Hi there, 🙂
I’m thinking of taking a trip to these two countries in 2026 (late spring to early summer).
I’d arrive in Almaty and leave from Bishkek, and I’d be driving myself.
I plan to spend 1 week in Kazakhstan and 2 in Kyrgyzstan. The itinerary isn’t set yet.
My preliminary questions are about formalities, hassle levels, and the car.
From what I understand, no visa is needed, the passport must be valid for 6 months after entry, and there’s no longer a requirement to register with the authorities at each stop. In short, once you’re in, no administrative headaches.
Except for permits needed to drive in certain regions?
---/---
About crossing between the two countries:
- On foot
- In a rental car
Quick? Easy?
---/---
Are both countries safe? (Meaning you don’t have to stay on guard all the time.)
Are the cops corrupt? (A little, a lot, passionately, not at all?)
---/---
Is it better to rent a car for both countries or rent a vehicle in each country?
A 4x4 or something else?
Is accommodation plentiful enough that I can skip a rooftop tent, or is it better to rent a 4x4 with one?
I’ll definitely have more questions later...😉
Thanks for your answers !
Estonians have become real pests at the Narva border control.
EER is the Estonian public radio and television service. They have a website, err.ee, with a section in Russian. The other day, on 26.06.2026, in Narva, a Swedish citizen was asked if she had any foreign currency. She mentioned $1,800 USD and 4,400 RUB. However, she was searched, and 21,000 SEK were found in her underwear (!) Here’s what the article says: "They eventually discovered 21,000 Swedish kronor" Maybe the stash seemed suspicious... She tried to backpedal, meaning to return to Estonia with the Swedish kronor, but was fined 280 €:
https://rus.err.ee/1610037940/tamozhenniki-v-narve-oshtrafovali-grazhdanku-shvecii-pytavshujusja-pronesti-v-nizhnem-bele-krony
Earlier this year, on 10.03.2026, a German citizen had 1,820 € found in the lining of her coat. She was denied entry and also fined 480 €.
https://rus.err.ee/1609962977/grazhdanka-germanii-pytalas-provezti-nalichnye-cherez-granicu-v-narve-no-byla-oshtrafovana
Bottom line: if you need to carry cash to exchange, only take USD—and make sure it’s brand new...
EER is the Estonian public radio and television service. They have a website, err.ee, with a section in Russian. The other day, on 26.06.2026, in Narva, a Swedish citizen was asked if she had any foreign currency. She mentioned $1,800 USD and 4,400 RUB. However, she was searched, and 21,000 SEK were found in her underwear (!) Here’s what the article says: "They eventually discovered 21,000 Swedish kronor" Maybe the stash seemed suspicious... She tried to backpedal, meaning to return to Estonia with the Swedish kronor, but was fined 280 €:
https://rus.err.ee/1610037940/tamozhenniki-v-narve-oshtrafovali-grazhdanku-shvecii-pytavshujusja-pronesti-v-nizhnem-bele-krony
Earlier this year, on 10.03.2026, a German citizen had 1,820 € found in the lining of her coat. She was denied entry and also fined 480 €.
https://rus.err.ee/1609962977/grazhdanka-germanii-pytalas-provezti-nalichnye-cherez-granicu-v-narve-no-byla-oshtrafovana
Bottom line: if you need to carry cash to exchange, only take USD—and make sure it’s brand new...
Hi there! 🙂
I’m not planning to bring all my meals for the 3 weeks of travel, but I’d like to spice up my picnic lunches and a few dinners in this country that’s not exactly known for its cuisine...
I’ve seen that fruits and vegetables are easy to find. Bread is also no problem.
I’m a bit unsure about the local cheese, but I’ll manage.
Actually, it’s what I’d put in my sandwiches that I’d like to pack: cured sausage, pâtés.
Are these foods allowed through customs?
Also, I’m thinking that bringing 3-4 freeze-dried meals could be a good option. I’ve never bought any before. Which brands are the most flavorful?
I’ve also noticed that real coffee is rare. (Meaning Kyrgyz people drink Nescafé. Sacrilege!) Can I easily find coffee there to make my own?
Finally, which supermarket chain is the best? (Meaning the one with the most variety and, above all, quality!)
Last question: where can I buy a gas stove in Bishkek? (I’ve heard that local gas canisters aren’t compatible with the stove I already own)
Thanks!
I’m not planning to bring all my meals for the 3 weeks of travel, but I’d like to spice up my picnic lunches and a few dinners in this country that’s not exactly known for its cuisine...
I’ve seen that fruits and vegetables are easy to find. Bread is also no problem.
I’m a bit unsure about the local cheese, but I’ll manage.
Actually, it’s what I’d put in my sandwiches that I’d like to pack: cured sausage, pâtés.
Are these foods allowed through customs?
Also, I’m thinking that bringing 3-4 freeze-dried meals could be a good option. I’ve never bought any before. Which brands are the most flavorful?
I’ve also noticed that real coffee is rare. (Meaning Kyrgyz people drink Nescafé. Sacrilege!) Can I easily find coffee there to make my own?
Finally, which supermarket chain is the best? (Meaning the one with the most variety and, above all, quality!)
Last question: where can I buy a gas stove in Bishkek? (I’ve heard that local gas canisters aren’t compatible with the stove I already own)
Thanks!
Good evening,
The question on my mind is in the title: is it better to go from Khiva to Bukhara by train or by car?
I love traveling by train (though I’ll have the chance to take it between Bukhara and Samarkand, and then from there to the capital). I’m curious about Uzbek roads, but the excursions I’ve planned will let me satisfy that curiosity over shorter distances than the 500 km of this trip.
I’ve read on this forum that the road can be grueling, though those posts are a bit dated now. I’ve also read (on Advantour—reliable?) that the train connection isn’t daily. For the past few days, the national railway website has only shown me blank pages—I can’t check anything. I *did* spot a train leaving Khiva at 11 AM and arriving in Bukhara at 6 PM this summer, though...
Any recent experiences to share about either option?
Catherine
The question on my mind is in the title: is it better to go from Khiva to Bukhara by train or by car?
I love traveling by train (though I’ll have the chance to take it between Bukhara and Samarkand, and then from there to the capital). I’m curious about Uzbek roads, but the excursions I’ve planned will let me satisfy that curiosity over shorter distances than the 500 km of this trip.
I’ve read on this forum that the road can be grueling, though those posts are a bit dated now. I’ve also read (on Advantour—reliable?) that the train connection isn’t daily. For the past few days, the national railway website has only shown me blank pages—I can’t check anything. I *did* spot a train leaving Khiva at 11 AM and arriving in Bukhara at 6 PM this summer, though...
Any recent experiences to share about either option?
Catherine
Hi everyone, happy to be back on VF!
I’ll be in Uzbekistan this coming April and will of course visit the three classics—Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. However, I’d also love to get out of these cities to explore the Uzbek countryside and experience its nature. Mountains, steppes, etc. Ideally, with some great hikes passing through villages. Any spots you’d recommend? Thanks in advance
I took a few days to get some fresh air outside the Schengen-NATO prison. Between March 18, 2026, and March 25, 2026, as shown by the passport stamps:
Borisoglebsk is the Russian border checkpoint after Kirkenes, on the road to Murmansk.
Kirkenes is a tiny town with a correspondingly small airport. Nothing has changed there: the minibuses to Murmansk wait on the right as you exit the airport. They’re synchronized with the two daily flights from Oslo—the SAS around 11:00 AM and Norwegian around 11:30 AM. They stop in Kirkenes at the corner of the Scandic for an hour, where other passengers can board, then head straight to the nearby border.
This is the least hassle Frontex/Schengen border. The Norwegian agent quickly scans your passport, and that’s it. No customs, since Norway is Schengen but not in the EU. On the Russian side, there’s a passport check and a quick customs inspection. All in all, crossing both the Norwegian and Russian checkpoints takes about 15 minutes.
A paper visa is required; e-visas aren’t accepted.
Two companies run the route: Avto Ekspress and Borodin: https://ae51.ru/routes/kirkenes-murmansk/ https://borodinbus.com/
The one-way fare is 5,500 ₽. You can either buy it online in rubles with a MIR card or make a formal reservation and pay in NOK cash to the driver. I took Borodin, and the price in NOK was much more expensive than in ₽.
=========================
On March 25, I left from Pskov via the Estonian border post at Luhaama. I spent three days in Murmansk, flew to St. Petersburg (SPB), stayed there for two days, then took an evening train to Pskov.
Since the end of February—and reportedly until the end of May—the Estonians have restricted the opening hours of the two border crossings near Pskov: Koidula (Pechory on the Russian side) and Luhaama (Izborsk on the Russian side). They’re closed at night between 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM. Right now, there’s a bus from Pskov at 7:00 AM to the border. It drops you off at the end of the road where truckers—many Kazakh and Serbian—are parked on the side. You finish the rest on foot to the barrier, where there’s a quick initial check for Ukrainian stamps in passports. Then you walk to the customs building, followed by passport control at the kiosk for motorists. After that, it’s a 500-meter walk to the Estonian checkpoint. At the moment, things seem calmer. Passport control is quick. The usual silly questions in English: "Where were you? Where are you going?" I just gave my most clueless smile: "Sorry, I don’t understand." Yeah, right—I don’t speak English, especially not at an Estonian border with a French passport. If they’re in a mood, though... A very quick bag inspection. Once you exit the Estonian post, walk to the bus stop sign by the road where another coach takes you to Riga.
The catch: in my case, last Wednesday, there were two passengers (Russians) with old Ukrainian stamps in their passports. The bus from the Estonian post to Riga was supposed to leave around 9:30 AM. We ended up leaving around noon after the two were grilled by the FSB. Since it was a weekday outside of holidays, the bus was half-empty. The fuller the bus and the more people with Ukrainian stamps, the worse the nightmare. Don’t book a same-day flight from Riga. I had a flight at 6:00 PM, so it worked out.
=============
The Kirkenes-Murmansk route is still clearly the easiest and fastest. But it’s not the most convenient since it’s way up north.
Next, I’d say the Gdansk-Kaliningrad route in the middle of the week. Avoid weekends and holiday departures/returns.
Avoid the Narva-Ivangorod route during Christmas, Easter, May 9, and *all* summer.
==============
About flights from Murmansk to St. Petersburg: prices are good. I bought my ticket the day before departure on Rossiya for 7,500 ₽, including 10 kg of luggage + a handbag.
It’s the tail end of the northern lights season, and there were still crowds of Chinese tourists.
By the way, Murmansk is twinned with Harbin:
Chinese tourists are the largest foreign group, followed by Indians, then a mix of others from the Far East, Turks, Arabs, etc. Brochures are bilingual—Russian and Chinese:
============================
But let’s talk practical stuff. --
My domestic SIM card was restricted for SMS and internet for 24 hours. After that, if you want to keep using SMS, don’t turn off your phone—restarting triggers another 24-hour purgatory.
My Russian SIM cards (Megafon, MTS, Beeline) were activated as soon as I logged into their respective apps with my credentials.
Internet --
Telegram is heavily slowed down by authorities. To use it, you need to connect through proxy servers, which you load into the latest version of the app. Traffic is then rerouted internally within Telegram to servers outside Russia (Germany, Poland, Sweden, etc.). You can find these proxies on various channels. One is ChatVPN—check their website too.
For general internet use, like browsing the web, VPNs that work right now use the VLESS protocol. You can find several on Telegram by searching "VPN." A few free days, then payment in rubles or crypto.
Rozkomnadzor’s team are experts at this, so things can change. It’s a constant cat-and-mouse game.
Pskov is a special case. The city is near Estonia and has a large military base. Depending on NATO drone swarms launched from the Baltics, Wi-Fi can be completely suspended except for the most essential mobile apps. The drone swarms use the 4G network, and the powerful electronic jamming and drone suppression systems cause periods without Wi-Fi—including in hotels. Wired connections aren’t affected.
Borisoglebsk is the Russian border checkpoint after Kirkenes, on the road to Murmansk.
Kirkenes is a tiny town with a correspondingly small airport. Nothing has changed there: the minibuses to Murmansk wait on the right as you exit the airport. They’re synchronized with the two daily flights from Oslo—the SAS around 11:00 AM and Norwegian around 11:30 AM. They stop in Kirkenes at the corner of the Scandic for an hour, where other passengers can board, then head straight to the nearby border.
This is the least hassle Frontex/Schengen border. The Norwegian agent quickly scans your passport, and that’s it. No customs, since Norway is Schengen but not in the EU. On the Russian side, there’s a passport check and a quick customs inspection. All in all, crossing both the Norwegian and Russian checkpoints takes about 15 minutes.
A paper visa is required; e-visas aren’t accepted.
Two companies run the route: Avto Ekspress and Borodin: https://ae51.ru/routes/kirkenes-murmansk/ https://borodinbus.com/
The one-way fare is 5,500 ₽. You can either buy it online in rubles with a MIR card or make a formal reservation and pay in NOK cash to the driver. I took Borodin, and the price in NOK was much more expensive than in ₽.
=========================
On March 25, I left from Pskov via the Estonian border post at Luhaama. I spent three days in Murmansk, flew to St. Petersburg (SPB), stayed there for two days, then took an evening train to Pskov.
Since the end of February—and reportedly until the end of May—the Estonians have restricted the opening hours of the two border crossings near Pskov: Koidula (Pechory on the Russian side) and Luhaama (Izborsk on the Russian side). They’re closed at night between 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM. Right now, there’s a bus from Pskov at 7:00 AM to the border. It drops you off at the end of the road where truckers—many Kazakh and Serbian—are parked on the side. You finish the rest on foot to the barrier, where there’s a quick initial check for Ukrainian stamps in passports. Then you walk to the customs building, followed by passport control at the kiosk for motorists. After that, it’s a 500-meter walk to the Estonian checkpoint. At the moment, things seem calmer. Passport control is quick. The usual silly questions in English: "Where were you? Where are you going?" I just gave my most clueless smile: "Sorry, I don’t understand." Yeah, right—I don’t speak English, especially not at an Estonian border with a French passport. If they’re in a mood, though... A very quick bag inspection. Once you exit the Estonian post, walk to the bus stop sign by the road where another coach takes you to Riga.
