Border crossing Georgia/Azerbaijan
 

Hi All,

I`m heading out to Central Asia from the UK in April and would like to stay updated on the above border news. Does anyone have a website that gives accurate information and news on event in this area? There is information floating around that it would be re-opened in November, this dose not appear to be the case. Has it been closed for political reasons, or a hangover from Covid?

Azerbaijan closed its land and sea borders to tourists due to covid and is expected to reopen before too long, though the date seems to keep on getting pushed back.

Hi Stuart,

Have you heard any more about this border? I am pretty sure I saw a similar post from you on this topic in Caravanistan. My partner and I are aiming to also ride through the Caucasus and into Central Asia sometime mid-2023 and are trying to find a solution to this issue as well.

I emailed "All Right Moving" about shipping a bike from Georgia to Azerbaijan and would be happy to let you know what I hear back from them.

Best,
Kiley

Hi Kiley,

Im in contact with a freight company in Tblisi and they are looking at a cost to truck the bike through to Baku. Ill post up what they come back with. I would then fly in to Baku as its only the land border that is closed going in to Azerbaijan.

I`m also looking in to the visa issue with Kazakstan, as for a while they were only letting you in when you flew, not at land borders, so if you know anything about this please let me know.

You can also book the ferry online now - https://public.acsc.az/online/payment/index/en/ - byt the port of arrival that flags up is Kurik, which is close to Aktau, but seems quite small. Im unsure abou that.

I`ll post up what I have in due course :thumbup1:

I went east - west across the Caspian Sea a couple of months ago. A "how to write up" here:

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...-across-103601

No visa needed for Kazakhstan on a German passport, if staying less than 30 days. The Az/Kaz connection is now Alat/Kuryk. No ships Baku/Aktau/vice versa any longer.

Thanks Stuart and Chris!

Stuart--I haven't seen the same about Kazakhstan. Based on the https://kz.usembassy.gov/covid-19-in...20in%20country. and also https://www.tripsguard.com/destinati...d=unvaccinated it seems like the land borders are open.


Also, in terms of Georgia to Azerbaijan, reached out to "All Right Moving" who quoted the following:

We will be able to assist with collection of your bike in Tbilisi, export customs formalities, transportation up to Baku customs terminal, import customs formalities in Baku and handover bike to you at customs terminal area.



Our rates for required services will be as following:



Collection of bike from you, loading into truck and export clearance in TBS: USD 350.00

Road freight transport from Tbilisi to Baku: USD 850.00 (***TBC close to booking date as freight costs may vary)

Receiving of bike at Baku customs terminal, import clearance fee and handover at terminal: USD 250.00

Issuance of temporary customs declaration: USD 50.00

Possible terminal handling charges in Baku will be billed at cost basing on official receipts from customs



For export customs clearance in Tbilisi we will need from you below documents:

Copy of your passport (with officially and notarially verified translation to Georgian language); approximate cost for notary translation will be USD 25.00 – 30.00

Power of attorney from you to our representative in Tbilisi: cost of POA is approx USD 20.00 (if used our known notary office)

Copy of bike TITLE (with officially and notarially verified translation to Georgian language); approximate cost for notary translation will be USD 25.00 – 30.00



You will get our assistance for all notary office documentations by our representative in Tbilisi.



In Azerbaijan, we will need from you copy of your passport (photo page), bike TITLE (original) and your presence at customs terminal (you will be accompanied by our customs broker)

Together with our customs broker you will go to customs terminal where he will collect shipping docs from truck driver, will submit all necessary docs to customs department and will get for you driving permit for max 90 days period



The best option is to use GEO-AZ routing for transporting of your bike. Afterwards, you will be able to drive your car in Azerbaijan within 90 days and send the car to KZ using a ferry boat (as all others did)



Hope this helps!
Kiley

Hi Kiley,

Did you get the quote from All Right Moving`s Baku office or one in Tibilsi?

Hi Stuart!

I emailed "manager@allrightmoving.com" and got a reply from Ramin Hasanov "Regional Manager Azerbaijan & Georgia." His email signature cites his location as Baku, so it seems like I got the Azerbaijan office. Do they have a separate Tblisi office and does it offer different quotes?

We're kind of thinking at this point that we will aim to just get out to Georgia and will assess options when we get there, and hope to find folks on the ground who will be able to facilitate cheaper transport of the bikes. Or, fingers crossed, that the border miraculously opens by then (not likely).

Cost are plus VAT
 

Hi Kiley,

I`ve had a reply from All Right Moving and they replied with exactly the same quote as you recieved.

However I asked about payment and if you pay by bank transfer or credit card, there is an additional 18%. They say its for VAT.

So for the quoted price you need to pay in cash. Im not adverse to that, but its a lot of US$ to have in your pocket and Im not sure how easy you can access $ when in Georgia. Not ideal.

In many ATM's in Georgia you can choose between USD en Lari.

Thanks for that information. It is rather unusal business practise however to quote a cash and invoiced price. I understand the resons why they would want cash, however if they then dont provided you with a reciept, you are left rather open when you go to collect the bike at the other end, with no proof of payement.

Not ideal.

In your country it's unusual. Different strokes for different folks...

When my riding buddy and I sent our bikes unaccompanied from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan (link in post #5, above), the shipper had the original vehicle documents too. Had the bikes not arrived, how would some random piece of paper written in Cyrillic have helped them to be found?

Your point is a valid one Chris, I would just prefer some kind of documentation, especially as at the moment they are the only company that are saying they can do the transport. Everyone else is saying it can`t be done.

I will update the thread as I find more information, I`m sure there is a way through.

Or if you were going to ship your bike back from the Stans to Europe, why not consider shipping it there and ride back (doing what I did to cross the Caspian Sea E to W), or ship both ways?

www.advfactory.com do shipping/freight from/to Europe.

The Russian and Kazakh Steppe (and pretty much anywhere in KZ) and most of Uzbekistan are incredible boring and pointless, imho, to ride. The interesting riding/ culture/ scenery and people is Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, the small Silk road enclaves of Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva (also very Disneylandish and even the riding there is hot, flat and straight), the Altai region of Russia and Mongolia.

I found riding the steppe there a rather zen experience. But of course unlike yourself I didn't have you for company :laugh::biggrin: