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The Stans 2008
Hi everyone,
I kind of lost track of "who will be where and when" for riding through the Stans this year. From what it looks like, there'll be quite a few of us anywhere between April and September. So I thought it'd be good to have a little "Stans 2008 mailing list". Those who would like to join in on that mailing list: can you please PM or email me your itineraries, name/email address and (if OK with you) phone number. I'll then put it together into a spreadsheet and send an email with everyone copied in, so we can stay in touch, share some planning stuff & maybe meet up for some vodka on the road. Bjorn |
Plans...
Hi Bjorn
Got back from Turkey yesterday. Have forwarded plans to date for The Stans by e-mail. Only got the Kyrgyz visa so far. (Turkmen on the border with Stantours help) Tajikistan visa may be a pain if they don't open the embassy in London in time (Have to apply in person for UK nationals so may need to detour to Brussels) Will appply for Russia next week to satisfy the <90 day rule. Hope to meet you and Len on route. Cheers Paul |
Hi Bjorn,
Going to be leaving the UK 19th July for a leisurely 6 week ride to Ulaan Baatar via Russia, Kaz, Uz and Kyrgy. |
stans
hi Bjorn
now monday i go to brussels to pic up my uzbeki and kirgy visa and in the same time aplaiy for tadjiki and turkmenistan but for the dates , i now you want to enter china half of sept (monsoon India) thad is a litle to late for me since a have a meeting in thailand i hope we can stil do china with more people , but i stic to my plan to enter china half august. the monsoon in india is not a big problem for me since in india i stay only in ladak |
schedual
12.07.2008 Leaving Croatia -> Serbia -> Bulgaria
15.07. Turkey 22.07. Iran 01.08. Turkmenistan (transit) 02.08. Uzbekistan 07.08. Turkmenistan (transit) 09.08. Iran 15.08. Afghanistan (Herat only, one day no sleeping) 15.08. Iran 20.08. Turkey -> Greece -> Macedonia -> Montenegro -> Croatia +/- |
My plans :
leaving Belgium in sept. via Ukraine, Russia, Kazachstan, Uzbekistan (perhaps Kyrgyztan), Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey,... back home. For the transit trought Kazachstan I will be taking the train because I'm doing this trip on my Yamaha R6 and this bike is not the most suited bike for offroading. I'm having approx. 3 months the time. |
"Stan Plan"
Hi Bjorn,
Two of us are leaving London in May and heading to the Stans through Iran. The wishful “Stan Plan” is: Turkmenistan June 29 (transit visa) Uzbekistan July 2 Kyrgyzstan July 9 Kazakhstan July 17 Then onto Russia. (We initially planned for China but gave up on that option when confronted with the regulations and bureaucracy). Anyway, my contacts are Mike Preston. E-mail mikedpreston(a)gmail.com Cheers, Mike |
4 Polish Africa Twin will start from bishkek around 5 Aug. Then China and back to Kyrgyz, some days in Kyrgyzstan. We will finish about 4 weeks later.
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Stans ride
Hi all,
We fly into Europe mid April and after touring around Spain, Italy and eastern Europe for a few months, I'll head East around the first of July. Hope to ride through Turkmenistan,Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan before crossing into China in mid August. I'll be riding a reliable and very nicely detailed KTM 990 Adventure. I'm planning on end up in Oz next spring. MAX |
China?
Max - has China opened up to bikes? I tried to go through China and the only route possible was a very small part of the 'silk road' through the kashgar region, and at great expense (guide, accom. and fees were taking it well over 1000 dollars for four or five days - way out of my meagre budget...)
Would be great if they did open up but I think they are a bit cautious about foreigners being able to move freely, especially near any of the 'zones of special economic interest' (forced labour?) Personally I think that criminals should be forced to work by the state, but they still wouldn't let me in! |
foreign-licensed motorcycles in China
Nothing has changed regarding expense or paperwork for entering China. If anything, expect things to get more restrictive this summer prior to and during the Olympics.
