Georgia/Turkey 2018
 

Hi,

I'm planning a trip from Warsaw, Poland to Georgia, going through Belarus, Russia, coming back through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia. Starting date is early June but I can be flexible.

Anybody interested in joining?

Konrad

Have you checked Belarus? You may need a visa, and some border crossings are closed from what I understand. That is why we will go via baltic states. (we do not go south as you do, we continue east)

Also check if you can go into Georgia from Russia, via the border that you want to use.

Hi,

I've been to Belarus three times and I know that you need a visa (there is five days visa issued at the airport free of charge but only for air travel).

I thought that it maybe a good idea to go through Belarus as roads are quite good, fuel very cheap and entry into Russia is easy . There is one border crossing between Russia and Georgia on the War Road and usually there are no problems. Of course, you cannot exactly predict what the situation will be like in few months but that is a part of adventure :)

If you plan to visit Georgia you'll still need to use that border crossing.

Konrad

Lovetheworld is right.
Be aware that you cannot enter Russia from Belarus. The border is closed for foreign tourists (this came as a result of the visa-free-by-air entry into Belarus). The other way round, from Russia into Belarus was still possible to travel this summer but you better check what is allowed.

Thank you for the advice. I will check border crossings and adjust my route accordingly.

Konrad

It turns out that it is not possible to cross a border between Belarus and Russia. Probably I will go through Ukraine as it is easiest way to get to Georgia. I'm also thinking of a little detour to go to the Caspian Sea, maybe visit Baku in Azerbaijan and the go to Georgia.

Konrad

Georgia / Turkey 2018
 

I did the trip[ to Kazakhstan, Dagestan, Chechnia, Georgia from Turkey last year. Border busy but good. Getting into Turkey from Bulgaria (as I started in UK) was trickier as the 30 day insurance is a bit of a scam if purchased at the border.
Going into Georgia from Turkey was like getting back into civilisation. The police are respectable and polite. I mention this because, if you ride to the Caspian sea, the borders control is corrupt and you will get fleeced (charged for violations to be paid in cash euros) along the route by police or border controls, especially in Dagestan.
Unless you have a KTM Adventure like I had or similar, the roads east at the north end of the Caspian sea are atrocious going to Atryau.
Georgia was the most pleasant surprise of my entire trip, along with north Poland.

You seem to have had a very different experience from us. During our 3 weeks in total in Turkey, we were stopped twice but waived on as soon as they saw our foreign plates.
We were not stopped even once in Dagestan (or the rest of Russia for that matter), despite the many check points we passed.

@Turby, any recommendations on North of Poland? Thanks

Head for Lebork and a few KM north on the coast is Leba, a great area for beach, pleasure and food plus campsites and hotels. Fully recommended but book in advance as many Polish frequent this location and its a winner.

traveling to georgia
 

hi konrad
are you still thinking of doing this route ?

Actually, I've changed my plans a little bit due to time limit for the trip - going to Turkey only through Balkans with some gravel roads in Albania. We start on 18 May, three motorcycles.

Konrad