Way to Russia Talk Lounge

woodswill · Just Starting Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 1

Well,
its an interesting topic certainly,
but the problem here that is,
most people submitting the replies(including the person that put up this topic) don't have much experience in global travelling i believe.

Hummer is surelly not the best vehicle to travel with, I personally strongly recomand a Land Rover Discovery.
However, it is stil usable(not for bering straight tho).
Siberia is tough for sure, the roads, the robers, including the cops.

I drove from China to Morroco(North Africa) last summer, and I drove through siberia, and I drove a Hummer(happen to be, i thought, "the safest" in terms of driving, but not if u r facing "hungary" russians).
The quantity of gas stations in Russia didn't cause a problem. However, the quality was very bad.
4 out of the 8 spark plugs failed after leaving Russia, and the air suspension system failed too.
So, it wasn't very pleasent. Cops in russia are also not friendly as well.

My suggestion is, if you are planning on going, do some more detailed research on it before you go(if u r still planning on going).

The thought of crossing/driving through the bering straight is not impossible yet very difficult.

Marc · Just Starting Joined: 09 May 2006 Posts: 1

My girlfriend and I are trying to organize a flight from Provideniya (in Chukotka, Far East Russia) to Nome (in Alaska) for mid/end of August'06. Circumpolar travel expeditions (www.arctictravel.net) rent out charter planes for about US$3,500 return. We can't afford that sum but if other people are intending to fly Provideniya-Nome or way round at mid/end of August'06 then we could all hire the charter flight for an affordable price. Their plane holds up to 9 people (more people could be accommodated at a higher price). Come on! anybody on for crossing the Bering strait this Summer??

Terabass · Just Starting Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 1

hey I am interested in driving to Berlin from Los Angeles, I have called newspapers and they agreed on covering the story.

I also called automotive companies and I believe I will be able to get sponsors to cover all the expenses. The ideal car so far for me would be a Toyota Tundra with the extra ..ergh forgot the name, cover for trunk.

I am looking for people that have actually been to Anchorage, west alaska--Nome, Provideniya, Vladivostok, yakutsk, etc and other east siberian cities and actually know the region.

The fuel problem has been taken care of, I have designed a spare tank of 80 gallons (307 liters). It should be able to take me 1500 miles (2490km) + 400-500 km for regular tank. Tank is ready to be built, i think it will cover my gas needs in Far east siberia.

Now I need to get peoples views from people that have actually been there, not people that lived all lifes in moscow or canada.

Hit me up guys

Sparks · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:33 am Post subject:

This is an interesting idea for anyone that likes crazy long road expeditions by car.

Maybe it’s impossible or unfeasible like many have already been quick to point out, but it’s not against the law to at least talk about it. lol

I’ve read many well-known stories of people that have gone from Tierra del Fuego (South of Argentina and Chile) to Alaska, as well as people that went from London to Cape Town (now how about this for total insecurity), so I’ve been wondering for a long time if there’s a ferry from Alaska to Russia.

The one thing we know for sure is the impossibility of vehicles crossing the Bering Strait by land. So we need a ferry.

Note: the trip was done by bike, only instead of a ferry they flew from Malagan to Anchorage. See “Long Way Round”, the 19,000 mile journey of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman from London to New York on motorcycles.

* * *

Questions that need an answer:

1- Is there a ferry from any point in Alaska that takes you and your car to a Russian port in the Pacific? Note if this connection exists, then another ferry from that destination (example Magadan, Petropavlovsk) to Vladivostok would be required.

2- In case the ferry (or ferries) exists, is there a drivable road connection from Vladivostok to Moscow?

3- What is necessary to get the car released in the border?

* * *

As for “2”, I’ve read about the road from Moscow to Vladivostok having been “completed” back in 2004, but I’ve also seen reports claiming there are non drivable parts. Also heard stories of people going from Moscow to Vladivostok by car, don’t know how reliable they are. If it’s not possible right now, it looks like it will be possible in the near future.

Magadan doesn’t seem to be an option, since the road that goes south from there, the “Road of Bones”, is described by Wikipedia like this: “The road is in a state of disrepair and is untraversable by standard road vehicles because of washed-out bridges and sections of road reclaimed by streams. During winter, frozen water actually helps river crossings.”

As for “3”, I believe, by common sense, if you can get through the border from Europe in the West, there’s no reason for you not to be able to get through the border in the East, since it’s the same country and the same laws. Maybe you may need to pay more “unofficial cash” since the Pacific ports are a rather remote place.

So I think the main issue is the ferry.

If the ferry exists, then the next questions to be looked up would be costs, necessary documentation, etc.

Of course, some might think getting from Alaska to Russia by ferries doesn’t count as “driving” from one continent to the other, but if it’s the only way, so be it.

If the ferry from Alaska to Russia doesn’t exist, then alternatively one could look up a ferry going straight from Canada.

Rick · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:43 pm Post subject:

An interesting topic coming back again....
There have been several discussions on the crossing of the Bering Strait here in the past. Have a look for them as well. With the search function it will work..

Sparks · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:58 pm Post subject:

I did some searching in WTR and found some interesting posts, though no one has a conclusive answer regarding the existence of a ferry.

One thing seems surely possible: Moscow-Vladivostok. A poster called “Voyager” claims to have accomplished this trip. It’s a shame he didn’t share any details, they would certainly be very interesting.