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Stans 2008
Hi guys,
we started yesterday from Austria and are now in Slovenia (in the snow!). Check-out our blog at: On the path of Genghis Khan It seems we will be the first going there this year so will update you on the situation. For China, I might try to enter as I have a Hong Kong Chinese driving licence and live in HK but agree it is not a given that we will make it. But I disagree, with the olympics coming up they want to avoid any international problems, hence might be a bit easier this year. They already announced that they will let journalists tour around China freely to see how great the country is. Cheers. |
Quote:
Terrific trip! Keep on blogging and posting - I hope to be on that route in a year or two, and this is so useful...very inspiring. Good luck, good roads! |
france via stans to malaysia
Hi all,
Leaving next month, heading east through turkey, iran. Expect to be in stans area for 3 weeks in May and enter china before June. Hope to meet some bikers on this road. Sheen |
Hello
We are 3 people from Germany, starting on the 10th of May. Going by train to Turkey ( to save some time), then via Georgia, Aserbaidschan and a ferry boat over the Kaspian sea into the stans. Back via Kasachstan and Russia. Visas are on the way. We have to be back in the middle of June. I hope to see somebody there. Michael |
Hi Sheen can you contact me?.
Hi Sheen I havn't got a number for you can you give me a call please?.
Jimmy |
Looking for someone in UB?
Hi, I'm living in UB and we have a garage for your bikes and a lot more information about anything..... Email: naadam90@yahoo.com
Phone 99762614 |
List for the stan
Hi Bjorn,
I and my daughter leaving USA in small Suzuki SX4 silver car on May 22. we should be starting on May 25th from Vladivostok To: Mongolia Kazakhstan Kyrgyz UZ TM AZ Turkey EU UK Home Hope to see some of you on a way. Look for small silver SUZZUKI SX4 with DATW (drive around the world) Logo. Best Wishes arun |
Update
Hi guys,
I just emailed an updated spreadsheet with everyone's details from this thread. If you haven't provided your email addresses already, or if this thread is new to you & you'd like to keep in touch with other Stan travellers: send me an email and I'll update the spreadsheet and post it out to everyone. My contact details can be found on my website: Panomoto *** Pan-Continental Motorcycle Journey (Please note: I'm busy enough doing all the visas & other travel planning, but I'll try my best to send out updated spreadsheets as good as possible until my departure in 3-4 weeks). Bjorn |
Info on the stans
Hi guys, I've just posted some fresh info from the ground on the stans.
Have a look and let me know if you need more. |
STAN visit
we are driving from Korea on May 12th to Vladivostok to Mongolia to Kazakhstan on mid-June and rest of the stans.
Thanks arun |
On our way to London
Hi Paul,
Me and a mate are shipping to Nepal on this Friday. Looking at our options once we enter Pakistan. Want to do the Karakorum highway and see what the costs are to get round to Kyrgyztan via China or now possibly airfreight from Islammabad to Bishtek. Plan B is back around the south to Iran and through to Turkey. Will keep track and look forward to seeing everyone on the road. Duncan 2 Blokes & 2 Bikes - Silk Trailies - Home dkaberry@hotmail.com |
I am in India at the moment. I'll start towards Pakistan in about two weeks. I'll do a big circle through Iran to avoid Afghanistan and then Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey and finally Greece. So, I will be at the 'stans during the summer. CU on the road!
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In Busan, Korea
Hi Guys,
I am in Busan Korea, tomorrow I try to get my car out of the port and drive to Sokcho ferry port on May 8th to go to Vladivostok. anyone out there on same route? Thanks arun |
I'm in Dushanbe, Tajikistanm now.
