Caspian Sea - May 2010
 

G'day all

My mate from London and I (from Australia) are heading out in early May 2010. Destination the Caspian Sea.

The ride originally had half a dozen of us, all UK based except for me. I ship my GSA across and back from Oz.

Route planning is: England, France, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan , Russia , Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Belgium, England.

Bob is an experienced European traveller and has been to most of the countries we intend to visit with his work, so we have a some background knowledge.

Any advice in relation to travelling the Stans and Iran would be greatly appreciated. Information such as visa issues, border crossings, any problems getting in, being turned away at borders etc.
Anyone who would like to join in either for the complete ride, or any part of the ride is more than welcome. Anyone from Australia who is contemplating a trip aorund that time, you also be welcome to join in.

I'm on the GSA, Bob on a KTM 990Adv, so some lively discussion of the breeds assured. I did the HU meeting in Tintaldra in Victoria in 2008, meeting a hell of a lot of like minded individuals, I am keen to take the trip. What started as a flight of fancy is fast becoming a reality!

cheers

Dave
:scooter:

Hey Dave

I'm hoping to head that about that time. My plan is more to fang it east across from Switzerland (where by 800GS is) to Turkey and then start touring the Silk Road including Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan.

Email me directly if you want; traveller@mudmaps.com . We should try to catchup in person at some stage too, I've still got my house in Canberra even if my work has me on the Sunshine Coast most of the time.

Mark

G'day,

I'm Dave's mate. I've been to every country except Iran and Turkmenistan. However, I have always flown in to the relevant countries. With the exception of driving between Azerbaijan and Georgia, Georgia and Armenia. They are relatively easy crossing to do.

We may avoid Iran and the get ferry from Turkmanbashi to Baku.

So like Dave said, any advice about border crossing would be appreciated.

Ta,

Bob

exclude Armenia and change route to:

England, France, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan , Russia , Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Belgium, Englan

visiting Armenia and OZ-baijan with one passport during one trip can cause a problem. this 2 countries are still in war, and crossing Azerbaijan border after Armenian stamp in passport can take half a day with total baggage control, studying photos in camera etc.

Armenia is a very beautiful country, cheap and safe, even with hi-quality local brandy. but you will have enough of same countries in your trip. do not mix muslim and catholic countries during your trip - it can cause problems.

Dean....Thanks for the tip.

cheers
Dave

one more tip
you can take a ferry across Caspian sea from Baku to Turkmenbashi and exclude Iran. This is not a reccomendation - just a suggestion.

In Turkey go North after Bosfor and take Black (Kara Deniz) sea shore road, not inland Ankara Highway. Nice rollercoaster. Stambul-sinop-samsun-trabzon-(GE)-batumi-kutaisi-tbilisi-(AZ)-baku

Dean - thanks again.

We have been discussing the ferry option to Baku and taking Iran off the list.

At the moment, it is looking like a good option.

Regards

Dave, Can you email me some more info if your still after companions? my_cpu@hotmail.com do you have approx budget & time frames etc?
I cant PM yet. Was going to buy in England & go solo down to Turkey but this sounds interesting:thumbup1:

Cheers,

Gerard.

Gerard

We ride out of London early May 2010. Will look to take Iran and Armenia off the list. The trip will take around 8 to 9 weeks.

Post more mate so you can PM.

cheers
Dave

turkey - armenia
 

border between turkey & armenia is closed fyi. but there is negotiating going on to open it.

easy and common border crossing is Turkey-Georgia-Armenia-Georgia-Azerbaijan
BUT I'd advice to exclude Armenia from the list if Azerbaijan and Iran is in the roadmap.

Just hoping that they will get the borders opened between Russian and Georgia, that should easy my pain as well: Welcome to Facebook, but still not sure if to include Caspian sea to the trip or not...

//Ilpo

It's impossible :oops2:
there is no border with road across it between Russia and Georgia (only Caucasus mountains without roads).
There is a can-be-crossed borders like Abkhazia/Georgia and South Osetia/Georgia. Russia has open border with Abkhazia, and there is a Tunnel in Caucasus mountains between Russia and S.Osetia (Russian tanks entered Osetia and Georgia by this way in August 2008 during short war, now the tunnel is closed).
Both Abkhazia and S.Osetia are still in war with Georgia. Borders are closed. So no way of getting to Georgia no directly from Russia, nor via unaccepted countries. :nono:
You can enter Georgia by road (from Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan), by ferry (from Ukraine and (if direct connection will be re-established in spring) Russia), by airplane.

Hmm - the news I saw were telling that Kazbegi - Verkhny Lars -bordercrossing will be opened in the beginning of March.

Go figure...

//Ilpo

Verhny Lars is a small boder crossing only for locals.
_IF_ you get S.Osetia via V.Lars (it can happen, I know people who did it) - it does not mean that you will get Georgia from Osetia. More common scenario is deportation.
:oops2: :thumbdown:

You can enter Georgia through Azerbaijan and Turkey and you can go out of it also through Azerbaijan and Turkey. What's the problem?
We did it autumn of 2007 - had only positive impressions
some photos from the trip: 720571-pohod2007 - 2007-09 поездка вокруг Кавказа - Авто/Мото | photoshare.ru
here's the map of this trip

http://www.photoshare.ru/original/ph....ru-981214.jpg