Day 17 Qungirot to Birunyi (31st May)
Getting into Uzbekistan took another 2 hours, but was comparatively easy with far fewer people. Insurance cost 12 dollars. The rest of the day was unremitting misery as we travelled … Read more
DavidJennyTravel
Day 16 Beyneu to Qungirot (30th May)
We were woken 33 minutes into the day (ie at 12.33 am) by a Russian lorry driver who wanted to give us bread and water because tomorrow would be a … Read more
Day 15 Atyrau to Beyneu (29th May)
As the hotel did not kick us out until midday, we decided to make the best of the money we had spent and had a long lie-in. So we didn’t … Read more
Day 14 Astrakhan to Atyrau (28th May)
After a boring drive through the desert, we booked into an expensive hotel in the belief that they would help us, only to discover that the money had gone through … Read more
Day 13 Groznyi to Astrakhan (27th May)
The hotel’s driver and a delightful manageress who spoke perfect English having lived in Sweden for 17 years took us round a number of banks who could do nothing to … Read more
Day 12 Groznyi
Because it was Sunday we decided to stay for another day in the hotel. The buffet breakfast was one of the best we have ever had with a huge variety … Read more
Day 11 Verkhnyi Lars to Groznyi
Some fool on the internet has written that he had travelled all over Russia using his visa credit card in spite of sanctions, and an even bigger fool believed him … Read more
Day 10 Borjomi to Verkhnyi Lars (24th May)
We were woken at 4 am by voices near the van and peaked out of the window to see some folk unloading their potted plants and cacti behind the car … Read more
Day 9 Gumushane to Borjomi (23rd May)
The road climbs continuously from Gumushane through a number of tunnels until it reaches a pass at a height of 2,409 metres. There are snow-covered peaks on three sides while … Read more
Day 8 Gerede to Gumushane (22nd May)
The landscape on the way from Gerede to Samsun changes after Merzifon from low bush-covered hills to much higher hills and tall needle-type poplars began to appear in the valley … Read more