Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Northern and Central Asia
Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
Photo by Helmut Koch, Vivid sky with Northern Lights, Yukon, Canada

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Helmut Koch,
Camping under Northern Lights,
Yukon, Canada



Like Tree13Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #31  
Old 3 May 2020
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 70
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomkat View Post
Iawan that looks like a pretty fair plan. Coming down isn't a problem and naturally you don't want to limit your day's riding going up to a really short distance if you can avoid it. Your options could be a bit limited if you want to find a hotel for 10 for the night. Just be flexible and be prepared to turn back if anyone gets sick. Impress on them that they need to let the leader know if they do feel bad, it's no time to be a hero and really make a crisis.
Thank you very much for your advice Tomkat
We will adapt on the fly but starting from a logical roadmap. If we have to wait or go back, we will ... Our goal is to get to Ulaanbaatar from Barcelona and enjoy the trip
Reply With Quote
  #32  
Old 3 May 2020
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 70
Quote:
Originally Posted by levelo View Post
Hi Iawan,

Yes, way more reasonable to shoot for 2021.
I was already on my way to Central Asia but I turned back in mid-March.
Best of luck,

L.
Best of luck levelo!!
Reply With Quote
  #33  
Old 3 May 2020
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 70
Quote:
Originally Posted by smalle10 View Post
I would put in a day more and drive Wakhan Valley.

And take a slow day and sleep in Eshkashem 2600 m.

I hope I am going 2021.
I was considering that option too but we only have 40 days to complete the trip
Reply With Quote
  #34  
Old 3 May 2020
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 70
Quote:
Originally Posted by sushi2831 View Post
Hello

I haven't been there yet, so no knowledge about the situation.
But I have done some travelling in the andes, so I'm just looking at the numbers of the altitude.

I think the highest risk of running into a problem, if you do at all, is the last leg.

Riding the bike on those roads at sealevel is not the same as a full day at around 3500-4500m, every breath you take has only few oxigen.

I had a breakdown with my bike at around 4500m in Peru, I spend at least two weeks at the altiplano around 4000m was well adjusted, but still was hardly able to push the bike on tarmac for a couple hundert meters.

For solo or just with a buddy, the risk is not to high that you run into troubles, but in a group of 10?
To avoid problems, I would go slower, 5 days instead of 4.
Have a day of rest at 3000-3500m, but since I haven't been there yet I, don't know where a good place is to do that.
Just don't rush in high altitude.

Have a plan B in case someone can't adjust quickly and needs to desend to a lower altitude or you have a breakdown or accident and some of your group have to stay longer at that altitude.

There is no easy way to figure out who of your groupe is more prone to the high altitude.

Just my two cent about the risk of the altitude above 3000m.
Have a great trip, someday it will again be possible.

sushi
Thank you very much sushi2831!!

If necessary we will take a day off between Khorough and Murghab, see on the go.

Regarding accommodation, we'll not have a problem if we have to separate into 2 or 3 groups, it usually happens in the interior of Kazakhstan or Russia, but there are always people willing to stay.
The important thing is to start the day rested, with good landscapes and AC / DC soundtrack
Reply With Quote
  #35  
Old 4 Aug 2020
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 4
Most of heat I can say has already been said, but I did this trip a couple of years ago. Altitude is a bitch and well worth preparing for by acclimatising. Fit people get struck with altitude as much as the unfit. Bikes with carburettors more so than people, so be prepared to take your time and go up in stages. Waking in the night, feeling like death is not usual but by the time its time to leave you won't notice it at all. You tend to ascend quickly by motorcycle so a few days in a high up town is best before hitting the high passes.

Money is easy. Take funds/Euro/dollars in large notes (honestly they prefer to change a 50 than a 10 and you can pay for almost anything and receive the change in local currency.

Basic guesthouses and homestays seem to be every where through the Stans. Usually for not much money you get a place to stay, dinner and breakfast and off you go.

We camped at Camp Lenin that was above 3000 meters and overlooked by the Pamir mountains. It was a cold and shit night but the views incredible and were woken by the brightest view or the Milky Way you have ever seen and the smell and sound of Yaks eating and snorting by the tent. I thought it was the snorers in the next tent but not......

The no mans land border crossing between Kyrghistan and Tadjihistan is quite and experience. A great off road road. Broken Brides no tarmac and a weirdness that you can't believe including RTW cyclists.......

