Hey everyone who survived that killer rum that was supposed to take us all out...
I took a trip to Russia in August 2024—16 unforgettable days. Entered via KARSAVA, Ostrov, then Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Voronezh, Ostrov on the Don, and exited at VLADIKAVKAZ through Georgia, Turkey, etc... I’d love to know if anyone’s done the reverse route—entering via Vladikavkaz from Georgia by personal vehicle, car, or motorcycle—and how long the wait was to cross the border. At the Karsava crossing in Latvia last August, it took between 2 and 3 days. The holdup is on the Russian side due to lack of staff and equipment since the formalities are so complicated...
I’m looking for a smoother crossing point for 2025. Thanks for any tips!
Partir, c'est mourir un peu et mourir c'est partir beaucoup...
You’ll find an answer in the report linked below.
https://www.lescs.fr/IMG/pdf/240618_georgie-russie.pdf We met a traveler at the Russian border post who turned back at the Latvian border because there were too many days of waiting.
On the way back (Russia→Georgia) in early October, it took us 1.5 hours to cross both borders.
You can find reports from our trip this year here:
https://www.lescs.fr/Asie-Centrale-2024
Happy researching.
LesCs
FYI: I included the report link because I don’t think this forum has a built-in PDF reader, unlike many others.
Okay, thanks for the link—it’s way smoother from Georgia.
I also took about 1h 30 to exit in August from Vladikavkaz toward Georgia, but 3 days to enter from Latvia with a line of only 12 cars waiting... but 4 forms to fill out—3 in Russian and English, and the fourth in Russian only. If you don’t speak the language, forget it—the officials won’t help you. They’re already swamped with paperwork, plus inspections, scanners, etc. There’s a blatant lack of staff and equipment.
Partir, c'est mourir un peu et mourir c'est partir beaucoup...
Hi,
When traveling by motorcycle—and this is also true in Russia—we can often filter through lines of vehicles without it being frowned upon. This year, I followed some travelers in a 4x4 who did this from Georgia to Russia without any particular issues.
Have you already seen the Russian entry form that needs to be filled out?
Thierry
Hi again,
"Three forms in Russian and English, and the fourth in Russian only. If you don’t speak the language,"
Sorry, do you have a copy of those three documents, please?
Even before February 2022, we’d often spend 9 hours crossing into Russia.
The bureaucracy there is intense and surprising.
On our last crossing in October, Russian customs officers asked us for French treats. So random!!!!
But exiting Russia only took us 1 hour.
Back in 2019, I traveled to Georgia and then into Russia via Vladikavkaz. From there, we made our way to Volgograd and followed the Volga up through Saratov, Samara, Kazan, and Nizhny Novgorod.
No issues at the border at that time.
With the current situation, things are definitely different now. As for bringing French food items, just so you know, they’re pretty much unavailable in Russia these days—especially in regions far from Moscow.
Hey all you survivors of the strong rum that was supposed to kill everyone...
I took a trip to Russia in August 2024, 16 unforgettable days. Entered via KARSAVA, Ostrov, then Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don, and exited at VLADIKAVKAZ via Georgia, Turkey, etc... I’d like to know if anyone has done the reverse route—entering via Vladikavkaz from Georgia by personal vehicle, car, or motorcycle—and how long the wait was to cross the border. At the Karsava crossing in Latvia last August, it was between 2 and 3 days. The holdup is on the Russian side due to lack of staff and equipment because the formalities are complicated... I’m looking for a smoother crossing point for 2025. Thanks for your feedback.
Hey Versys6,
I’m planning to leave in early May 2025 for Tajikistan via Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Kazakhstan, etc...
I’m thinking of crossing at the Verkhnii Lars border post (Vladikavkaz) to head toward Astrakhan and enter Kazakhstan.
By motorcycle and weaving through the lines of cars and trucks, based on my research, I’m expecting at least 3 hours to enter Russia (fingers crossed) 😉
If I understood your username right, you travel on a Suzuki Versys. I’m on a Ténéré 700. Are you traveling solo?
