Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Route Planning
Advice on driving through Russia and Kazakhstan Advice on driving through Russia and Kazakhstan
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

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


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 18 Jun 2007
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London
Posts: 3
Advice on driving through Russia and Kazakhstan
Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can help us, a friend of mine and I are doing our first major overland adventure.We are driving a minibus out to an orphange in Astana (Kazakhstan)filled with sports, arts and school stuff.

Our route is to head out to eastern europe, across the border in to russia from estonia then St petersburg, Moscow then south to Volgograd and then across most of Kazakhstan to Astana.

I was wondering if anybody can give us any advice on route/issues. The areas i have found it hard to find out about are southern russia and Kazakhstan. Does anyone know anything about the state of roads etc in these areas or any issues or we are open to suggestions of route changes if it is going to make things easier more interesting.

Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Guy
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 19 Jun 2007
seanh's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 301
I came across Kazakstan in late November 2004. I took the southern route from Almaty to Turkistan, Kizylorda, then north to Aktubinsk and across to Uralsk, crossing into Russia to Saratov, then south to Volgograd and Sochi. The roads in Russia were fine, but the road from Aktubinsk across the north of Kazakstan was the most difficult road i've ridden. A new road was under construction, but the detours to either side of the road were a quagmire of sticky, slippery clay with metre deep ruts made by trucks. The soil there is a fine clay, which is good in dry weather, but deteriorates rapidly when it's wet. Perhaps they've finished the road by now, there were no bridges when i was there, but if not, it really depends on the weather and the time of year you travel.
Sean
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 25 Jun 2007
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London
Posts: 3
Thanks for your help, i think we may change our route and head a bit further through russia, i am going to try and find out if they ever finished that road!
Thanks again for your help

Guy
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 2 Jul 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Krakow, Poland
Posts: 62
Go east
Just 9 months ago I traveled a similar route like as seanh except that I skept Aktubinsk-Uralsk section and left Kazakhstan between Aktubinsk and Orenburg in Russia. There is a section of 200-250km between Aralsk (not Uralsk!) and Aktubinsk where I saw no SINGLE car traveling on remains of tarmac. Everybody preferred to take full off-road in steppe. Unless you have a sturdy car and a very good reason, you don't want to do it. I was told that the section Aktubinsk-Uralsk is as bad as the above. The road is even worse than the pictures below.
Destroyed section of the road between Aral and Aqtobe, Kazakhstan
Muddy section, I was very lucky it was dry
There are plenty of predatory birds in all 'Stans
No 4 wheel traffic on this road. Cars and trucks use steppe tracks instead to save suspension
Just a month earlier I had traveled another road: Czelabinsk (Russia) - Kustanay - Astana - Balkhash. This road is very good except for about 100km between Kustanay and Kokshetau (AFAIR) which is definitely driveable but tiring.
See this: A bad section
and this:
res-p1000801
My friends traveled in Ford Transit with a big trailer and really disliked my advise to take this road. They preferred to enter Kazakhstan as far east as around Petropawlowsk.

Good luck!
Kris
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 25 Jul 2007
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London
Posts: 3
Thanks
We have now bought ourselves, a mitsubushi delica 4x4 slightly more suitable for a journey like this than the originally planned ford transit minibus!

As for route we are still undecided although now we have a 4x4 we are tempted to try the southern through the whole of KZ route. Although we are still in the process of researching this. If those pictures are anything to go by i can see why it was exhausting on a bike!

Thank you both for your help.

Guy
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 25 Oct 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Southampton
Posts: 671
Have you left yet Guy?
Hi Guy - what route have you/did you decide upon. Just starting to do our research to go across all 'Stans from Russia. any information you have would be great. We'll be in a Landy ............

Cheers
__________________
Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009
Reply With Quote
Reply

« 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
3rd party insurance Ukraine, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, KenButler Europe 14 12 Nov 2013 11:42
Tyres - Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia KenButler Europe 1 22 May 2006 12:45
need parts in kazakhstan or novosibirsk russia allen starkey Northern and Central Asia 5 15 May 2006 14:17
Driving Across Russia Ants BK Route Planning 1 26 Feb 2006 05:28
Russia Kazakhstan border (Altay Region) Tom Horovitch Route Planning 4 9 Jan 2006 22:40

 
 

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 16:14.

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