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.
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... 😏
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.
I haven’t been back to Senegal or Mauritania in a good fifteen years, so I imagine a lot has changed.
My trip starts in Dakar. I’ll head up to Saint-Louis, then cross into Mauritania. Drive to Nouakchott, take the track along the beach and Banc d'Arguin, then Nouadhibou and on to Morocco.
I’m looking for some info on administrative formalities, permits, visas, etc., regarding:
- Crossing the Senegal-Mauritania border at Diama (I’m in a car)
- Crossing Banc d'Arguin
- Exiting Mauritania at Guerguerat and entering Morocco
Hi,
We're heading to Chile in a month and have rented a 4x4 pickup with a camper cell to travel part of the Carretera.
The Ioverlanders site is really ideal for planning the route, with info on lots of things and especially on spots where you can park for the night.
I found a site about ongoing roadworks on the Carretera, Planifica tu viaje. When I look, it seems there are tons of roadworks, sometimes with roads closed for several hours or at least alternating traffic, which really extends travel times.
Has anyone recently traveled on Ruta 7 and can give us some "real" info?
Thanks in advance!
Céline
Hi everyone,
In February 2027, with a two-wheel-drive vehicle, I plan to leave France and head to Senegal.
I’d love to get some info about crossing Mauritania, or if there are people interested in doing it as a convoy from Morocco to Senegal.
I plan to stick to the N2 and not stray too far from that route. I’ll only travel during the day and stop at guesthouses or stay with locals for the night.
If anyone’s interested, let me know. Thanks for your feedback!
I’m in the middle of planning a round-the-world 4x4 trip spread over 2 years, covering around 70 countries. Unfortunately, using a vehicle poses some challenges when it comes to moving between continents (e.g., the Bering Strait). After lots of research, consulting books, maps, and making countless phone calls, I still can’t figure out how to get from Russia to Alaska via the Bering Strait (access via the Road of Bones to Magadan and then continuing above Anadyr).
So, I’m open to any recommendations, tips, or contacts to find out if it’s possible by boat or any other means.
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)
After 40 years of traveling in Morocco, I want to explore a new area by 4x4—the Western Moroccan Sahara, which I don’t know very well.
I have plenty of tracks and itineraries, but I’d love some info to help me decide on the best route:
Part 1:
I want to do the ASSA - SMARA crossing. Basically, I have two options: the first follows the Draa River and goes through M’SIED, and the second is much further south, passing through LABOUIRAT and heading straight to SMARA.
If you have any details on road conditions, driving restrictions, etc., I’d really appreciate it.
Part 2:
SMARA - BIR ANZERANE - DAKHLA – here, I also have two routes.
The first heads west from Smara toward Sidi Kathari.
The second goes east from SMARA and gets pretty close to the border at one point (about 10 km away).
Both routes meet up about 150 km later and are nearly identical from there to BIR ANZERANE and DAKHLA.
Hi,
For next summer’s vacation, I’m thinking of returning to the Sahara after visiting Tamanrasset and the Hoggar, which was stunning—not to mention the Tuareg hospitality.
I’d like to explore the sandy desert this time since the Hoggar was 80% rocky.
So, I’m wondering which city I should prioritize if I want to go there in late July–early August for the landscapes, extreme heat, and guides offering 4x4 and camel treks. Also, if there are any recommended guides for those in the know and a decent hotel.
I’m torn between Djanet, In Salah, Adrar, Ghardaïa, and Timimoun.
I’m of Algerian origin, so no visa or other formalities to worry about.
Thanks.
Hello, I’m preparing for a Tunisia-Algeria road trip.
I need to know if we can cross the Sahara to reach Djanet and Tamanrasset by road freely,
After that, obviously off-road in the desert with a guide.
What do the authorities say?
My trip: northern and southern Tunisia, a stroll in the desert.
Crossing the Tunisia-Algeria border via the Taleb Larbi customs.
I’ve already done this route through an agency, but this time we want to do it on our own.
Then heading down to Djanet for eight to fifteen days in the desert with Mouloud, a local guide.
Direction Tamanrasset: road and tracks, the mountains of the Assekrem, the Hermitage of Père de Foucauld.
Return via the Trans-Saharan Highway.
Visit to northern Algeria, then back by boat from Oran to Spain.
Dates: late December to mid-February.
We’ve got plenty of time.
If another crew is interested, we’re already two vehicles.
Looking forward to your replies.
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!
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?