Would you be open to the idea of riding together (or just part of the route)? That’d be awesome...🙂
Just to clarify, I’m retired and will be 63 in May 2025. I travel at a relaxed pace, stopping now and then to take photos or videos or to fly my drone, depending on the landscapes I come across... I’m not looking for anything challenging like enduro trails, but moderately easy tracks don’t bother me.
I’m used to traveling by motorcycle (always solo, unfortunately 🤪). My wife isn’t interested in this kind of motorcycle trip, and she’s still got a few years of work before she retires. So I’m taking the opportunity to do my “round-the-world” trip in stages. A REAL round-the-world trip would’ve taken at least two and a half years, and my wife wasn’t too keen on that... 😏
Welcome Juracik! I also ride solo, sometimes with a colleague on a Multistrada. I’m 68 but I’d be happy to ride with a younger guy...😉. However, you’re leaving a bit early for me—I’ve planned to start in early July. If you can change your plans, message me privately and we can chat on WhatsApp. I’m currently in Asia until May 29.
About crossing into Russia, I think you’re being *very* optimistic estimating it’ll only take 3 hours. I don’t believe that for a second, but I could be wrong. And don’t even imagine that people who’ve already been waiting 30+ hours will let you cut in line. I saw this in Karsava—people get really aggressive, and the issue isn’t the number of cars waiting (there were only 12 ahead of me, who’d already been there since the day before)... it doesn’t exactly put you in a joking mood. Motorcycle or not, YOU WAIT YOUR TURN. It’s nothing like the Serbian or Turkish borders, where you can roll up to the counter with barely an insult thrown your way... ALMOST.
If you leave in May, let us know how it goes crossing from Georgia into Russia. But I’d recommend bringing water and enough food for 2 days. If you’re lucky, a friendly driver might offer you a spot to sleep in their Toyota—otherwise... pray it doesn’t rain...😏
Contrary to what people say, Russian officials aren’t lazy good-for-nothings. They’re just understaffed (an understatement), lack equipment, and are drowning in Soviet-era paperwork. Russia is something you *earn*.
c
Partir, c'est mourir un peu et mourir c'est partir beaucoup...
Joking aside, early July is way too late for me. I’m planning to head back to South America at the end of the year, which means I’ll need to drop off my bike in Marseille by mid- or late September. So, I might not even be back from Central Asia if I left in July.
I was there last year but only stayed for 3 weeks because of a stupid fall on a trail—something we’ve all had dozens of times—but this time, I had to be on the other side of the planet in the middle of Patagonia when I tore my inner knee ligament! 🤪 🏴☠️ 😠 So, prioritizing caution (I could still walk and ride the bike), and not knowing if I’d need surgery, I decided to head back to Montevideo and return to France. But I can’t wait to go back... 😎
As for crossing the Georgia/Russia border, I’m basing my info on I-Overlander, where several reports say pretty much the same thing: about 3 hours for bikers (since they filter through the lines of cars and trucks). For 4x4s, vans, etc., it’s more like 6 to 7 hours because they get stuck in 3 or 4 hours of traffic before even reaching the border.
That said, if it takes 6 or 7 hours, then it takes 6 or 7 hours... No big deal. And if I need to be aggressive to get to the front of the line at the counters, well, I’ll adapt to local customs... 😉
But yeah, I’m planning to bring water and food with me anyway...
From what I’ve seen following some bikers on YouTube at this border, they actually got help cutting through the lines (like cars in the queue moving aside to let bikers pass) rather than getting yelled at. So, fingers crossed...
TIR freight trucks have a separate queue outside and inside the customs post.
You can overtake them—drivers won’t say anything.
Avoid crossing on weekends to steer clear of the influx of Russian tourist vehicles heading to Tbilisi for the weekend.
Be prepared to answer questions from Russian intelligence agents, like:
- "Is Crimea part of the Russian Federation?"
- ...etc...
on forms with very rough French.
Phone searches... etc...
On the road, stay alert: lots of speed cameras and white-line crossing checks.
TIR freight trucks have a separate queue outside and inside the customs post.