We did the route by flying into and out of Osh!

Bests

Mike

Quote:
Originally Posted by lawan View Post
Hi all.

We will do again Barcelona - Ulaanbaatar but this time we want to include the Pamir highway.
Although our idea is to enjoy the trip, we are used to driving in harsh conditions and long distances if necessary.
We'll do the north route because we don't have many days.

- What state is the road in?
- How many stages could the Dusambe - Osh route be divided into?
- What accommodation options are there for a group of 8-10 riders?

Thanks in advance!!
Reply With Quote
  #36  
Old 6 Mar 2021
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 70
Quote:
Originally Posted by othermike View Post
Most of heat I can say has already been said, but I did this trip a couple of years ago. Altitude is a bitch and well worth preparing for by acclimatising. Fit people get struck with altitude as much as the unfit. Bikes with carburettors more so than people, so be prepared to take your time and go up in stages. Waking in the night, feeling like death is not usual but by the time its time to leave you won't notice it at all. You tend to ascend quickly by motorcycle so a few days in a high up town is best before hitting the high passes.

Money is easy. Take funds/Euro/dollars in large notes (honestly they prefer to change a 50 than a 10 and you can pay for almost anything and receive the change in local currency.

Basic guesthouses and homestays seem to be every where through the Stans. Usually for not much money you get a place to stay, dinner and breakfast and off you go.

We camped at Camp Lenin that was above 3000 meters and overlooked by the Pamir mountains. It was a cold and shit night but the views incredible and were woken by the brightest view or the Milky Way you have ever seen and the smell and sound of Yaks eating and snorting by the tent. I thought it was the snorers in the next tent but not......

The no mans land border crossing between Kyrghistan and Tadjihistan is quite and experience. A great off road road. Broken Brides no tarmac and a weirdness that you can't believe including RTW cyclists.......

We did the route by flying into and out of Osh!

Bests

Mike
Thank you very much Othermike
Reply With Quote
  #37  
Old 6 Mar 2021
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 70
If all goes well, I hope doing the trip in August.
We will do a rest and acclimatization stage in Khorugh and we will go to Iskhasim to see the market and we will also stay another day in Murghab if necessary.
We will probably do the Wakhan Corridor, can someone tell me which places would be advisable to rest? Somewhere we should see?
Thanks !!

Last edited by lawan; 9 Mar 2021 at 22:02.
Reply With Quote
  #38  
Old 7 Mar 2021
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 54
Number plate.

Quote:
Originally Posted by klausmong1 View Post
Altai - Uliastay is a very easy offroad stretch. In my opinion. done that 2 times already.

Northern part in Tajikistan is much harder.

Both routes are beautiful.
Northern is more mountains and valley.

Southern you drive longer along the Panj river.

If you will do the northern part because you think you are faster, than this is maybe wrong.
I think southern part is much faster.

I like the way from Altai to Uliastay.

2018:



And 2013:



Klaus, I am curious, is that a couple of rubber bands holding your number plate on in the first image?
..I have seen too many foreign number plates in Russian biker clubhouses...
Kind regards
James
Reply With Quote
  #39  
Old 7 Mar 2021
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 272
Quote:
Originally Posted by lawan View Post
If all goes well, I hope to do the trip in August.
We will do a rest and acclimatization stage in Khorugh and we will go to Iskhasim to see the market and we will also stay another day in Murghab if necessary.
We will probably do the Wakhan Corridor, can someone tell me which places would be advisable to rest? Somewhere we should see?
Thanks !!
There is a hot springs there ($15 including bed, dinner and breakfast) but climb there worse than the rest of highway.

EDIT: name of hotspring Fatima

Last edited by cyclopathic; 7 Mar 2021 at 13:24.
Reply With Quote
  #40  
Old 9 Mar 2021
klausmong1's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vienna
Posts: 726
Quote:
Originally Posted by James1959 View Post
Klaus, I am curious, is that a couple of rubber bands holding your number plate on in the first image?
..I have seen too many foreign number plates in Russian biker clubhouses...
Kind regards
James
This are cable ties, to not lose the plates offroad.

