How much time do you have from Mongolia/Russia border to Italy?
Did I understood right and you have only 1 month?

Let's say,
Russian Altai: you can cross in 2 days, if you want to enjoy your time there, minimum 5
Kazakhstan: you can cross in 2 days, if you want to enjoy your time there, minimum 5
Kyrgyzstan: you can cross in 3 days, if you want to enjoy your time there, minimum 7
Tajikistan: you can cross in 4 days, if you want to enjoy your time there, minimum 7
Uzbekistan: you can cross in 3 days, if you want to enjoy your time there, minimum 7
Kazakhstan again: you can cross in 2 days, if you want to enjoy your time there, minimum 4
Russia Volga region: you can cross in 2 days, if you want to enjoy your time there, minimum 5
Georgia: you can cross in 2 days, if you want to enjoy your time there, minimum 5
Turkey: you can cross in 2 days, if you want to enjoy your time there, minimum 5
Greece: you can cross in 1 day, if you want to enjoy your time there, minimum 5
Italy, let's say 1 day to reach home

It's minimum 24 days: I'm not saying you can't do it, but why?
Petrol, visas, a lot of kms, and never stopping.
It's up to you, since is your trip and not mine, but I suggest you to change your plans and take it easy, enjoying the beautiful places you will cross.

If you have only one month from Mongolia to Italy, and you want to reach Italy on your vehicle, avoiding the stans and crossing only Russia, I think it's your only option which makes some sense.

ciao

I just answered the same comment b4... I have 2 and 1/2 months now from Mongolia

Ok, so let's try to make a plan:

Maria already wrote you about Altai, and that's fine. Russian visa.
Kazakhstan, from Shemonaika you can go south. It's mostly steppe. I would suggest you a visit to Charyn Canion. You can count around 4-5 days. No visa for Italians up to 30 days.
Kyrgyzstan, it's an incredibly beautiful country. Mountains. You can spend months exploring side valleys etc etc. Put Song Kul lake at the center of your itinerary, don't miss the beautiful gravel road Kazarman-Jalalabad and enjoy the wilderness. I would stay 2 weeks in this country. No visa for Italians up to 30 days.
Tajikistan, here you have the Pamir Highway. The Wakhan valley it's worth the detour. Also in this country you can find a lot of side valleys to explore, if you have time. High mountains. 10 days. Evisa with GBAO permit.
Uzbekistan. Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, 2 days each, plus other 2 if you want to visit Aral sea at Muynak. It will be hot and sometimes on boring roads. 8-10 days. Visa needed.
Kazakhstan again: here you can choose to reach Russia through the steppe or to take the ferry from Aktau to Baku.
1st option, you would need double entry russian visa
2nd, you would need visa for Azerbaigian
1st option it's only steppe in that part of Kazakhstan, with some beautiful city in Russia (Astrakhan, Elista)
2nd option, it's not the right season probably, since it will be hot, but Mangystau region can offer some beautiful spots. Baku is interesting city.
Then you have Georgia, Turkey and Greece: 3 beautiful countries. No visas for Italians. Based on how much time you have left, you can decide to just ride through them, or to visit.
Georgia has some beautiful mountains. Tbilisi is a nice city.
Turkey, wow, A LOT of different things to see. Spend at least 2 days in Cappadocia if you've never been there.
Greece, Meteora it's on the way to Italy, so don't miss it. Then, a lot of things to see and visit also here, but it's Europe and you can fly in 1 hour from Italy, so probably for this trip you are doing, I would choose to use time in Asia.

Cheers,
cristiano

wow thats quiet a bit of info as well! u guys making my day! now..I was actually wondering if there was a ferry across the Caspian.any idea how frequent/safe/$$ is?
I wouldnt mind to 'shortcut' to Baku and bypass riding around the northwest side of Caspian.I didnt read the best reviews on this area (?) + that would probably simplify Russian visa to single+ I m not interested in developed cities anyway....... is Azebarjan visa available at port arriving Baku?
Christian!

There are pages well written and updated on caravanistan website regarding ferry and visas, take a look here for ferries and here for visas

c'mon man, I'm italian too! Cristiano, not Christian :-)

I ll get a crystal ball to predict next time!

yea..went to Caravanistan in the meantime, honestly seems more the hassle for this boat/visa/customs etc and probably healtier to ride then to be stuck in ports etc

cheers mate

did u actually take the boat? how was the process?

Yes I did, from Baku to Turkmenistan, but it was 2010, many things changed since then...

on caravanistan forum, you can find recent reports...

cheers

ye ,anyway all depending on the time I have .otherwise I can simplify and only hit Kyrgyzstan.explore for a while ,seems like an amazing place and lots to see. than just go through east Kazakhstan to Russia etc although looks like a lot of desert to go throu

hi Maria.how long did it take to enter Uzbekistan? .I m at Mongolia border now..trying to plan ahead .thanks!

Hi Forestwiz,

It really depends which border you pick.

As a rule the bigge, majors borders, the longer it takes. That is why I usually chose small borders so that there is no queue of thousands of trucks and locals trying to pass.

When we came into Uzbek from Kazakhstan, from Bayneu, it was the main border so there were so many trucks and cars.... it took us 5 hours with the help of Russian Moldovan bikers ( long story!) and their "fixer".

So pick small borders, it makes crossing faster and borders guards are less hassled and friendlier.

__________________
Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Yes thats a good ol trick that i always apply whenever possible.but there isn t much choice coming from Dushambe wherei need to get visa,going to Samarkand.
5 hours at border..thats a long time..ouch