Lake Baikal

[Polibio]

Hi guys,

in 4 weeks time we will leave for a overland travel to Lake Baikal and returns.

Do you have any suggestion about crossing the Russian border ? I mean, is better crossing the border between Latavia and Russia or go trought Bielorus and after Russia. I read some report of traveller saying that the border between the Poland and Bielorus is a nightmare.

Someone has a suggestion ?

cheers

Marco

[motoreiter]

I suggest that you enter Russia from Latvia. Russia and Belorussia are in a customs union, and the documentation for your vehicle gets tricky when entering from Belorussia, because there is technically no customs post on the Russian/Belorussian border and so you don't get the Russian temporary import document that you normally get when you enter Russia. Which means you might have problems when you try to leave Russia.

A couple of caveats to what I said above:
1) I've not actually entered Russia from Belorussia so can't speak first hand, but have read of other people having the problem described above.

2) Maybe you wouldn't have a problem if you enter and leave Russia through Belorussia, because then you'd have whatever Belorussian documents you'd need to leave Belorussia.

[David 65]

Just back from Russia etc
I crossed Latvia into Russia, was very simple. Allow 2/3 hrs. On my return took 1.45mins.
I rode politely to front of car queue, Waited 20 minutes and was let into compound. You do passport and log book etc 30mins. Russia side, again a short slow queue. You fill in a A4 form twice. They register bike on system and put a bar code sticker on your copy of form. Don't loose this. I crossed in and out of Russia on my trip. The modern borders gave me another form, with bar code. The basic ones didn't.
When I left Russia, I handed over all the A4 forms. They new from their computer how many I had. It's very friendly,simple border formalities. On my way in I was helped by the most beautiful customs lady......which cheered my day. The forms on the internet I had printed off. Had changed 1st of May 15, they have the new ones.
Hope this helps.

[Eshark]

This year I have crossed both boarders- Latvian in 1,5 hr and Belarus ( grodno) in 2,5hr.
That's the only difference.
No any issues when entering or leaving Russia nor custom nor passport control vice.

[mrsroynie]

Yes, we also crossed Latvian border into Russia on 4th May. Didn't take long - despite Roynie discovering that his visa incorrectly identified him as female! All remarkably good-humoured and helpful. We weren't clock-watching, but I'd say it was less than 2 hours.

Yes, avoid Poland. Our Russian friends were finding it almost impossible to get into Europe with motorcycles due to the political situation.

We used the A116/A13 crossing via Karsava. The only thing I would mention are that (depending on the model) some people may find that the their GPS units identify a small border crossing at Goliseva (on the Latvian side), not far from Karsava. This is a mistake. That border closed several years ago.

Also, again more relevant for people travelling into Russia, if you need currency and insurance, make sure you leave enough time to complete the border formalities. The insurance and currency booths close at 5pm and the fuel station does not take credit cards ...

[Bermuda Rover]

Another option is to enter Russia through Ukraine. You can do this safely if you stay to the north of the country, avoiding the conflict zone. Travel through Kiev and head east from there to the border.

I passed through this border point twice last year.