Departing - 09/03/09............... Fingers crossed!

[big ad]

Here we go everyone this is our plan for a our little asia trip starting in less than 8 weeks ( must get door put back on landy and paint the ******)

Starting on the 09/03/09 we will be going top the following places -

France
Italy
Greece
Turkey
Syria
Jordan
Syria
Turkey
Iran
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Kyrgyzstan
Kazakhstan
Russia
Mongolia
Russian
Ukraine
Poland
Germany
France
Spain
Morocco
Spain
France and then back to the uk sometime around december.

[Swingletree]

Good luck with it all. Will you be updating us along the way?

[big ad]

sure will, we are working on a website at the moment and i will post a link to it when it is up and running.

[Ser3 J]

Very best of luck :cool:

Sounds like a fabulous adventure - enjoy!!

[sasha2001]

Here we go everyone this is our plan for a our little asia trip starting in less than 8 weeks ( must get door put back on landy and paint the ******)

Starting on the 09/03/09 we will be going top the following places -

France
Italy
Greece
Turkey
Syria
Jordan
Syria
Turkey
Iran
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Kyrgyzstan
Kazakhstan
Russia
Mongolia
Russian
Ukraine
Poland
Germany
France
Spain
Morocco
Spain
France and then back to the uk sometime around december.


Good luck

[AntCardiffWales]

Hi Big Ad,
Well first of all Good luck and best wishes for your trip WOW well done you Guys.

I have only just Joined the LR Forum to read and learn en gain as much Info as I can for my Road Trip from: Cardiff Bay Wales Via France Holland Germany Denmark, Sweden, entering Norway and up from Oslo to Nordkapp,

Then do some fun stuff in Alta Norway, Dog sleighing, Snowmobile trips, rest a few days and then return going from Kirkenes across the Boarder to Murmansk Russia ! and then Possibly on down to Saint Petersburg and Riga Latvia, Poznan Poland, Germany Holland Belgium France and back to Cardiff via Dover.

Looking at your route Big Ad you will be driving a fair bit in the East and Russia etc, could I please ask the following questions as i may have to change my route and come back via Finland and ferry to Poland if I am unable to drive in Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania due to stuff like!!
# Driving Insurance cover in Russia and the countries above !
# Personal and Group safety driving through these countries ! Bandits etc?
# Fuel and brake down cover over there ! Fuel Costs ?

I should have said first ! sorry not to good at all this posting stuff yet ! first time !

I am a wheelchair user, In the group we will also have 3 other guys with disability's and around 3/4 non disabled support staff, so need to ensure we can cover all bases etc and stay safe.

The other guys are 2 Leg amputees and another chair user, They are very active as are the other 2 as the both ski and do extreme stuff for fun ! Nutters both of them However I am not and will need the support from the group, So hence the possibly daft question to you guys ??

My Questions are if its safe to Drive and How did u get Insurance cover ?
We will have to have Snow studded Tires fitted in Sweden around the Varburg area, as it then becomes law in Sweden en Norway to drive with Snow tires with Studs or using chains in winter from October to April

# Has any one driven on them as we will end up driving around a further 4.600 miles after they are fitted back to the UK ! any help advice would be very welcome here please guys ?

#Any one fancy doing the trip with us is welcome to Join, We have to Vehicles doing the 6,200 mile trip an Auto that still has to be fitted with hand controls that I will drive, and our support vehicle a L R long wheel based 8 seater manual, that will be loaned to us from a charity ! well with gany luck ! nar they will !!

Any one that has driven the long windy road up from Oslo to Nordkapp in Snow in March please get in touch. Loads to discuss still if you guys have the time.



Regards

Anthony Cardiff
Wales

[leeds]

could I please ask the following questions as i may have to change my route and come back via Finland and ferry to Poland if I am unable to drive in Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania due to stuff like!!
# Driving Insurance cover in Russia and the countries above !
# Personal and Group safety driving through these countries ! Bandits etc?
# Fuel and brake down cover over there ! Fuel Costs ?



