Having said that, I guess it is possible that they issued the visa anyway because, if the Uzbek visa is declined, we could still re-enter Kaz from Kyrg (for which I don't need a visa) and continue the journey.

Maria, I got a 60 day double entry visa for Kazakhstan through the London Embassy with the help of Stantours.

I booked two nights at a random hotel off bookings.com which I cancelled without payment as soon as the visa was issued.

I nominated a couple of cities I would visit and that I would go into and out of Kyrgyzstan before leaving into Russia. I got the visa without a Russian visa.

I think if you pick the right visa company to help they know the "right" people to speak to?

Yes most probably. This is not a worry really, it was just annoying as they did not tell us!
Anyway, we applied for Uzbek visas direct with the embassy yesterday. Once we get the passports back next week, we will apply direct to Tajik visas and maybe also go after that direct for Kazakh visas. Only prob is that embassies are open only a couple of days at stupid working hours ....

My main concern now is that our planned route via Ukraine is looking real dodgy. Both my Ukrainian and Russian colleagues at work have told me that even if things are quite, the borders (Ukraine into Russia) may be closed.
Time for plan B!

We are also watching the developments in Ukraine closely, as we plan to travel through Ukraine to enter and leave Russia. We still have a month to go before we would enter Ukraine, so the situation could change significantly by then - either way. Our back-up plan, if needed, is to drive through Lithuania and Latvia to enter Russia.

Hi Maria,
We're leaving later than you but it's not looking too good is it?
Our plan B was to go through Poland, Lithuania and Latvia (to avoid get a visa for Belarus) and enter Russia there - if they let us in!!
Fingers crossed that it doesn't escalate further.
Cheers
Paul

Paul & Bermuda, same here. My plan B is also via Latvia....
I also want to avoid applying for yet anotehr visa (Bielorus) and via Turkey is quite a long way....

We plan to leave 22d of April but travel slow as we are on 2 honda XR.

Bermuda, if you still try Ukraine, let us know here how it goes as you are ahead of us!

Will do. I will be collecting my friend from Berlin on 10th April and should be entering Ukraine about 13th and exiting into Russia about 18th April (if all goes to plan). We'll make the decision in Berlin whether to head through Ukraine or whether to take the Latvia route.

Our proposed route is via Lviv, Kiev and Kharkiv, so it is well clear of Crimea. Obviously, all depends on the state of unrest and any military action by 10th April.

Southern Route to Mongolia
 

I leave for Ireland on March 26. I have reached the point in my preparations where I have given up trying to plan for every little thing and stopped worrying. I have enough visas for a good adventure. In January I reckoned a Russian visa was my safe bet to make it to Mongolia. Things change so fast. I always figured I could cross the Black Sea from Turkey to Ukraine and get easy entry through Russia if it looked like Azerbaijan or Turkmenistan would be a problem. This will be a very interesting summer!

My parts and camping gear made it to Ireland by mail. I am planning to be at Motocamp in Bulgaria by May 6 and pick up some tires. http://motosapiens.org/motocamp/Info or contact Ivo at motocampbgATNOSPAMALOTyahooNOTACOMMABUTAcom I have not updated my itinerary yet. But I will get that to all of you.

Tom Bosman - are you still planning to go to Baku, obtain a Turkmenistan transit visa, and then cross the Caspian by boat? That is my plan and I would like to travel with you.

Noel and Tom C - I assume you both still plan to cross Iran (a nice safe place) and obtain a transit visa for Turkmenistan.

It appears that four of us will be in Istanbul on May 19, most of us a little earlier. I will be there May 9 - 19. If things have changed so much in Eastern Europe by then anyone interested in traveling with the Noel, Tom C, Tom B and Fritz group, should send some emails to noel or me.

Fritz

Hey All, Fritz,

Yes, still on the Iran route. Looking forward to that. My passport is now at the embassy, should be back on Tuesday, fingers crossed. I'm still at the worrrying phase :confused1: trying to think of everything! And anoyingly, my email has been down for days now and I am starting to get a bit angry with my provider! So if the personal mails bounce, you know what it is. I'm planning on arriving in Istanbul 16/17th of May and will (most likely) be staying in the Antique Hostel in Sultanamet. But we will be in contact before and should exchange cell phone numbers one of these days. If have to turn in my company cell so can't give my number yet as I will have to buy my own cell phone soon.