The catch: in my case, last Wednesday, there were two passengers (Russians) with old Ukrainian stamps in their passports. The bus from the Estonian post to Riga was supposed to leave around 9:30 AM. We ended up leaving around noon after the two were grilled by the FSB. Since it was a weekday outside of holidays, the bus was half-empty. The fuller the bus and the more people with Ukrainian stamps, the worse the nightmare. Don’t book a same-day flight from Riga. I had a flight at 6:00 PM, so it worked out.
=============
The Kirkenes-Murmansk route is still clearly the easiest and fastest. But it’s not the most convenient since it’s way up north.
Next, I’d say the Gdansk-Kaliningrad route in the middle of the week. Avoid weekends and holiday departures/returns.
Avoid the Narva-Ivangorod route during Christmas, Easter, May 9, and *all* summer.
==============
About flights from Murmansk to St. Petersburg: prices are good. I bought my ticket the day before departure on Rossiya for 7,500 ₽, including 10 kg of luggage + a handbag.
It’s the tail end of the northern lights season, and there were still crowds of Chinese tourists.
By the way, Murmansk is twinned with Harbin:
Chinese tourists are the largest foreign group, followed by Indians, then a mix of others from the Far East, Turks, Arabs, etc. Brochures are bilingual—Russian and Chinese:
============================
But let’s talk practical stuff. --
My domestic SIM card was restricted for SMS and internet for 24 hours. After that, if you want to keep using SMS, don’t turn off your phone—restarting triggers another 24-hour purgatory.
My Russian SIM cards (Megafon, MTS, Beeline) were activated as soon as I logged into their respective apps with my credentials.
Internet --
Telegram is heavily slowed down by authorities. To use it, you need to connect through proxy servers, which you load into the latest version of the app. Traffic is then rerouted internally within Telegram to servers outside Russia (Germany, Poland, Sweden, etc.). You can find these proxies on various channels. One is ChatVPN—check their website too.
For general internet use, like browsing the web, VPNs that work right now use the VLESS protocol. You can find several on Telegram by searching "VPN." A few free days, then payment in rubles or crypto.
Rozkomnadzor’s team are experts at this, so things can change. It’s a constant cat-and-mouse game.
Pskov is a special case. The city is near Estonia and has a large military base. Depending on NATO drone swarms launched from the Baltics, Wi-Fi can be completely suspended except for the most essential mobile apps. The drone swarms use the 4G network, and the powerful electronic jamming and drone suppression systems cause periods without Wi-Fi—including in hotels. Wired connections aren’t affected.
Hi there,
We’re a group of 4 people who prefer to travel independently but also want to use local guides at different stages of our trip.
My question is: should we plan to hire a different guide for each stage, or just one guide for all the different legs? We’re planning to travel between stages either by taxi or public transport (train, plane…).
Our itinerary is pretty classic (3 weeks):
Visit Tashkent
Tashkent – Ferghana Valley (by train)
Explore the valley and return to Tashkent with a guide and taxi
Tashkent – Nukus (flight)
Nukus – Khiva by taxi + guide for Khiva visit
Khiva – Bukhara by taxi + guide for Bukhara visit
Bukhara – Lake Aydar Kul – Samarkand by taxi + guide for Samarkand
Samarkand – Tashkent (by train).
Is the cost reasonable for the transfers between stages? Also, I’m open to any suggestions or tips (recommended guides, etc.).
Thanks!
Bernard
Hello,
New year, new questions...😛
Since the Chinese highway isn’t finished yet (opening postponed year after year), I’m wondering what condition this track is in come June?
I’m a bit worried that the snowmelt might completely soak the track—or even that the snow might still be clinging to the mountainside near the pass...
Thanks 🙂
New year, new questions...😛
Since the Chinese highway isn’t finished yet (opening postponed year after year), I’m wondering what condition this track is in come June?
I’m a bit worried that the snowmelt might completely soak the track—or even that the snow might still be clinging to the mountainside near the pass...
Thanks 🙂
Hi there,
I’ve never bought a SIM card abroad or even used prepaid cards in France...
So I’m wondering how it all works?
You buy a SIM card and pop it into your phone. Okay, so far so good... 😏
But after that?
I can’t find the price of prepaid cards or how they work with MegaCom.
If someone could give me a step-by-step guide... 😊
Thanks! 🙂
I’ve never bought a SIM card abroad or even used prepaid cards in France...
So I’m wondering how it all works?
You buy a SIM card and pop it into your phone. Okay, so far so good... 😏
But after that?
I can’t find the price of prepaid cards or how they work with MegaCom.
If someone could give me a step-by-step guide... 😊
Thanks! 🙂
Bonjour à tous,
Mon compagnon et moi préparons un voyage de 3 semaines au Kazakhstan au mois d'août et nous aimerions avoir vos avis pour affiner notre itinéraire.
Nous pensons consacrer une première partie du voyage à la région d'Almaty, avec notamment les sites suivants :
Singing Barkhan (dune chantante)
Altyn-Emel National Park
Charyn Canyon National Park
Ozora Ushchel'ya Reki Kensu (lacs de la vallée de la rivière Kensu)
éventuellement le parc national d'Ile-Alatau
Dans un second temps, nous aimerions découvrir la région de Mangystau, autour d'Aktau, avec notamment :
Airakty
Tuzbair Salt Lake
Kyzylkup ("Tiramisu")
Gora Bokty
Bozzhyra
Three Brothers Peaks
Nous envisageons de louer un 4x4 dans chacune de ces régions et nous avons plusieurs questions :
Auriez-vous des loueurs de 4x4 fiables à recommander, aussi bien dans la région d'Almaty que dans celle d'Aktau/Mangystau ?
J'ai lu que la région de Mangystau peut être extrêmement chaude en août. Pensez-vous qu'il vaut vraiment mieux commencer par Almaty puis terminer par Aktau pour esperer avoir des temperatures plus cléments (moins extremes😛)? Dans notre cas, faire l'inverse serait plus simple au niveau des vols internationaux et du vol intérieur, et aussi nettement moins cher.
Concernant les lieux listés ci-dessus, y a-t-il selon vous des incontournables à ajouter ou au contraire certains sites qui valent moins le détour ?
Plus généralement, avez-vous des conseils pratiques pour un voyage de 3 semaines au Kazakhstan en août (état des pistes, autonomie en carburant, réservations, météo, sécurité, etc.) ?
Merci beaucoup pour vos retours et vos conseils ! Ps : Nous avons l'habitude de voyager en autonomie et de conduire des 4x4 dans des conditions parfois exigeantes (Namibie, Tanzanie, Bolivie – Sud Lipez, Chili, etc.) et nous sommes également de bons marcheurs, habitués aux treks en autonomie (Patagonie, Huayhuash, Three Peaks au Népal, entre autres). Nous précisons cela simplement pour situer notre niveau d’autonomie sur ce type de voyage.
