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Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, would you go?
On sound advice (for visa purposes) I’m trying to be more specific about my route toward Mongolia this spring.
So my question is; would the wild campers and lovers of the landscape choose the route: - Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan Or Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan to Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan I know there is a train or thought that the more countries the better but I’m already satisfied that I’m crossing ample borders. I’m a bit daunted by all the visa requirements and also on advice (from Tiffiny) will farm this task out. The fewer border crossing I have to be date specific about the more freedom I seem to have. Do people remember Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan as high points in their trip? Rich |
I haven't been but the route through Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan then Kazakhstan is definitely on my list or places to go. Tajikistan is only a nice to have.
You need to include Russia in the list as there is not border from Kazakhstan to Mongolia. If in that area, I would almost hazard a trip to Kashgar even if it meant leaving the bike for a few days... just a thought |
I have been many times in the area. Stay longer in Uzbekistan if you like hitorical monuments, old cities etc. Spend more time in Kazakstan if you like flat terrain and step. But if you like wild world you have to go to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Kyrgyzstan is the best for me. No. 1 absolutely. More colorfull, green, full of water, horses, yurts. Tajikistan, especially Pamir is more wild, kind of desert located over 4000 meters.
It depend what you mean writing spring. It can be a snow in Pamir... |
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Oh yes, very very definitely don't miss Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan if you're going that way.
The Pamir highway is a fantastic experience. Do some searching around here and the wider web and you'll find loads of info. Kyrgyzstan is beautiful. A real highlight. You will need to research weather conditions, though. The Pamir highway goes to over 15000 feet. There is snow at the top even in mid summer. I'll never forget fixing my mates carb at the top of a mountain in Kyrgyzstan, on a dirt road equivalent of the Stelvio pass, and some of the most incredible views I've ever seen. Wow. I wish I was back there! |
Thats cool, another definitive answer. And wishing you a speedy recovery todderz. Still if anyone has 1st hand experience of the weather in May that would be good. I'm expecting to be advised to leave it until June but chomping at the bit to get going.
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Definitely go with Turkmen, Uzbek, Kyrg & Taj!
Wasn't so blown away with Turkmenistan - just bloody hot, but nice people (outside of Ashgabat where they're all a bit more paramoid!) Uzbekistan - has has been said above,amazing cities, if you want to feel like you've walked on to the set of an Indiana Jones movie, this is the place! Tajikistan - the Pamirs - say no more Kyrgyzstan - one of my favourite countries. Awesome countryside, friendly people. |
Don't miss it...
Did Turkmen, Uzbek, Taj and Kry and Kaz in 2008. I still think about them today. Tajikistan was very poor but what incredible people. When the bike broke down on the Afghan border, people appeared from nowhere with food and drink for me. In one remote spot I was taken in by a family, given a bed (put under the trees by my bike) and fed. Don't miss Taj and Kyr whatever you do. Have fun!
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Just wondering when I have time to go back there. It's really fonderfull :thumbup1:
http://kuvablogi.com/nayta/prev/img2689407.jpg http://kuvablogi.com/nayta/prev/img2920591.jpg |
Kyrgyzstan campsite
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2726/...83bc392f09.jpg Kyrgyzstan road http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2723/...d1ab32e091.jpg Kyrgyzstan view http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2737/...584ac2bf3b.jpg Doesn't even begin to do it justice..... |
Kazakhstan is boring as hell.
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are must sees |
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Kazakhstan was pretty boring, until we found ourselves in the company of someone I suspected of being a drug baron, who entertained us with vodka, a chainsaw, an axe, a blowtorch, vodka, a dinghy with an outboard motor, more vodka, wheelies on a BMW HP2, a slave girl, vodka, a shisha pipe, vodka.
I'll never forget that slave girl! (I'll never forget that vodka-induced hangover...) Kazakhstan? take it or leave it. The people we met? Legends. |
weather
Thanks all, there are some pretty impressive websites featured above! I didn’t need much in the way of persuasion but am now confident Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan is the way to go. Any words of wisdom on the weather?
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Yes, that did turn out to be a little one sided didn't it but makes your decision easier (and yes, Kazakhstan is people aside, pretty boring).
We were in Kyrg in late August early september and the weather was fine. It's mountainous, and many roads in the south are at altitude so there's obviously an element of luck, we had a mixture (including snow) but mostly hot sun. |
Good thread. What's the best advice for Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; visas before you leave or visas en route? If en route, where did you get them and how long did it take. Thanks for your input.
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The advice I received was to sort out all the visas before I go. Hence having to be decisive about the route.
