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25 Jul 2011
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Short briefing on our Black Sea Tour 2011
Short briefing on our Black Sea Tour 2011
- I shall cross post this in all the related topics on the Hubb to be seen by as many. If you have questions please ask and I will answer as soon as I can -
In the first 2 weeks of July 2011 we had circumnavigate around the Black Sea (Romania – Moldova - Ukraina – Russia – Turcia – Bulgaria – Romania). That would be around 18 days, 4200 km, 6 countries and 2 ferries.
The only downside of the trip was the fact that for foreigners (non CIS, Russian or Georgian citizens) it is impossible to cross the border from Russia to Georgia.
The only way for foreigners is to take a ferry either from Trabzon in Turkey to Sochi Russia, or the other way around from Sochi to Trabzon. The ferry does not have a clear schedule (it runs according to the information posted on the website of Sochi port once a week) and it’s pretty expensive (2 persons in one cabin without a window and the bike 16.500 Rubles / 650 USD). The phone numbers posted on the site are working and the lady from Kassa 5 (where you buy the ticket) speaks a bit of English.
Note: when you buy the tickets you must have your passport with you and bike registration.
Website of Sochi port: Commercial Sea Port of Sochi
In theory, according to some information I found on here and from various people, it is possible to enter Georgia, from there to enter Abhazia (which is according to Georgia part of their territory) and from Abhazia to cross into Russia since Russia recognise Abhazia as independent country. I also heard that for Abhazia you need visa. We didn’t try it thou.
We didn’t had any problems at the border crossings. Some were slow but you expect that. Entering Ukraine we were not requested to fill the immigration form and we were not asked for it on exit.
At Kerch/Krym Port when you buy the tickets you must have your passport with you and bike registration.
Entering Russia one had to fill the immigration paper (they have a bilingual version also in English which they handed to us on the ferry) and another paper for the temporary import of the bike. Hold well onto that paper since without it your bike shall remain in Russia. At least this is what I understand from the lady making the papers.
We crossed the border at Kerch/Kavkaz by ferry. It was a 90 minutes process on the Russian side, again no problems. The road from the border to Novorossiysk is good. Novorossiysk is a pain to cross due to traffic. From there to Sochi is was hell. Aprox 260 km of 2 lane slow traffic, lots of lorries and POLICE. Lots of them, with cameras. DO NOT CROSS THE WHITE LINE FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. Although we were not stopped it was stressful. From the border to Sochi, 10 hours riding, with 3 brakes for gas and coffee. We arrived there Friday and as luck turns out the ferry was schedule to leave Saturday. Exiting Russia, we were told to be at 6 at the check point. Two hours later, with the border formalities done, we boarded the ferry. The passenger must go with the pedestrians and only the driver/rider remains in the vehicle for border formalities. No problems again. The ferry left after 8 in the evening and arrived on Sunday morning in Trabzon around 8.30. It was Sunday so the Turkish customs guys were not in a hurry. We with the bike were processed the very last after 3 and a half hours. The one with Russian cars paid some bribes. They did not ask any from us.
Note: for Highways in Turkey one must pay. You can buy special cards from petrol stations. The fines are pretty hefty. We did not and all the bells and alarms went of when exiting the highway.
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27 Jul 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by damon
Not good news from Inguri river border. here is Ilpo's experience: Caucasus Tour–Day #27 - Ilpo Juvander
He was turned back by Abkhasians. But as he does not speak Russian he could only understand that can enter on foot but not with the bike. Strange as he have permit to enter. I'm trying to contact MFA to ask but yesterday at 17:00 nobody was picking up the phone. As our plan is to start on 14-15 Aug I don't feel so comfortable with this crossing anymore. Also I understand that some Italians were turned back 2 weeks before Ilpo.
I already started plan B - investigating the possibility to cross on Nizniy Zaramag (S.Osetia - Russia) but there is even more unclear and probably not 100% safe.
Anyhow, what do you think about Ilpo's experience? Could it be that they are asking for bribe or insurance and he doesn't understand. I don't believe too much in that as Ilpo is experience traveller... I'm thinking of some political change there, as the president elections in Abkhasia are on 26 Aug. Stupid thing... I don't want to use the ferry Trabzon - Sochi and if we can't cross the border probably we will do totally different trip to Russia only from Ukraine. |
Tried to enter Abkhazia twice and failed on both. There was no room for negotiations, tried that as well, so border is really closed for vehicles.
Both trials were denied by same man on the border.
During the time I was there, some cars passed through this border. They were UN refugee cars and some locals with Georgian registration number. No foreign vehicles.
At the border they were pointing the entry permit I had, pointing the motorcycle and then saying no no. Judging from this it just could be that if you had some unknown statement in there, it might be possible to go in.
At the border none of them spoke English.
I had only my name, passport number and bike make, model and registration number and obviously that was not enough for them.