Regards

Anthony Cardiff
Wales


Estonia, Latvia and Lithunia are all in the EC so your standard UK insurance will normally cover you for all countries in the EC. Norway is not in EC but it is normally covered as well. Check on the Geographical Limitations on your insurance policy. There are still border controls between the Baltic countries.

Bandit activities in Scandinavia and Baltic countries is low. English is quite commonly spoken in these countries.

Look for ferries between Helsinki and Tallin. Tallin is a great city

Another great route is Stockholm to Finland via the Arland Islands

Fuel is commonly available and is normally cheaper then the UK :eek:

In Scandinavia some fuel pumps are unmanned and you pay by cash or creditcard, BUT the snag is some stations only accept locally issued credit cards. Keep clean small notes to hand for paying at petrol pumps. These pumps do not give change so make sure your fuel tanks have sufficient capacity if paying at the pump with a big denomination note.

RAC/AA/Greenflag offer cover in the EU but they do have an age restriction on vehicles

Regards

Brendan

[AntCardiffWales]

First or all Thank you Brendan for the Info,

Not sure if you have not traveled Via Russia and down the Russian side of the Finish Boarder or if its even possible to drive down to Saint Petersburg ?

That part of the trip is where, I was unsure re bandits and any risky activity etc, along with Estiona Latvia and Lithuania, Do you have any Info re Russia and the drive from Norway to Murmansk that area and GPS or Sat Nav ?

Lots of stuff in the Travel Forums Trip adviser and the like re Murmansk and Saint Petersburg but not specifically Driving down in Snow/Icy driving conditions ?

Have used the Self service fuel Pumps in Finland needing the crisp Euro notes back in 2005 some time ago I know but have things moved on ?! It was in summer and it was dark , wasn't easy to work it out on your own at 2.30 am as out plane was late and held us up, but managed to get our fuel and drive on to Espoo and or Hotel !

Again thanks Brendan

Any other help or things we need to look out for guys will be gladly received

Thanks

Anthony
Cardiff
Wales

[leeds]

Hi Ant,
Sorry I have not got any information or experience of driving in Russia.

Have been up to Nord Kapp but that was summer 2006.

Have been through Estonia/Latvia/Lithunia 4 times with absolutely no trouble. The buildings in these countries might not be as user 'friendly' as the standard in the UK.

For information on the Baltic countries the Estonia Land Rover Klub can be found HERE (http://www.landrover.ee/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=206&Itemid=140).

Contact Todd registered as TUKO on LR4x4 is a Canadian living in Sweden for last 15 years, a very helpful guy. Swedish Land Rover Club is www.slrk.com (http://www.slrk.com)

Now I would be interested in info re how easy it is to getpermission to take your own car into Russia and Belarus as avoided them in 2006

Regards

Brendan

[big ad]

Happy days, the carnet has just arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!:D:D:D:D:D

[kev td5]

Good luck with your trip sound's great id love to be goin !!!!!!

[michaelhiggins]

I find it difficult to read your thread ...The envy and jealousy is almost unbearable..
My best wishes at all times..

[wytco0]

Big Ad, have you got your website running?

I am interested in how you got permission to drive through Russia and what sort of costs are involved?

Have a great trip.

[grantc]

Dead Jealous!:D
Enjoy and drive safely. Once you set up the website, I'll follow along!;)

[big ad]

Big Ad, have you got your website running?

I am interested in how you got permission to drive through Russia and what sort of costs are involved?

Have a great trip.


The russian visas have been a bloody nightmare and we still dont have it yet, basically it will cost for the both of us around £1000 and that is for a 6 month mutiple entry bussiness visa!!!!!

[wildrover883]

If any of you guys are passing through my part of Poland you can camp here for free...I am 100 kms from Szczecin in north west Poland....I have also driven my Landy to Belarus , Ukraine and Russia if anyone wants to ask anything about driving there....

[big ad]

Can someone please tell me why the iranian embassy wont send or give us our passports back, they have had them for 3 weeks now and its 2 weeks to long.
Whats worse is the contact info on there website is no good, try phoning , no answer, tried emailing , no answer , think i will have to pray to allah and see if he can help!!!!!

[Swingletree]

That doesn't sound very helpful Big A, good luck with it though. Let us know how you get on.

[big ad]

That doesn't sound very helpful Big A, good luck with it though. Let us know how you get on.


will do mate, will have the blogger site up and live soon!!!

[big ad]

Finally got through to the Iranian embassy today and it turns out that our applications for the visa are still in Tehran waiting for approval and it look like they wont be back until next week because of some festival/public holiday. :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
The lady told us that due to this it would take longer - so people if you do want to get a Iranian visa then make sure when you apply its not around the time of a public holiday or festival. Lets just hope that we get the approval so we can get the fook out of here!!!!

[big ad]

and still no visas, looks like i will now have to spend my birthday on my own as the missus will have to go to london next week to get the remaining visas we need, well i am saying that but only if the passports arrive back tomorrow.!!! :(:(:(:(:(:(

[big ad]

How crap, its my birthday today and still no visas!!!!! We were supposed to be in Kiev in the Ukraine eating a chicken Kiev as my grandfather was Ukrainian. Not quite the birthday i was hoping for!!!:(:(:(

[grantc]

That's a right sore head:(. Hope you get it sorted out soon mate........I want to read your blog!!:p

[big ad]

Heres a couple of pictures to be going on with!!!!


http://www.harderfaster.net/images/photos/7440/thumbs/lr_landy1_small.jpg

http://www.harderfaster.net/images/photos/7440/thumbs/lr_landy2_small.jpg

[littlerangie]

Heres a couple of pictures to be going on with!!!!

Ohhhhhh landy porn!!!!!!

Looks very nice that does!

Calum

[grantc]

:):) Very Tidy! I'm jealous!!:rolleyes:

[grantc]

Which tyres are these? are they STT's ?

[big ad]

hi fellas

Will post the link up for the blog soon and you can see more pictures of the inside of the old girl, just dropped her of for the mot so fingers crossed. Yes they are the cooper stt's as i could not get any bgf's at the time .

[Carl]

I'm liking that alot:) can't wait to see what you have done to the inside.

How come she is going in for an MOT now? If your original plan called for you to be in the Ukraine now wouldn't you be driving around without a valid MOT, or are you just redoing it ready for the off?

[grantc]

hi fellas

Will post the link up for the blog soon and you can see more pictures of the inside of the old girl, just dropped her of for the mot so fingers crossed. Yes they are the cooper stt's as i could not get any bgf's at the time .


I'll be interested how you get on with the STT's as any reviews I have read seem to have different opinions. I hope you get your passport/visa problems sorted out soon.

[big ad]

Well we have got our passports back this morning from the irainaian embassy only to be told that they have been refused - B@STARDS!!! We are now properly in the **** as we were supoposed to be leaving next friday!!!!

[grantc]

Well we have got our passports back this morning from the irainaian embassy only to be told that they have been refused - B@STARDS!!! We are now properly in the **** as we were supoposed to be leaving next friday!!!!


Is there another route you can take?

[big ad]

yes we do have a back up plan but it means having to apply at cost for another 2 visas and have to double back on ourselves and have to change a few things and basically do the trip in reverse minus iran.

The joys of overland travel!!!!

[sasha2001]

yes we do have a back up plan but it means having to apply at cost for another 2 visas and have to double back on ourselves and have to change a few things and basically do the trip in reverse minus iran.

The joys of overland travel!!!!
Just for interest , I guess there was not a explantion why but have you been to Israel? ande did it show in your passport history, I have heard they will do this or if they suspect you have been!!!

[big ad]

Just for interest , I guess there was not a explantion why but have you been to Israel? ande did it show in your passport history, I have heard they will do this or if they suspect you have been!!!

No neither of us had every been to israel.

And this is a copy of the letter they sent us!


http://www.harderfaster.net/images/photos/7440/thumbs/lr_img161_small.jpg

[big ad]

So here we go with the all new-



:outlaw: BALLS TO IRAN TOUR 2009!!! :bigun2:

England
France
Germany
Poland
Lithuania
Latvia
Russia
Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Kyrgystan
Kazakhstan
Russia
Mongolia
Russia
Ukraine
Romania
Bulgaria
Turkey
Syria
Jordan
Turkey
Back through europe, route yet to be decided.

And a huge big thank you to alena at stan tours who has given some great advive and is in the process of sourting us out a last minute double entry visa for Kazakhstan!!!!

[Stumpy Doofleer]

Looks like one hell of a trip, even without going through Iran, hope everything else goes much more smoothly:).

[Dr Zed]

Looks like one hell of a trip, even without going through Iran, hope everything else goes much more smoothly:).

what he said

good luck and love your landy :)

[wildrover883]

[quote=wytco0;1220204]Big Ad, have you got your website running?

I am interested in how you got permission to drive through Russia and what sort of costs are involved?


You don,t need permission to drive through Russia , just a visa and a passport....The fuel is really cheap there , but the diesal fuel is not great quality and makes your Landrover smoke like a pile of tyres on fire....I drove there in 1997 and 1998 and had a great adventure....Got stopped by the police and various military people , but no real problems with them....I drove alone in my Landrover , which maybe was not a wise idea , but at no point ever felt in danger.....

[wyvern]

Big Ad,
good luck with your trip - give my regards to Mongoilia - I worked out in the middle of the Gobi for an oil company a few years ago - it's a truly wonderful place ...
while I was there I met all the Camel Rally recon team out scuoting prior to the event there, looked after John Mann when he was writing his book Gobi
Had real camel trains pass by my medical centre weekly, (they have double humps there....)
Found dinosor eggs in the sands, and got paid to be there !
hope you have a wonderful time and your problems are few.

Safe journeys

(& I'm from Bude!!!)

[big ad]

[quote=wytco0;1220204]Big Ad, have you got your website running?

I am interested in how you got permission to drive through Russia and what sort of costs are involved?


You don,t need permission to drive through Russia , just a visa and a passport....The fuel is really cheap there , but the diesal fuel is not great quality and makes your Landrover smoke like a pile of tyres on fire....I drove there in 1997 and 1998 and had a great adventure....Got stopped by the police and various military people , but no real problems with them....I drove alone in my Landrover , which maybe was not a wise idea , but at no point ever felt in danger.....


Because we wanted to enter russia 3 times we had to get a multiple entry bussiness visa that is valid for 6 months and it cost us the best part of £1200 for 2 of us, that included a business support letter and the visas, my girlfriend has just gone to london tonight to pick them up on tuesday.

[big ad]

GET ON!!!!! Vicky picked up our russian visa today and that only leaves us with a second kazakhstan one to get friday!!!!:D:D:D

[Stumpy Doofleer]

You'd better get packing then:).

[grantc]

get on!!!!! Vicky picked up our russian visa today and that only leaves us with a second kazakhstan one to get friday!!!!:d:d:d
woo_hoo!!!:d

[big ad]

YES it looks like we will now be finally leaving on tuesday morning!!!!!!! only 7 weeks late :rolleyes:

[big ad]

Cossacks, Camping & caviar 2009 is now departing on Tuesday 28th April 2009!!!

[Stumpy Doofleer]

That's good to hear, fingers crossed that you have no more hold up's, and have a safe and enjoyable trip;).

[big ad]

cheers fella, we are only 7 weeks late setting off :rolleyes: BUT at least we are leaving now.

[wyvern]

Good luck ... you’re on the threshold of adventure ...
Just keep pointing at the 2nd star to the right and keep straight on till morning....
Safe Journeys

[grantc]

Have a Great Trip. Dead jealous!! Keep up the blog!

[big ad]

As from tomorrow we wont have acess to the internet for some time but you can follow our progerss here -


http://treacletrax.blogspot.com/ :D

[wildrover883]

If you are passing through Poland , i am happy to give you my contact details in case you have any problems i can help with......

[big ad]

If you are passing through Poland , i am happy to give you my contact details in case you have any problems i can help with......


Thanx for that , we are in krakow at the moment waiting for a engine tempreture sensor to be sent out from the uk, has delayed us by 6 days now, but we did have a nice time at the labour day celibrations.

We are updating the blog now.

[wildrover883]

Ah... Well if you have got as far as Kracow then you already know aboiut mad Polish drivers....take it easy , good luck....

[big ad]

we are hanging out in saratov - Russia!!! Tomorrow kazakhstan!!!!!!! hope all is well in the uk and you are having as much fun as we are! Dont forget to check out our blog!

ps krakow was brilliant!!!:D:D:D

[big ad]

we are in samarkand in uzbekistan - a jewel in the stans!!!! we are just updating the blog and more pictures will follow when we find somewere were the internet is not done by using a mouse to power the ******!!!

[Marc Lurie]

Wow, you guys are doing some travelling. :)

I hope you're enjoying every minute of it.

Marc

[sasha2001]

we are in samarkand in uzbekistan - a jewel in the stans!!!! we are just updating the blog and more pictures will follow when we find somewere were the internet is not done by using a mouse to power the ******!!!
smarkand is beatiful are you going to Khiva etc?

[big ad]

smarkand is beatiful are you going to Khiva etc?


yes we spent 5 days in khiva but 3 of those were because i had garidia!!!!:(

[sasha2001]

yes we spent 5 days in khiva but 3 of those were because i had garidia!!!!:(
Yes I got the same there I suspect from a salad, Keep to the Shasliks!!!
Get way to lose weight 7kg in a week, better than Jenny Criag weight loss program!!!

[sasha2001]

yes we spent 5 days in khiva but 3 of those were because i had garidia!!!!:(
I am a pharmacist by training, if you still have Gardia go to a pharmacy (аптека) and buy ( тиридазол 500мг) Tinadzole 500mg 4 tablets and take as a single dose with food, this works much better then metronidazole tablets

[big ad]

I am a pharmacist by training, if you still have Gardia go to a pharmacy (аптека) and buy ( тиридазол 500мг) Tinadzole 500mg 4 tablets and take as a single dose with food, this works much better then metronidazole tablets


Hi sarah

Thanx for the info we got the tinadzole in the end and it worked a treat :)

[big ad]

Just a quick one people, we have just uplaoded the first lot of mongolia pictures, Enjoy. ;););)

[big ad]

So after 17105 kilometers and 60 days we have finally made it to Ullan Battar in Mongolia!!!!
:Bigbounce:Bigbounce:Bigbounce
Time for a few beers!!!
:Bigbounce:Bigbounce:Bigbounce

[grantc]

Congrats!! Is that halfway?

[big ad]

Hi its just short of half way as we will be here for about 10 more days then back into russia ( 4 weeks) and then after that turkey and teh middle east. we might even try and get morocco in on the way back if we have any cash left!!!

[grantc]

So, are you saying we need to pass round the hat so that you can stay longer?:D
Have a great time, Im green!!:rolleyes::D

[big ad]

So, are you saying we need to pass round the hat so that you can stay longer?:D
Have a great time, Im green!!:rolleyes::D
well there is a link on the blog for people to leave some beers money lol!!!!!!

