Where to get petrol near Ustyurt Plateau, Kazakhstan
 

I want to go South from Beyneu directly to Ustyurt Plateau, which is around 250km through the desert. After which I would like to roam around before going to the coast.

My bike does around 400-450km on asphalt which means that even with an additional 10l I'd be pushing my luck.

Is there anywhere I could purchase petrol in the desert?

Thanks

Hard to say.

On the main road from Beyneu to Shetpe there is no gas statin for 300km.
And this is a main road.

So I think it might be hard to get benzin where you want to go.

I would better take all the benzin with you what you might need to go there and come back.

Thanks for the quick reply.

I wouldn't be looking to come back the same way, but rather going to the West, for instance Senek. I presume there is some petrol there... I don't think my V-strom can handle dunes too well, but through the North there seems to be some beaten tracks.

Near Senek do you know anywhere where there will be petrol?

I do not really know, but I can not imagine that you find benzin there.

Also on OSm it says there is a gas station at Zhangaozen .

And if you have been in this area then you know there are really not so much gas stations, not even at the main route.

it's my first time. I read here that in Uzbekistan it's common to buy petrol in the black market. Apparently in Kazakhstan it doesn't work the same way

I've driven quite a bit off road in that area. You won't find fuel outside of Beyneu or Zhanaozen. You might get lucky and find an ancient ZiL truck with a generous driver but it would not be wise to rely on this. The same goes for water.

EO

Thank you so much.

any waypoints that you recommend in that area? Cool landscapes and anything worth visiting?

Beket Ata, Shopan Ata are two interesting pilrimage sites. There are nice limestone landscapes south of the road to Beket Ata, but the real jewel is the Karynzharyk Depression, part of Ust-Yurt National Park.

https://eurasiaoverland.files.wordpr...e-brothers.jpg

EO

I did not understand which route are you planning to take: asphalt or offroad?
Coming from? Going to? Visiting what?

I was in Senek last month: I don't remember seeing any gas station, but probably you can find some fuel.
There are definitely gas stations in Zhanaozen, Shetpe and Beyneu, maybe Say Otes too.
Senek is some 50 kms from Zhanaozen on asphalt.

As EO says, water is the main problem: keep this in mind if you want to visit the area.

When I was in Say Otes last year, there was no fuel station.

Nothing between Beyneu and Shetpe

Is there a marked route or existing track out there, or is it navigation across open country? What's the terrain like? Thanks!

Thank you. I will come from Beyneu to South. At Ustyurt Plateau I intend to go West towards Zhanaozen. I'm mainly interested in landscapes.

Thanks to EurasiaOverland too!

"From Beyneu to south": this is the point.
Except from the main asphalt road, it is all dirt tracks.
It is a rough area and very sparsely populated.
I don't think I would try the harder stuff alone, not on a Vstrom, and specially not without TONS of water.
Way more water than what you think you will need.

Take care and enjoy, but please do a lot of research before going

I understand. If the track is mainly beaten, it will be OK, the only thing I'm not comfortable with is sand, in which case I will reroute or even abort. I will bring more than enough food and water for a few days and will have 10l fuel reserve, which should last at least 150km more than the tank, which in itself will last the whole 300km I intend to do off the radar.

I'm not ashamed to quit. I will do what I can. The plan is VERY flexible and I never schedule daily mileage goals/destinations or even book the return flight. Everything's out in the open. As of now, this is the route:

https://www.google.nl/maps/dir/talli...8079!3e0?hl=en with the detour at Beyneu

Well, I did what I feel I had to do and I advised you about the region: take care and then report us how it went.

What I can add is that, on the main asphalt road (the one in your map), some 80 or 100 kms coming from Beyneu there is a small sign with "Beket Ata + some kms" on it (maybe 140?), on the left.
I did not tried and did not checked it, but it looks like THAT is the direct track south.

From Beket Ata to Zhanaozen is now half dirt and half asphalt: they were building the road 1 month ago, so maybe it is already all asphalt.
Some 10-15 kms south of Beket Ata (coming from Beket Ata) there is a great viewpoint on the left (on the right if you are going to Beket Ata)

Unfortunately I did not visited Karynzharyk Depression, so I have no info about that, but pictures looks great.

Around 70 kms north of Aktau there is a nice spot on the beach close to abandoned village of Saura

A lot of beautiful landscapes also north and west of Shetpe: Sherkala mountain and nearby region, Shakpaktasay canyon...and more and more..

But remember: water....