Crossing northern Caucasus together?

[IronChris]

Hey guys,
Like a lot of others I am planning to push my old motorcycle from central Europe to central Asia, crossing beautiful balcans, the Caucasus, to then have a great time in "the stans".
Also like many others I don't really have a clue how to manage the Azerbaïdjan-problem. Maybe it will be open, maybe not. In another thread I shared my (unexperienced) info from LASARE: around 2 k€ Tbilisi -> almaty.

However I did not abandon the idea of crossing Russia from Georgia to Kazakhstan. Is anybody down to do it together around April?
I don't know if applying a visa in turkey is easy. But doing these two days in Russia would be less expensive - and rather keep the spirit of doing it on ya own!

Stay relaxed,
Chris

[sebhoff]

Leaving aside the basic question of whether you'd want to travel through Russia in the given geo-politcal situation (some people are perfectly happy to do this while others wouldn't dream of it), the main issue is that Russian visas typically need to be applied for in your home country. There are some exceptions - see https://caravanistan.com/visa/russia/#r ... n-the-road - but this info may be outdated, given that the page hasn't been updated for 2.5 years.
Sebastian

[IronChris]

Hi Sebastian,
Thanks for your reply. I completely agree with you, the decision of entering this country may be difficult. Concerning how to get visa, I even called and mailed to embassies looking for how it works (I don't life in the country where my passport is from - double enerving).
However, there is this story about a French guy who got a visa in Bishkek or whereever.... I just want to check out options. Maybe miracles do exist and a transit visum can be achieved abroad.
In my very personal feeling, I would not say no to cross from Georgia to Kazakhstan - but would feel better to do it with others.

Lots of words - have a nice day!
Chris

[JosephDavidsona]

Sounds like you're planning an exciting trip! Crossing the northern Caucasus on a motorcycle sounds like a great adventure. I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun exploring the beautiful Balkans and Central Asia. I know the Azerbaïdjan-problem can be tricky to navigate, but I hope everything works out for you.If you're looking for another adventure, Africa could be a great destination. Tanzania is known explicitly for the Great Migration Safari, a spectacular experience. For more information, check out https://traveltweaks.com/how-to-plan-a- ... nia-36330/

[Sefti]

Chris

I’m starting to think the best option/chance will be to try and get a transit visa for Russia while in Georgia. It seems it’s the easiest of the visas to obtain.

I would definitely join up to go from Georgia to Kazakhstan unfortunately I won’t be in Georgia until end of may. Keep us updated!

[IronChris]

@Joseph: thanks! let's see what happens.
@Sefti: we will see... Maybe better in turkey since Georgia and Russia have some conflicts? Would be nice if someone can share infos. But as mentioned several times, maybe it's just impossible to get a visa on the fly. So we will see and of course I will share my experiences!

[Suba-Round-The-World]

Hey Chris, we also want to drive through Georgia and Russia. We want to visit Kazakzhtan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyztan and Mongolia. Do you want to drive toghetter through Georgia and Russia? How are your plans now?

[IronChris]

Hey,
I sent you a pm
What do you think, when are you going to be in Georgia?

[trikolka]

the main issue is that Russian visas typically need to be applied for in your home country (...)

I mentionned , in another discussion of this forum, that a french tourist got his russian visa in Bishkek in september 2022 (no problem, normal delay 2 weeks). He did not have problems at the border either : he entered Russia near Omsk, while travelling by train from Kazakhstan to Vladivostok, then ferryboat for South Corea. Maybe he will come back from Japan by ferryboat + train, again through Russia, but this part is not done yet.

Caution : some insurance companies no longer issue certificates for travelling in Russia, and an insurance certificate is required for the visa.