Warning for those traveling to Russia soon.
Currently, in the central regions and Moscow, gas stations are not selling more than 20 liters per vehicle, and jerry cans are prohibited.
A friend from Saint Petersburg alerted me to this during a conversation. (His family lives in Vladimir)
They must have told you that the disruption varies by district and gas station. It’s been in the press, too. I just got back from Russia—I took the Pskov-Riga bus yesterday. In the Pskov and Smolensk regions, where I was this time, nothing unusual.
A friend from SPb drives the SPb-Kazan route occasionally.
For several months, NATO has been using repeated swarms of drones flying at very low altitudes, relying on the Starlink satellite network rather than 4G antennas.
As a result, a major refinery in Tatarstan sustained damage, which is now affecting Tatneft and its resellers.
The paradox is that there are large stocks of refined fuel in the northern Siberian basin (Surgut, Nefteyugansk) and another owned by Gazprom, but these are far from Tatarstan and the central Russian basin. Shifting supplies by rail and road takes time while the refinery section in Tatarstan is being repaired.
In the south—Rostov, Kuban, Crimea—there have been drone strikes targeting fuel tankers delivering to gas stations. The issue was resolved with a powerful jamming system that blocks Starlink signals along road perimeters.
This is now being extended to protect refineries, along with other measures like anti-drone patrols along major routes.
These disruptions may not last, as Russia has recently been targeting warehouses and logistics platforms of Ukrposhta, the Ukrainian postal service.
Drones manufactured by the EU and the U.S. are shipped in postal freight, often in separate parts for larger models. The freight is mixed: mail, commercial and industrial goods, and military cargo. Until now, Russia hadn’t struck these warehouses, but recently they’ve destroyed a few, including a large one in Kharkiv.
There was also a strike on a hydroelectric plant and the bridge above it on the Dnieper. Lawmakers have started complaining in the Duma, demanding the destruction of all bridges over the Dnieper, postal depots, the annihilation of the railway network by targeting locomotive warehouses and sorting centers, and other "delights."
As for drone swarms using 4G antennas, that’s been happening since 2023—nothing new.
The Pskov region is often affected because these drones are launched from the Baltic states by NATO.
That’s why 4G is occasionally shut down when electronic jamming is activated.
The day before yesterday, I received two SMS messages on my Megafon SIM, which are sent in such cases to warn about 4G and SMS disruptions.
The first SMS announced that drones were flying over the area and to expect internet outages. The second mentioned that service had resumed and that if you find debris (in a field, forest, etc.), you should call 112. These SMS are sent by the Ministry of Emergency Situations (RSCHS/РСЧС).
By the way, last fall, I experienced very limited 4G (only basic practical apps) in Vladimir. It’s far from the border, but Vladimir hosts a major missile command center.
Hi, this is Esantirulo.
For him, Ukraine obviously doesn’t have the means to manufacture its own drones—they’re not on the level of Putin’s exceptional Russia.
And their drones can’t reach St. Petersburg; it’s way too far, so they must be launched from the Baltic countries.
If I follow his logic, I conclude that the drones that reached the southern Urals—which are farther from Ukraine than St. Petersburg—must have been launched from Kazakhstan, which would then be part of NATO?
His practical tips are always very precise and useful for those wanting to visit Russia and Belarus, but his political analyses are a bit more, how should I put it...
You know very well that NATO is waging a war against Russia through the Ukrainian soldier. It’s even official in their statements. For now, the only difference is that, unlike Iran—which destroyed American military sites (radar bases, planes, command centers) in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Syria, i.e., in the proxy countries used by the U.S.—Russia hasn’t yet targeted sites in Poland, Germany, Romania, or France.
However, and precisely because of the Iranian precedent, some lawmakers are openly demanding this. And I’ll spare you the opinions of Russians who say that since committing genocide and razing Gaza and currently southern Lebanon is so great, they should do the same in western Ukraine, i.e., Bandera’s Galicia.