I also now have to be decisive about the dates, which dates and how long do I want to be in each country. How long does it take to cross each country especially as I aim to stay off the grey stuff as much as practical. I would expect that riding through sunning scenery and riding on the more enjoyable dirt track type roads also means low daily mileage. Also sound advice (again from Tiffany) to overlap visa dates by a couple of days to build in some flexibility. My last concern (he says flippantly) is that if I leave to early I will be riding into bad weather. Does anyone have experience or even photos of Uzbekistan to Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan in May? |
I plane do simmilary trip. My route will be Hungary - Ukraina-Rossia - Kazahstan- Uzbekistan - Kirgizia - Tajikistan. I will do mytrip in summer, jul - august because weather is the nice in that time. Maybe we meet on the way:clap::thumbup1:
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I spent every year month or two in Central Asia so I will be there...
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Sambor, maybe we can travel together part off the way, I read your store from Wakhan, I like go there and make something for that children. We must help to them! i hope we meet which other, we have very similary thinking about this (wrong) world and I so glad to meet you man. Cheers:thumbup1:
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Yes, sorry mate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is just somewhere to go thru to and from far more interesting stans. I don't know why people get excited about the prospect of going to Kazakhstan, but I suspect its because Ewan McCharley made such a song and dance of shouting "we're in kazakhstan" several times. It is a pity that they didn't go to any, let alone all, of the three more interesting stans. Claudio would have gotten some awesome video. |
HI,
I'm leaving Switzerland for a 6 month trip this april, will be in the stans from july to end f august, coming from Mongolia and leaving to Romania. I planned all my visas before (still don't have them yet) with David from Stantours. Maybe we will see us in one of those countries. |
We are hoping to get through the Stans on our westwards RTW which starts from the UK this April. We should be reaching Kazakhstan around August and would like to do at least Uzbek & Turkmen but possibly Tajik and/or Kryg. Does anyone have any info on transit visas - can we get these on the road or do we have to apply before we leave the UK?
Also, with transit visas it seems that you have to have either some form of air ticket or a visa for the country that you are exiting to. How do you get around this requirement or is it not actually enforced ? Our problem is that to get a transit visa for Uzbek the embassy is saying that we will need a Turkmen visa and the Turkmen embassy say that to transit Turkmen into Azerbaijan (across the Caspian Sea) we will need an Azebaijan visa .... an so it goes on - any suggestions ? Sorry, by the way - not trying to hijack the thread just interested in going to the Stans but trying to get around the red tape and it may be useful to know others' experiences to help make up our minds which ones are easier to enter. |
After all the advise and reading a lot of travel blogs and website, especially ‘seberskyexstreem’, that’s some pretty strong voodoo. My route and the visa info for the route are below. I have to say that I’m still unsure about which direction to ride it in, whether to long haul it through Russia to Mongolia and zigzag home or the or zigzag to Mongolia and long haul home. The visas take 8 weeks at the prices below so had better make up my mind soon.
Hi, the visa information I’ve gathered from Travcour- TRAVCOUR (UK) Ltd and includes their fee. Europe to Russia to Mongolia double entry £158.40 Multiple entry apx. £450 Mongolia to Russia one month visa £79.50 Russia to Kazakhstan one month triple entry from UK embassy apx. £80 Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan one month multiple £99.00 Kyrgyzstan to Tajikistan £119.50 Tajikistan to Uzbekistan £89.50 Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan Kazakhstan to Russia to Europe My route means a 3rd entry to Russia for which I need a second passport and a second Russian visa or a multiple entry business vise, both cost around £450. Or you can cross the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan. I don’t know the cost of the ferry but the extra visas are Azerbaijan £97.00 Georgia £64.00 Every blog I’ve read has the ferry crossing as an ordeal, I’m wimping out of this particular challenge on health grounds. Having MS meaning standing around for hours or days should to be avoided where possible. |
hi there,
as for caspian ferry fee: i've got through from baku to turkmenbashi on last july, spending 200$ in a double cabin. as there are not timetable you can only reach turkmenbashi harbour and ask there as for georgian visa: you can get it at the border (like i did) for free. as for kyrgyz you must to check situation between this country and uzbekistan. on last august the borders between the two countries were closed due to the riots in osh and jalal abad. roads in tajikistan (along the pyandhz river up to dushanbe) are very very bad, plus, you should to consider the floods. i had to put the bike on a truck 'till khorog as for submerged road. in kyrgyz chinese are rebuilding a new wide and paved road from sary tash to osh; it should be ready for next summer. road through kyrgyz-tajik border takes a lot; in case of rain, you'll get the pain (mud...) pamir highway (from khorog to murgab is 90% paved. after that... in case you need more info pm me www.lungastrada.it |
Interesting stuff, Rich. We're just pondering the same issues.
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darn it
The window of possibility for the multi entry russian visa slammed shut. Second passport route it has to be. (didn't mean to sound like yoda) By all accounts that seems to be a bit of a lottery, will let you know how I get on.
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No problems encountered getting them or the LOIs... Organised everything myself without needing a UK agency. Got them in person in London within 24 hours of submitting applications... |
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