You can overtake them; the drivers won’t say anything.
Avoid crossing on the weekend to steer clear of the influx of Russian tourist vehicles heading to Tbilisi for the weekend.
Also, be prepared to answer questions from Russian intelligence agents like:
- "Is Crimea part of the Russian Federation?"
- ...etc...
on forms with very rough French.
Phone searches... etc...
On the road, stay alert: lots of speed cameras and white-line crossing checks.
Yeah, I’m expecting all that—I was already aware. Even if the "interrogations" are random, I know they can happen...
My phone has nothing to hide. Just family photos and videos from my previous trips, and anyway, I don’t have any social media except WhatsApp, and there’s nothing secret there either...
And for road checks, I also know they can be in completely unmarked cars, driving really slowly to "force" you to overtake them—right where there are white lines to cross. 😉
Anyway, thanks for the info... that’s really helpful... I might not have known about all these little details...
I’ll take the opportunity to add one more thing:
Apparently, the timing with the Versys won’t work out, so unfortunately, we won’t be doing this trip together. So if anyone else is interested in joining me for part (or even the whole thing—let’s go wild... 😉) of this trip, don’t hesitate to speak up...
Safe travels to everyone
It's not easy to find a "compatible" travel companion for so many reasons...
Personally, I often drive at night to escape the heat, traffic, the king's archers, and the queues at border posts.
On average, how long are your stages?
I’ve got a few great tips for you along the route—Serbia, Turkey, Georgia.
Partir, c'est mourir un peu et mourir c'est partir beaucoup...
It’s not easy to find a "compatible" travel buddy for so many reasons...
Personally, I often drive at night to avoid the heat, traffic, the king’s archers, and long lines at border crossings.
On average, how far do you usually go in one stretch?
I’ve got a few great tips for your route—Serbia, Turkey, Georgia.
I’ll reply in a DM this morning so I don’t "clutter" this post.
At the Karsava crossing in Latvia, it took between 2 and 3 days last August. The holdup is on the Russian side due to lack of staff and equipment because the formalities are complicated..... I'm looking for a smoother crossing point for 2025.
The last time I crossed with my car was summer 2023 via Finland, which was later closed. Since then, I've taken the Riga-Pskov bus and the Gdansk-Kaliningrad bus. The Riga-Pskov bus doesn't cross the border in Latvia but in southern Estonia at Luhaama-Shumilkino. Even as a bus passenger, I didn't notice any car queues.
Since the visa is now unified with Belarus, crossing south of Vilnius toward Lida could be an option. Avoid Terespol-Brest from Poland! And the main Vilnius-Minsk road.
Suite aux évènements actuels en Crimée, nous envisageons pour notre retour d'Asie Centrale un 'itinéraire bis' passant par la Géorgie et le Turquie. Sur le…
Je souhaite me rendre en Azerbaïdjan ensuite en Iran. je cherche des renseignements sur le passage frontière entre la Russie et l'Azerbaïdjan, si cela ne pose…
Au mois de juillet 2009 je rentre en russie par la frontiere lettone a karsava, en passant par le petit poste frontiere de goliseva sur la route p50, le tout…
hi
I’m planning a 10-month trip to South America, and I’m looking into options for shipping a motorcycle to Buenos Aires by air or sea. If anyone has any info, thanks in advance!
christian
Hello everyone.
I'm looking for campsites around BOLZANO (South Tyrol) for early September.
I'll be on my motorcycle with a small tent.
I've noticed that some campsites have exorbitant prices.
If you've traveled through the Dolomites by motorcycle or otherwise and camped there, I'd love any tips on places and prices where I can stay for one night or several.
Thanks to all of you, and happy travels.
I’m starting to think about a trip that’s really close to my heart: Algeria by motorcycle, specifically the southern part of the country. It’d be for January 2025, and I’ve got two main questions:
Is it possible for an individual on a motorcycle to travel freely, outside of any organized tour, or does the regulation require some kind of supervision in the Algerian Sahara region?
Is the Hoggar massif accessible by road or by (rideable) tracks?