Why not go live in the country whose dictator has the name of a Canadian junk food specialty (that really makes you want to...) instead of living in the hell of democratic Europe?😇
Édifices religieux : concours de photos amical d'août 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
There is no genocide in Gaza!! These are political statements, just like your allegations about NATO. If that were the case, we would unfortunately be at war. And neither we, nor the Russian people—who are our cultural brothers (more so than Americans)—want that. But let's stop the fake news and politics here.
Hey,
And is it NATO that’s responsible for the war in Ukraine?
I thought—but I’m probably being manipulated by the media serving corrupt Western governments—that it was Putin’s Russia that attacked Ukraine to "save" it from its Nazi leaders.
Hi everyone,
Confluence of the Katun and Koksa rivers in the Russian Altai:
After spending a short stay in one of the Russian detention rooms back in 2016 and going through a "questioning" session in a not-so-funny office, I decided to take the initiative this time to get permission to visit Ust-Koksa (a village not far from the Kazakhstan border). The FSB got back to me saying no administrative authorization is needed anymore!!
Good evening everyone,
after checking, this is fake news!
My friend who lives near Vladimir says there are no supply issues or rationing.
My friend arrived in Vladimir from Saint Petersburg and told me you had to wait at stations in the Moscow regions, as this photo shows. He expected it to be more complicated.
Just wait a little longer and everything will get better:
To make up for the major deficit caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on its refining infrastructure, Russia is preparing to launch massive gasoline imports from India.
The news was reported this Wednesday, June 24, by the Moscow Times.
Good evening everyone,
Just to confirm, this is fake news!
My friend living near Vladimir says there are no supply issues or rationing.
My friend arrived in Vladimir from Saint Petersburg and told me there were lines at gas stations in the Moscow region, as this photo shows. He expected it to be more complicated.
My friend returned to Saint Petersburg from Vladimir.
He says the situation at gas stations has worsened.
Expect to wait about an hour at stations on average.
Generally, only diesel and SP92 are available.
SP95, 98, and 100 have practically disappeared from cities.
My friend returned to Saint Petersburg from Vladimir.
He tells me the situation at the stations has worsened.
Expect an average wait of one hour at the stations.
Generally, only diesel and SP92 are available.
For SP95, 98, and 100, they’ve practically disappeared from cities.
Don’t push your luck in the internet age.
Price and availability comparison sites are a mess by region and at the federal level. For example, the map https://fuelprice.ru/map lets you check prices and availability. You select the type of fuel to display using the menu in the top right (dropdown list Аи 92/95/etc, ДТ for diesel, and others).
There are varying restrictions depending on the location, with quotas between 20 liters and 50 liters.
Friends who just completed the Astrakhan / Georgia route told me there’s a gasoline shortage along the way. Diesel is still available.
I trust the real situation observed by people over the info spread online. 😉
Hi Christian, Thanks for this info. As "Perju the 😎" mentioned (this is for you, big smiles), it’s actually one of my concerns. I think I’ll have enough range to reach Astrakhan (extra tank + 50 liters), but that’s not where my problem will arise—it’s getting to Mongolia, and that’s about 1,000 kilometers.
I’m still going, so stay tuned.
Thanks again
hello Jean Pierre, thanks for your advice about the Neiman. I did order the part, but it won’t arrive until 8 days after I leave🤪.
After having everything redone (new complete engine, injectors, revised gearbox, new water and oil pumps, etc.) on my 120, it’d be a real shame!
I’m keeping my fingers crossed smiles.
I didn’t reply on Atilla’s thread so I wouldn’t "clutter his thread"
Hello Thierry
I don’t wanna jinx it for you, but this part systematically fails on all 120/125 models (around 180,000–200,000 km)... and even on the 100s, though less often.
So try to grab a spare from a Toyota dealership along your route. There’s one in Barnaul, Russia, before Mongolia.
