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Georgia 2012
I will be passing through Georgia from Turkey then into Russia in August 2012, has any one any recomendations for places to ride/ things to see on my short visit. Have seen a few mountain passes on the map from Akhalkalaki to Bordzhomi area.
I will be spending one night in Batumi and 2 nights in Tbilisi, any ideas will be great. Eric |
The russian georgia border is closed I believe?? Or is it open now??
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No the border opened May/June 2011 again! or should i say that way i have been told, going to ride to the border anyway if turned away will head back to Trabzon and take the ferry to Russia. Been looking and the ride from Tbilisi to the Russian border looks amazing.
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I visited both Georgia and Armenia in August 2010.
Tbilisi is a nice city that I enjoyed a lot: nice monuments, ancient churches, a lovely downtown and an outstanding view from the fortress on top of the town. Restaurants are very good and food is delicious. Don't miss the Georgian Military Highway from Tbilisi to Kazbegi and spend at least a full day at Kazbegi (a few km from the Russian border) to visit the Tsminda Sameba, one of the most important Georgian monasteries. On this road, you will also find the Ananuri Fortress on the way to Kazbegi: it deserves at least a 1-hour stop. |
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Really want to ride the Georgia Military highway even if i am sent back not to bothered just means i will get chance to ride it twice!!!:thumbup1::thumbup1: |
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Alternative option to Trabzon-Sochi ferry is ferryboat from Poti to Odessa. Also I saw ferry from Georgia to Kerch (Crimea) at summer 2011. |
No, wrong information. Border is now open for all citizens. There are many reports from last summer people crossing it both ways.
Only issue there is still if trying to go via Abkhazia, that will not work. |
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I feel you have the right answer for the present time that the border is open to everyone, just hope it stays that way until the end August. Eric:thumbup1: |
This is good news
Can you list the best border crossing points as we are hoping to head out that way in May Cheers Geordie aka Will |
Borders I did last summer:
- Sadakhlo/Bagratashen with Armenia, fast and no issues - Ninotsminda/Bavra with Armenia, very fast, only issue I had was the payment. Had to walk across border to the bank some 200m and back - Krasny Most (Red Bridge) with Azerbaijan, very confusing border, had help from some guys that knew German to get me through the border - Tsodna (Postbina/Lagodekhi/Balakon) with Azerbaijan, extremely fast, almost drove through - Sarpi/Sarp with Turkey, some queue but still quite fast. Went both ways. On Turkey side no fuel station in kilometers, first ones just after the crossing on Georgia side. Visa cards work on bigger stations in Georgia. Border between Georgia and Russia I did not try, information that it was already open came a bit too late for me and my plan was to go through Abkhazia anyway... For the Abkhazia border, see these two: Ilpo Juvander > Home - Caucasus Tour–Day #26 and Ilpo Juvander > Home - Caucasus Tour–Day #27 |
Thanks for the information
but there is still no confirmation that Georgia/Russia border is open to UK citizens..... Hopefully someone will confirm in the future Cheers Geordie aka Will |
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Looks like you will be the GUINEA PIG as you are leaving before us, just keep us posted, still want to ride the road to the border as the scenery is awesome. Eric |
I think we will try this route, unless time is a problem
Cheers Geordie aka Will |
Hi there.
We are going to travel through Georgia next Summer too ! Our journey will be from Basel (Switzerland) > Austria > Hungary > Romania > Moldova > Ukraine > Russia > GEORGIA > Turkey > Greeze > Albania > Montenegro > Kroatia > and then back home to Basel! We will cross the border to Georgia on the military Highway (I hope). Due to our research the borders are open to anyone since last summer ! here is a pic of our route in Georgia. I'm new here, and I'm pretty much just trying out how to answer posts and upload pictures. :) I hope this will work and it might still be interesting for you to see what we have planed for Georgia. Greetings from Switzerland. http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5721/georgiaa.jpg |
Pro3ac, when are you planning to be in Georgia?
I should be in that area late July, early August. Planning to visit also Armenia and Azerbaijan. |
Hi.
It seemed to work ! :) We are planning to arive at Georgian border on the 5th of September and leave to Turkey on the 10th of September. So you're not gonna be there by then any more. Are you ? :( |
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The border getween Georgian and Russia is closed for other nations (other than Russians and local Abkhazians). SO forget it.
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:confused: |
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In order to answer this question I try to learn it from my friends who travel often in Tbilisi. When I was talking about the `border` I meant border between Georgia and Abkhazia. I am not sure if the border in Kazbegi region is open or not. If you want me to learn it I can learn it in a few days time. |
Yes please Samy,
We are heading that way this summer and would be great to be able to cross from Georgia to Russia by road Cheers Geordie aka Will |
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Yes please !!! :clap: That would be great !! THX! |
Another option can be: you can ride to Azerbaijan and just pass to Daghestan (Russia) from Quba. You can loose only 7-8 hours. If you stop in Baku you stop only one more day...
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@Samy: I'm also interested in your answer about the Russian/Georgian border.
