Frank Dukes

I need to get to Turkey from West China. Planning to take a route through Kazakstan, Uzbekestan and Turkmenistan, across the Caspian Sea and landing in Azerbijan then to Armenia and Turkey. Has anyone out there done this trip? How difficult is it to get visas for the three CIS countries and are there any other traps for young players that I need to be aware of? Any advice appreciated. Cheers.

Canadian Dude

Hey Frank Dukes!!! That quite a trip ya wanna take, but very cool!!!

Info is not so easy to come by but here is a bit...


Uzbekistan

Tourist Visa: For tourist visa the visitor must apply to a tourist company having license from National Company Uzbektourism. The visitor must send required information to the tourist company to be submitted to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan. The procedure takes 7-10 business days, after which the tourist company sends to the visitor his invitation copy with his telex number (confirmation-number). The visitor can obtain then his/her visa at respective Uzbek Embassies.

Republic of Kazakhstan visa info...

And I am still working on the Turkmenistan....

Are you living in China? Are you a citizen of China or visitor? that will help with the search for info for ya!!

And Frank, to the travelpunk family

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Frank Dukes

Thanks heaps for that Canadian Dude. I'm a kiwi living in Hong Kong. What I'd like to know is whether or not I'll be turned away when I rock up at the border in these countries. I've had no problem doing land crossings into places like Tibet, Bhutan and Vietnam even though they were supposed to have had quite strict entry requirements. My gut feeling is these CIS countries will be pretty lax to when it comes to letting westerners pass through.

DO you know any ones who's been to any of these countries?

Sijuki

I don't know anyone that has been to those countries... although I believe I heard Uzbek can be kind of picky about certain things.. but not completeley sure. I've often though they would be bitchin' countries to go through... something about them seems intriguing.

Welcome.. hopefully you can find someone here that has some experience there. I will see if I can find anyone.

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Frank Dukes

thanks guys. Your helpfulness is appreciated.

Canadian Dude

No worries Frank! Thats what we are here for...

As for knowing anyone who has been there? no unfortunatly not...found a couple good links for ya though, I hope they help ya some

Kazakhstan Info

Turkmenistan Info

Uzbekistan Info

These pages have some good links to other pages which hopefully will be able to answer any questions you have.

And dude, if your ok walking up to the Tibet, Bhutan and Vietnam border, why just not give this little adventure a shot...worst that can happen??? They turn you away...

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worldwidemike

That's our CD...as adventurous as ever!

Personally, seeing as how these are all former Soviet states, I'd want my ducks in a row, paperwork-wise. The Soviet bureaucracy (which would have been the only example the "stans" have to go by) was not known for being lax and freewheeling. Individual intiative and decision making were not its strong point!

Frank, you have to let us know your progress here. I've wanted to visit the "stans" for awhile, too, see Samarkhand and places like that...

worldwidemike

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Frank Dukes

Thanks again guys. I'll be certain to let you know how I get on.

Rozza

is it easy to get to tibet? or is it cause u live in honkong that u can get into these countries?

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Frank Dukes

Yeah it's easy. You only need a China visa which is easy to hook up, especially in Hong Kong. In terms of travel you can fly from Chengdu in Western China (3 hours) and there are two roads going in from China. If you do it overland from HK give yourself two weeks. But it's an awesome trip ... especially if you like 20 cent beers.