I continued searching on Google and Wikipedia, but so far found no clear answer regarding the ferry.

* * *

Evidently there’s no ferry leaving Alaska or any other point in the West coast of North America towards Asia, in the sense of a boat where you park your car along other people’s cars, and see it cross a certain distance, like the one that crosses the English Channel. It’s the Pacific Ocean, so it would be quite unreasonable to imagine a boat of this category crossing such a long distance.

What we’re searching for is the possibility of crossing the ocean from Anchorage in Alaska in a cargo container. Most vehicles can be handled in the smallest container size: 20 ft (length) × 8 ft (width) × 8 ft 6 in (height). Alternatively we could send the car from a larger port in Canada or even somewhere in the American West Coast.

As for the destination, ideally the car should be sent straight to Vladivostok, but apparently there’s a ferry that goes there from Japan, so the cargo ship could also drop the container in a Japanese port.

The possibility of sending the car across the ocean in a cargo container seems quite reasonable, though I have no idea how much it would cost or how long it would take.

I think the next step would be contacting some of the container companies that operate in the Pacific, to see if the service actually exists for private automobiles (probably does) and what are the costs, guarantees and other details.

Rick · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:39 pm Post subject:

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

Hummers are actually very popular in Russia and in Khazakstan. I recently read the GM is putting a plant there in Russia to start producing Hummers

Sparks · Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:19 pm Post subject:

DITTRICH · Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:53 pm Post subject:

Based on my research, I would like to add the following 5c

1 There is a road connecting Vladivostock to Moscow and beyond. Some of it - mainly between Chita and Khabarovsk - is dirt road and parts are still under construction. However, a 2wd car can make the trip.

2 Ferries - Vladivostock - Japan - regular service.
Vanino - Sakhalin - service
USA - Russia - no ferries
Shipping probably best accomplished from Japan to Anchorage in 20' container or if rich enough airfreight may be possible for a car. Bikes certainly.

3 It is only worth arriving in Russia at Magadan (4wd) or Vladivostock (2wd). The road of bones would require a substantial vehicle unless trip done in late summer autumn when rivers generally very low.

Check out www.horizonsunlimited.com (forum - hubb) north asia section. Much useful information.

Les

northernlights · Just Starting Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 1

If you are not attached to your vehicle, I suggest getting an old Russian military jeep (Gaz) or a larger transporter, and selling it once you are ready to leave the continent. With some luck, you can get amazing six-wheel drive trucks and even tanks. In a similar way, you can buy a pickup truck on the east coast of Canada or U.S. and drive it to Anchorage, which is pretty much as far as the road will go westward. This way you can get parts, service, and you don't look too much like a tourist asking to be robbed. If you can, get a local to travel with you.

If you insist on driving something "exotic", pick a basic and strictly practical vehicle. Diesel engines fare much better, both in terms of reliability and fuel availability and quality. Have an assemblage of spare parts and tools with you.

There is not enough statistics on the risks of driving across Bering Strait, but there are no useable roads on either side of it anyway. Regular ferry does not ordinarily happen, you can always negotiate a special deal, but, it might be easier to ship the vehicle between N.A. and Europe.

Mike

Voyager · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:25 am Post subject:

H there , yes I did make the trip across Russia , I left Cork Ireland on March 16 2006 and arrived Vladivostock on April 11 , I would have got there 3 days earlier if we had'nt lost the car in an accident 150 miles from Vlad and had to backtrack due to train times ect.
I crossed into Russia from Vaalimar (border with Finland) and from there to St. Petersburg , on to Moscow , Kazan , Ufa , Omsk , Novosibirsk , Irkutsk , Ulan-Ude , Chita and Khabarovsk , the car was lost not long afterwards and would have made Vladivostock if it were not for a frozen hill , a dodgy crash barrier and a boot full of reserve fuel.
I would love to post all the details of that trip , but so much happened along the way and there are so many side stories that I could be here for days typing and still not fit it all in, but if anyone has any questions please feel free to ask , I will do my best to answer.
I would say to anyone thinking about this trip to have a go , but be warned , it is not a pleasure cruise and driving in Siberia is not for the faint hearted , find out about car parts and servicing BEFORE you go , and listen to the Russians themselfs , they are not trying to scare you but it is not an undertaking to be taken lightly , Russians are a very practical people and if they are sceptical about your route then you are in for a rough ride.Also , a smile , please and thank you , and a little respect goes a long way with Russians , and you stand a far better chance of making it out the other side alive with them on your side.
Lastly , about the ferries , the plan was to get the ferry from Vladivostock to Japan (Niigita I think) , but as the car was lost we flew to Japan , information on sailing times is very hard to get , there is an office at the ferry terminal in Vladivostock (easy to find , its right behind the train station) but I could'nt get any info from there , so if you're going to use this ferry pre-booking is essential , once in Japan , as far as I know there is no services to Alaska , however , there are commercial car carriers (non passenger) leaving Japan for the west coast of the U.S. nearly every day , these are quite reasonably priced (about US$ 900 for a standard car) and although I was not going to the states (was heading for Australia) as far as I know this is presently the best option.
If anyone is going to attempt this trip , I cant emphasise enough DO YOUR RESEARCH , it can mean the difference between life and death on this type of trip , most of the info you need can be found here on Way To Russia