, I promisse we will post the complete "solution" with contacts and numbers as soon as we will have it experienced. For now: don't waste time with Vlad Air and head to Korea (by the ways of Wendy Choi) |
A bit more information on those who maybe thinking of flying to Alaksa..the following is a translation of an email inquiry sent in Russian by a Russian friend. My english emails to this same guy went unanswered.
******************************************** Shipping is possible on the rout Petropavlovsk Kamchatski. Then in Petropavlovask bike owner arranges the cargo for the flight PKC – ANC and passes procedure of customs, because he most probably has a temporary admission and it is supposed to be closed at the border. Rate – 70 RR per kilo Paper work – 2690 RR per invoice (including hazardous cargo) Shipping in your own box is possible if its height will be reduced to 1000 mm (it is the maximum size of the loading hatch in TU 154 plane) We took off the wheels and squeezed the wheel fork till the end. Gasoline supposed to be poured out, battery disconnected, taken out of compartment and put into separate cardboard box. For your dimensions (2,3x1x1) volume is 2,3 cubic meters and the total weight to be paid is 384kg. As regards the route PKC-ANC I can tell only approximate fare – 4,2 EUR per kg (current rate of exchange is 1EUR-37,5RR) I don\t know how the rate will change and, unfortunately, can’t tell you the cost of paper work (including hazardous cargo). Best regards, Merezhko Sergey Anatolievich Head of temporary storage warehouse “Air Cargo” tel: (+7-4232) 30 75 35 E-mail: svh@air-cargo.ru |
Update on Dan
Dan caught the Ferry from Zarabino to Sok CHo Korea with us on Monday, he arrived safe in Sok Cho on Monday and is now on a van with his bike heading to ICN Seoul for flight to Anchorage.
Hans and Volker caught the Saturday Ferry that we should have been on. They can't ride in South Korea so transported to ICN also. Wendy Choi has been amazing for all of us. As for us, .. our Bike Visa was only 14 days, .. our Passport Visa 90 days. Had to miss the first ferry, pay fine of 1,500 Rr and now have a criminal record in Russia. If entering Russia,.. ensure your Bike Customs Visa matches your Passport Visa for duration (It's all in Russian) :thumbup1: Geoff |
Thank you gift for Wendy
Hey Everyone,
Dan and I really appreciate all the work Wendy put into helping us get our bikes to North America. As far as we heard and can tell from the quotes, she is doing all this at cost. Dan and I are going to put together $100 each to get her a gift certificate to a nice restaurant or spa. If any of you want to contribute as well, let us know. We'll put up the $$ now and get payment from you later. The more of us there are saying thank you on the card, the better. Also, if you have any specific ideas for the gift certificate, let us know. Cheers, Mike |
From Vlad to Korea
There are some bikers coming behind us that asked for detailed info so I sent this. Thought I'd post in case anyone else could use it.
hey Kurtis, you're probably on the road to Khabarosk right now so no point in me talking about the bad road not being so bad and the plentiful petrol stations and kafes. Here's what you need to know for the next step. When you arrive in Vladivostok, track down just about any biker on the street and ask them about the "Iron Tigers Motorcycle Club". This club is amazing and they'll let you stay at their repair shop for free. Say hi to MadMax and the Architect for me. When in Vlad, go down to the marine terminal (by the train station) and find the Dong Chung ferry office on the 2nd floor. Bring your passport of course. You can buy your personal tickets there by credit card for about $260 each. If you bring your bike documents as well you can get the customs process started by fax there. Remember the ferries leave on Mon, Wed and Sat. D-Day. Drive the 200km to Zarubino. Mixed road of paved and gravel. Doesn't take long. We arrived really early but there was no point because the port doesn't open until 1pm. At 1pm, go into the building and there's a ticket desk on your left. Pay 200 rubles each. This is just the price of being admitted to the port. Make sure the woman knows you are riding bikes. Show your ticket to the gate guy and ride your bikes into the port. Go left and ride as far as you can past the big parking lot and past the big building. Hang a right when you pass the big building and see the ramp at the back end of the ferry. Park you bikes and walk toward the ferry. The door you want to the building is the last one on the right. There's a little office with two dour women in it. The one named Nada will take your documents, photocopy them and them begins a flurry on ridiculous typing. After she's typed "War and Peace" into the computer she will present you with a bill. She tried to bill us for $150 and we queried why and offered a $100 instead. She immediately reprinted the bill for $100 (bloddy Russia). As far as we can tell this is the fee her office (part of the ferry company) charges to sort the bill of lading for shipping and to take care of customs. We couldn't get her below $100 but maybe try offering $50 to start. Can't hurt. Some poor Korean guy (who you should see coming the other way on a new looking BMW R1150RS loaded to the gills with gear) paid the $150 then saw us knock it down to $100 and he wasn't happy. After you pay Nada, she will run off to sort customs for you. In the mean time you walk to the massive waiting room where the food shop is and go to the cash counter. There, Natasha will charge you 460 Rubles after which you proceed to the next desk where they convert your ticket to a boarding pass. At this point you're sorted. Sit for a few hours, buy a snack or a beer. Nada or a minion will find you and give you a single piece of paper that is your bill of lading. This piece of paper will be used to charge you for transport of the bike once you arrive in Sokcho. When the ferry is ready, ride you bike onto the ferry. A soldier will ask you to open and show your stuff. Then park the bike, walk off the ferry back to the waiting room. Proceed through passport control (this is super smooth and friendly, didn't even look at anything but passport and immigration card) and sail off. Sleep a lot on the ferry (you be exhausted from Iron Tiger partying). Arrive in Sokcho. Walk off, pass through passport control. You'll be met by a ferry employee who will take you to an office and ask you to pay $275 for the bike transport. Walk back onto the ferry and ride your bike 100m to a storage warehouse. Eventually, you're trucker will arrive, load the bike and then you ride off to Seoul for the crating company and eventually the airport. Sokcho is beautiful. If you have time, drink a little Sujo and sing a lot of kareoke. Hope this helps. Fire away if you have any other questions. Cheers and safe riding, Mike |
MikeD,
Thanks for posting the ferry info. I will be there in a week or so and its helpful to know whats going on. Good on you for the gift to Wendy as well. She has been a star with me and i will think of another way to say thanks for her hard work. Rene |
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