Beyond the official recommendations, I’m really looking for your firsthand experiences.
Thanks so much for your answers, and sorry if my questions are a bit newbie!
I just realized I’ve been registered on VoyageForum since... March 28, 2012 😊. Yet, I’ve barely participated until now.
August 1, 2026, will mark a somewhat special milestone: 5 years on the road.
We left Switzerland on August 1, 2021 with a simple idea: let chance decide our direction. We placed a bottle of wine on a world map, spun it... and it chose our first destination.
A year later, when we arrived in Morocco, we faced a new choice: continue toward Africa or head to Asia. This time, a tarot card game made the decision. Since then, we’ve tried to keep this journey as open to the unexpected as possible.
Today, that adds up to about 120,000 km, 46 countries, and over 1,800 days on the road—mostly by motorcycle, but also by sailboat, train, bus, hitchhiking, or on foot when adventure calls.
Our guiding thread isn’t just the motorcycle, but service exchanges. Instead of simply passing through countries, we try to stop regularly to lend a hand to the people we meet. So far, that’s about 600 days of volunteering.
Over the years, we’ve:
renovated a house in Croatia
made earth bricks in the Moroccan desert
helped sail a boat through the Greek islands
looked after houses, dogs, horses, a camel... and lots of other animals
worked at a street art festival in Morocco
created videos for local associations and projects
worked the grape harvest on the Tibetan plateau
been accredited as "media" for the World Nomad Games in Central Asia
Some of the moments that have stuck with us the most include six months in China, a night spent on the Great Wall, the Pamir Highway, the Silk Road, three months in Taiwan, and the incredible encounters in the mountains of Central Asia.
We travel on Falkor, our lucky dragon—a 2014 BMW F800GS that’s been with us since the start and is starting to have some great stories of its own.
While we share our adventure on Instagram, Polarsteps, and YouTube, that’s not why we’re here. The forum’s rules about promotion are clear, and I totally get them. If I’m finally taking the time to write, it’s mostly because after five years on the road, I thought our experience might be useful to other travelers.
Happy to chat about:
preparing for a long motorcycle trip
visas and borders
the Silk Road and Central Asia
riding in China (with or without a motorcycle)
volunteering and service exchanges while traveling
gear, daily life on the road... or just the unexpected moments that make long-term travel so special
Looking forward to swapping stories and hearing about your adventures too! 😊 Greetings from Thailand, and happy to chat! ✌️
Hello, I’m retired and planning a roughly 3-week motorcycle trip (1200gs). The dates aren’t set in stone yet, and everything’s open to discussion—I’m pretty flexible with the planning.
I’d like to ride from Mahajanga to Morondava, sticking as close to the coast as possible—using roads and tracks—in September 2026. If you’ve got any suggestions, let me know! 😉
hi
planning to ride through Rajasthan on a motorcycle in January 2027 and I’d love to hear about the road conditions.
I’ll be riding with a buddy on a Royal Enfield that I’ll rent in Delhi.
Thanks for your tips!
hi there
I’d like to ride the RN 12 by motorcycle in September.
I’d love to know the main challenges—I ride a 300cc and do enduro in France.
Thanks for your tips!
I’m planning a motorcycle road trip to Armenia and Georgia in September 2026 or May 2027. I’m looking for one or more riders (male or female) who’d like to explore these countries with me.
Along the way, we’ll visit Cappadocia, the capitals Yerevan, Tbilisi, Sofia, Skopje, and other cities—we can finalize the route and roadbook later.
This trip requires experience with long motorcycle journeys, as we’ll cover around 7,000 km over 5 or 6 weeks (or more, depending on sightseeing and time spent).
I don’t expect dozens of applicants, since motorcycle riders are few and far between on this forum, but I’m putting this out there anyway.
Hi, I’d like to take a 15-day "break" to get away from the surrounding hustle and bustle.
Why not explore the Peloponnese!
I’m not particularly drawn to museums, ruins, or monuments.
I want to experience local life—small villages, seaside spots, beaches, and the interior if the landscapes are extraordinary.