[big ad]

We have just updated the blog if anyone is intrested. we wont be updating for a while as we are going to try and get to turkey in 19 days for vickys birthday.:D:D:D

[big ad]

we are just updating the blog from tomsk in russia!!!

hope all is well in the uk and you are enjoying the heat wave!!!:)

[big ad]

So here we are stuck in sochi on the south russian coast waiting for the ferry to turkey that only departs a few times a week when they have sold enough tickets http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/Smileys/default/doh2.gif http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/Smileys/default/doh2.gif. The weather here is crap which is why we are not on the boat, its blowing a force 7 gale so the ferry is staying put for now. we are also sleeping in the back of the landy which is not to much fun either as its hot - around 38 and humid with thunder and lightning!!! http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/Smileys/default/cloud.gif http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/Smileys/default/cloud.gif http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/Smileys/default/cloud.gif. hopefully we will go back to the ferry again tomorrow and see if we can get on it.

Hope all is well in the uk and you are making the most of the good weather and getting out there in your landys and having fun :D:D:D

[sasha2001]

So here we are stuck in sochi on the south russian coast waiting for the ferry to turkey that only departs a few times a week when they have sold enough tickets http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/Smileys/default/doh2.gif http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/Smileys/default/doh2.gif. The weather here is crap which is why we are not on the boat, its blowing a force 7 gale so the ferry is staying put for now. we are also sleeping in the back of the landy which is not to much fun either as its hot - around 38 and humid with thunder and lightning!!! http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/Smileys/default/cloud.gif http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/Smileys/default/cloud.gif http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/Smileys/default/cloud.gif. hopefully we will go back to the ferry again tomorrow and see if we can get on it.

Hope all is well in the uk and you are making the most of the good weather and getting out there in your landys and having fun :D:D:D
Hi you made good time over to Sochi!!!! but roads are good I know. Half of Russia used to go there but now its expensive with mafia money etc and Putin going for olympics etc.
Hope you have not died from "vodka hostage taking"!!!! from Russian people you have meet!

[big ad]

we have just updated the blog with all the russian info and pictures :)

[big ad]

hi all
sorry ıts been a whıle but we have been quıte busy . we have just updated the blog for syrıa, wıll do jordan when we get to ıstanbull whıch should be ın a few days. On the down sıde someone has got hold of my credıt card detaıls and has taken 689 pounds out of my account. thıs ıs not so good as ıt was our money to get home from turkey wıth!!!
Stıll am sure we wıll fınd a way home some how!!!!!

[big ad]

is back at home!

[big ad]

http://www.harderfaster.net/images/photos/7440/thumbs/lr_img172.jpg



Looks like our little adventure made it into our local paper.

[big ad]

A few stats if anyone is intrested -



Cossacks, Camping and Caviar 2009
　
Date Departed - 28th April
Date Arrived - 10th September
Total Distance Travelled - 38,000 kilometers
Days Travelled - 137
Total Liters of Diesel used - 3302 liters
Average kms per liter - 11.5 kms
　
　
Distance between -

England - Bishops Tawton - Mongolia - Ullan Baator 17105 kms
Time Taken 58 Days
　
Mongolia - Ullan Baator - Jordan - Aqubba 12452 kms
Time Taken 42 Days
　
Jordan - Aqubba - England - Bishops tawton 8443 kms
Time Taken 37 Days

[Dr Zed]

:cheering::cheering::cheering::cheering::cheering: :cheering::cheering::cheering::cheering::cheering: :cheering::cheering::cheering:

well done guys :)

[big ad]

cheers buddy we should have the blog finished sometime over the weekend.

[rustyrhinos]

Excellent stuff :)

[big ad]

cheers

we are just thinking about were we are going to go next year, wont be on the same scale but if anyone has any ideas!!!!!!

can anyone give me a job?

[big ad]

we are now going to be interviewed by Richard Green for bbc radio devon on the 29th of october at 2:15 just after sir ranulph fiennes!!!!!!

[rustyrhinos]

Make sure you get a mate to record it - I hate my own voice but it is good for a laugh!

Hmm where to next then...Algeria? (I can thoroughly recommend) Morroco as a short trip?