Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Northern and Central Asia
Kazakhstan Road Conditions Kazakhstan Road Conditions
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 Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

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


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Like Tree1Likes

Reply
Page 2 of 2 1 2
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 18 May 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Poland
Posts: 275
Some new infos??
Hi folks
We will start to Kazakhstan and Kirgistan in July 2011 (Defender and 2 bikes).
I need info about road conditions from Russian border in Astrakhan-Atyrau-Magat-Shubarquduq-Aqtobe.
Is is still bad or maybe is improved from last time?
Next we will drive from Qandyagnash to Aral (I think this is better than M32)
Than all the way to Kyzylorda Shimkent and Taraz is fine, I think so?

Thanks

Bartosz
__________________
Bartosz
www.wyprawy4x4.com.pl
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 24 May 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 602
Some more roads:

A344 Kyzylorda to Zhezqazghan. First 130km good asphalt (with 20km good dirt), then about 200km good dirt (mild corrugations but a nice drive at 80), then last 100km-ish is asphalt which varies from very bad to OK. This is total wilderness, a nice drive.

A344 Zhezqazghan to the turning 30km-ish past Atasu is good.

Link road to the M36 is 200km of pretty bad asphalt.

If you want to drive a really BAD road, try the Shauldir - Koksaray - Sardara stretch! It's amazing that a road can get this bad without prolonged aerial bombardment.

A nice alternative to the M32 between Taraz and Turkestan is to head up to Asa, then Karatau, Zhangatas, Sholqaqurghon, Kentau, Turkestan. It's mostly good asphalt, with the odd bad patch. Zhangatas is a virtual ghost town with dozens of derelict apartment building, then there is a stretch of real wilderness, then the road crosses the Karatau mountains. Some nice untramelled backroads.

Daniel
__________________
4.5 years around Eurasia in a Toyota Hilux|http://eurasiaoverland.wordpress.com/
Pictures Here|https://picasaweb.google.com/113619413612674951960
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 24 May 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Poland
Posts: 275
Daniel, you are real roads bible.
I think that I will enter in Astrakhan, than Atyrau-Aqtobe-Aral-Shymkent-Taraz and 7 days visit in Kirgistan (Song-Kol Lake, Issyk-kul).Next back througt Karakara Valey and Sharyn Kanion.
Almaty-Balchas-Astana and Russia.
24 days is not so many but it is possible to drive this area and see some interesting place.

Thank you

Bartosz
__________________
Bartosz
www.wyprawy4x4.com.pl
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 24 May 2011
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 36
Hi all,

Im not sure what the done thing on here is, get involved with a existing thread or start a new one.

This is the second attempt at this message - i realised that asking for bad roads was a bit stupid for kazak

What i mean is, where are some goood 'pistes' if i can call them that, which take you to good scenery, off whatever form of beaten track may exist in kazak (i dont know!). We will be entering from Uzbek and leaving into Russia, probably through NW kazak.

Cheers

Pete
__________________
If today was perfect there would be no need for tomorow
Last edited by PeterClark; 25 May 2011 at 09:23.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 26 May 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 602
Bartosz - thank you for your comment. Just to repeat what's posted on the M32 thread, the Atyrau - Aktobe road is not good, if you're looking for a smooth drive it's better to go on the new asphalt from Atyrau to Oral (Uralsk) and then to Aktobe (Aktyubinsk) and onwards.

Pete - Kazakhstan is almost entirely flat steppe. The only places I can think of where you could poke around off-road and see anything different from the normal nothingness is the mountains (though there are all dead end drives), and Manggystau (Aktau) Region. For a real challenge you could head past the Kokaral Dam on the Aral Sea and follow desert pistes for about 1000km of nothing to Aktau (let me know if you do this!). There's also a piste along the northern shore of Lake Balqash which may or may not be interesting. Otherwise just play Kazakh-Roulette, pick a back road on the map and see what you get, perhaps a decent asphalt highway, perhaps a cratered wasteland.

Daniel
__________________
4.5 years around Eurasia in a Toyota Hilux|http://eurasiaoverland.wordpress.com/
Pictures Here|https://picasaweb.google.com/113619413612674951960
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 27 May 2011
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 36
Hi Daniel,

Thanks again, much appreciated

I think well stick to west kazakh but the mention of a 1000km desert route has got my spider sense tingling - ill have to check it out at least!

Cheers

Pete
__________________
If today was perfect there would be no need for tomorow
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 28 May 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Nottingham UK
Posts: 227
Kazakhstan is a pretty big country with relatively few roads in it, I'm sure there are plenty of long (and useful) desert routes there. I did that Beyneu/Aktau - Aralsk route when I was there in 2009. A completely different ball game to just travelling through on the roads.
__________________
UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 12 Jun 2011
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 7
hey guys

thanks for the informations! does anyone know whether there has been road work between atyrau and Quandiaghash? Or can someone give us some Informations how long we should schedule for it?