Singing Barkhan (dune chantante)
Altyn-Emel National Park
Charyn Canyon National Park
Ozora Ushchel'ya Reki Kensu (lacs de la vallée de la rivière Kensu)
éventuellement le parc national d'Ile-Alatau
Dans un second temps, nous aimerions découvrir la région de Mangystau, autour d'Aktau, avec notamment :
Airakty
Tuzbair Salt Lake
Kyzylkup ("Tiramisu")
Gora Bokty
Bozzhyra
Three Brothers Peaks
Nous envisageons de louer un 4x4 dans chacune de ces régions et nous avons plusieurs questions :
Auriez-vous des loueurs de 4x4 fiables à recommander, aussi bien dans la région d'Almaty que dans celle d'Aktau/Mangystau ?
J'ai lu que la région de Mangystau peut être extrêmement chaude en août. Pensez-vous qu'il vaut vraiment mieux commencer par Almaty puis terminer par Aktau pour esperer avoir des temperatures plus cléments (moins extremes😛)? Dans notre cas, faire l'inverse serait plus simple au niveau des vols internationaux et du vol intérieur, et aussi nettement moins cher.
Concernant les lieux listés ci-dessus, y a-t-il selon vous des incontournables à ajouter ou au contraire certains sites qui valent moins le détour ?
Plus généralement, avez-vous des conseils pratiques pour un voyage de 3 semaines au Kazakhstan en août (état des pistes, autonomie en carburant, réservations, météo, sécurité, etc.) ?
Merci beaucoup pour vos retours et vos conseils ! Ps : Nous avons l'habitude de voyager en autonomie et de conduire des 4x4 dans des conditions parfois exigeantes (Namibie, Tanzanie, Bolivie – Sud Lipez, Chili, etc.) et nous sommes également de bons marcheurs, habitués aux treks en autonomie (Patagonie, Huayhuash, Three Peaks au Népal, entre autres). Nous précisons cela simplement pour situer notre niveau d’autonomie sur ce type de voyage.
je repense à ceci après la semaine passée en promenade en Biélorussie et Russie (de retour hier), car en sortant de Lituanie vers la Biélorussie samedi dernier, pas de douane lituanienne et aucune question lors du contrôle de passeport.
l'absurdité de cette oukaze UE de ne pas emporter d'EUR et autres devises UE en Russie, est, en plus du fait que si on prend des dollars tout va bien, qu'en passant par une frontière non-UE, c'est vide de sens. Par exemple prendre un vol Belgrade-Moscou, les serbes se fichent de la consigne, de même les vols Turquie-Russie, les passages de frontière géorgienne, kazakhe, etc.
Vendredi je repassais la frontière Choumilkino-Louhaama, Russie-Estonie depuis Pskov, et au poste estonien, au guichet de contrôle passeport, noch einmal, la question à la çon posée en gringo yanqui: "wouaï wouère you in Reuchia?" moi: "pardon, français".
surréaliste: un policier de frontière estonien posant une question en gringo à un porteur de passeport français. Je comprendais qu'il parlât estonien, mais angliche 🤪 La question est bien sûr absurde aussi parce que ce n'est pas les oignons de l'UE de savoir pourquoi on voyage deci-delà hors du bidule UE. Et c'est hilarant lorsqu'on revient de Russie, car il suffit qu'ils posent la question au kagébé. Ah oui c'est vrai: ils ont coupé les ponts avec leurs sanctions. Bon après mon "pardon, français" souriant, l'estonien a soufflé dans son guichet. Il allait peut-être m'envoyer dans un goulague en Estonie. Ils ont peut-être des goulagues pour enfermer les citoyens de l'UE qui ne parlent pas angliche en Estonie. Faites gaffe!
Dans le sens Estonie->Russie si un agent estonien insiste, y compris en prenant son téléphone pour traduire en français un "wouère are you guoïngue in Rouchia?" la réponse qui va bien, avec le sourire, c'est "Kazakhstan" ou "Ouzbékistan". En effet la route la plus rapide passe par la Russie. Et c'est du plus bel effet, l'estonien fait un blocage, ça coupe les circuits dans la tête.
l'absurdité de cette oukaze UE de ne pas emporter d'EUR et autres devises UE en Russie, est, en plus du fait que si on prend des dollars tout va bien, qu'en passant par une frontière non-UE, c'est vide de sens. Par exemple prendre un vol Belgrade-Moscou, les serbes se fichent de la consigne, de même les vols Turquie-Russie, les passages de frontière géorgienne, kazakhe, etc.
Vendredi je repassais la frontière Choumilkino-Louhaama, Russie-Estonie depuis Pskov, et au poste estonien, au guichet de contrôle passeport, noch einmal, la question à la çon posée en gringo yanqui: "wouaï wouère you in Reuchia?" moi: "pardon, français".
surréaliste: un policier de frontière estonien posant une question en gringo à un porteur de passeport français. Je comprendais qu'il parlât estonien, mais angliche 🤪 La question est bien sûr absurde aussi parce que ce n'est pas les oignons de l'UE de savoir pourquoi on voyage deci-delà hors du bidule UE. Et c'est hilarant lorsqu'on revient de Russie, car il suffit qu'ils posent la question au kagébé. Ah oui c'est vrai: ils ont coupé les ponts avec leurs sanctions. Bon après mon "pardon, français" souriant, l'estonien a soufflé dans son guichet. Il allait peut-être m'envoyer dans un goulague en Estonie. Ils ont peut-être des goulagues pour enfermer les citoyens de l'UE qui ne parlent pas angliche en Estonie. Faites gaffe!
Dans le sens Estonie->Russie si un agent estonien insiste, y compris en prenant son téléphone pour traduire en français un "wouère are you guoïngue in Rouchia?" la réponse qui va bien, avec le sourire, c'est "Kazakhstan" ou "Ouzbékistan". En effet la route la plus rapide passe par la Russie. Et c'est du plus bel effet, l'estonien fait un blocage, ça coupe les circuits dans la tête.
Hey fellow travelers! Could anyone tell me if it's possible to buy a SIM card in Murghab? Thanks in advance for your tips!! 🙏🙏🙏
Hi there,
We’re heading to Saint Petersburg from June 30 to July 7, 2026, and we’ll be arriving late (9 PM) at our hotel on June 30. Unfortunately, the hotel can’t pick us up from the train station. Is it easy to get a taxi at Saint Petersburg coach station?
Thanks for your help!
Hi there,
We're planning a trip from Astana to Dushanbe. By train across Kazakhstan, then using public transport in Kyrgyzstan (circling Lake Issyk-Kul) and Tajikistan, taking the northern route in the latter (from Khujand to Dushanbe).
Have any of you been to these regions recently, and what do you think about the safety aspect?
Thanks in advance! :)
Hi everyone!
Any idea what the current situation is like for homestays in Russia? Any recent firsthand experiences?
Thanks in advance! :)
(I sense the moderators changing the title here...)
Good evening! 🙂
The departure date is approaching, and I’m side-eyeing my suitcase... well... uh... It’s true I’m allowed 30 + 8 kg, but if I can pack much lighter, that wouldn’t bother me. So, to eliminate a few "uhs":
1. It’s going to be quite chilly outside, especially in the mornings—I know that—but what about indoors? Do Uzbek hotels tend to be overheated? (More than 21/22°C?)
2. Is this country like Turkey, where you find foam slippers in the room’s linen kit?
3. Are dry cleaners or laundromats common?
Possibly more to come later.
Cat
Good evening! 🙂
The departure date is approaching, and I’m side-eyeing my suitcase... well... uh... It’s true I’m allowed 30 + 8 kg, but if I can pack much lighter, that wouldn’t bother me. So, to eliminate a few "uhs":
1. It’s going to be quite chilly outside, especially in the mornings—I know that—but what about indoors? Do Uzbek hotels tend to be overheated? (More than 21/22°C?)
2. Is this country like Turkey, where you find foam slippers in the room’s linen kit?
3. Are dry cleaners or laundromats common?
Possibly more to come later.
Cat
Hi everyone!
I wanted to share my experience from the trip I had this summer in Mongolia, in case it helps anyone get their bearings—I also relied a lot on forums myself.
We went as a couple with a French-speaking guide, Hacha, for a 17-day trek through the steppes and the Gobi Desert.
The experience was amazing—the landscapes are truly diverse and stunning. We started with a quick visit to Ulaanbaatar, then headed into the steppes for half the trip, including the Orkhon Valley, before moving on to the desert, which isn’t just sand but has incredibly varied scenery.
We traveled with Hacha, who has been a guide for 27 years and knows Mongolia inside out. She was accompanied by her daughter (with our consent). Hacha teaches French the rest of the year and speaks it perfectly. Her kindness and humor were much appreciated, and she’s become a friend. She prepared delicious homemade meals throughout the trip, adapted to European tastes since she’s used to it. We also had a driver who was really friendly and professional.
I injured myself on the way there with a sprained ankle, and Hacha immediately adjusted the pace and some activities to accommodate my injury, as well as booking more comfortable lodgings for the first few nights. She didn’t tell us it cost her extra, and we only found out later—we chose to pay a supplement, but she never asked for anything. Hacha was very fair with money, and her rates seem a bit lower than what we’d found elsewhere. She also tailors the program to the budget we gave her, and we had the option to adjust accommodations to fit our budget.
As for lodging, we stayed in tourist yurt camps (more comfortable with restaurants, showers, etc.), guest yurts, nights with nomadic families, and a few nights in tents. Our most memorable experience was two nights with nomads who welcomed us warmly, even though it was only the second time they’d hosted tourists. They shared their traditions with us, and the location was beautiful—right by a lake.
Hacha also adapted to our last-minute requests. For example, I mentioned wanting to see a shaman, which was tricky since it wasn’t planned in advance (my fault for not bringing it up earlier), but she used her contacts to see if there was a possibility. Unfortunately, no shamans were available, but we spontaneously stopped by the family of a young shaman during one of our trips. She wasn’t there, but we got to hear her parents’ stories and ask questions about the rituals to become a shaman and their experiences. It was a rare and unique moment I won’t forget!
We’ll definitely return to Mongolia as a family to explore less touristy regions (though we weren’t really bothered by tourism), as Hacha offers other off-the-beaten-path itineraries, including one that visits a turquoise lake surrounded by sand dunes—which sounds incredible, according to her.
I highly recommend Mongolia to anyone looking for an authentic trip that pushes you slightly out of your comfort zone while still feeling safe and enjoying breathtakingly diverse landscapes. And I 100% recommend Hacha—she created a personalized trip based on our requests and adapted to our needs and wishes on the spot!
I wanted to share my experience from the trip I had this summer in Mongolia, in case it helps anyone get their bearings—I also relied a lot on forums myself.
We went as a couple with a French-speaking guide, Hacha, for a 17-day trek through the steppes and the Gobi Desert.
The experience was amazing—the landscapes are truly diverse and stunning. We started with a quick visit to Ulaanbaatar, then headed into the steppes for half the trip, including the Orkhon Valley, before moving on to the desert, which isn’t just sand but has incredibly varied scenery.
We traveled with Hacha, who has been a guide for 27 years and knows Mongolia inside out. She was accompanied by her daughter (with our consent). Hacha teaches French the rest of the year and speaks it perfectly. Her kindness and humor were much appreciated, and she’s become a friend. She prepared delicious homemade meals throughout the trip, adapted to European tastes since she’s used to it. We also had a driver who was really friendly and professional.
I injured myself on the way there with a sprained ankle, and Hacha immediately adjusted the pace and some activities to accommodate my injury, as well as booking more comfortable lodgings for the first few nights. She didn’t tell us it cost her extra, and we only found out later—we chose to pay a supplement, but she never asked for anything. Hacha was very fair with money, and her rates seem a bit lower than what we’d found elsewhere. She also tailors the program to the budget we gave her, and we had the option to adjust accommodations to fit our budget.
As for lodging, we stayed in tourist yurt camps (more comfortable with restaurants, showers, etc.), guest yurts, nights with nomadic families, and a few nights in tents. Our most memorable experience was two nights with nomads who welcomed us warmly, even though it was only the second time they’d hosted tourists. They shared their traditions with us, and the location was beautiful—right by a lake.
Hacha also adapted to our last-minute requests. For example, I mentioned wanting to see a shaman, which was tricky since it wasn’t planned in advance (my fault for not bringing it up earlier), but she used her contacts to see if there was a possibility. Unfortunately, no shamans were available, but we spontaneously stopped by the family of a young shaman during one of our trips. She wasn’t there, but we got to hear her parents’ stories and ask questions about the rituals to become a shaman and their experiences. It was a rare and unique moment I won’t forget!
We’ll definitely return to Mongolia as a family to explore less touristy regions (though we weren’t really bothered by tourism), as Hacha offers other off-the-beaten-path itineraries, including one that visits a turquoise lake surrounded by sand dunes—which sounds incredible, according to her.
I highly recommend Mongolia to anyone looking for an authentic trip that pushes you slightly out of your comfort zone while still feeling safe and enjoying breathtakingly diverse landscapes. And I 100% recommend Hacha—she created a personalized trip based on our requests and adapted to our needs and wishes on the spot!
Ben non...je suis comme Christian, enfin non, je viens avec mon véhicule mais je ne laisse pas de traces....
Bon j'ai tendu une perche, je me demande s'il va mettre mon 4x4 près des bateaux échoués à Moyniak ou bien ma vidéo sur les pistes boueuses de Manguistau ? 😏
Tu peux lire le sujet suivant où tu y trouveras des idées pour compléter tes recherches.
https://voyageforum.com/forum/3-semaines-kazakhstan-khirghizistan-questions-preliminaires-voyage-d10704103-2/
Tu peux aussi lire quelques carnets de voyage à télécharger en bas de page sur : https://www.lescs.fr/Asie-Centrale-2019 https://www.lescs.fr/Asie-Centrale-2024
A bientôt sur les pistes d’Asie Centrale.
Tu peux aussi lire quelques carnets de voyage à télécharger en bas de page sur : https://www.lescs.fr/Asie-Centrale-2019 https://www.lescs.fr/Asie-Centrale-2024
A bientôt sur les pistes d’Asie Centrale.