Ideally, coming from Athens, I’d take a bus or train to get as close as possible to a starting point, then rent a scooter (125cc) to explore by taking secondary roads or even coastal paths. I’d stay in 2-3 places for a few days each to discover their surroundings.
Do a loop.
What do you think would be the ideal itinerary?
From Athens, the best option would be to take either a flight or a bus to Kalamata. Rent a scooter and head either west or east. Is there a tertiary road (very lightly trafficked) or a path where I can ride slowly, take it easy, and enjoy the scenery without being bothered by traffic? I’d like to go all the way to Monemvasia, still hugging the coast. I need to find a way to avoid returning to Kalamata to drop off the scooter and catch a flight—maybe a small town where the train stops so I can head back to Athens.
Thanks in advance for your tips.
I want to rent an off-road style motorcycle to get around the coast during my trip to Ecuador. I’m only finding options in Quito. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Hi there,
I’m planning a sidecar trip to South America for 4 or 5 months at the end of this year.
I’m looking for info on shipping my vehicle by sea—possibly to Uruguay or another destination, as I haven’t finalized anything yet.
How do you get visas for the countries I’ll be crossing: Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile? Are they e-Visas, obtained at the border, or through embassies?
Where can I get vehicle insurance?
Lastly, if any bikers want to join us (my partner and me), we’re open to that possibility too.
Patrick
I’ve got 15 days off in June and I’m pretty undecided about where to go for a motorcycle road trip. Two strong desires are pulling me in different directions: Corsica or Norway.
Corsica has been a dream of mine for a long time: legendary roads, stunning landscapes, a unique vibe, and the perfect mix of sea and mountains. At the same time, I’m wondering if 2 weeks might be *too much* for Corsica—risking feeling like I’ve seen it all too quickly, especially on a bike.
Since I also have an extra week free in May, I could use that specifically for Corsica. Maybe splitting it into two trips would make more sense? If so, which routes or regions would be the most interesting to plan for a 7-day trip?
On the other hand, Norway is *super* appealing. The landscapes look incredible, totally different from anything I’ve experienced, and it’d be a real “wow” trip. I know 15 days is still short for such a vast country. Getting all the way to the North Cape seems pretty much impossible in that time, but I’m curious about what realistic routes could be planned.
So I’m wondering:
Is it better to save Norway for next year, take 3 weeks off, and do it *properly*?
Or are 15 days enough for a first amazing taste of the country?
I’d love to hear about your experiences—whether it’s Corsica (ideal duration, routes) or Norway (what’s realistic in 2 weeks on a bike).
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Hello,
I'm thinking of buying a used small motorcycle to travel around the country for a month and a half.
I've done this in other countries without putting the registration in my name—is that possible in Guinea given the apparently frequent checks, or do I have to go through the paperwork?
Thanks.
Hello,
My dream is to ride Route 66 by motorcycle. I have a disability—while I’m not in a wheelchair, my walking mobility is reduced.
The ideal scenario would be to have a motorcycle driver and ride as their passenger on an organized trip.
Are there any guides or services like this offered by travel agencies?
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Hello,
I’ve got a plan with a friend to go on a motorcycle road trip in 2028 or 2029, starting in Santiago de Chile and ending in Ushuaia, for about a month.
Has anyone done a trip like this before, and what’s the best time of year?
I’ve heard there can be quite a bit of wind depending on the season.
Thanks for any tips!
Cheers,
PA
I'm seriously considering heading to Nepal to do some nice motorcycle loops... my goal is also to do the Kailash Yatra round trip from Kathmandu, in a small group with a guide, in May '26... but here's the thing—I'm solo! So if you're up for sharing a similar adventure, hit me up... Cheers, Frankoys
It's all in the title: I'm heading to Krabi soon and want to rent a scooter for a few weeks, but after reading comments about all kinds of scams, I'm reaching out to ask where and how (read: *the right way*) to rent one.
Thanks for your tips and advice.
Hello everyone! Like every year, a winter migration is on the horizon (revised plan): this time, it’ll be Dakar, or even Abidjan, via Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal.