Georgian side was not the issue, this was all on Abkhazian side. At Georgian side I was talking to one of police man and he told that there has been others as well during the past weeks who were not given access to Abkhazia with their cars and motorcycles. Same story as I had.
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21 Aug 2011
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If one went from Sochi to Abhazia and then back to Sochi, and then with ferry to Trabzon, could he enter Georgia, since there is Abhaz stamp in his passport?
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21 Aug 2011
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Abkhazians never stamp a passport. never-never-never. have no fear 
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21 Aug 2011
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Ok, thanks...
I don't know if somebody posted here this link Грузия Info _ Инфа в дорогу -- Правила пересечения границы Грузии
It is official Gryzyan link with info of border crossings...
there is Q&A secton on the bottom
В: Я из Украины (России, Молдовы, Казахстана и т.д.). Хочу приехать в Грузию на машине. Каким путем сегодня это можно сделать?
О: Автомобилем, на сегодняшний день, вы можете въехать на территорию страны через Азербайджан, Армению или Турцию. Существует еще и морская паромная переправа, связывающая Грузию с Украиной.
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22 Aug 2011
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I crossed the border between Russia and Georgia three days ago - direct south from Vladikavkaz, not sure what's the name of the crossing.
I've got Polish passport, not sure if it makes a difference. Ho hassels at all, Goergians let motorbike riders go without waiting in line 
Bart
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22 Aug 2011
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That is very nice news 
Can you please tell me how did you approach Vladikavkaz, from which city, road?
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22 Aug 2011
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Hey Bart,
Is that real!? We are currently 130 km from Sochi in Tuapse ( SPOT Shared Page) and we think to go back to Bulgaria through Ukraine. But if it's possible to cross to Gorgia we can go there... What Russian visa you have? Single or double entry? Can you send me your mobile phone as SMS on 00359885634893 because we don't have regular Internet.
Best regards,
Nikolay
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22 Aug 2011
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The problem for me was that I had to go around Turkmenistan on my way from stans to Turkey. I found out through Polish adv forum that some guys just crossed from Goergia to Russia, so northern route around Caspian Sea was possible without coping with high ferry price from Sochi. So I thought that since Russia is the one making problems, going the other way should be easier. And it was.
I got from Volgodrad to Gieorgiyevsk in something like 3/4 of a day and made it to Vardzia in Gerorgia the next day, going through Vladikavkaz, missing Tibilisi and then going through some mountain roads.
Border crossing was normal for Russia - they checked temporary import documents, which were dodgy since prepared by Kazakhs and without all the right stickers, but I talked my way out of it somehow. Goergian side was super smooth - they let me go to the front of a line, then checked my passport (I don't need visa for Georgia), checked rego papers and that was it. Much easier than other borders I did on my trip - I've got RR here - Where is the bloody tiler? - ADVrider , although I'm still working on this particular installment. Should be ready soon.
I've got no mobile - just damaged my phone, so email is the olny way to contact me, although I said pretty much everything 
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22 Aug 2011
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Thanks for answer.
I'm in lucky group of people that do not need visa for Russia, Georgia and etc 
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23 Aug 2011
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Hi,
What is your Russian visa? Single or double entry? Cause we have single entry touristic and if the georgians go not pass us we are in the middle between the borders.
Regards
Nikolay
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29 Aug 2011
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We also passed Verhnyi Lars from Russia to Georgia 3 days ago as Bulgarian citizens. No issues at all. Also asked the Russians is it possible before entering border post and the guy replied "Of course". Great. Then some of the border stuff helped with the docs, one of them have Bulgarian girlfriend and at the end let us directly before the line. Absolutely unexpected for a Russian border. With Georgians even more simple: they let us overtake all cars and for 10 min we are in.
The Georgian military road is great, we stayed one day at Kazbegi. Now we are in Turkey some 1000 km from BG border and close to a full Black Sea circle without a ferry.
Here are some pics from the trip: https://picasaweb.google.com/1097777...ucasus2011Live
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31 Aug 2011
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Well, that's great news. Now I have to go back
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5 Sep 2011
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Ok we made the Black sea circle:
For 21 days we done 7000 km and 6 countries. The only ferry we used is Kerch - Port Kavkaz (Russia). The bypass of Abkhazia is about 1500 km or even a bit more, I'm not sure exactly how long.
Thanks to Racki for the prompt info about Verhnyi Lars. If he does not added that info in the forum we would not even try the border in Vladikavkaz and would turn back to Ukraine.
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14 Aug 2012
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Russia to Georgia via Vladikavkaz - no problem
Hello;
I passed the Russian-Georgian border on motorcycle on the 3:rd of August 2012, going through the Russian town Vladikavkaz. Border passing was easy and took no more than 45 minutes (I am a Swedish citizen.) Guards where quite professional. I then continued on to Tbilisi on the "military road" over Caucasus.
I met bikers but unfortunately, I had no chance to talk to them. By the looks of it, I dont think they encountered any problems going the other way.
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