It's a nice blog Fritz.


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Rtw 2014
 

Hello !
We are leaving Norway in 3 weeks(by plane) to pick up our bikes in Leipzig Germany. Then we are heading south to Istanbul. I think we will stay one or two weeks there to arrange visa to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
You can follow us here: Round The World on MC | Driving Around the World
Click on "Hvor går turen" and you will find our route on google maps.
Maybe we see you(and many others) on the road.

Greetings from Åse and Nils
:scooter:

Not long now
 

The smell is overpowering. I put seam sealer on the new tent. But I had to set it up inside because the weather is still bad. So it is drying in my basement. Whew!

I have posted again on my blog www.fritztomongolia.blogspot.com

Nigel
We plan to be in Bryansk (south from Moscow near the Belarus border) heading east on 20. of may. Perhaps we could ride to gather some part of way or at least meet up! Our info is in the "travellers list Mongolia" Excel sheet.

Only 5 weeks to go! We have found a tenant for kur house and have had all our jabs. Even have one Visa so that is good.
We should be out of Moscow by 20th May. If we are then lets meet up. We are getting our Mongolia visa in Moscow as it will start from the day we apply. So it is good to apply later and not in London.

The Mongolia visa gives you 90 days from the date of issue in which to enter the country, and then your 30 days starts. Your 30 days doesn't start ticking on the day that it is issued.

I got mine earlier this month and have until early June to enter the country.

The rules until last year (and I presume still) on Mongolia visas was you got 30 days and had to enter within 90 days of issue. So if you entered Mongolia 89 days after issue, you then still had your 30 days.

Simultaneous answers :D

Transit Visas for Turkmenistan
 

Friends,

I have received an email with instructions to obtain a Turkmen transit visa that will be of interest to many of us traveling the southern route. Very good news. Just need to get my paperwork in order and make a choice of border crossing. The text follows:

==== Real Russia message below - please reply above this line ====


Thank you for your email!

Turkmenistan transit visa.

Under normal circumstances the Turkmen transit visa needs to be applied for in advance and is valid for the exact dates that have been applied for with the validity period of a maximum of five days. This would prove inconvenient if your travel plans were to change. To solve this problem we have negotiated a special arrangement with the Turkmenistan authorities in which a transit permit will be issued and once you approach the border you will use this to obtain your visa. This way the visa will give you a full five days to transit through Turkmenistan. The permit will specify a period within which you need to obtain your visa. These dates depend on the approximate entry and exit dates that you will confirm on your application.
Please note: We cannot apply for this permit too early as it is only valid for 90 days.

Our company will support Mongolia Charity Rally this year, and we have agreement with the Turkmenistan Consulate that we will submit the bulk application just once to process a transit invitation letter with which it will be possible to obtain a Turkmenistan transit visa at the border or at the Consulate in the neighbour country.
All participants transiting Turkmenistan have to decide in advance which country they will arrive from and also which border point they will cross.
This is a crucial information since once the transit visa permit has been applied for, and this information has been be passed onto the relevant Turkmenistan authorities, you will not be able to change your mind. Please take this into consideration and plan your trip accordingly.
It takes approximately 3-4 weeks for the Turkmenistan Foreign Ministry in Ashgabat to approve and issue the transit visa permit with a special code. Once obtained, it will be emailed to you. Please make sure that you print it off and keep it at a safe place as you will have to present it.
There are two ways of applying for your transit visa using the permit:

1. At the border when travelling overland from Iran or Kazakhstan.

In addition to the printed copy of the transit permit, please have two (2) recent passport size photographs with you. The waiting time for your visa can be anything up to a few hours. The cost will be approximately $100-$150 (US Dollars).

1. consulate in Baku, Azerbaijan if travelling to Turkmenistan by ferry.