We'll be there mid/end of may 2012, for a trip around the black sea, anti-clockwise. So we'll cross the border from Georgia to Russia. Any news :welcome: |
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Don't worry about passes in that strech, at least until Vardzia, which right next to Akhalkalaki and that you should not miss (a whole city carved in the mountain). In that area, the road from Akhalsikhe to Batumi will be bad after Skhvilisi until Khulo, the one crossing Adjara, the Muslim region in southern Georgia. Nothing very particular, apart from a few old stone bridges, but we loved it, the people were reeeeally nice (warning, I was told not to camp AT ALL in the area, b/c of jackals, wolves and bears). Near Akhalsikhe, although hard to find the gravel road, you can visit the Sapara monastery, very nice frescoes that were being restored. To Borjomi you have a good road and nothing to worry, if I recall correctly, after the Adjara road for sure it looked good. Thumbs up for Tbilisi, very charming city. Enjoy it (greeeeeat food!), Esteban |
we also hope that we can travel through Georga into Russia. if not it's a case of getting a boat from Turkey To Russia, and that does not seem to cheap.
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sorry no information about the borders.
I tried to make a telephone call to Georgia-Russia border at Georgia side. 2 different friends tried to find out if it is open or not. And they can't find the correct answer. I think it is closed... |
To try and get to the bottom of this I rang the British Embassy in Georgia { Tbilisi + 995 32 2274747 }
The Lady was very helpful . She told me that anyone with a Valid UK passport wanting to enter Georgia from Turkey is permitted to enter Georgia , But you can NOT leave Georgia via the Georgian Russian boarder. This is closed. Hope this is of Help. we now need to re plan our route into Russia :helpsmilie: Dazzer and Leigh |
Oh no, thats sad !! :(
I hope things change till september or maybe one of you guys brings back any good news before we're off to the Caucasus. Next week I'll give the Swiss Embassy in Tbilisi a call to see what they mean... :funmeterno: |
This answer I received from Gerogia embassy in Sweden:
Only border crossing point between Russia and Georgia is Upper Lars, which is from time to time closed. Georgian authorities allow to enter EU citizens but it has to be checked with Russian border authorizes whether they are allowing. Shoule you have further inquires feel free to address to me. Best regards, Valerian Bodaveli First Secretary, Embassy of Georgia Karlavägen 60, 2 tr. SE-114 49, Stockholm |
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Thanks for the information, we will be crossing Georgia/ Russia in August will PM you nearer the time, as i have previously said i want to ride the Military highway anyway so if its closed maybe a bonus as i get to ride it twice! But lets hope nearer the time. Eric |
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Plan to continue from the to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kirgistan and China (early September). |
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Georgia-Russia
Looks o.k. !!
So What is the Latest on Russia-Georgia Border? - Lonely Planet travel forum can confirm that Verkny Lars is open for non-CIS citizens; it has been open since last July as far as I know. I have crossed both ways (Georgia - Russia and back) one month ago, with my Slovene passport. I know of other non CIS nationals (Swiss, Canadian) who have done the same in the past few months. The border is quite modern, the guards were surprisingly nice and the procedure does not take much time - depending on how many Russian tourists there are. The road is OK, except for the part from Gudauri to Kazbegi. I heard reports that they would be cleaning the snow regularly during winter time, and the road is supposed to stay open. Good luck to all those who are planning the trip! |
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Looks like we have a very similar route and time scale, we should be crossing into Russia from Georgia between 19/21 August and will be entering China to Kashgar on the 6th September, will be nice to catch up. Eric |
What I dont understand is ..why would the Person at the British Embassy in Georgia tell me that I could enter Georgia , but I could not exit Georgia at the Russian boarder :confused1:
All very Confusing doh Dazzer |
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Embassies and Consulates usually have no clue about that, so don't ask and don't rely on they tell you. It's not that they are incompetent, it's not their work, just like that, they worry about other matters. They provide a rough idea about countries and always in case of doubt and if tricky, they'll go the safer way: NO, not possible, don't do it, don't try it. Why? If you happen to be arrested, taken for a spy or even die in an accident, it will be their job (and a pain) to solve it, so that's why they will try to deter you. So go for 1st hand info about people who made/tried it. |
Hello,
In may with my friend ,Ben men we want to travel this border, so if we can , we writte if is't possible or not.(sorry for my english) Tiger www.lesroutesdailleurs.com |
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THX Tiger !! :thumbup1: |
No good news from the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affair in Tbilisi. This is the reply to my e-mail…
Kazbegi checkpoint is open only for citizens of CIS countries I strongly rely on first hand info, but I’m a bit confused:( |
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:confused1::confused1::confused1: |
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I presume Estonia is not a CIS country??? Beyond clouds - through Russia to Georgia - ADVrider |
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Although, with the other Soviet Baltic States, Estonia chose to seek its fortune with EU instead, some former Soviet Union states still retain preferential links with each other which can include Visa free regimes - which would no doubt include border crossing arrangements. In reading the report you may have failed to pick up the sentence in the very first post "Georgia doesn't require visas from Estonian citizens". Or maybe you haven't reached the 14th line yet. EDIT: Posts 40 & 41 (to which you responded too) seem to confirm that. |
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Hi Tony I did wonder about this being part of the former Soviet Union but maybe a small glimmer of light for us EU citizens. Eric |
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When you are seeking visas or entry to other countries they are not interested if your country belongs to a 'club' (EU, Schengen, NATO, WWF, AA and so on down). They are only interested in your passport citizenship and no more. E.G. I have Residency in RUS but when presenting myself at neighbouring borders, the country I am entering is totally disinterested and makes no concession for that - all they see is a British citizenship passport. |
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And in other contexts, most of the times these criteria/treatment will be based on reciprocity: the citizens of countries where application procedures are harder and more expensive for nationals of other countries will usually suffer themselves higher fees when they apply for visas and the like from those other countries. So, it may happen that Georgia applies higher fees to US (especially), UK and Canada citizens than to Italians, just because their visas are more expensive (& tedious) than a Schengen visa issued by the Italian Consulate in Tblisi. Quite reasonable. Or just mutual sympathy between states (probably Georgia is now friendlier with US citizens). |
Let’s see what's going to happen in mid June when I'll attempt to cross the border between Georgia and Russia.