Looking for an experienced motorcyclist or pillion rider—small build preferred—on a GSA 1250 with a comfy seat and luggage setup, available from early November to late December 2025. I’d like to plan the trip together (important to me) to make sure we’re on the same wavelength.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Didier
Looking for travel companions to ride from France to Senegal by motorcycle.
I’m Paul, 37, and I’ve already done a bit of riding in Morocco.
For now, I’m solo, riding a 1998 SUZUKI DR 650 with some basic gear to keep things smooth. I’ll have a tent so we can do a few nights under the stars.
We’ll need to coordinate departure dates—"ideally in November."
I’m currently checking out routes to take. Any tips would be welcome! :)
I’m heading to Vietnam and Laos with a buddy next week for a month.
We’re thinking of renting motorbikes, especially to do the Ha Giang Loop. We don’t have an international license, just our Belgian one. Is that enough? If not, is it risky?
In November, we’re planning to do the Ha Giang loop and the RC4 by motorbike without a guide. 😎
We’re looking for a decent place to stay/rent in Ha Giang.
If anyone has any info, we’d be really interested.
Hello! We’re planning a motorcycle trip that will include a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau in June 2026.
We’re unsure (still debating) whether we should stay at a hotel on-site and get to the memorial with an Uber (leaving our bikes at the hotel) and book a guided tour, or base ourselves in Kraków and take a tour that includes transport.
One thing’s for sure—we’d prefer a guide in French since we don’t speak English 😅.
Could you share your experiences or advice?
I understand we need to book online rather than on-site.
Thanks in advance for your replies!
Hello,
Next October we’re planning to ride the Ruta de la Plata by motorcycle—a historic Spanish route that runs from Gijón to Seville, also known as the N630.
Has anyone here already ridden it?
Unfortunately, I’m worried that parts of the N630 may have disappeared or merged with the A66 motorway, forcing us to ride long stretches of highway, which we’d rather avoid.
Thanks in advance for any tips or details about this route!
Hi there!
I’m currently planning a 9-day route starting from Marrakech with my husband. We land on the morning of June 13th—so soon! 😊
And we’re flying back to France on June 21st at 9 PM!
We’ve rented two Royal Enfield 450s.
This is our first motorcycle trip in Morocco. I got my license two years ago with the dream of taking this kind of trip, and here we are! ✌️😍
In France, we usually ride between 300 to 400 km per day on roadsters. We’re not used to off-road tracks, so we’re looking for easy ones 😅—especially for me 😅.
For Morocco, I’ve planned stages of 200 to 300 km per day.
Here’s the idea:
Day 1 (departure at noon): Marrakech - Tizi n Test - Tafingoult (165 km - 4h15)
Day 2: Tafingoult - Amzarkou - Telouet (200 km - 4h34)
Day 3: Telouet - Ait Benhaddou - Ouarzazate - Boumalne (200 km - 3h30) (+ Vallée des Roses maybe)
Day 4: Boumalne - Dades Gorges - Agoudal - Todra Gorges - Tinghir - Goulmima (291 km - 6h)
Day 5: Goulmima - Midelt - Cirque Jaffar - Agoudim (280 km - 4h45)
Day 6: Agoudim - Imilchil - Aghbala - El Ksiba (280 km - 4h45)
Day 7: El Ksiba - La Cathédrale - Zaouiat Ahansal (212 km - 4h20)
Day 8: Ahansal - Ouzoud Waterfalls via R 302 (188 km - 4h22)
Day 9: Ouzoud - Marrakech (160 km - 2h43)
End of the trip 😮.
What do you think?
We haven’t booked any hotels—is that a problem? We were thinking of deciding day by day based on our progress.
Can we take our helmets with us in the cabin, or should we pack them in the checked luggage surrounded by clothes to avoid damage?
Hey there, fellow riders,
I’m really keen on a motorcycle trip to Morocco, specifically the Middle Atlas. Does anyone have any info or tips on this idea? Planning to go in September or October...
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Christine