Qui boit l'eau d'une terre étrangère doit en suivre les coutumes (proverbe Mongol)
The reports about crossing Russia are worrying, I guess.
Still, all the regions to the south are amazing to explore. Mangystau, the southern part of the Aral Sea, the 3 major cities of Uzbekistan, and then the Pamir... well, it's as good as Mongolia... though... 😏
Qui boit l'eau d'une terre étrangère doit en suivre les coutumes (proverbe Mongol)
In any case, my message comes from a friend living in Saint Petersburg who I’ve been in touch with for a long time via VK.
??? It’s simple. Fuel shortages vary by location. There isn’t one type of fuel missing across the whole country. One station might be out of 92 but have 95, and somewhere else it’s the opposite. Fuel quotas per fill-up also vary.
I shared an updated interactive map showing this.
The SPb-Vladimir routes aren’t generally representative. The country is huge.
Anyway, my message came from a friend who lives in Saint Petersburg and I’ve been in touch with him for a long time via VK.
??? It’s simple. Fuel shortages vary by location. There isn’t one type of fuel missing across the whole country. One station might be out of 92 but have 95, and somewhere else it’s the opposite. The quotas per fill-up also vary.
I shared an updated interactive map showing this.
The SPb-Vladimir routes aren’t generally representative. The country is huge.
Ah, got it—I was just passing along info from a friend about his commute between home and family. 😉
Fuel situation in Russia.
Siberia: This post is from yesterday by a motorcyclist friend:
"After living a peaceful existence in the depths of southern Russian Altai, the mood changed with what we'll call the fuel supply problem!
It's honestly a bit stressful. My bike has a range of 400 km, so I have to plan carefully before heading anywhere!
If you're low on fuel, you at least need to make sure you can sleep somewhere dry because here, just like anywhere else, it rains quite often. Plus, even in good weather, you can't sleep under the stars because of the mosquitoes.
The solution is to increase your range and make reasonable stops within that radius, filling up as often as possible.
But with the current crisis, filling up extra cans is banned. Depending on the region, fuel quantities are limited to 50, 40, or even 20 liters. In my case, with 16L, I'm good.
A friendly Russian showed me how he handled it at the pump. He even offered me his 6L can, which I mounted on my bike in a somewhat precarious way, but it really put my mind at ease...
Between Novokuznetsk, especially Kemerovo and Krasnoyarsk, there were stations open but with impossible lines!
Others had no queue but doubled prices. Business is business, as usual!
Lukoil company stations are pretty well supplied without price hikes.
Some stations only offer one type of fuel.
In cities, you're guaranteed to wait in line, but on the main roads, it's calmer. Though sometimes you have to go over 300 km without being able to refuel!!!
Which fuels and where...
For the current period, it might be helpful to check out interactive online maps. Example:
https://tofuel.ru
For phone apps, 2GIS is also handy.
It’s more important if you’re using diesel, since other fuels are generally interchangeable between 92 and 98.
Hi there,
We’ll be traveling in January 2027 in a 4x4 with a rooftop tent with our three kids, from Johannesburg to Cape Town. We’ve already booked several campsites in national parks (Golden Gate / Mountain Zebra / Addo Elephant / Garden Route).
We still need to reserve the stretch between De Hoop Nature Reserve and Cape Town. Any suggestions?
We’d love to stay around Cape Town for 5 days to explore the wine route, the peninsula, and do some hikes in Table Mountain.
Any camping recommendations? Or, on the contrary, places to avoid?
Also, we have 2 nights left near Wilderness National Park / Knysna. Any recommendations?
Thanks so much for your help!
For my 60th birthday (yes, I’m jumping the gun a bit!), I’m starting to plan a self-drive trip to Tanzania (in June).
I also considered Zimbabwe but I’m worried it might be a bit chilly at night in June.
I’ve revisited an itinerary I’d thought about before, tweaking it since I’ll have more days to dedicate to this trip. Still no big northern classics for the same reasons as before (too expensive, too crowded, too many tour operators).