Hi there,
It’s been a while since I’ve traveled outside an area packed with ATMs, so I’m wondering about Uzbekistan and the best exchange options. The guidebooks aren’t very chatty on the topic.
From what I gather, transport and hotels will be booked and paid via bank transfer to a local agency. For personal expenses, is it better to bring euros, dollars, or can we still find ATMs along the Silk Road cities to withdraw cash with our bank card?
Catherine
It’s been a while since I’ve traveled outside an area packed with ATMs, so I’m wondering about Uzbekistan and the best exchange options. The guidebooks aren’t very chatty on the topic.
From what I gather, transport and hotels will be booked and paid via bank transfer to a local agency. For personal expenses, is it better to bring euros, dollars, or can we still find ATMs along the Silk Road cities to withdraw cash with our bank card?
Catherine
Bon je suis à Vitebsk depuis hier. Demain je vais à Pololtsk tôt le matin, puis vers midi le bus pour Pskov.
L´itinéraire a été:
- bus Ecolines à l´aéroport pour Minsk.
- 1,5 jour à Minsk (1 nuit)
- train Minsk-Smolensk, 2 nuits à Smolensk
- bus Smolensk-Vitebsk
le régime de visa unifiée Biélorussie-Russie fonctionne avec deux petites variations. Tout d´abord, rappellons que ceci requière le visa papier russe dans le passeport. Le visa russe électronique n´est pas valable.
passage Lituanie->Biélorussie:
je suis en passeport Schengen, et au contrôle lituanien, pas de questions à la con style estonien en gringo (wouaère arre you goïngue? etc), pas de questions, vérification du passeport voilà tout. Les biélorusses eux ont tous prise d´empreinte des index droit et gauche, avec un petit scanneur posé sur la tablette du guichet, et photo de reconnaissance faciale avec une caméra sur le côté. Sans doute le nouveau protocole UE/Schengen de digitalisation des contrôles. Du coup celà va vite.Seulement quelques personnes questionnées brièvement. Bref celà ne retarde pas. Il n´y a pas eu de douane lituanienne.
au contrôle biélorusse je mentionne à l´agent qu´après je vais en Russie. Un petit scanneur à empreinte digitale aussi posé sur la tablette, où j´ai mis index droit puis gauche. Après vérification le passeport m´est rendu mais sans carte de migration. Je lui signale que j´en aurai besoin en Russie. Elle m´indique que j´aurai du en demander une dès l´arrivée dans la salle avant de faire la queue au guichet, de manière à le remplir et le fournir en même temps que le passeport. Donc acte pour la prochaine fois. Mais ce n´est pas un problème, elle me tend un exemplaire que je remplis en visite, elle tamponne les deux parties, coupe au milieu et me tend le mien. Ce qui est particulierest que le tampon d´entrée n´est pas apposé sur la page des tampons, mais sur le visa russe. En image celà donne ceci:
après le contrôle du passeport, les bagages dans le tunnel rayons x de la douane, et deux questions du douanier: mon itinéraire et si j´ai de l´argent en espèces.
du reste le billet Vilnius-Minsk:
le passage Biélorussie->Russie avec le train:
j´achetais le billet sur les chemins de fers biélorusses, mais le train est russe (RZD), il y a des longues distance classiques platzkart/coupé mais celui là, bien qu´à destination de Moscou était de type "hirondelle" (Lastochka). Lors d´embarquement en train russe on montre toujours son passeport, et dans ce cas ci, passeport ni biélorusse ni russe, le préposé de wagon demandait à voir le visa pour sa date de validité. il a trois heure jusqu´à Smolensk, ca passe vite. Arrivé à Smolensk, je vois dehors un policier en tenue militaire kaki. Je me dis sans doute pour moi. Effectivement. Ils doivent contrôler par rapport aux données biélorusses de frontière. Nous étions trois passagers ni biélorusses ni russes dans tout le train. On accompagne l´agent à leur bureau dans la gare, où ils vérifient nos données sur des terminaux de type ordinateur portable. Dix minutes et fini.
le billet Minsk-Smolensk:
De Smolensk à Vitebsk. Donc sortie de Russie et re-passage en Biélorussie.
Il y a un train tôt le matin et un tard le soir. Ca ne me convenait pas, et ai donc opté pour le bus. Le trajet par route est court, mais, il y a contrôle passeport de tout le monde à la frontière. Le point de contrôle se nomme comme le village attenant, Krouglovka. Il y a pas mal de traffic routier mais pas trop. Les passeports de tous les passagers du bus sont collectés par le chauffeur, qui les amène au poste de contrôle. Mais moi je devais aller à un contrôle entretien. Il y avait un routier kazakhe avant moi dans le bureau. Donc un peu d´attente, ensuite mon tour et questions assez fouillées: lieu de naissance, domicile et travail actuels, histoire sommaire de mes voyages en Russie, raison du voyage actuel, puis prise d´empreintes de tous les doigts sur un petit terminal portable de type gros téléphone portable, et avec aussi photo de profil debout. Ensuite je retourne au bus. Bref, en cas de plusieurs étrangers, celà peu retarder pas mal. Aucune idée pour le train, si contrôle en route comme dans le cas du train Finlande-Russie avant 2022, ou passage dans un bureau.
le billet de bus Smolensk-Vitebsk:
###########################
Bref rien que de très trivial mis à part le questionnaire un poil long au poste frontalier de Krouglovka sur la route Smolensk-Vitebsk.
et demain soir je repars vers la frontière, en bus encore, depuis Polotsk jusqu´à Pskov. (Biélorussie -> Russie) Après quoi Pskov->Riga pour mon vol de retour.
le régime de visa unifiée Biélorussie-Russie fonctionne avec deux petites variations. Tout d´abord, rappellons que ceci requière le visa papier russe dans le passeport. Le visa russe électronique n´est pas valable.
passage Lituanie->Biélorussie:
je suis en passeport Schengen, et au contrôle lituanien, pas de questions à la con style estonien en gringo (wouaère arre you goïngue? etc), pas de questions, vérification du passeport voilà tout. Les biélorusses eux ont tous prise d´empreinte des index droit et gauche, avec un petit scanneur posé sur la tablette du guichet, et photo de reconnaissance faciale avec une caméra sur le côté. Sans doute le nouveau protocole UE/Schengen de digitalisation des contrôles. Du coup celà va vite.Seulement quelques personnes questionnées brièvement. Bref celà ne retarde pas. Il n´y a pas eu de douane lituanienne.
au contrôle biélorusse je mentionne à l´agent qu´après je vais en Russie. Un petit scanneur à empreinte digitale aussi posé sur la tablette, où j´ai mis index droit puis gauche. Après vérification le passeport m´est rendu mais sans carte de migration. Je lui signale que j´en aurai besoin en Russie. Elle m´indique que j´aurai du en demander une dès l´arrivée dans la salle avant de faire la queue au guichet, de manière à le remplir et le fournir en même temps que le passeport. Donc acte pour la prochaine fois. Mais ce n´est pas un problème, elle me tend un exemplaire que je remplis en visite, elle tamponne les deux parties, coupe au milieu et me tend le mien. Ce qui est particulierest que le tampon d´entrée n´est pas apposé sur la page des tampons, mais sur le visa russe. En image celà donne ceci:
après le contrôle du passeport, les bagages dans le tunnel rayons x de la douane, et deux questions du douanier: mon itinéraire et si j´ai de l´argent en espèces.
