Hi,

I'm a Texan who has been working in London. It looks like my contract will be complete on July 1st. I have a bike here, a 650 Dakar and I started thinking that maybe I'll just ride it home.

Is there sufficient time from now to the middle of July (the earliest my lease ends) to plan for a trip through Europe and Russia? Everything that I've heard is that you need a year or so before hand for such a trip. I did buy the Achievable Dream DVD but all the info in it just seemed pretty general. I'm not worried about getting around the US. I've been all over the states.

I don't think I'll need a carnet for countries I am planning on visiting. I will need to get visas for Russia and Mongolia. Places I would like to visit are: Czech Republic, Sweden, St. Petersburg, and Moscow. From there head down to Mongolia and then back to Russia to Vladivostok and then somehow get to North America. I've read that you can take a ferry to South Korea or Japan and then fly to the states. Or there may even be a way to fly directly to Los Angeles starting in July. So maybe I'll need a carnet for S. Korea/or Japan.

I've talked with a clinic about what shots are needed. I am not looking forward to getting stuck by a needle all those time. One of my worries is the weather. If I leave on July 14th and I take 20 days or so to get to Russia, spend a coupe of days in St. Petes and then head down to check out Red Square for a day. I'm also figuring on spending a couple of weeks or so in Mongolia. That means traveling across Siberia around in September. Hopefully it won't be too cold. I got snowed on last weekend riding around the English countryside and hated it.

But this is a perfect time for me to take a trip like this. I don't have a job lined up so I don't really have to be anywhere at a certain time but that may change in the future. I already have the bike and and camping gear. It sounds like a no brainer. I just don't want to be too optimistic and not really plan this thing through. I tend not to worry too much about details and it has cost me in the past. I'm planning a trip to Moroco in May as sort of a shake down trip.

_Kris

Hi,

I travelled in 2004 by motorbike to Vladivostok and from there to Japan. From this experience I can tell you:

September is the last month to pass the eastern part of Siberia. I was there in the first half of that month and it was pretty cold.

Roads are in bad condition east of Krasnojarsk. At least part of the roads are unpaved and muddy. A very bad section is between Tsita and Khabarovsk, which is called the Zilow Gap. However the Russians were constructing a new road and maybe this is finished by now. Of this section I wrote a description in the HUBB (search for “Zilow Gap” or search my name).

In towns and villages in Siberia there are small hotels and B&B-opportunities (in Russian: kwartiri). If you can’t find overnight accommodation, the regional railway stations have. It is simple and cheap.

Never leave your bike unattended. Due to communist indoctrination Russians have a peculiar idea about property and ownership. There are guarded parking lots everywhere (in Russian: otostajanka) or you can ask people to allow you to put your bike in their garden. The gardens are generally fenced and usually there is a mean dog. By the way, Russians are very kind and helpful people.

You don’t really need vaccinations although vaccination against hepatitis (all kinds) is recommendable.

For a Russian visa you need a letter of invitation. You can buy this letter from many travel agencies. I got mine from Stantours (STANTOURS - Central Asia Travel Resources). Because you want to visit Monogolia, ask for a double entry visa. A tourist visa is valid for two months. If you are not sure you can make it in two months, buy a business visa. For Mongolia you can buy the visa in Irkutsk at the Mongolian consulate there. For Mongolia you don’t need a letter of invitation.

From Vladivostok there is a ferry once or twice a week to Fushiki in Japan. For Japan you need a carnet AND an authentication document for that Carnet. You can get that authentication document from the JAF (Japanese Automobile Federation). Without the authentication document you are not allowed to leave the customs area in Fushiki. You can arrange the authentication document before you leave. Contact the JAF; they have a website (in English). If you are a clever guy you ask them to send the document to the JAF office nearest to Fushiki, which is in the town of Toyama. Compulsory Accident Liability Insurance (CALI) you can buy in every motorbike shop.

Have a good trip, Mart



Beyond the horizon: Welcome to Wonderful Travels

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Voorbij de horizon / beyond the horizon: www.wonderfultravels.nl

Hi Gus,
I suggest that you take a read into some threads in here, such as:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-april-31326-2


I recall reading a blog some time ago (not on here and I don't know the details now) from one of your countrymen who went RTW East to West via Russia.
The reason I mention this is because he crossed Russia in just 21 days of actual riding and he kept it simple with just one visa needed (for Russia); he stayed in cheap hotels after early "attempts" at camping - from memory, he decided that the accommodation was so cheap that camping was not worthwhile.
Hope this helps in the planning.

BTW.

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Dave

I read Mike's blog about his trip across Russia and I actually used it to "guess" at a time frame. So I'm taking his time, ~28 days in Russia (21 days actual riding time) and adding a couple of weeks to that since I plan on visiting Moscow and St. Petes, as well as hitting Mongolia. I don't know when I would ever have another chance to see Mongolia. I guess I'll keep my plans open for in case the weather just turns to crap.

I want to start getting the visas I need now. I know I need a Letter of Introduction from Russia. Does it matter when applying for them that I am not in my home country? Any thoughts on getting the bike from Russia to the states? I've spent some time searching the hubb and the best advice just seems to be ask how others are handling it.

Thanks for the help and info!

_Kris

Hola
There is no requirement to apply for russian visa in your own country but it has to be 45 days before visa start date.
The most common way out of Russia to U.S is taking a ferry from Vladivostok to either Fushiki, Japan or Sokcho, Korea and then air or sea shipment onward.
About Air Cargo recently Vladivostok Air announced summer service from Russia to Anchorage, Alaska via Kamchatka, believe it only when it happens.

Crossing Russia from London to Vladivostok in 60 days is doable and plenty of time providing you have no dramas such as mechanical failures, accidents falling for a russian chick etc.

In order to understand all the facts about russian visas, you really need to consult with this site...
Russian visa regulations and laws -- the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to on the internet by WayToRussia.Net
this site is the BEST on the entire internet for general russia information.
Obviously, it doesn't specialise in motorcycles, but it is GOOD.
There is also a talk lounge aka forum where you can post questions.

The reason I post this link is because some of the information provided above about visas is not strictly correct and you really should consult with the experts WTR = waytorussia.

I have used WTR's services in the past for ascertaining information about motoring and visas.

Консульский отдел Посольства Ð*оссии в Лондоне

The russian consulate in London also has a useful site.

My concerns were to ensure you have the correct type of visa - tourist visas are 30d maximum - and make sure it is double entry if you go to mongolia. The main route east also crosses slightly into Kazakhstan but can be avoided by going further north. Also, there are limits on whether you can apply for a visa in a foreign country. Also, there are limits in the number of days for business visas - you only get 90 days maximum out of a 6m visa. read the rules very carefully as you would not want to end up with the wrong visa.

Les

hi guys

as I am thinking intesively about my trip from London to Vladivostok/Magadan, here is what seems to be the best option so far, considering I have from mid June till end of August:

Flying from London to Vladivostok and driving back.

I really appreciate any suggestions, especially from you veterans, who have driven this route.

Thanks a million in advance
Marian

Japan is a good place to go...its only a short ferry ride from Russia...

some good ride info on Gaijin riders forum ... check out the Goldenbutt ride...

Come and say hello when you get here and we will take you for a good tour..

fastBike

Well, i decided to not take the trip. I was offered a job in Sydney on a 18 month contract with possible extension. The sad part is I have to sell my bike. Anyone interested in a 2004 Dakar with a few extras?

_Kris

Sorry to hear you wont make the trip. Thanks for posting this thread all the same as I am currently plotting a trip just like this and it's been very helpful. Hope the job in Sydney works out well for you.