Here’s what I’ve got so far:
(Arrival/departure from Kilimanjaro Airport)
Night 1: Arusha
Night 2: Arusha
Night 3: Lake Manyara
Night 4: On the way to Iringa (any ideas???)
Night 5: Iringa
Nights 6–8: Ruaha NP
Nights 9–10: Mikumi NP
Night 11: Bagamoyo
Nights 12–15: Beach
Nights 16–17: Lushoto
Nights 18–19: Mkomazi NP
Night 20: Toward Marangu – eastern Kilimanjaro
Night 21: Western Kilimanjaro
End of trip
All your ideas, tweaks, info, and suggestions on this route are welcome!
I could move one beach night somewhere else if needed.
Also, if you have a car rental company to recommend or thoughts on the bandas rented in the parks, I’m all ears!
Finally, what are the roads like in Ruaha in June? The rental company I’m looking at seems to allow this park with a small 4x4. (Off-limits: Serengeti and Natron)
We’re planning a long-term trip starting in April with our 4x4, beginning in the USA.
We’re still looking for car insurance that covers Canada and the USA.
We’ve read quite a few forums, but we’re hoping for some help (from fellow travelers).
Hi,
we’re planning to visit a park again.
Could you point us toward the camps in Gonarezhou Park?
>We’re traveling completely self-sufficiently.
We love wildlife.
Thanks for any tips you can share!
JP
Hi there, we’ll be in Mozambique in early December 2026 and we’d like to travel from Vilanculos to Beira by car or bus to reach Beira airport. After that, we’re planning to visit Gorongosa National Park before flying back to France from Beira. From what we’ve heard, the road to Beira is tricky, especially at this time of year (start of the rainy season). Could anyone share their thoughts or suggest a solution? Thanks so much for your help!
Anne
Hi there,
I’m heading to Lesotho in a few days and I’m struggling to find info on the best route between Katse Dam and Sehlathebe National Park. There’s a fairly "direct" route from Thaba Tseka, but the roads seem rough, and we’re not exactly 4x4 pros. Anyone have any tips to share? Thanks!
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to Mozambique in October and are looking for either a 4x4 or 4x2 rental in Maputo, or a driver transfer option to reach:
- Ponta Do Ouro
- Tofo
- Vilankulos
The idea is to be self-sufficient for sightseeing and stops while still being able to access certain lodges or beaches that require a 4x2.
Do you have any contacts, addresses, or ideas to share?
Thanks in advance,
Hello,
We're hitting the road again in 2027 to discover new countries and cultures.
Could anyone give me some tips on driving from Ulaanbaatar to Lake Baikal and the route to take?
Thanks, and safe travels to those who are setting off!
We’re planning a 4x4 trip from Belgium to Central Asia, passing through Georgia, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
For these countries, our national insurance obviously doesn’t cover the vehicle, so we’ll need to get local insurance.
Will it be a problem if the vehicle is registered under person A and the national insurance is under person B? Both A and B will be in the vehicle, and both will be listed as drivers on the insurance.
When we get the local insurance, if we again list A and B as drivers, does the order matter? Could we get stuck at the border for this reason?
Hi,
For those who’ve driven on Iceland’s gravel roads in their own or a rented Duster, could you tell me what tires were fitted on the vehicle?
Were they All Terrain tires or more "standard" ones like all-season tires, for example?
Follow-up question: if they were "standard" tires, did that cause any issues on the gravel roads and rough terrain?
Thanks so much for any info you can share.
Best,
Marc
Hi there,
I'm planning a 4x4 road trip from Darwin to Broome with a rooftop tent in July 2026.
I'd like to know if I need to book overnight stops in advance or if I can just wing it and stop wherever I feel like it?
Some evenings, we'd like to stop and make use of campsite facilities (restaurant, shop, showers, toilets).
What do you recommend?
Do I need a permit?