At this stage, my only concern is to find an alternate route to reach Russia in case I won’t be allow to cross Kazbegi. Back to Poti (Georgia) harbor and sail to across the Black Sea heading due Kerch (Ukraine) is an option – quite an expensive one which require careful planning . On the other hand, that’s the reason way to ride a bike is so funny :mchappy: |
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Is riding the Motorcycle from Georgia into Azerbaijan then into Russia a route?? or will we have similar problems at the Azerbaijan/ Russian border, i also undrstand there is a ferry from Trabzon to Sofia but again not to reliable. Eric |
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According to Lonely Planet border between Azerbaijan and Russia are off for non-CSI citizen. The ferry you were refferring to is, most probably, the one from Batumi (GEO) to Varna (BG). Europe's most comprehensive ferry portal - Online booking / Price comparison: Black Sea - www.ferrylines.com Daniele |
Hi
Seems the border is open now to none CIS, great news :thumbup1: Saves the expensive ferry ride from Trabzon Eric |
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My neighbour just came back from his trip to the Caucasus!
The border from Russia to Georgia is open for sure! They crossed at the 18th of may 2012! It took about a hour on the Russian side to "check out" and about 20minutes to get in to Georgia !! :thumbup1::thumbup1: |
I can confirm the border is open :thumbup1:
3 of us crossed it with UK passports and of course visa's 3 days ago. Very quick, took about 1 hour to fill the various paperwork. The road to the border at the top of the Georgian Military Highway is in a bad way, lots of potholes!! Hope this helps people in the future.... one of the guards said the border has been open for 3 months to non CIS, only a handfull have used it to cross Cheers Geordie aka Will |
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Eric |
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The first one we did it last month and we really enjoyed it!! (From Bat'umi to Akhalts'ikhe). Consider that we are 2 persons riding on a 1991 Honda Transalp full of bags so if we made it everyone else can make it! https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid...8a15b0ca&msa=0 On the map this road is showed as a main road but it has 50km of pure off-road fun (maybe less fun for our 21 years old bike full loaded...) with rumbling creeks and narrow passages between 3 meters high ice walls... I'm about to finish editing the video of the road, if you want I can send you the link when I'm done... The second road I suggest you is this (from K'ut'aisi and Akhalts'ikhe): I didn't personally do it, but in Armenia I meet 4 bikers that tryed to ride the secondary road between K'ut'aisi and Akhalts'ikhe but they said it was too hard and too narrow so they decided to go back. I actually don't know the real conditions of the road, but I'm assuming it would be much more adventurous than the first one! You will just have to remember to harden the suspensions and ease the chain because the Georgian potholes will try them to the limit.... Enjoy! :D Thomas |
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After Khulo it gets rough, but at the time our 23 y/o Renault 5 was just unstoppable: 3 people and (light) luggage, creeks crossing and going stronger and stronger, it felt like one ot those ZIL trucks on the side of the... (road?) track! (miss it, faithful R5). EDIT: NO CAMPING THERE, we were really warned by local people about wolves/bears attacks. |
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Looks like a detour to ride here, will try and watch all the 2hr video tonight Thanks Eric |
Border Crossing Point GEO -RUS at Verkhniy Lars is open for non-CSI citizens too; I crossed it this morning with a valid russian visa. No more then 30' to wait.
Beside 20 km. from Gadauri (GEO) to north, the road is good. |
Georgia is sounding better and better: the Kazbegi border is open and getting through them is easy. Really looking forward to getting into Georgia.
Bit off topic... but for you folks that have been through Georgia, is there anywhere to draw out cash on or near the border? If not will there be someone lingering on the border to change some currency and what do they prefer to change? Will they take Euros, Dollars or Roubles in Georgia. Sorry for the repeat post... |
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:thumbup1: Cheers.
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