hi shaun.

i would say 'yes'.
Assuming low cost living - wildcamp and cook yourself.
Visas are large expense. BE CAREFUL ! Russia is fairly easy to get double netry business visa, but it is just that, ie yo have 6 months from first entry to exit and they will only allow a single re-entry within this time. We met many people in Mongolia who 'abused' this and consequently got stuck in mongolia, meaning very VERY expensive to get you and bike home.
if you go via kazak after russia, so europe > russia > kazak > russia > mongolia > russia > europe then that is 3 entries into russia ! i.e. you will require 12 month multi entry for russia as the double entry 6 month is not enough !!!!
you could get to kazak via Caspian sea (i.e ferry), for example through Turkey (amazing) then Georgia & Azerbaijan then ferry. Turkey requires visa £20 at border, georgia, free entry and azerbaijan requires visa (transit is good enough, can get in istanbul or Tbilisi(georgia).

For more details check our pages : Coming this way ?

or contact MOTOEDDE (on hubb) - he came across africa and through to Mongolia on a tight budget, he would i'm sure be able to give you some pretty detailed costs.

phil.

Hi Phil,

I like the route you took, might change my plans and cross the Caspian.

Cheers,

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2008 KTM 990 Adventure S

Hi Shaun,
I assumed too much from your first post, you will need a multiple entry visa for this route. No Visa required for Ukraine at this time. Allow for visa costs and time to get them.

Feels like you’re trying to negotiate with me
You are going to be covering big miles on this trip; the total fuel costs are going to be high. But I found lots of free camping in Russia and cheap to eat in the road side cafes.
You could do it for less, depends on what luxuries you like. I am just saying the budget looks reasonable.

Steve

Quick question - if you're doing UK to Far East how do you intend to get your bike home? Can you ship home from Vlad or Magadan or would you still be aiming for Japan/Korea as the final destination?


Just back from a trip but there's no way I'm going to let the grass grow under my feet!

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Find out details of my 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk

I intend to save the cost of shipping and just ride to Mongolia and back ! well, that’s the plan

Looks like my plans have just changed again, after reading this and looking at your site. I’m defiantly up for keeping the visa situation simple with Russia. And coming this way does have a WOW factor about it

Shaun

Hi Steve

No mate, not trying to negotiate with you

Was just surprised when you said this amount after the budget section of this site says

"First-tier" countries such as northern Europe, US$60-80 a day and up per person.

and

"Fourth-tier" countries, parts of Africa and Asia, can be done for less, many for less than US$20 day, especially in Asia. But, yes your right fuel is a BIG factor..

shaun

This route that Phil speaks of is not only a cheaper route, BUT a more scenic one...

Phil's right about the Russian visa. Other points worth mentioning:

1. Be careful WHERE you pick up your visas. The rules or interpretations of those rules for Russian/all stans country consulates differ depending on which country you're in. E.g. Russian visa in bishkek or tashkent is easier than Ulaan Batur or Astana. David at StanTours is an excellent resources about this too as he can be relied upon for LOI's and Russian visa.

2. Also, pick up your visas no more than 1-2 months ahead of expected entry date into that country. Do your research and you'll see its all sorts of *fun* that way...

3. Russian visa is complicated so go for the multiple entry business visa OR double entry business visa....tourist visa is pointless for your route.

4. Russia is $30-80 per day depending on how often you stay in hotels. Stans can be $20-80 per day depending on how often you stay in hotels.

5. West African is about $10-50...depending how often you stay in campements.

6. Lastly, don't carry BIG notes of Euro or $$'s...no need to attract unnecessary attention from those that change it for you and those that hear about it. Plus the exchange rate you may be given on the large note will be tough to swallow.

I camped about 5 days a week and did anywhere from 150km-450km per day for my averages noted above.

HTH

__________________
edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

Hi all. If I can jump in here - just what are the recent fuel prices in Russia? I believe it went up some months ago and my reckonings say it's now about 0.35p (GBP) a litre. I'm driving a car across later this year from the UK - not in a rally by the way, just yours truly taking the 'longest road' from St Petersburg to Vladivostok. Plan to then sell the car and get a boat to Japan. Not sure if I'm allowed to do that(?)

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

Teflon,
I would total up the expected miles between the UK and Vlad. Presume a bad gas mileage and UK fuel prices. That way you'll be sure to budget enough AND compensate for any exchange difference between the Pound to Euro to Ruble.
HTH

edde

PS Selling vehicle in mongolia is a lot easier. if you'd like to sell in Russia, contact the HU Community in Vladivostok for information.

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edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

Have you thought about going from Azerbaijan to turkmenistan, then into UZ then KZ near Shymkent, then up into Russia, there are a few good reasons for this and the only real downside is the extra visas, which are well worth the money:
-Almaty is a good place to get the bike sorted before Mongolia
-TM and UZ are fantastic
-TM has the cheapest petrol on the planet
-You will still get to cross Russia on the way back (there isn't that much variation across Siberia anyway...)
You can then either ride over to Irkustk and down into UB, then cross Mongolia going west (easier to find people to cross Mongolia with in UB) or enter at the Western point and head over to UB, then exit to Irkustk.
Double entry tourist visa will do you for Russia on this route

Depending on when you are planning on leaving you might want to do Africa after, that way you can see how much money you have left - I am kicking myself for rushing my time in Central Asia for lack of funds, should have taken more time over it too....

I’d like to say a BIG thank you for ALL the contributions on this thread. I asked a simple question about cost, but the answers have been so much more useful than I expected, thanks guys. A couple weeks ago I figured I had my route sorted; now I don’t have a clue what way to go!!

I’ve got enough books and maps to keep me reading and researching all year, which is kindda cool coz I’m a hermit now, saving all my money. I’m sure I’ll have a lot more questions as the planning deepens.

One question I do have for MotoEdde is….. How much was the Africa section of your trip mate? I’m trying to figure out if it’s cheaper to do that than go back to the UK from Dakar - service bike - restock - and then head east?

Regards, Shaun

the price is 21.5 rur per liter for premium
20.5 for regular
it almost doesn't differ all over the country, but rumors say it'll go up after march,2 president elections.

rouble to eur is 36.24 for 1

Edde. Just been checking your site - great photos. I was especially interested in those taken through Siberia. It's making me even more impatient to get there. It's reported to be tiger country, but spotting one would be like winning the lottery, they are so rare!

Always wise to take more money than anyone thinks they'll need, though I'd still like to have an inkling of what I'm in for price-wise. I'm running tight and I want to see how far I can get. I spotted a fuel price in one of your photos at a Siberian petrol garage. A quick conversion gave me 0.45p (GBP) for a litre of their finest. I'll keep checking though.

I'm doing the whole road from St Petersburg to Vladivostok, so I'll have to sell the car there if I want to go on to and have a browse around Japan. The Mongolian alternative is good to know if things got desperate. Thanks for the pointers. Very much appreciated.

__________________
I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

Thanks motobelka. Seems my 'calculations' were near as dammit. Much appreciated!

__________________
I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.