My rough itinerary looks like this:
Darwin - Kakadu
Kakadu - Nitmiluk
Nitmiluk - Kununurra
Kununurra - Purnululu
Purnululu - El Questro
El Questro - Mt Elizabeth - Bell Gorge - Broome
I’m planning a trip to Iceland for next July-August, with a car and tent, and I’m wondering about booking campsites.
From your experience, is it necessary or even essential to book campsites in advance, or do you always manage to find a spot to pitch your tent?
We’ll also have the option to sleep in the car without pitching the tent.
Does that give us the flexibility to stay outside a campsite for a night here and there?
Hi,
I’m planning a road trip in the Middle Atlas, starting and ending in Fez and heading down to the south of Midelt, the Assoul Massif.... We’ll be traveling with two small 4x4s.
I’m looking for detailed maps of this region that include small roads and tracks.
Last year, we had a fantastic road trip in the Anti-Atlas and High Atlas using Erfahren maps, but unfortunately, they don’t cover the area we’re interested in this year.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Dominique
We’re planning a 13-day family road trip in Morocco this July, with six people in a Toyota Prado 4x4 (renting in Marrakech).
We’ll alternate between bivouacking and small hotels/riads depending on the stops.
Here’s the planned route (in this order):
Marrakech
→ Ouarzazate
→ Draa Valley
→ Zagora
→ Erg Chegaga
→ Lake Iriki
→ Foum Zguid
→ Tata
→ Tafraoute
→ Aït Mansour
→ Tiznit
→ Mirleft
→ Taroudant
→ Back to Marrakech
Our goal:
Atlas Mountains + desert + dunes + plateaus + valleys + a bit of coastline.
We’ll cover about 1,700 km in total.
We’re planning:
Bivouacking in the Chegaga/Iriki area
Flexible for the rest (booking the day before or same day)
Sand gear: traction plates, compressor, tow strap, roof rack
Questions:
Is the Zagora → Chegaga → Iriki → Foum Zguid crossing in July doable on our own (single vehicle, no guide)?
Are there any truly technical or risky sections between Chegaga and Iriki?
Does the overall itinerary seem manageable in 13 days without rushing?
Any suggestions for great bivouac spots or particularly interesting stops along this route?
The points on the route are provisional overnight stops. Some spots will include two nights in the same area.
We’re used to off-road driving, but not yet in the Moroccan desert.
Thanks in advance for your feedback and tips! 😊
Good evening
I could use some advice 🙂
Our trip to Namibia is planned for June/July 2026.
We’re struggling a bit with timing and choosing activities for the part of the trip between Sesriem and Brandberg.
Day 1: Sesriem to Mirabib
Day 2: Mirabib to Swakopmund – visit Swakopmund, overnight in Swakopmund
Day 3: Sandwich Harbour – overnight in Swakopmund
Day 4: Kayaking with the seals + the living dunes – overnight in Swakopmund
Day 5: Moon Landscape, Henties Bay + Cape Cross – overnight at White Lady Lodge in Brandberg
Does this itinerary seem realistic to you? Is Cape Cross really worth the trip? If I had to choose between Cape Cross and kayaking with the seals, which would you recommend?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hélix
My son and I are heading to Georgia this summer to explore the High Caucasus (Svaneti, Kazbek, and Tusheti regions). For this, we’re planning to rent a 4x4.
However, the rental agencies we’ve found prohibit driving on the tracks to Omalo (Tusheti) and/or Ushguli (Svaneti).
Do you know of any agencies in Tbilisi (local and reliable) that allow rented 4x4s to drive on these tracks? If so, which ones?
Hi everyone,
I’m starting to plan an itinerary for September 2027 focused on Zimbabwe and Zambia. I’d love to visit Gonarezhou National Park—I see there are two sectors: the Mwenezi Region in the south and the area around the Runde River in the north. Should I cover both sectors or just focus on the northern region?
For the parks along the Zambezi River, is it better to visit Mana Pools on the Zimbabwe side or Lower Zambezi on the Zambia side?
