Stuck in Vladikavkaz (South West Russia)

[pisparreto]

Hi all!

I'm a spanish rider travelling trough Russia with the intention to cross to Georgia using the Georgian Military Highway. Yesterday i got to Vladikavkaz, and people say the border is close because of landslides. Somemeone told me a biker got success crossing the border 2 days ago, but not sure about it.

I'm gonna try to do it today, but in case it's imposible, has anybody got any information about alternatives? Ferry Russia-Turkey? Crossing to Azerbaijan?

Thanks very much!

[colebatch]

Originally Posted by pisparreto

Hi all!

I'm a spanish rider travelling trough Russia with the intention to cross to Georgia using the Georgian Military Highway. Yesterday i got to Vladikavkaz, and people say the border is close because of landslides. Somemeone told me a biker got success crossing the border 2 days ago, but not sure about it.

I'm gonna try to do it today, but in case it's imposible, has anybody got any information about alternatives? Ferry Russia-Turkey? Crossing to Azerbaijan?

Thanks very much!

Azerbaijan crossing is good and well, I know 4 guys who have gone that way in the last week.

You are going to need an Azerbaijan transit visa. If you do not have one, you have a problem ... because AFAIK there are only 3 Azerbaijani missions in Russia ... in Moscow, St Pete and Ekaterinburg.

In the case that you do not have an Azerbaijani transit visa, I think you have two choices to cross or get around the Caucasus mountains. Wait in Vladikavkaz up to two months for the Georgian border to re-open, or go to Sochi and take the ferry to Trabzon in Turkey (about 500 bux).

For more info on the massive scale of the landslide and why its unlikely to be operational quickly, look here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...cked-due-76438

[bratfred]

I'm going to go there in September so looked the alternatives. Ferry crossing from Sochi to Batumi may be an option for you.
http://www.morport-sochi.ru/schedule-eng.php

[pisparreto]

Thanks guys! I'm already on my way to Ukraine. I had no visa for Azerbaijan, and I had no time to wait for one.
Ferrys from Sochi have been out of service for 3 weeks now, so my only option is to enter Ukraine towards Moldova. I went to the Russia-Georgia border and the policemen I talk to, showed me some pictures of the landslides and I don't think it reopens in several months. There were 7 truck drivers dead, and the pictures were impressive.
Thanks for the replys