Anchorage to Vlad
 

Hi everyone,

it looks like we have to talk again about an affordable way to go from Alaska to anywhere in Russia incl. a bike.

I know, Magadan Air went broke long ago, I know, Japan or Korea might be possible and I heard, there is a direct flight from ANC to VVO. Does anybody know trustworthy what that flight is all about? And how about bike transportation?

I want to return to Germany over land. My research so far revealed that the easiest way to go overland from Washington, DC, where I lived for 12 years, to Berlin, Germany, where I'm originally from, is to go to ANC, then fly via NYC to MOW and than to VVO. Takes you 3 days and your bike is God-knows-where. Also, it feels not right to not cross over in Alaska.

So: any updates?

Harti

possible routes
 

Hi,

i looked to go VVO to anywhere which is the reverse direction obviously and found it really tough. We found it easy to go VVO - Boat -> Korea -> Vancouver and its fairly affordable by comparison to some of the other routes. It maybe cheaper going the other way so check that out as a possibility.

Alternative is Anchorage -> Tokyo which is not to bad.. I think north west does that route.

Regards,

Jimmy.

Anchorage to Vlad
 

Hi again,

I slowly realize that I get so little response because it is so damn complicated to go somewhat strait from ANC to VVO. All other alternatives don't seem to be "right"... You can't go from Alaska back to the east coast of the US and then to Moscow and then to VVO. So since I realy want to go from ANC to east Russia how is this:

From ANC to Tokyo. On bike up north from Wakkanai with a ferry to Korsakov on the island of Sakhalin. From there on bike to Kholmsk and with a ferry to Vanino. There is a regular bus connection to Khabarovsk, that means, you can follow the road or the bus on bike. In Khabarovsk you hit the Trans Siberian Highway again.

It sounds pretty doable and doesn't seem to rip too deep a hole into your pocket.

How about it?
Harti

Anchorage to VVO
 

You might look into the Vladivostok Air option. They have (or had) direct flights going from ANC to Petropavlovsk, then another onward to VVO. I took the route you described from Tokyo to Vanino at the end of last year with my motorbike- no troubles whatsoever. Here's some VladAir info:

VLADIVOSTOK AIR

G'day Harti,

We did the Khabarovsk to Vanino to Sakhalin to Wakkanai route in September 2008. No problems and I highly recommend it. You will need a Carnet for Japan.Read my post in the Bike Shipping section of Horizons. The Russian Bikers in Sakhalin and Khabarovsk will look after you.

Thanx Chris,

exactly what I was looking for...

Harti

Harti, let us know how you arrange everything. Im planning a similar route from Calgary to Germany next year. I pushed this back because the cost and time it takes to get a bike from Alaska to Russia.

I suppose 50 years of prevented travel on both sides, and the sparse population has left this travel route under served.

@ Chris,

I can,t find you in the shipping section. Can you send me the link?

If not done already in your posting, how much did you spend from Russia to Japan and further to the US of A?

Interesting that this route has not drawn more attention to itself... Riding in Japan seems to be very doable with a carnet, although it needs to be translated by Japanese authorities.

On the other hand: how expensive is the insurance for Korea (let's say for one week) and how high might the bond be for a '08 BMW 800 GS (10 k $)?

@ Tdurden,

will do, just follow the conversation.
Good luck,

Harti