Caravanistan

The invitation is issued by an agency in Russia with which they partner. So, the original is in Moscow.

The Chinese will ask for a proof of recent polio vaccination, but then I also think you could get the vaccination before leaving Pakistan in Sost - they wanted to see the same document, making sure you don't come back once they stamp you out :-). Some locals got an oral vaccine, I assume it was for ...

I can confirm that it's possible to get a Russian tourist visa in Almaty (Aug 2015), AT and DE passports, non-residents. It was not possible to get even a Russian transit visa in Bishkek (residency requirement = 3 month Kyrgyz visa). Word of advice in addition to the embassy report page: the embassy...

We recently (4 June 2015) crossed by bicycle from Kyrgyzstan to Tajikistan. It seems common now to ask for a customs declaration for the bike when leaving Kyrgyzstan as the custom officer proudly presented a folder of receipts from other cyclists who also couldn't produce one. Penalty would have bee...

We asked for a Tajik visa + Gbao permit for cycling the Pamir highway at the consulate in Bishkek. 30 day Gbao permit would have worked, but applying 4 months in advance was too far out.