Please note that the visa has to be obtained before you take a ferry to Turkmenistan. Bear in mind that the consulate is open only on Monday and Friday from 9.30am until 12.30pm. You will have to present the printed copy of the transit visa permit, two (2) recent passport size photographs and fill out a visa application form. When confirming the date of entry to Turkmenistan on the form, confirm the actual date of your border crossing with the visa officer in order to ensure it is correct. Once the paperwork has been completed, you will be required to go to the closest bank to pay the relevant visa fee, which should be around $95 (US Dollars) before returning to get your visa stamped.
Please be advised that we have been given these application procedures as guidelines only. We have had no issues regarding these procedures in the past; but if the Turkmen consulate inform us of any change to their requirements we will update this information accordingly.
Once you have decided which border point you will use to enter Turkmenistan, please send an email to visas@realrussia.co.uk following the instructions listed below:

• Please submit one email per each person.
• Name the email “Turkmenistan Transit Visa – Team Name – Name of Team Member“
• Include the following details in the body of the email whilst respecting stated formats:

- SURNAME (block capital letters), First and Middle Name (as stated in your passport), e.g. GRIFFITHS, David Nigel
- Date of Birth (e.g. 24 August 1984)
- Gender
- Nationality
- Passport Number
- Passport Date of Issue (DD/MM/YY)
- Passport Date of Expiry (DD/MM/YY)
- Anticipated Date of Entry to Turkmenistan (DD/MM/YY)
- Point of Entry (Turkmenbashi from Azerbaijan, Gaudan from Iran and Begdashi from Kazakhstan)
- Cities to be visited/ passed by in Turkmenistan - last year, the participants used these four routes approved by the consul and relevant Turkmenistan authorities :

• Entry from Azerbaijan:Turkmenbashi -Ashgabat – Dashoguz – Uzbekistan/ Turkmenbashi - Ashgabat – Mary – Turkmenabat – Uzbekistan
• Entry from Iran : Guadan - Ashgabat – Mary –Turkmenabat- Uzbekistan
• Entry from Kazakhstan: Begdashi - Turkmenbashi -Ashgabat – Mary – Turkmenabat –Uzbekistan

• Please note that you should be allowed to visit other cities too, these routes were selected only for the purpose of getting the transit visa permit.

• Please attach the following files to your email :

- A clear colour scan of your passport information page (please name the file as Your Surname-Transit Visa-passport.PDF)
- A clear scan of the filled in and signed questionnaire (click here). Please glue your recent passport size photograph on a designated place.

We will need to submit the original questionnaire with your photograph to the Turkmenistan consulate so please post it to us at your very earliest opportunity to the following address:

Real Russia Ltd
Unit 5, The Ivories
6 Northampton street
N1 2HY, London

The deadline for submitting the listed documents is 1st May 2014 (this date is TBC). Please bear in mind that we have only one chance to apply so if you miss this deadline we will not be able to obtain the transit visa permit for you.


I hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Anastasia Filatova
Visa Support Administrator (Ext. 403)

You can view previous messages related to this email at: Message history


Telephone: +44 (0) 207 100 7370
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Good luck!

Ukraine-Russia
 

Travelled the Russia route twice before (pre-conflict) with no problems, just the usual corrupt cops. Due to cross again later this year (also assessing options on taking Caspian route detour!) and will be keen to hear how its looking in the east and any issues on the eastern Ukraine-Russian border, since they have been known to cause delays and look for 'donations' on that border in the past!

Good luck Maria, We are leaving Portsmouth UK 4 days after you and know how busy this part of the plan can be. Packing, parties and panic!
See you on the road I hope,
Nigel and Sharyn

Thanks Nigel.

We are on track to leave as planned on the 22d. However our route has been modified a bit due to Ukraine’s events.:eek3:

First, we will be riding to Normandy see one of my close friend, from school. Her husband (also a close friend) passed away suddenly a week ago. It has been devastating news… so young! So my departure won’t be as joyful as I thought.

Anyway, from Normandy, we will cross France into Italy to catch a ferry to Greece, then ride to Athens and somehow make our way to Turkey. Ride to the edge of the black sea and get into Georgia, then Russia via the military road. We will then probably avoid Chechnya and Dagestan and cross Kalmikya to Astrakhan into Kazakhstan. Then back to my original plan.

