Heading east out of Turkey Overland
 

Hi,

Planning leg 2 of our RTW on two GS’s. We’re looking to go east from Istanbul and eventually make it to India via some of the Stan’s.

Plan A was via Baku but that doesn’t look like it will be possible.

Has anybody any recommendations of routes, we want to stay overland if possible, we’re riding with Irish passports.

Russia seems to be an option but don’t want to go North. Iraq / Saudi / UAE and ferry to Pakistan seems like another option. Iran into Turkmenistan seems plausible too.

Thanks

I suggest looking into getting a Russian transit visa and crossing via Georgia-Kazakhstan. The border near Astrakhan is open to foreigners. Not 100% sure but I believe Iran is tricky right now.

If you want to go via Baku and the Caspian Sea ferry to KZ there is only one option, get you bikes freighted into Azerbaijan and you follow by air. Once in country you can exit no problem. Turkmenistan is difficult, you need to go by organised tour.

Thanks

Hi. I'm kind of in the same situation, I'm heading to Kyrgyzstan and I'm already in Romania. From the options you mentioned I'm leaving shipping from Tbilisi to Baku as last chance option. I'm arranging visa to Iran for overlanders and will try get tranzit visa to Turkmenistan in Armenia (somwhere else I red is right place to do it there). I'm confiused with information about transit visa tru russia, I red is easy to make it but visited russian embassy in Oslo and consul said it will be easier to make tourist visa for me (just for crossing from northen Caucasus to Kazahstan, no transit wisa if applaying from Poland or Turkey.
I will let you know how it went