Thanks in advance for any tips on the parks in these two countries.
Have a great day, everyone.
We’re spending 18 days in New Zealand from 05/04 to 05/21, arriving in QUEENSTOWN and leaving from AUCKLAND.
Any ideas for a road trip that covers the highlights of both islands but only changes hotels every 3–4 nights?
Thanks.
For our trip to Georgia in July, I’d like to rent a 4x4 starting from Tbilisi.
Do you have any rental companies to recommend?
The traditional rentals like Hertz, Avis, etc. seem way overpriced compared to local companies—what do you think? Are they properly insured?
Has anyone here tried Geo Rent Car, Auto 4 Rental, or Sur Price?
Also, I’m looking for info on the condition of the Ushguli–Lentekhi track—is it passable?
Hi everyone,
A well-prepped 4x4, a travel plan across Africa in stages since I’ve got kids to see regularly and work to earn a living.
I’m leaving in November for about a month with the goal of reaching Senegal via Mauritania. I’d love to share this trip with someone who wants to discover Mauritania and a bit of Senegal... and also experience life on board a 4x4 in the desert or bush, sometimes sleeping in the vehicle or in hostels/small hotels for comfort. I want to share this rediscovery because two’s better than one!
Just traveling, exploring, and living! !
I’m planning to explore Argentine and Chilean Patagonia for a month in December 2019.
I’m looking for a rental company (or several) that offers single-cab 4x4 pick-ups with a fitted camper cell for two people. I’m specifically after a vehicle with an indoor shower for extra comfort ;)
So, no vans—at least not from the rental companies I’ve seen so far.
While browsing the forum, I came across the Chilean rental company Holiday Rent. But do you have any recommendations for Argentine rentals?
Because, if I can’t return the vehicle in the same city as pickup, I’d prefer—and it’d likely be cheaper—to at least return it in the same country.
I’m traveling through Argentina and Chile (as well as Paraguay and Uruguay) with a 2019 Toyota Hilux Euro 6. Could anyone tell me if the local diesel is suitable for its engine, or if I need to take any special precautions (like adding an additive, for example) for these countries?
I’d also like to know if driving at high altitudes is possible, and up to what elevation—or if I should worry about the vehicle going into limp mode?
If that happens, what should I do?
Hi there,
Can you tell me if the road between Zagora and M'Gouna is easy or difficult for a 4x4? How much time and how many kilometers should I plan for? I’m traveling in May.
Thanks!
Hi there,
My trip to South Africa is starting to take shape.
However, I'm struggling to figure out the route through Kruger Park. I can't seem to find the information I need about getting around.
Coming from the south, I plan to arrive on Day 1 in the early afternoon at Malelane or Crocodile Bridge.
Do some shopping in Malelane (or Crocodile Bridge main area) and stay overnight outside the park.
Leave on Day 2 at 5 AM for the park. Explore the southern part of the park.
Stay overnight around Skukuza or Lower Sabie. (We don’t want to stay in one of the park’s big camps. We’re looking for a lodge around 200 €.
Head out on Day 3 for a self-drive safari, maybe as far as Orpen.
We’d like to stay in a private reserve on nights 4 and 5.
We’re not sure which one or how to get into a private reserve. Do we need to exit Kruger Park?
On Day 5, we’d like to leave to visit Blyde Canyon (on Day 6).
I’m planning to leave Morocco for the summer but want to leave my 4x4 there to avoid exceeding the famous 6-month limit. I’d like to park it in one of the two Spanish enclaves (Ceuta or Melilla).
Does anyone know of people or companies that handle long-term parking (preferably secure) in either place?
Once the car is parked, what’s the best way to get back to France using public transport?
Is the nearest airport Tanger from Ceuta?...
How do I get there easily, etc. etc.
hello! I’d like to go to Kazakhstan and rent a fitted 4x4 locally so I can drive off-road trails and sleep inside the vehicle... could anyone share some local rental company addresses, please? Thanks! !