Yesterday I finally got round packing most of our stuff. All our camping gear, books, maps, fuel bladder etc… seems to fit into an Ortlieb 50 litres roll bag.

The rest, clothes, shoes, bits and bobs, seem to fit into my Andy strapz panniers. Now we are worried we are not carrying enough stuff! :confused1:

So Alistair will carry the roll bag and I will carry the panniers (about 6kg each pannier). Yesterday we had a bit of a panic when we tried to fit my panniers into my bike! We cannot put the straps under the seat (bolted and not possible to bolt back and fit the side pannels with the panniers in… ) but anyway, with the help of few Rok Straps, they should stay securely in place! I hope!

In addition we have a tiny top box where we can fit the WD40 and the waterproofs. And I will have a tank bag with water and maps.
I will also carry an empty Ortlieb roll bag to put extra cloths as the weather warm up and we start removing layers !

So that’s our set up!
If you see 2 tiny XR on the way to the Eurostunnel terminal next Tuesday, say hello!

:wave:

Hi guys,

Same for me, almost done. Leaving first weekend of May, going via Italy to Greece and then Istanbul to meet up with Fritz, Tom and Xerxes. Last bits and pieces on the bike, new rubber next week and oil and filter change and it should be ready to go. As for luggage, I have two 30L panniers plus a 85L Ortlieb duffel bag, which hopefully will be filled only half way. I opted for the very big bag because if I want to carry extra water, grosseries and stuff, I can put it inside the duffel rather than strapping it all over the bike....Don't know if that will work but we'll find out soon! :innocent:. Visa are still under construction, working on Russia now, then Uzbek (leg work done) and last one will be Mongolia and Iran Carnet is in the pocket. Three more days at work and then two weeks of winding down and last preps before departure. :mchappy:

As mentioned in another thread, we are already in Ukraine. We're currently in Lviv and will head to Kiev tomorrow.

Hoping to exit UA via a border post in the vicinity of Sumy (north of Kharkiv), thereby avoiding the eastern cities that are currently experiencing unrest.

Once we are in Russia, I'll post more info.

Riviera Adventure Travel
 

Hey Fellow Travelers,
I have not posted on the HUBB for a while and will bring you up to date. First, I have found that the amount of room in my panniers and dry bag will fill up with crap no matter what my plans are. I always seem full to overflowing. So I will have to get rid of some cold weather gear.


Second - I was in the snow yesterday in Andorra and am on the beach in Collioure France today. Adventure travel is tough. I did get my panniers fixed from my crash in Ireland. I will make a blog post on this item.


I plan to leave Toulouse on Easter Sunday and be in Istanbul on May 9 via Italy, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria where I will pick up new tires at Motocamp. Then I meet Noel, Xerxes and Tom Cunningham


If anyone want to join me I would be happy for the company. I travel cheap when I can, but I like to stop for coffee and pastry about 10:30 in the morning, because life is short.


Send an email or contact me via this site.


Fritz

So sorry to hear your news Maria. Being a pensioner, my friends don't understand why I am off to Mongolia. You have just reminded me why we just gotta do it.
Only 5 days now to our leaving party and a life on the road for 6 months.
No panics so far just ticking things off the list.
We shall see you on the road I hope on ou at to UB


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good luck, have fun and ride safe!!

I'll be in Italy if you would like to meet up and head east, although I do plan to pass Warsaw (detour)
Ryanjohnhall@gmail.com

We're now making our way through Russia. So far we've visited Kursk, Saratov, Samara and Kazan. Nothing special about the first three but Kazan is a nice city that is worth a visit.

Bring your warm clothing as it has turned cold the past few days with snow and hail. We also had our first experience wit Russian police and it was very positive. See update on my blog - Snow and Police Check-Points | Bermuda Rover

Hi Ryan, I think you got the info now but in any case, expect to arrive in Northern Italy 5 or 6 May but I'm not going east. I will go down to southern Italy and take the ferry to Greece and then on to Istanbul. I have your email now and you have mine. Lets see if our paths cross in Italy.