The odometer has passed the 10.000km mark.:clap: Am leaving tomorrow to go to the Pamirs .. hope the roads aren't too bad. From there North to Sary Tash, Kyrgyztan and then East to Kashgar, China. Still some 5K to go to Nepal .. The 'stans are unlike any other place I've ever been. Not the easiest places to visit/travel, but worth all the effort and visa hassles .. Ride safe & CU on the road.:scooter: Emile www.boskoop2nepal.nl |
Turkmenistan embassy in London
Just to let know that our experience, contrary to earlier reports, was that the Turkmenistan embassy in London was very accommodating for a transit visa. Guy named Ata was great. Unfortunately, I think our collective experience in this group just goes to show that embassies and civil servants are completely random. M
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Hi,
A few of us planning to start in September Europe Russia Kazakhstan Kyrgystan Tajikstan Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Azerbaijan Georgia? or Armenia Turkey Europe. I'll keep in touch. |
living in bishkek
I am an american living and working in bishkek. Just finished rebuilding my Ural. My email is jamesj326@yahoo.com If I can be of any assistance please drop me a line. Been here over 2 years now. Not riding far this year but still making the occasional trip to the lake.
James |
Hi everyone, I'm going from London to Kazakhstan via Ukraine and Russia, on Yamaha XT660R, leaving July 19 and hoping to get back for mid September. Am I too late to get onto the 'Stans' mailing list/spreadsheet!?
Would be good to know if anyone else is going to be roaming the Kazakh steppes in August... cheers Abe |
I'm in Almaty, heading to Russia tomorrow
So, Yep, I am on the road right now. Currently In Almaty, Kazachstan. It's raining and the girls on the street didn't know it's gonna come:).
Some details: On: KTM LC4 400 Military Left Romania on: 27 May 2008 Route taken: Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Karabach, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazachstan Today, 30 of June 2008 I am in Almaty, Kazachstan and plan to head north tomorrow. Route to Follow: Kazachstan, Russia (to Barnaul), down to Mongolia, Ulan-Bator, up to Ulan Ude, Chita, Vladivostok, South Koreea, Alaska, Canada, USA, Europe. Target dates: Enter Mongolia: 4th of July Ulan-Bator: 20 of July Exit Mongolia: 23 of July Vladivostok: 1st of August Contact: dhonciuc@gmail.com +40726177700 |
Turkmenistan
Just came out of Turkmenistan. Other than getting nailed for $77 dollars of fees at the border, the country was a great experience.
Maybe a few thoughts: The people are not outwardly friendly like Iran, but they are very nice and helpful when approached. We were treated to 2 amazing feasts and one wedding celebration. We were on a 7 day transit visa from Ashgabat to Farap, but we deviated for 2 days. We went up to Darvaza to camp by the gaz crater at night. We had no problems with the police. Usually we just slow down a bit at the checkpoints, but don't make any indication we're stopping. Then just wave and keep riding by. The one guy who did stop us just looked at our passports with 0 understanding of English and waved us on. The police are nice and know nothing about immigration rules. Camping by a museum in Merv one night, the police just came to make sure we were doing well and enjoying out time in Turkmenistan on our cool bikes. The rules say that if you have a transit visa over 5 days you have to register, but the Ashgabat office didn't want to bother with it and the exit border didn't bat an eyebrow. If you have a more than 5 day transit visa watch out. The entry border charges you $15 for insurance, but it only last for 5 days (this is almost impossible to notice). We got caught in this scam and had to pay another $22 dollar at the exit border (for 5 days more insurance even though we were leaving the country that very minute). No amount of arguing could convince the impervious civil servants. If you crossing to Farap, beware there's a toll bridge that will cost we $7 and then another 100,000 manat. We had no idea this was coming and it screwed our budget. The rules say there's a $25 exit fee, but this was never brought up with us. We didn't question our good luck, but figured it must not apply to transit visa holders because there's no way the government would miss a grab at more $US. Beware, if you're not going the Farap route. The road after Darvaza to Konya-Urgench is TERRIBLE. Hope this helps someone. Cheers, Mike P.S. we're now in Bukhara and loving this city. |
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