Riding to Georgia this week for Russian visa to ride to Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan. Would love a travel partner.

Maybe Gates of Hell, Turkmenistan, but no further plans.

I'm a US senior who's ridden 65 countries, now on an Africa Twin. After Silk Road & Mongolia will meet group in Kyrgyzstan late August to ride through China to Laos.

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motomon at pobox dot com
Have returned to Latin America ... again in 2020.

Check the situation with Turkmenistan visa. I was told it's impossible 2mo ago, but maybe it changed.

..as for traveling to stans plan some time in Kyrgyzstan it's well worth it

Hey motomon,

How was the ride through russia and was it easy to get a russian visa?

We are driving to India next year and we asking ourselves what is safer around the caspian sea, russia or iran. I guess you drove through chechnya and Dagestan. How were your feelings driving through this area?

Safe travels!

Unfortunately I crashed on the way to Russia and decided not to go this year. This was the second bone-breaking crash on this now ended trip to the Stans, Mongolia, and China/Tibet. I sold my Africa Twin in Greece after my return trip back through Türkiye.
The other sign that I should give up making this sojourn for this year/season was after the Russian Transit Visa office in Tbilisi mistakenly put a future date for when given on the full page visa in my passport. I then had to make two trips to the separate office of the Russian embassy to get a corrected 3-day full page transit visa. I was disappointed in the Russian Transit Visa office for taking no responsibility, nor offering help in getting the mistake corrected, forcing me to make two crosstown trips. This process for a 3-day visa is expensive and lengthy time wise, but seems to be the best alternative to a much more costly trip via the closed border of Azerbaijan and tour-guide required trip for a US passport holder trip via Iran.
Since I now have a 3-year multiple entry visa for Russia, which is needed for going to Mongolia, from Kazakhstan, I can also visit St Petersburg, which is on my bucket list. But this misses the Stans and the Pamir Hwy/Silk Road. If I can reach my goal of reaching Antarctica, my 7th and last continent, on my new Aprilia Tuareg, then I'll look for a bike in Europe in Spring to do this unfinished ride next year.
So many adventures in Central Asia await, but at 77, there is not a lot of time left for me. I am grateful for having ridden 67 countries . . . so far and been to 113. I am a lucky 'Professional Gypsy.'

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motomon at pobox dot com
Have returned to Latin America ... again in 2020.

Not OP but as someone who had gone through nothern Caucus twice this year it's pretty safe there, safer than in the states. You do occasionally come across MP road block (happened twice) and whatch for cops when you're going through kalmykiya but otherwise it's an easy run.

Sent from my BV4900Pro which I haven't managed to drown yet

Sorry for your mishap. Hope you get better soon.

I had helped the friend of mine to get russian visa in Tbilisi, and they warned us how difficult transit visa was, so he got 3-year multi-entry tourist visa which was easy in comparison.

The most difficult part was finding that effing building where tour agency handling visa at, because Google sent us for wild chase. Right place is next to Browns bar. IIRC the visa department on 2nd floor room 205, and the place they fill forms for you at the left, just when you walk in.

You do have to pay them $130(?) for papers, and also for 90day med insurance but they do all for you, including hotel booking.

Sent from my BV4900Pro which I haven't managed to drown yet