Way to Russia Talk Lounge

KevinP

I am planning to drive with my son in a converted Land Rover (diesel) through Russia (entering via the Baltic States) to Mongolia (via Irkutsk) in June/July this year (in time to see the 800th anniversary Naadam festival there on 11 July) then touring Mongolia for a month or so before driving back to England, through Altai (and again back through the Baltic States), for mid-September arrival back in the UK.

I am getting conflicting views about:

1. how safe it is to do this (criminals, corrupt police, maniac drivers), even if we do not try to drive through major cities and

2. how long it would take us to cover the immense distance in Russia (quality of the roads).

Can anyone help, and is there anyone out there who might be interested in travelling in convoy in another vehicle, for safety in numbers? And anyone who lives along the route who we could visit/spend a night or two with? I am also looking for a source of information on things like availability of diesel, good places for us to stay where camping is not advisable (secure parking of the vehicle being vital) and so on - any suggestions?

Many thanks

KevinP

DITTRICH · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:14 pm Post subject: Russia

First off, try the www.horizonsunlimited.com bulletin board "H.U.B.B."
The site and forum are for bikes but loads of useful information here.

I don't think camping out in the middle of nowhere is a good idea and you should stay in hotels in towns or "rent" cottages/stay with locals in small villages. Some language ability would be useful here - even rudimentary. Having said that, people have done RTW trips on the trans-sibeian highway with NO russian at all. When I have travelled anywhere I have ended up staying in "russian" hotels or renting cottages leaving my car in secure parking. I did consider a professional wheel clamp but they are expensive and i'm not sure they would stop - only slow people down.

Diesel is the best choice for fuel as older diesel engines (pre common rail) without turbo's tend to be very reiable and forgiving of low quality fuel. Still, when in Russia I always carry 2x 10litre plastic jerry cans - I drive a mercedes estate 3litre diesel - about 35-40mpg. Take a good range of spares and tools with you (esp bulbs) and get the car well checked out before going. Headlamp protectors will be vital - They don't make them anymore for my car so I carry replacement lenses.

Dangerousness and criminality are overdone in my experience and i've never had any problems. Check out my posts about driving in and around russia under DITTRICH id - useful information. I am "4wheels2 on the HUBB forum.

Also a bloke called Geoff Kingsmill has travelled fairly extensively and maintains webpages of useful data on Russia etc. There should be links on the HUBB site.

Best of Luck

Les

vorteks · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:06 am Post subject:

We needed one week to cross Mongolia (3 days for the Gobi desert) and 3 weeks to cross Russia by motorcycle. As you can guess, the further east the worst the roads.Police bargaining can become annoying, especially in Tatarstan, try to always respect speed limits, no need to overtake, if people are slowing down, there must be a reason...Front lights flashing doesnt mean there is a problem with your car but usually spot a militia infested area. Always slow down seriously while approaching the regular police stations on the side of the road Learn to count up to 50, since you need to pay before you fill in your tank, and cashiers wont understand anything but russian. The guys on the side of the road waving are not hitch hikers, they are selling faked bills for truck drivers.

If you stick to the main road, there are tons of "road houses" along the way where you can sleep. If some ladies smile at you with insistance there, it s not only because you are so irresistibly sexy Wink

You can often deal with hotels to be allowed to camp in a protected area for a low fee (we bargained with a 4 stars hotel in Kazan).

Like in western europe, towns are usually more to be distrust than country side.

You might find the main road faily boring after a while, so try to explore a bit around for some diversity and more adventure feeling.