Anyone has any recent news on those ferries? Are they running?
Can we put motorbikes in?

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Have you considered riding through Georgia? Cheaper, quicker and easier. Plus, you'll get to see the beautiful Georgian Military Highway through Stepantsminda (Kazbegi). I did it in 2012 when the border had just opened up to internationals.

Edit: Moreover, British passport holders do not need a visa for Georgia... not sure about the French.

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www.AdventureVagabond.com Mongolia & Siberia 2012: Adventure Moto Madness

Hi Stephen,

Yes we are going to ride across Georgia, but I am looking at alternatives, just in case!

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

There was no Sochi to Batumi last year, from sochi there was a ferry to Turkey which was hit and miss.

Also there was a Ferry last year from Odessa to Batumi / poti

If it was me then i would rather plan my trip to not include one of these hit or miss ferrys for both the black and caspian sea

I agree with Stephen the views on his suggested route is amazing, i will have updated my ride report from last year to this route by tonight so you can see yourself

While my priority would probably also be the Georgian Military Highway, I understand Maria's concern to have a backup option.

In February 2014, the website Ferrylines announced a new ferry connection across the Black Sea:

On these two websites you find relevant information for the trip

Batumi - Sochi and

Samsun (Turkey) - Batumi (Georgia) - Novorossiysk (Russia)

Greetings,
Achim

Thanks for the info guys.

As Achim said, I like to have a plan B.. And C ... And even D.... Just in case.....
I would hate to get stuck, so I always have alternatives when designing trips....

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Quote:
Starting May 2014, Paradise Cruise & Ferry put the comfortable MS Isabella I to sea on the route Odessa (UA) - Yalta (UA, Crimea) - Sochi (RUS) - Batumi (GE) in the Black Sea. The company offers one weekly departure from each port. Staying in Russia, Ukraine and in Georgia is visa-free for passengers!


It is good to have many options however i am afraid i am now going to have to point out that Crimea is no longer part of Ukraine as it is now part of Russia and the Yalta stop over about states it is part of of Ukraine (Yalta UA, Crimea) which is now incorrect

As there is currently blockades in other harbors associated with the now Russian Crimea personally myself i cant see a Ferry Cruise ship leaving the Ukraine harbor of Odessa to arrive at the now Russian harbor of Yalta in Crimea to then head to Sochi and go to Batumi or the other way round until this has all blown over as far to much bureaucracy at the moment

Before as EU citizens we did not need a visa to go to Crimea as it was part of Ukraine however i think now we will need one as it is part of Russia but firstly the Russian government will be far to busy changing other rules/issues out regarding and the official border post check points to allow tourists to cross will be way down the list for the next few months.

If i was heading on a trip soon for now i would avoid Crimea until it has fully joined Russia, this is not for safety reason however more for bureaucracy


I myself traveled to all these areas mention above last year

So, has anybody actually used a ferry from Turkey to Russia? We were planning to use the Georgian military road as suggested by many, but after the recent landslides the border crossing will apparently remain closed for the next few weeks.

We are in Tblisi at the moment. We have a phone number to use to find out about the landslide. We are also going to try the ferry if the road is blocked. I will keep you posted

Thanks mate, that would be great. We rode from Trabzon to Batumi yesterday and are now also considering getting an Azeri Visa and crossing over from Georgia to Russia via Baku and Dagestan.

Crossing at Kazbegi would be our first choice however. We are also on 690s with off road tires so getting through there should be no problem, as long as the border guards let us...

This thread is the perfect place to put any up to date information you might have:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...eorgia-76334-2

Cheers,
Lukas

Our Russian visa starts 2nd June, so we aim to get in that day. Riding to Batumi tomorrow (Monday)
Where are you staying? We were planning to find the one and only camp site in town, google says its right on the Front.

We are staying in the Light House B&B, cost is 100 GEL for two people sharing a room, breakfast included (enough but only limited selection). Very nice and friendly place with safe parking for the bikes in a closed courtyard.

Please let us know if you hear something from your contacts, we wanted to cross over into Russia by the end of the week.

Cheers,
Lukas

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Currently on a RTW ride:
https://www.facebook.com/AroundTheWorldWithLukasM

We may come to your B&B tomorrow. We still have a week left in Georgia. We can call our contact from the B&B.

Simon

Dear All,

Georgia has border problem.

call embassy for your country and get fresh news from passing.

This is last photo near border from my friend. 600 meter soil erosion and waiting 2 month delayed.



Sincerely

Wow, that's a serious landslide! Hopefully no one was hurt.