Al,

I'm doing a similar route to you through Iran around the stans as far as Kyrgystan and then nipping through China into Pakistan. I'll be join by a couple of mates in a 4x4 for the Tajik to Pakistan leg.

David L,Al,
I'm also planning on heading to the Ace cafe so maybe we should all meet up.

Russ

Hi Russ.

China sounds good. How have you got on with the paperwork?

We've decided against Iran now due to the cost. Shame, but we can use that money to extend our trip. So now we're definitely going via Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Al

Al

We're just using China to transit through for 7 days to get into pakistan, It's pretty expensive. I originally looked at flying the bike from Mongolia to India but that worked out more expensive than the transit through China.

It's a shame you're going to miss out on Iran. I've spoken to a few people about it and it seems to be one of the highlights.

Anyway good luck with your planning
Russ

Hi again guys,

Hoping you can help us understand some visa issues. We're advised that Turkmenistan transit visas can be hard to obtain and have fixed dates for entry and exit, and that tourist visas require fully booked tours, escorts, hotels etc. Is any of this true and how have you dealt with it?

Second we have conflicting advice about Russia visas. One says we can only get a 30 day toursit visa, but others say a longer duration business visa is no problem. Anyone dealt with this?

Would really appreciate any info.

Cheers!

Have a word with David at stan tours. stantours@gmx.net
He'll be able to give you the information on the Letters of introduction, including costs. He also has good advice on visas.

As far as turkmenistan is concerned you can only get a 5 day transit visa so you have to time your entry to the day.
I do believe you can can leave before the final day of the 5 day visa.

Russ

Hiya,

Been talking to stantours and travcour, but still confused.

Re turkmenistan transit visas - the answer I can't find yet is whether you can apply for it in advance eg at their embassy in London, and how likely it is to be able to get one?

Hi Al

You can get the transit visa in advance in London. I spoke to them before Christmas and they didn't indicate that it might be a problem.
For Russia it'll probably need to be a double entry business visa valid for 90 days, unless you've got 2 passports in which case you can get 2 tourist visas, each valid for 30 days (1 in each passport). Have a look at RealRussia.co.uk - Russian Visas, Tourist Visa, Business Visa, Visa support for info.

David

Hi everyone,

I'm a French fellow also planning to head up east this summer. The plan at this stage would be to leave Paris on the beginning of April. The itinerary I have worked on is as follow : Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal, where my trip should end. The all ride should last approx. 4 months and a half. My only "constraint" in respect of timing is that I have to meet up with NGO in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal. As to my riding companion, I managed to get some sponsors to get a nice low mileage GS Adv.

Now, I would definitely enjoy to meet up with some fellow travellers.
ExtremeGene, considering the difficulties and the costs to go through China, I decided not to go there. Now, I've read your were planning to go from Mongolia to Pakistan, through China. What is your exact plan ? If I changed my itinerary (meaning heading North from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan), would it be possible to join your group ? What would be the cost ?

To all, let's keep in touch. I sadly won't be able to join any meeting in the UK but I could obviously enjoy some experience and info sharing in relation to Visas, carnet, itineraries...

Alex

Hi alex,


Our route as it stands is Turkey, Iran, Turkmen, Uzbek, Tajik, Kygryzstan, nipping into Kazak and then back to Kygryzstan, China, Pakistan, India, Nepal. I was originall going to go up to Mongolia and then fly the bike to India but the cost was more than getting a chinese transit visa.
I also looked at nipping between Tajik to Pakistan through Afganistan but decided that it was just too risky.

I'm going solo as far as Tajik and then meeting up with a couple of friends (cornishDeity on this forum) in a 4x4 and travelling with them as far as India.

Ollie (cornishDeity) put a thread on the HUBB a couple of days ago asking if there was anymore people wanting to share the China crossing as it will help bring down the cost of the guide for everyone. I was quoted $1600 for a 7 day transit for me and the bike but the more people we can get together the cheaper it will get.

You're welcome to join us for any part of the trip.

Russ

Ace Cafe meet-up
 

Russ/Al/anybody else

The timetable for this Sunday is here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ay-ace-39328-4

I should be able to make it any time. Let me know what time you can make it for a meet up.

David

Russ,

I think we will be doing more or less the same ride. My only problem is that my timing imposes that I should be in Katmandou in mid august, meaning that I expect to cross the sino-kirghiz boarder end of june, begining of july. You planned to cross it in september right ?

I amazed by the price. Which agent did you use ? By which pass do you plan to cross the frontiere. I am way behnd my schedule in terms of visas and cos...

All your help will be more than appreciated.

Sadly, I can't make to the Ace Cafe on Sunday.

Alex

Hi Dave,
Leaving Scotland May 9th Kazakhstan-Mongolia-Vlad-Japan and USA
transglobemoto

Great to meet up somewhere along the line.
Tom

Hi Tom
What's your timetable? We'll be in Kazakhstan the beginning of June and Mongolia mid-June to early July.

David

Hi,

I just opened a thread about travelling in Mongolia in August http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...756#post227925. I think most of you guys will be through Mongolia by then but if not, let me know.

Tnx,
mauro

Hi Everyone.
Myself & Dave (Kito) are also planning a Europe-Russia-Mongolia-Kazakhstan-Russia trip. We will be beginning the trip in May 09. (Visa’s pending!). Both of our budgets are fairly optimistic therefore we will be rough camping wherever possible. There appears to be plenty of hubbers heading east therefore hopefully we will catch up with some of you on route.

Cheers
Simon