We are now in Atyrau and want to head to the Aral Lake.

Thanks
Thomas
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 5 Jan 2017
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: slovenia
Posts: 36
Hi there
Going to Stans this year from Slovenia and one option is
Astrakhan A27 - Atyrau A110 - Beyneu E40 - Nukus, Uzb.- Samarkhand -Pamir
Anyone knows about the roads in this directions
Driving motorcycle.

thanks
sasco
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 5 Jan 2017
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Brunei
Posts: 949
Astrakhan - Atyrau was awful in 2014, huge craters in the asphalt from the border most of the way to Atyrau.

Atyrau - Beyneu is excellent asphalt (2014).

Beyneu to the border is quite rough and unpaved.

Border to Nukus is OK asphalt, not a problem to drive on (2011).

Nukus to Samarkand was recently repaired, but I have not driven the main route (through Bukhara) since 2007, when it was OK. There is an alternative road through Uchquduq and Zerafshan to Navoiy, nice desert drive but the road is OK asphalt (2011).

Samarkand - Dushanbe is fine.
__________________
EurasiaOverland a memoir of one quarter of a million kilometres by road through all of the Former USSR, Western and Southern Asia.
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 5 Jan 2017
klausmong1's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vienna
Posts: 734
In 2015 it was ok, some parts in Usbekistan have been under Construction and I think from 2016 on you can expect good road.

Some short parts after Atyrau have been unpaved, but nothing really spectacular for a bike.
Worse for cars and trucks, but ok for bikes.
__________________
www.klausmotorreise.com
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 6 Jan 2017
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: slovenia
Posts: 36
Astrkhan it is
Thanks for info, that is the rout I'll take.
departing on end of june...hope it's not to hot then

bibi sasco
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 6 Jan 2017
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: F
Posts: 856
Quote:
Originally Posted by eurasiaoverland View Post
Astrakhan - Atyrau was awful in 2014, huge craters in the asphalt from the border most of the way to Atyrau.

.
Same in Oct 2015, especially awful during 60 km after the border.

RR.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 16 Feb 2017
Knight of the Holy Graal's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mantova, Italy
Posts: 566
Rode Samarkand to Khiva in august 2016 on a motorcycle rented in Almaty.

I can say that the A380's tarmac from Beruniy to about 20 km southeast of Gazli direction Bukhara is in excellent conditions, but take care of fuel consumption, as there's no fuel stations for a very long stretch, I mean about 250-260 km (you can find some places with emergency fuel, anway, it's what saved me because the motorcycle I rented had a small tank not suitable for a long desert ride).
Did not go north of Beruniy, so I can't know how the road conditions of the A380 are in direction of Nukus (but I think they were still extremely good).

If you plan to go to Khiva, the 6-7 km stretch from the exit of A380 to the bridge on Amu-Darya is in terrible conditions, full of potholes as if it was bombed by F-16's, but after the bridge it improves immediately up to Khiva: not in perfect conditions, but you can ride with no problems.

From 20 km southeast of Gazli to Bukhara, the A380 becomes quite bumpy but you can still ride 75-80 km/h with no major problem (don't do it at night like I did, there's many potholes even if not so deep).

Bukhara to Samarkand is again excellent and with fuel stations.
__________________
Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 16 Mar 2017
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 12
Quote:
Originally Posted by sasco View Post
Hi there
Going to Stans this year from Slovenia and one option is
Astrakhan A27 - Atyrau A110 - Beyneu E40 - Nukus, Uzb.- Samarkhand -Pamir
Anyone knows about the roads in this directions
Driving motorcycle.

thanks
sasco
Hi Sasco! Planning something similar from Croatia. It would be great to exchange information before the trip. My trip was planned for June as I will have some fixed dates in Kyrgyzstan. As I will have 4-5 weeks for the whole trip, the idea is to come to region as fast as possible and then have more relaxed scehedule mainly focused on Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. I have found many useful information about roads in Kazakhstan here
Last edited by mali_r; 19 Mar 2017 at 12:26.
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 2 of 2 1 2

« 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
Bolivian road conditions? TheAgavePrince South America 4 15 Mar 2010 05:00
Road Conditions RogerM Australia / New Zealand 0 2 Jan 2009 05:02
Lao road conditions kruglov.com West and South Asia 9 4 Nov 2007 04:13
Road Conditions AussiePommy Route Planning 4 24 Jul 2006 17:56
Road conditions in Sth America El Penguino Route Planning 6 9 May 2002 02:32

 
 

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

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

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 13:02.

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