Russia, Georgia, Armenia
 

Hi All,

I'm planning on riding from Germany to St Petersburg through the Baltics in Aug/Sep 10. From there we're planning to head south to Georgia, Azerbajan, Armenia and into Turkey. I've heard that the border is now open between Russia and Georgia in certain places, but is it relatively safe in that region, given the proximity to Chechnya and South Ossetia? Also anything we should be aware of travelling through Azerbajan and Armenia?

Any comments appreciated.

Matt

Matt ... for more detail, read the last half a dozen posts on this thread:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...eorgia-36335-2

The border between Russia and Georgia is not open, and despite talk to the contrary, I would be quite sceptical that this will change for westerners at any time soon. (limited access - probably for CIS citizens only - may resume March 1st.)

The area in general is safe, but be aware the Georgia / Russian border particularly near Ossetia is really quite militarised and sensitive. It will be constant road blocks.

Chechnya has been a lot more safe now that you might expect. Dagestan too gets a lot of bad press, but is probably not as bad as people fear. Having said that, there are reports of tension building in Dagestan and Chechnya in recent weeks again. I was down that way last year. For me, the main area to avoid on safety grounds is probably Ingushetia at the moment. I would also still avoid Ossetia on inconvenience grounds.

As mentioned in the post linked above, you best bet for crossing from Russia to Georgia may be the Bulgarian ferry.

You might want to check out the Turkey/ armenia border as well as when i travelled through there in June last year the border was closed. You can easily go in to turkey through georgia as an alternative.

Russ

Thanks for the advice Guys! If the situations hasn't changed by the time I get there, I think we may take the easier option and get the ferry from Sochi to Trabzon.

Cheers,
matt

Hi,
Just a note to say the road we came down two years ago from St Pete to the Estonian border at Narva is not good. The one in from Finland is far better. If it was me I would ferry it from Tallinn but then I'm old and not an off roader!

I confirm this.
I rode from Narva to St. Petersburg on August 9, 2009 and the first 40 km (about) consisted in bad asphalt. You must ride slowly, there. Then, it got better up to St. Pete.

From St. Petersburg to Finnish border it is anywhere good with no problems.