Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Northern and Central Asia
stans visas and travel - our experience stans visas and travel - our experience
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 4 Aug 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 65
stans visas and travel - our experience
Have been meaning to put up a post re the visa circus for the Stans. Here it is.
Our experience was actually pretty easy:
look in Donkey and the Mule - Home for more details and pics.
Applied for Kaz, Kirg and Uzbek in Istanbul. All were obtained without LOI, although the Kaz one took some explaining to the consulate. They took from 5 days (Kaz) to 3 days. Cost varied but sorry I cant remember what they were. (we are travelling on Australian and Italian passports)
Tajik visa and GBAO was obtained in Ankara, again without LOI, same day.
Turkmenistan… the tricky one.
We used Stantours who arranged the visa and a guide. They were pretty good to deal with but I would do some things differently next time. Wouldn’t ask for a guide, only a driver (cheaper) and wouldn’t book any accommodation with them either – their idea of ‘budget’ and our idea of ‘budget’ were very different, the 3 star hotels they booked were way too nice for us, and 2x more expensive than what we would have used (the driver will find you cheap accommodation without problems).
Although not really a stan, Azerbaijan visa was obtained in Georgia, pretty straightforward, no LOI, 3 days. The rumor of only being allowed in AZ for 3 days with your vehicle is true. 72 hours after you enter you will need to park it in the customs carpark. Ridiculous but true. We met a guy who didn’t know and had been riding his Yamaha for a week there, and he was still in customs 3 hours after he went to ask about it, “big problem” he said…
The ‘ferry’ from Baku to TM is not really a ferry, it’s a cargo ship that also takes people. Very rundown, and no booze on the boat, but there was a restaurant. It took 5 hours to leave port, 12 hours to get to TM and another 16hrs to dock and disembark. Then it took 5 hours to process through immigration, no problems just a whole lot of red tape.
At Baku, you don’t really buy a ticket for the boat, you go to the well camouflaged ticket office, ask about a boat, and are told to come back in 4 hours. Repeat this ?? times until the ‘captain’ says ‘maybe boat tonight, come back at 2am’ when he may or may not sell you a ticket. Expect delays.
The ferry from Baku to KAZ is a whole lot less regular, we met others in Baku who had been waiting 10 days, and then the next boat was a petroleum boat so no passengers, they were back to square one!
The riding in the Stans was breathtaking though, well worth the effort of getting in there. Take a look in our blog for more accounts and pics if interested. (Kirg is quiet now, we went thru both Osh and Jalalabad without any probs at all).
Oh and we were warned against using 2 different passports in the area, but it was no problem at all.
Cheers,
Dean.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 20 Jan 2012
Ekke's Avatar
HU CanWest Meeting Organiser
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Redwood Meadows, AB, Canada
Posts: 358
Just the info I was looking for!
Thanks Dean,

We are just starting the processes for our upcoming trip. We'll apply for the Russian and Chinese visas at home in Canada but getting all the 'Stans figured out ahead of time would be a nightmare. We're coming from the north so we could get the Kazahkstan visa in Moscow and then the other 'Stans plus Mongolia in Astana.

When I checked the Stan Tours website it gives instructions on how they can help in obtaining the visas but reading a little more closely it seems all they're really doing is getting the Letter of Introduction (Invitation). Then you need to apply at your local consulate/embassy with the LOI. Since you didn't seem to need the LOI that seems like a waste of time and money.

__________________
Ekke Kok

'84 R100RT 141,000 km (Dad's!)
'89 R100GS 250,000 km (and ready for another continent)
'07 R1200GS Adventure 100,000 km (just finished Circumnavigating Asia)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

www.ekke-audrey.ca
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 1 Feb 2012
Haakonbj's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oslo
Posts: 129
Well done Dean
At first I started looking at the info from Europe to the Stans, cause this is where I am heading summer of 2013. Then I saw you guys had been through Arlit, Assamak and in to Algerie, and I recognised my guide from 2007. Great to see he is still doing what he does really good. I have great memories from that Sahara crossing.

Haakon
__________________
Haakon
Check out: North Africa 2007 and The Great African Run
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Any experience with 1 World Travel Insurance? worstell Trip Paperwork 0 2 May 2007 03:22
Applying For Stans Visas In Istanbul MotoEdde Trip Paperwork 0 16 Apr 2007 14:05
congo mining zone travel permits/nigeria visas patonki sub-Saharan Africa 17 19 Feb 2006 23:02
some tenere travel experience aukeboss Yamaha Tech 4 3 May 2002 00:07

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-14
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 17:47.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top