Hi Dan,

We're currently in Pakistan and have come through the same way as you in the last few months. We're also UK passport holders and left the UK with just China and Pakistan visas so got the rest en route.

We did as follows:

Europe: no problems, anything required is done at the border (look into green card/insurance though)
Turkey: got at border €15 plus €10 for 3 months insurance.
Georgia: all done at border - didn't pay a penny
Azerbaijan: applied in Istanbul, dead easy - never asked for an LOI so didn't get one) - definitely get to the customs in Baku before your 72 hours is up. We ended up parking our bikes in customs, and then coming back a few days later.
Turkmenistan: applied for transit visa in Istanbul (took 20 mins) and arranged to pick up visa in Baku. Definitely the best way as means you don't have to specify date (it starts when you land). Make sure you allow 3 weeks between application and pick up. No LOI required.
Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan - applied for both in Istanbul (Kyrg let us take passport away for other apps). No LOI required. Note, do NOT overstay your Uzbek visa - they got very funny when we needed to extend after they closed border at Osh. Kyrg extensions are dead easy, 3 hours and $20 for 30 days.
Kazak - applied in Tashkent - took 2 days, cheap.

Can't comment for Russia, but we haven't needed any LOI's or agents. All been pretty straight forward. Even Pakistan (some in our china crossing group didn't have their Pakistna visas) was easy despite a recent ruling that you can only get Pakistan visas at the embassy in your home country. We just rode to Sost and they gave them no questions asked for $24 for the month. Way cheaper and far less hassle than we had doing it in London!!

Hope that helps. If you want any extra info, go to our blog where I've tried to record visa/border info as we've gone. If you've got any other questions though just get in touch.

__________________
www.motoventurers.com

and if you do overstay the Uzbek visa, and they are about to deport you, then PM me and I'll tell you how I managed to get out of it

Seriously though, the Uzbeks are very tight on a lot of things. Make sure you don't overstay and don't have to extend, make triple sure you declare all cash and electronics when entering, and make sure you stay in a hotel in at least some places, so you get the police (Ovir) registration papers in case they ask for it when leaving the country. Apart from that it's a blast :-)

Hey, mate!
I returned back on August 20 from a 3-week motorcycle trip from Italy to east Turkey, Georgia and Armenia.


GEORGIA: outside of Europe, it's been the easiest experience of my life as concerns customs formalities.
I did all the proceedings (including Visa) at the border: all was easy, relaxed and fast, due to highly professional officers.


AZERBAIJAN (Krasny Most border point): a real pain in the a--!
I could not enter the border even if I had a regular Visa obtained at Azeri embassy here in Italy: they wanted a USD 1520 deposit because I was not in transit (I meant to do Tbilisi - Baku - Tbilisi) even though I was made sure before departure that if I remained 72 hours only, no deposits would have been requested.
They did not give a s--t of this information I received, so I turned back and came back to the friendly Georgia.
A friend of mine that was in transit to Turkmenistan received the same request.

If you can, enter Azerbaijan at Lagodekhi border, not at Krasny Most as I tried to do: Lagodekhi border officers are way less bothering than their collegues at Krasny Most (many people told me this).


Well, technically no, but I friend of mine was asked to show the Carnet de Passage at Turkmenistan border, even though Turkmenistan don't appear on the list of Countries where it is necessary.
But I must point out he's the only friend of mine that received this request in Turkmenistan out of many others that did not.

__________________
Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré

They asked to see my Carnet at the Turkmenistan border too. I don't think it's required in any way, it's just easier for them to identify frame and engine numbers that way, because the Carnet is a familiar document, whereas vehicle registration papers from all over the world are all different and might as well be home made ...

This a good point, I was travelling with a temporary V5 from the UK, which is written by hand. I only had trouble in Moldova, but no problems else where. To be honest the temp V5 looked sooooo soooo fake it was embarassing. I think one could easily fake a V5 logbook

Back in end of July, no Carnet required. I was coming from Iran at Bajigiran border crossing: Day 24 Turkmenistan - Ilpo Juvander

__________________
http://www.juvander.fi/ilpo

I went through there 2 years ago. No Carnet needed. But quite a few fees: fuel surcharge, "permit of passage" for $15 (why is there such a thing called "visa", which I've already paid for?). All with proper receipts though!

Getting the Turmen visa was a pain in the backside. Once the visa agencies heard the word "Turkmenistan", I was told that I'm on my own. Basically, they're all fed up with dealing with Turkmenistan embassies. I would soon find out why.

UK/German embassy were extremely unfriendly. Embassy in Vienna was very friendly and helpful on the phone, so I went via them.

In 2008 (according to ALL embassies of Turkmenistan I tried), to get a TRANSIT visa you'd need a visa for the country you'll be coming from, AND the visa of the country you'll be going to. (Just in case it's always been your dream of becoming an illegal immigrant there
Only then were you allowed to apply for the transit visa.

A Letter of Invitation is NOT needed. However, 1 week after I applied at the embassy in Vienna (when I was already travelling & about to pick it up en-route), they told me that they changed the rules and that now I DO need a LOI.
After contacting 10 tour operators in Turkmenistan to get me a LOI, they all said: a LOI for a Transit visa doesn't even exist.
Another week (and dozens of emails) later, the Vienna embassy changed the rules back to "no LOI needed", and I got the visa... An exercise in madness!

__________________
__________________________
http://www.panomoto.com

sounds bonkers.

Is Terkmen worth it?

Im debating a carnet for my trailer as it has no documents

2013 by the way, so a bit of time

G

__________________
Land Rover D90
www.Siroccoverland.com | Follow us on Facebook