du reste le billet Vilnius-Minsk:
le passage Biélorussie->Russie avec le train:
j´achetais le billet sur les chemins de fers biélorusses, mais le train est russe (RZD), il y a des longues distance classiques platzkart/coupé mais celui là, bien qu´à destination de Moscou était de type "hirondelle" (Lastochka). Lors d´embarquement en train russe on montre toujours son passeport, et dans ce cas ci, passeport ni biélorusse ni russe, le préposé de wagon demandait à voir le visa pour sa date de validité. il a trois heure jusqu´à Smolensk, ca passe vite. Arrivé à Smolensk, je vois dehors un policier en tenue militaire kaki. Je me dis sans doute pour moi. Effectivement. Ils doivent contrôler par rapport aux données biélorusses de frontière. Nous étions trois passagers ni biélorusses ni russes dans tout le train. On accompagne l´agent à leur bureau dans la gare, où ils vérifient nos données sur des terminaux de type ordinateur portable. Dix minutes et fini.
le billet Minsk-Smolensk:
De Smolensk à Vitebsk. Donc sortie de Russie et re-passage en Biélorussie.
Il y a un train tôt le matin et un tard le soir. Ca ne me convenait pas, et ai donc opté pour le bus. Le trajet par route est court, mais, il y a contrôle passeport de tout le monde à la frontière. Le point de contrôle se nomme comme le village attenant, Krouglovka. Il y a pas mal de traffic routier mais pas trop. Les passeports de tous les passagers du bus sont collectés par le chauffeur, qui les amène au poste de contrôle. Mais moi je devais aller à un contrôle entretien. Il y avait un routier kazakhe avant moi dans le bureau. Donc un peu d´attente, ensuite mon tour et questions assez fouillées: lieu de naissance, domicile et travail actuels, histoire sommaire de mes voyages en Russie, raison du voyage actuel, puis prise d´empreintes de tous les doigts sur un petit terminal portable de type gros téléphone portable, et avec aussi photo de profil debout. Ensuite je retourne au bus. Bref, en cas de plusieurs étrangers, celà peu retarder pas mal. Aucune idée pour le train, si contrôle en route comme dans le cas du train Finlande-Russie avant 2022, ou passage dans un bureau.
le billet de bus Smolensk-Vitebsk:
###########################
Bref rien que de très trivial mis à part le questionnaire un poil long au poste frontalier de Krouglovka sur la route Smolensk-Vitebsk.
et demain soir je repars vers la frontière, en bus encore, depuis Polotsk jusqu´à Pskov. (Biélorussie -> Russie) Après quoi Pskov->Riga pour mon vol de retour.
Since last year, the unification of the Russian visa with Belarus has been in effect.
For reference, EU citizens haven’t needed a visa for Belarus for two years. However, it wasn’t possible to travel to Russia. Only Belarusian and Russian citizens could move freely within the union.
With the unified system, if you enter one of the two countries with a visa from either, you can now travel between them freely.
In the case of a Russian visa, it must be a paper visa glued into your passport—not an electronic visa.
This opens up the possibility of traveling to Russia from Lithuania via Minsk, for example, starting from Vilnius.
It also allows for travel circuits that would otherwise be difficult, despite the proximity of the cities.
So, I’m leaving on June 12th for Vilnius. A one-hour flight for around thirty euros with a carry-on bag, and from Vilnius Airport, there’s a bus to Minsk. My planned route for now is Vilnius-Minsk-Smolensk-Vitebsk-Polotsk-Pskov-Riga.
This crosses the Belarus-Russia border three times: from Minsk to Smolensk, then from Smolensk to Vitebsk, and finally from Polotsk to Pskov.
The region of this itinerary was, a thousand years ago, essentially that of the Krivichs, a local Slavic political entity. The term comes from "blood," *krew* in Polish, *krov* in Russian—basically "blood brothers." In Latvian, the word for Russians is *krievu*, by the way. Historically, the region corresponds to some of the old Russian principalities. Later, what marks Belarusian regions in general is, after the Great Schism of 1054, the division between Catholic and Orthodox zones, particularly as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth expanded and contracted. In architecture, this corresponds to variations in Baroque styles, for example.
Vitebsk is known in France as the birthplace of Chagall. Born Russian, he first trained at the art school in Vitebsk, which was also attended by Malevich and Lissitzky, before completing his studies in Saint Petersburg, then moving to Berlin and later Paris. In Paris, Chagall met Cendrars, who had spent three years in Russia before and spoke enough Russian to help the newcomer get by a bit.
Back to the practical travel aspects: a local Pskov newspaper mentions that the Russian and Belarusian governments have a project for a Pskov-Polotsk train line. Previously, there were also plans for lines between Veliky Luki and Vitebsk, and Polotsk. A recently launched railway is Smolensk-Vitebsk, shown in white on the map, with projected lines in blue. https://pln-pskov.ru/society/583817.html https://pln-pskov.ru/society/578335.html
These will likely be "Hirondelle"—that is, *Lastochka*—the fast, spacious regional trains in Russia. Currently, all of this is done by bus, so the train is a very appealing and comfortable option. We’ll see how it goes.
With the unified system, if you enter one of the two countries with a visa from either, you can now travel between them freely.
In the case of a Russian visa, it must be a paper visa glued into your passport—not an electronic visa.
This opens up the possibility of traveling to Russia from Lithuania via Minsk, for example, starting from Vilnius.
It also allows for travel circuits that would otherwise be difficult, despite the proximity of the cities.
So, I’m leaving on June 12th for Vilnius. A one-hour flight for around thirty euros with a carry-on bag, and from Vilnius Airport, there’s a bus to Minsk. My planned route for now is Vilnius-Minsk-Smolensk-Vitebsk-Polotsk-Pskov-Riga.
This crosses the Belarus-Russia border three times: from Minsk to Smolensk, then from Smolensk to Vitebsk, and finally from Polotsk to Pskov.
The region of this itinerary was, a thousand years ago, essentially that of the Krivichs, a local Slavic political entity. The term comes from "blood," *krew* in Polish, *krov* in Russian—basically "blood brothers." In Latvian, the word for Russians is *krievu*, by the way. Historically, the region corresponds to some of the old Russian principalities. Later, what marks Belarusian regions in general is, after the Great Schism of 1054, the division between Catholic and Orthodox zones, particularly as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth expanded and contracted. In architecture, this corresponds to variations in Baroque styles, for example.
Vitebsk is known in France as the birthplace of Chagall. Born Russian, he first trained at the art school in Vitebsk, which was also attended by Malevich and Lissitzky, before completing his studies in Saint Petersburg, then moving to Berlin and later Paris. In Paris, Chagall met Cendrars, who had spent three years in Russia before and spoke enough Russian to help the newcomer get by a bit.