Cheers,
Noel

Leave Istanbul on May 19
 

I am in Istanbul until May 19. I will be leaving then to cross Turkey and be in Azerbaijan not later than Sunday June 1. I will pick up my Turkmen transit visa on June 2 and cross to Turkmenistan. Then it is anyone's guess what happens because of fuel shortages, lousy ferry service, ect.


Met Tom Bosman a couple days ago and he needs to be in AZ around May 26 if the embassy comes through.


I am looking for company on the trip.


Fritz

Alright all,

Soz, I'm ludicrously late to this thread (err, and this site), but I'm riding from Istanbul to Seoul this summer.

Leaving on Friday (crikey, better pack) and due to deliver the bike to South Korea in early Sep-ish. Roughly going: Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, Russia, South Korea.

Would love to meet up with some like-minded's heading the same way for some drinks, laffs, etc, and maybe some riding too... am I too late?

Cheers, Jamie

Hi Jamie and all above, also late in on this :-)
Travelling east (slowly!) through a loop of the stans, Mongolia and then magadan.

If we cross paths with anyone it would be good to swap stories over a drink. Judging by the number of people on bikes heading this way not unlikely!

In kyiv now waiting on a visa then off again. No blog but im here or fb (byron carter)

Cheers and good travels

Byron

Jamie


I do not know how fast you will cross Turkey. But I expect to be in the Tbilisi Georgia area until May 30. I need to be in Baku on Monday the 2nd of June.


I am in Ordu, Turkey right now and hope to make Batumi tomorrow, the 22nd.


The way things are shaping up it looks like a group will form in Samarkand about June 12 or so to cross Tajikistan and the Pamirs.


Be aware that you are herding cats. Most of us have required dates on visas and are not able to change plans with any ease. Also - weather has been terrible this spring and it has changed routes and plans. It did it to me again today.


Fritz

One extra cat
 

Hey guys
I'm leaving Belgium on the 1st of June to get to Japan in Septemer.. Plan is to get to Turkey asap and start slowing down then... Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Stans, Russia, Mongolie, Russia again and then ferry to Japan.
Lets hope the weather :rain: clears a bit by the time I'm in the saddle :-)
Not planning on speeding up or slowing down too much just to ride together (as Fritz said: visas..) but who knows we meet! bier

A.

We are in Chelasiborsk heading East. Should be in Omsk and Baikal, Ulaan Ude this June. If anyone is near us soon then the trip to Ulaan Bataar could be together.
Fillings in my teeth loose after a month on Russian roads,
Nigel


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fritz,

I'm right behind you man! Currently in Dogubayazit and gonna be heading to Tbilisi via Kars, but I won't be there until the 30th. Will you have left by then?

From there I'm heading north into Russia and Kazakhstan, but my Tajik visa starts on 10th June, so hooking up with you and whoever in Samarkand would be great.

Looks like there's a lot of bikes heading east this year...

Laters, JD

Byron - cool man, I reckon highly likely we'll cross paths. I'm in eastern Turkey and about to head north to Georgia and on to Russia and Kazakhstan. What are your plans?

Noel, Xerxes and Tom c are all in Tbilisi for a couple of days. Send me your email and i will add you to the email list if u want. Like that you will know who is where when and progress of each. Or contact Noel. His details are in this thread. He put a ssheet together with all our info, itinerary etc...

My email maria at < my website adddress below>

Cheers,

Thanks Maria, email sent.

Tbilisi - bike theft
 

Hi Guys,

Keep your eyes on your bikes in Tbilisi!!

One hungarian guy's KTM950ADv was stolen in Tbilisi some days ago. Bikes parked in front of the hotel, the owner forgot to lock the handlebar and one local "transportation manager" pushed the bike to a nearby dead end. Fortunatelly the owner noticed in the evening his bike missing. Called the police and the bike was found at night. Next morning at 11.am was closed the investigation and owner got back his KTM.

Hey Antonio

I'm going to japan on exactly same your route

I from kuwait and will start from dubai > iran > stans > russia > mongolia > russia > japan

where are you now ? maybe we can ride togahter