Never had a problem that someone took my plates.
I dont even think about it.
__________________
www.klausmotorreise.com
Reply With Quote
  #41  
Old 9 Mar 2021
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 272
Quote:
Originally Posted by othermike View Post
Most of heat I can say has already been said, but I did this trip a couple of years ago. Altitude is a bitch and well worth preparing for by acclimatising. Fit people get struck with altitude as much as the unfit. Bikes with carburettors more so than people, so be prepared to take your time and go up in stages. Waking in the night, feeling like death is not usual but by the time its time to leave you won't notice it at all. You tend to ascend quickly by motorcycle so a few days in a high up town is best before hitting the high passes.

Money is easy. Take funds/Euro/dollars in large notes (honestly they prefer to change a 50 than a 10 and you can pay for almost anything and receive the change in local currency.

Basic guesthouses and homestays seem to be every where through the Stans. Usually for not much money you get a place to stay, dinner and breakfast and off you go.

We camped at Camp Lenin that was above 3000 meters and overlooked by the Pamir mountains. It was a cold and shit night but the views incredible and were woken by the brightest view or the Milky Way you have ever seen and the smell and sound of Yaks eating and snorting by the tent. I thought it was the snorers in the next tent but not......

The no mans land border crossing between Kyrghistan and Tadjihistan is quite and experience. A great off road road. Broken Brides no tarmac and a weirdness that you can't believe including RTW cyclists.......

We did the route by flying into and out of Osh!

Bests

Mike
Quote:
Originally Posted by othermike View Post
......

The no mans land border crossing between Kyrghistan and Tadjihistan is quite and experience. A great off road road. Broken Brides no tarmac and a weirdness that you can't believe including RTW cyclists.......

We did the route by flying into and out of Osh!

Bests

Mike
I lost my passport and pack with documents in that 26km stretch.. had to go back and look for it. That pass is all red clay will be really slick when wet

People prefer riding loop counterclockwise, when you go clockwise from Osh you gain elevation fast.. iirc Osh is at 700m, Sir Tash at 3000 and passes at 4200-4600m. Could be hard and you don't know how your body react.

Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #42  
Old 9 Mar 2021
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 800
Quote:
Originally Posted by cyclopathic View Post
People prefer riding loop counterclockwise, when you go clockwise from Osh you gain elevation fast.. iirc Osh is at 700m, Sir Tash at 3000 and passes at 4200-4600m. Could be hard and you don't know how your body react.
Yes, I spotted this when planning my route. But the plan for other parts means I have to do it that way. After Osh I plan to spend a couple of days in Sary-Tash to acclimatise at 3200m, maybe visit Pik Lenin base camp as a day trip, then one day to camp at Karakul and next day Murghab. That takes me over the Ak-Baital pass in the last stretch but back down to 3600m to sleep. After that it's back downhill to Khorog and Kalaikhum.
Reply With Quote
  #43  
Old 9 Mar 2021
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 272
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomkat View Post
Yes, I spotted this when planning my route. But the plan for other parts means I have to do it that way. After Osh I plan to spend a couple of days in Sary-Tash to acclimatise at 3200m, maybe visit Pik Lenin base camp as a day trip, then one day to camp at Karakul and next day Murghab. That takes me over the Ak-Baital pass in the last stretch but back down to 3600m to sleep. After that it's back downhill to Khorog and Kalaikhum.
There is literally nothing to do in Sary Tash; there are a couple stores, 2 gas stations, a restaurant with guesthouse.. If you want to get used to altitude go to Tash-Rabat.
Reply With Quote
  #44  
Old 9 Mar 2021
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 70
Quote:
Originally Posted by cyclopathic View Post
There is a hot springs there ($15 including bed, dinner and breakfast) but climb there worse than the rest of highway.

EDIT: name of hotspring Fatima
in Iskhasim?
Reply With Quote
  #45  
Old 9 Mar 2021
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 272
Quote:
Originally Posted by lawan View Post
in Iskhasim?
Bibi Fatima Hot Springs
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fp22zwKizcwjjsdJA
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Pamir Highway and Kazahstan Reeve.Barnett Northern and Central Asia 5 31 Jul 2017 05:28
Ten Do´s and Don´t of the Dalton Highway, Alaska MotoQuest TRAVEL Hints and Tips 35 5 Feb 2017 23:07
Pamir Highway Landslide - July 2015 Chris Scott Northern and Central Asia 12 24 Oct 2015 05:45
The Pamir Highway- Dushanbe to Osh- Early/Mid July emtrenchard Travellers Seeking Travellers 1 6 Jul 2015 19:36

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:51.