Originally Posted by Silvio Maridati

Hello everybody
I'm looking for current advices for our trip in July and August 2017.
Route: We start on July 1st in Bishkek then Kyrghistan, Tadjikistan with Pamir Highway, Usbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Aserbeidjan, Georgia, Turkey, Greece and back home to Switzerland.
Allready organised or in progress is transport of Bikes incl. baggage from CH to KS, all necessary visas and insurances and flight tickets.
Now our question:
1.) time table - we planned to be at the Turkmenistan border by end July start August. Is one month to get there sufficient? This due to the silly Turkmenistan transfer visa regulations of max 5 days which obliges us to mention a speciffic date of entry in the visa application form of Turkmenistan.

Yes, that is plenty of time to get to Turkmenistan. (We were riding in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan last August (2016). Just to give you an idea: if you wanted to ride straight through, you could ride from Osh to Murghab in 2 days and from Murghab to Khorog in one day.

2.) on all visa application forms you got to mention an address of a hotel or guesthouse you are going to stay while being in the country. As overlanders we never know in advance where we gonna stay. So how do you manage this situation?

Just look online (Tripadvisor or Booking.com, etc). Choose something that doesn't require a deposit wherever you like and make a reservation. Get your visa, cross the border and cancel the reservation if it doesn't really work for you. Nobody is checking to see if you made it to that hotel.

3.) money - we learned that enoug cash money is recommended. How much do you calculate per day when using homestay facilities and restaurants etc.?
Cash should be in US$ right? Prefferabely pieces of 1$ and 5$ correct?

I would carry USD and EUROs in bigger bills as emergency money. Get local cash every 3-4 days from ATMs- that's how locals do it too. If the ATM is broken, some hotels will take USD/EURO, or you might find a bank to exchange it.


4.) Helmet in aircraft cabin - we fly with Turkish Airlines from Zurich via Istambul to Bishkek. While our bikes are on the road to KS we use ohters for holidays. So we need our helmets. Can we carry them as cabin luggage on board, since we will be travelling in bike clothes allready?

Yes, this is no problem. I carry my helmet in a light weight nylon backback or small duffel. Protect the shield with a plastic bag, and pad the bottom of the bag with some clothing. Your helmet will be fine. I have done this several times and never heard a single remark from Airport Security or from an Airline (including Turkish Air)

Any other advise is highly appreciated. Thank you.
Silvio