Hy all,
we are a Dutch couple currently cycling from our second home country Cambodia to our original home country The Netherlands. We are re-thinking our original route and bow look into the possibilities for "the Stans" (China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey is the plan now) I read different stories about visas permits letters of invitation etc...
Can anyone share their experiences on this route? (in this direction) what is the most easy combination of countries (is it e.g. more easy to go through Kazakhstan or Tadzjikistan) what is the most easy (or cheap ) way to arrange the visas? I hear stories like: "just got to kyrgyzstan and arrange all ongoing travel there, it will take month though" I hope to get some more Accurate advice. Anything is welcome.
We prefer to travel independent (not in a tour) at the moment we are in Northern Vietnam.
Kyrgyzstan is definitely the easiest place to travel visa wise in central asia. You get two months visa free there. It is also possible to get onward visas here fairly easily.
For up to date accurate information on visas for the area refer to Caravanistan.com. It was really good for the whole area. It should cover everything you need to know for visas.
Kazakhstan you now get 15 days visa free as well. In KZ though you have to register if you plan on spending longer than five days there which is always a pain.
Hi Brecht and Jolander,
I did part of the route you are proposing in reverse and created a page to help others with the visas. See:
http://www.dereksbiketrip.com/the-visa-jungle/
Hope there's some information useful to you and good luck!
Kind regards,
Derek
Thank you very much for all the details, Derek !
indeed I appreciate, as I plan to do the same route in the future.
Should you be in Geneva, Suisse, please be my guest.
In 2016 or 2017, I may have to move and live in China, switching between Shanghai and QingDao.
Should you be there then, please contact me and be my guest.
Hello
I am preparing the oposite road, and I am puting some datas on that website
http://mandolpierre.weebly.com/
Maybe it would help you
Pierre
Thanks a lot Pierre ! as I will do the same route in the future.
should you go through Geneva, please be my guest.
i am living in turkey, i always stay every summer at canakkale where is west side of turkey. if you reach at turkey , i want to help you in my city that is canakkale and the other cities where are neighbours of canakkale . maybe i can accompany at you .
for visa for entering turkey , don't worry. as for me you can enter easily turkey.
i can inform you about visa, if the time for coming to turkey comes near
roads of turkey is unfortunately broken down but some roads are very good and the broken roads are repairing.
if you want , i can find any camping places and hotels which are very convenient.
good trip!
Thanks for all the reactions so far. We havce reached Kyrgystan by now and decided to go from here into Kazchtstan, then cross the sea to Azerbaijan, onwards via Georgia to Turkey...
For all friendly people who offered to host already: thansk a lot we will take up contact once we get closer to you.
Brecht