Russia-Georgia-Turkey in mid winter?
 

Hi,

My wife an I are planning a trip to Almaty and back over Christmas, we would like to come back through Turkey.
Anyone know what are the chances of the mountain passes being passable?
We will be in a suitably equipped 2 wheel drive car.

Andy

So you want to drive between Vladikavkaz and Tbilisi via Kazbegi in winter.
It is difficult to foresee how the road will look like.

I drove my 2WD van between Kazbegi and Tbilisi (and back) in May 2011. There were still snow, ice and a lot of mud. Driving inside the tunnels was quite scaring. When I was going to Kazbegi I met a group of Germans with their vans who had given up because they were worried about the tunnels and they turned back near Gudauri. But I decided to proceed at my own risk... and I made it and saw that local people drive in such conditions with normal 2WD cars.

Maybe, in the middle of winter, when everything is frozen (no mud) it is easier. And maybe the interior of the tunnels has been rebuilt recently. Who knows.

Here my video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlCobjZo0tQ .
Good luck and let us know.

Its closed in winter due to weather :freezing:

Low Temperatures and Black Ice
 

Hi

I drove through Northern Iran and Eastern Turkey in November 2011. Although there was not much snow yet the temps were -14 to -23 at night and until about 10AM.

Driving was quite strenuous due to lots of black ice but traffic went on as normal.

Our route was Tabriz- Dogubayazit-Erzurum-Trabzond-Black sea coast to Istanbul.

High altitude and Black Ice from Iran to Erzurum but then drop down to Black Sea at Trabzond and lose it. Starts again at West end of Black Sea when you go into hills again heading for Istanbul.

Hope this helps.

Are you sure about this? (source)


The Georgian Military Highway is such a major road connection, I was pretty sure it's kept open year-round.


Just drove there in November, not much snow yet,

Hi
I was on The Georgian Military Highway last September and there was some pretty big road improvements going on, the road was not to bad very muddy and slippery in the snowy parts but passable. it should be much improved by now. skip

The source was border guards I asked last year on both sides as back then I was considering leaving my bike there over winter if I was to pass back that way and was told ofton during winter during heavy snow the road is closed, not sure if they stated just for a few days or maybe weeks?

OK, that sounds more like what I thought. Road may be blocked, until snow is cleared. Given that the snowy side is in Georgia and the highest point near the Georgian city of Kazbegi / Stepantsminda, with big hotels and even a casino, the road-clearing will be done quickly. Cheers.

If you put winter tyres on your car, I think you wouldn't have problem to do that trip...

I spoke to a Russian guy who takes tourist from Russia to Georgia today at a tourist site in North West Georgia and he cross's this road ofton in winter.

He said from December to February the road can be closed and sometimes for at least a week as nothing gets done fast.

During the day it is not to cold I just wear a jumper no coat but at night it is very cold, snow is now on the lower parts of the South Caucasus.

So if your trip is a Xmas make plans for road being closed for at least a week with regards to visa dates

As someone else mentioned if you have proper Winter tyres fitted it won't matter that you've got a 2WD for road/highway driving.

It will be extremely cold so make sure you're fully prepared for any breakdown or accident.

Be sure to take photos and videos!

and try to keep the tank full at all opportunities. have a wool blanket. keep dry fruits, chocolate and at least 3-4 liters water in the car...

Just to put things into perspective again. The Verkhny Lars border on the Georgian Military Highway is one of the BUSIEST Russian borders. It is also among Russia's WARMEST in winter. For the OP, who comes from Kazakhstan, it will almost feel like the Riviera. :Beach:


Having said that, there were indeed famous snow blocks, the last in December 2005 when Georgian authorities needed 4 days to free 200 cars from 2,5m high snow, near the Cross Pass (Gudauri).


There are however plenty of hotels and villages all along, and former Soviet authorities know better to deal with Siberian conditions than anyone else, so no life threatening situation in case of snow. (This is Russia/Georgia, not the US !)


If you get stuck, it's most likely on the higher Georgian side, so no worries about Russian visa expiration dates.


The border opening time works: winter period (01-NOV - 28-FEB) from 07 am till 07pm, summer period (01-MAR - 31-OCT) from 06 am till 10pm.


Because of the landslide it currently works only from 08 am till 06 pm.


(Info partly taken from English and German wikipedia sites.)

Well as i said my info regarding the border was closed at winter came from border guards on both sides but as i stated it was a misunderstanding as they meant it can be partial closed in winter during the months December to January and not fully closed

As for just the Georgian side being the only area possible to be snowed in i would also disagree and say the no mans land between borders is an ideal snow trap

And with regards to the dude heading this way i have suggested there are chances that this pass might be closed for some time (up to a week) on the dates he is travelling so best take extra care planning dates for the "what if" factor like when getting a Russian visa get the double entry 30 day visa and not single entry and also other small things for the "what if" factor

And with regards to my recent information (just back from Georgia 2 days ago myself) that came from a Russian guy who takes tourist from Russia to Georgia and he stated that the border does close when snow needs clearing a few days to a week sometimes and laughed when i ask if it gets cleared fast and said "its not a runway on Moscow airport"


So my information i am just passing on is from border guards on both sides and also a local who's business it is to take tourist across this route solely for the Op to understand maybe the trip "might" have slight delays for his planning factor which is better information than from wikipedia sites

Also maybe plan more time in Georgia as it is an amazing country:thumbup1:

Photos taken last week on my visit there