Howdy, Im in Ankara, almost finished collecting visas for the Stans. (I'll post a thread of how it all went, problems, etc, once I am done)

anyhow, I got 5 days of transit thru turkmen. I've heard alot of stories, but not much firsthand accounts.

Since its transit, I know I have to stay to the route, but how close? if I want to see something 5km off the road, is it ok? Also, in the cities, as they are on the route, & not many roads going to/from, Im guessing its ok to wander around a bit? I'd like to spend a day in Ashkabet, and maybe 2 nites. Hotels easy to find? are they all 5 star expensive palaces, o are there cheaper ones anyone has been to?

My route it from Turkmenbashi to Samarkland. Then I'll take the Pamir hiway & once in Russia, I'll head east.

thanks in advance for any help/ideas

Doug

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www.motosapiens.org

My Motorcycle Hotel/Cafe in Bulgaria

Hey, dude, glad to know you made it in getting the TKM visa, as you know mine was denied.

Hope to hook up in Kyrgyzstan, I'll give you a call as I'll be in Samarkand.


Take care,
Nick

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Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré

sorry, thats my fault. I told you not to use me as a character reference!



I dont think you told me they turned you down, how come?

hell, they even SAW me & approved it!

Doug

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www.motosapiens.org

My Motorcycle Hotel/Cafe in Bulgaria

My agency that has been working on my visas (I received my passport back just two hours ago with visas of RUS, KAZ, UZB and KYGZ) told me that they required a 1400 USD deposit, plus the Turkmen embassy in Paris was not even so clear in explaining why they wanted it from me.
So I decided to avoid Turkmenistan, nobody forces me to get there: the only regret is that this stopped me in returning to Italy thru Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan, but the visits to those places are only postponed to next year!

Next time I'll need a Visa, Doug, I'll show up at the embassy with you! AHAHA.

(of course I'll pay you back offering you a sixpack of Green Fanta like last august in Armenia... )

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Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré

hi Doug,
i'm the other, than Peter Forwood and Dave Barr of course, "mad" guy wich use an Harley to ride the planet. i was on your same route last year, riding my Dyna to the stans and ahead. as for Turkmenistan; it is just desert, so you can test your "brand new" Dirtster, i congratulate with you for the nice job you did by the way. road from turkmenbashi to ashgabat is so boring, and hot. in ashgabat we're hanging around fo hotel as they were full or expensive. plus they only accept brand new $ notes... be careful, in ashgabat, no to walk around after 11pm at night. there is a sort of curfew. i didn't knew and i was almost arrested for it. the city itself is a kitch architecture's triumph as for nyazov megalomany. the road heading north, from ashgabat to konye urgench it is pretty wide and well paved. i suggest you to ride your bike to the DArvaza crater, 3 km east of the main road. in Uzbekistan we had to look for petrol as for lack of it at the common gas station that were all closed in north area. road from khiva to bukhara and samarkand it is bumpy but quite doable. Tajikistan; i do not know from wich border you intend to get into the country. but the chinese made a very new and velveted road from north border to Dushanbe. you'll get into the Anzob tunnel wich is very impressive and exciting. then, after dushanbe going east towards the pyandhz river and down to Khorog, it is a pain in the a++. no asphalt, just stones, dry mud, steepy uphills but nice sceneries, as along the pyandhz river valley, but be careful about waterflood wich are very common in summertime. from khorog uo tp the Pamir Highway is doable road, first part 'till Murgab is paved, after that, enjoy your corrugated gravel.
kyrgyzstan; 5 minutes to get through custom, very impressive. chineses are building a new road from Sary Tash to Osh. last year was partly gravel, but i assume they're on the way to get it paved now.
when do you plan to be in east Russia to ride the BAM? i'll be there on about the beginning of August, coming from Japan, on my wayback.

if may do you need further infos, be free to write me a pm, or go to my website www.lungastrada.it and get my mail address.

have a safe route

That's true, I will have a 10-liter extra military tank on my back seat just for that reason.
I should have a 450 km-range in total, in this case.

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Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré