Travelling East to West around the Caspian

[murraywatson]

Hi Folks!
I am an Australian cycling with my wife, currently in China heading to Europe, and we’re trying to work out how best to meet a 6 week deadline in Tbilisi (friends flying in to join us). We are quite happy taking public transport as well as cycling but can’t work out how most efficiently to get around the Caspian and are weighing up our options, which seem to be:
Turkmenistan and Northern Iran by train, bus and bike
Flying from Aktau direct to Tbilisi
Going north through Russia by train, bus and bike
We have been avoiding flying whenever possible, so the second option is not our preference. However we are unsure we have time to get Turkmeni and Iranian Visas, and are uncertain about the ease of a Russian visa as well (and also there’s a couple of wars I’m sure you’re all aware of).
Does anyone have any experience with this section of the trip they can offer advice on, and any thoughts on what the best option is at the moment? When I first planned this trip I had hoped to cross using the ferry, but can see that’s not gonna happen…
Many thanks,
Murray

[Tob.y]

I believe the Azerbaijan-Georgian border in Lagodekhi is open again, which opens the door again for the Caspian Sea ferry from Kuryk, Kazakhstan to Alat Azerbaijan.
https://caravanistan.com/transport/caspian-sea-ferry/
Good luck in your travels!

[Lagerfeld]

I believe the Azerbaijan-Georgian border in Lagodekhi is open again, which opens the door again for the Caspian Sea ferry from Kuryk, Kazakhstan to Alat Azerbaijan.

How do you know the border AZ and GEO are open?

[Tob.y]

I apologise- I was going off old information. It appears the border is closed until January 1, but this will likely get pushed back
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