Back to the practical travel aspects: a local Pskov newspaper mentions that the Russian and Belarusian governments have a project for a Pskov-Polotsk train line. Previously, there were also plans for lines between Veliky Luki and Vitebsk, and Polotsk. A recently launched railway is Smolensk-Vitebsk, shown in white on the map, with projected lines in blue. https://pln-pskov.ru/society/583817.html https://pln-pskov.ru/society/578335.html
These will likely be "Hirondelle"—that is, *Lastochka*—the fast, spacious regional trains in Russia. Currently, all of this is done by bus, so the train is a very appealing and comfortable option. We’ll see how it goes.
Les travaux ne sont pas encore finis sur la route sud depuis le nombre d'années qu'ils ont commencés.
Profite bien de ce pays.
C'est sûr que tu peux trouver des vrais cafés en ville mais tu ne vas pas trop au Kirghizistan pour les villes...😏
( Enfin pour 99 % des voyageurs)
À la carte des restaurants en campagne, c'est thé, limonade avec des fruits, kompot ( une sorte de jus de fruit mais pas vraiment- un truc naturel pas chimique), cola, fanta, eau...
En ville, alcool bière vin selon les lieux. 😉
À la carte des restaurants en campagne, c'est thé, limonade avec des fruits, kompot ( une sorte de jus de fruit mais pas vraiment- un truc naturel pas chimique), cola, fanta, eau...
En ville, alcool bière vin selon les lieux. 😉
En plus c'est tranquille...il suffit de suivre les ornières qu'il laisse pour être sûr d'être sur la bonne piste...😄
Il ne fait pas si chaud que ça à Manguistau...pas plus que chez nous en ce moment 😏 Ne pas oublier le détour par la mer d'Aral...
Il ne fait pas si chaud que ça à Manguistau...pas plus que chez nous en ce moment 😏 Ne pas oublier le détour par la mer d'Aral...
y a tellement de choses à voir par la route sud.
Attention, cette route est actuellement en travaux quasi tout du long.
Les chinois ont vu les choses en grand : une quatre voies !
Et pour la faire, ils ont démoli quasi tout le bitume existant sur 180 kilomètres...
Bref, actuellement c'est une piste avec des travaux partout...😏
Cela dit, c'est sympa les paysages !😉
Attention, cette route est actuellement en travaux quasi tout du long.
Les chinois ont vu les choses en grand : une quatre voies !
Et pour la faire, ils ont démoli quasi tout le bitume existant sur 180 kilomètres...
Bref, actuellement c'est une piste avec des travaux partout...😏
Cela dit, c'est sympa les paysages !😉
La voiture louée doit être nourrie avec du 95 . C'est rare dès les secteurs les plus peuplés passés.
Pour aller à Sary Mogul, la dernière pompe de ce type était à Gulcha. Il y a d'autres pompes après mais juste en 92 voire en diesel.
Il y a une pompe avec les trois carburants à Kazarman.
Pas de problèmes sur le reste du trajet.
Pour aller à Sary Mogul, la dernière pompe de ce type était à Gulcha. Il y a d'autres pompes après mais juste en 92 voire en diesel.
Il y a une pompe avec les trois carburants à Kazarman.
Pas de problèmes sur le reste du trajet.
Je réponds à la place de Christian...je suppose qu'il est en préparatifs de son futur voyage...ou à la sieste ...😏
En fait on se chambre un peu de temps à autres... il se déplace avec un camion 4x4 équipé pour les voyages lointains et comme de mon côté je n'ai qu'un 4x4 traditionnel, je l'avais titillé sur le fait que , lui, laissait de profondes ornières dans les secteurs un peu meubles, alors que je ne laissais pas de traces de mes passages et respectais la nature. Du coup il avait publié une photo de mon véhicule à côté des bateaux échoués de l'ancien port de Moyniak ( mer d'Aral) Bon ça remonte à quelques années, mais on prend toujours plaisir à remettre ça sur le tapis...
En fait on se chambre un peu de temps à autres... il se déplace avec un camion 4x4 équipé pour les voyages lointains et comme de mon côté je n'ai qu'un 4x4 traditionnel, je l'avais titillé sur le fait que , lui, laissait de profondes ornières dans les secteurs un peu meubles, alors que je ne laissais pas de traces de mes passages et respectais la nature. Du coup il avait publié une photo de mon véhicule à côté des bateaux échoués de l'ancien port de Moyniak ( mer d'Aral) Bon ça remonte à quelques années, mais on prend toujours plaisir à remettre ça sur le tapis...
Ce sont des bonbons au chocolat.
en fait plus précisément, des драже...
surréaliste, "Attila" est dans le magasin où ça se vend, et viens demander sur ce forum ce que c'est. Non mais il y a des champions...
sur Ozon des dragées "cailloux" en pagaille, , ou encore " cailloux au chocolat" шоколадные камушки: https://www.ozon.ru/category/turetskie-konfety-kameshki/
comme le dit l'URL sur Ozon, et la désignation турецкие de certains: turc, à savoir des peuples turcs, càd. les yeux bridés voisins des Mongols, donc les Kazakhes, Ouzbèques, Turkmènes. Aux 18ème et 19ème siècles, une bonne partie de ce qui est ĺ'Ouzbékistan et bouts des pays autour actuels se nommait le Turkestan. Actuellement Turkestan est la ville kazakhe entre Kyzylorda et Chimkent, et abrite un important mausolée médiéval. Enfin bon, il ne s'agit pas de culture ici...
en fait plus précisément, des драже...
surréaliste, "Attila" est dans le magasin où ça se vend, et viens demander sur ce forum ce que c'est. Non mais il y a des champions...
sur Ozon des dragées "cailloux" en pagaille, , ou encore " cailloux au chocolat" шоколадные камушки: https://www.ozon.ru/category/turetskie-konfety-kameshki/
comme le dit l'URL sur Ozon, et la désignation турецкие de certains: turc, à savoir des peuples turcs, càd. les yeux bridés voisins des Mongols, donc les Kazakhes, Ouzbèques, Turkmènes. Aux 18ème et 19ème siècles, une bonne partie de ce qui est ĺ'Ouzbékistan et bouts des pays autour actuels se nommait le Turkestan. Actuellement Turkestan est la ville kazakhe entre Kyzylorda et Chimkent, et abrite un important mausolée médiéval. Enfin bon, il ne s'agit pas de culture ici...
Hi everyone,
Happy to be back on our travel exchange and advice site.
There are four of us heading to Mongolia from June 22 to July 15, 2025.
We’ve wanted to visit Mongolia for a long time, but for various reasons, the trip kept getting postponed.
This year is the one. The flight tickets are booked, and we’re in touch with several agencies to organize what seems like a classic itinerary (Gobi, Khangai, and Lake Khuvsgul), including attending a Naadam festival outside the capital.
Yes, but here’s the thing—with so much hope riding on this destination, I’m afraid of being disappointed by what we’ll find.
Let me explain. The way we travel has changed over time. Discovering a country these days seems to be more about influencers than travel guides. Consumer-focused travel seems to have taken over from genuine exploration.
So, if you have any tips for helping us discover authentic sites and avoid certain mistakes… we’re all ears.
Thanks in advance for your replies, and happy holidays to everyone.
