Where does the Vanino ferry go to on Sakahlin? How far is that port from the one that takes you Hokkaido? And what state are the roads in between those two Sakahlin ports? Thanks. Chris, I bet you know...

The ferry goes daily from Vanino to Холомск which is on the south east of the island.

There is also another crossing far further north.

Both crossings are shown on Pate's map in the first post on the link below.

I guess the Japan ferry goes from the south - probably Корсаков about 100 - 120km from Холомск.

Sakhalin or unfinished the BAM road - ADVrider
This thread will give you a glimps of some of roads you need, plus a lot of other roads that Pate and Gelos went there for!
We were meant to accompany them but were slightly behind schedule then got delayed in Magadan so they went without us

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From Holmsk southwards, its good road. Southern Sakhalin is well developed, wealthy and expensive ... all due to it having oil. The Northern part is very lightly populated, with almost non existant roads. But the ferrys you are talking about connect the south ... which is the well developed part. You wont have any problems there, apart from the price of hotels.

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Tony, is that Korsakov in Russian script? From where the ferry goes to Japan

And thanks to both of you...

Translit is an imprecise art, even impossible at times.

To me:
Ванино = Vanino
Холмск = Kholmsk
Корсаков = Korsakov
and so we know which way round we are talking:
Лондон = London

I took the Cyrillic from Russian maps and gave my version. I am not saying Roman script maps will agree with me, but they will be recognisably close. (I must resume my studies!)

I don't know for sure that is where the Japan ferry leaves - just my guess.

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It is. Chris of Japan said it was Korsakov. Looks like aneasy run. Tarmac all the way. I've wanted to ride to Tokyo ever since moving back to UK from there on Dec 13 1993.

Expensive hotels in Sakhalin1 How much for a night? And fellas, how much is a night in one in Siberia on the Trans-Siberian Highway? And while we're at it, how about Vanino? I have somewhat cheap tastes.

Apart from near Moscow, motels and modest hotels along the TSH generally cost the equivalent of between £15 and £25 a person/night.
Some are just a bed room with shared toilet and shower nearby to the room. Others have own facilities.
It is possible to get cheaper by sharing rooms.

Vanino was within that cost range.

Most have some form of 'watched or locked' parking facilities.

Rooms were basic but clean with fresh bed linen.

Breakfast may or may not be available at extra cost - but cafes are everywhere.

Some 'truckers' motels let rooms by the hour.

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Sakhalin is an island that is run by billions of dollars of oil and big spending western oil men. Hotels on the island will cost upwards of 100 bux a night

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Cheers, fellas, I'd imagined the TSB would be around 20 on average. Interesting 'truckstops' rent by the hour. I can't imagine why that would be!! Also pleased Vanino is about the same price. I've finally decided not to try this on my Buell after reading some guy's plight on his in the Americas. It'd probably do it though and is the most comfortable bike I've ever been on. Way better that way than a GS. XT660R a good idea. I'm not bothered by performance but would be good for future trips. SE Asia etc. Doesn't one of your group have one? Anyway, thanks for all your help.

Er...TSH. Nothing to do with the bank!

One guy I rode with in 2009 had one (XT660R) ... but he has been riding a X-Country ever since.

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Hi there,
i was on that route last august, but on reverse way. Coming from Japan, hi Chris, heading to Italy. I've took the ferry from Wakkanai (Hokkaido) to Korsakov (Sakhalin). If i do remember well ferry sails twice a week from Wakkanai to Korsakov. I assume it should be the same on the other way.
The company it's japanese, expensive but not to compare with the DBS ferry to Vladivostok. i've paid on about 230 euro both for me and the bike one way.
i had to send my papers to the ferry company 10 days in advance, to be processed. once hooked at the korsakov pier, it takes me less then 2 hours to get through the customs with the bike: nothing to do with Vladivostok. The ferry company is use to forward your papers to the russian custom as they can get your data and insurance ready once you'll hit the russian soil.
i've spent the night in a hotel (50$, a robbery)just opposite the custom building in korsakov. They can give you a proper shelter for your bike. The road from korsakov to Kholmsk is passing through Yuzno Sakhalinsk, and it is all paved. From Kholmsk to Vanino, or vice versa, it takes between 14-16 hrs. the "ferry" it's very slow. There are two roads from Vanino to Khabarovsk: the main one goes through Khomsomolsk na amur, it should be totally paved, but i didn't ride it that one. The second one it links Vanino to Lidoga on the main way to khabarovsk. it is 346 kms. leg wich is unpaved, but doable, for the half of it. Very wild sceneries, almost no traffic, lot of bears warning signs, no fuel stations in the middle of it, and the two i met before were running out of petrol... i made it just with a full tank (less than 20 lts.) part at manwalk speed. i left the vanino harbour at 10.30 am and reached khabarovsk about 12 hours later.
Oh, and i was riding an Harley...

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Is the BMW much better, Colebatch? After owning a GS1100 and experiencing a broken gearbox, I don't trust BMWs. Mind you, when I sold it, it had 95000 miles on it and the gearbox was the only major problem.