Does anybody have a clue on travel in the Caucasus
countries, particularly Georgia and Azerbaijan? I am
planning a trip from Karachi (Pakistan) to Athens (Greece)
via Iran, Turkmenistan (I already have a visa invitation),
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, but fear that as I have been
able to find so little out about the Caucasus, I may have to
re-route. The only vaguely useful info is in the Trailblazer
Asia Overland guide, but it's so sketchy.
Or would it be a better trip to go from Iran to Turkey and
then south to Istrael? Does anybody know how cheaply I could
pick up a flight to London from Israel?
Back to the Caucasus and Turkmenistan: how likely am I to
find other travellers there? Is there much to see? How long
should I allow to do these places justice (I have three
months in total, and intend to spend about a month in Iran)?
How much is shoestring travel there likely to cost? What's
the climate like? And would anybody be interested in joining
me? I'm a 20-year old UK student who has so far been to
India, Nepal, Thailand, Laos, China, Pakistan, Burma,
Cambodia and Tunisia. I consider myself pretty adventurous,
but do like to take it easy with a beer/check out clubland
too (though obviously not in Paklistan, Iran, etc.!)
I have very little time really to get the visas (I have the
Iranian and Pakistan ones already, plus the Turkmen
invitation), so may just go for the Israel option unless
somebody can help me fairly soon: I am flying out from
London Heathrow on 19th June... .
All advice etc. would be VERY gratefully received!
Cheers!
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Hi, just wanted you to know that you will probably not find
much in the way of "beer and clubland" in the Caucasus(yes,
drink is everywhere, though). Travel in the Caucasus and
Central Asia is a lot less upbeat than say, Iran and
Pakistan. You are likely to be out of the company of
foreigners for extended periods of time. There are no
restaurants that serve banana pancakes. There are a lot of
surly, nasty official who will use your vulnerability to
enrich themselves. All in all, I would say go. It is very
interesting precisely because it is not a well worn
traveller's path with beer and clubland. But do be prepared
for a lot of the interest to be in the form of "how could
they make life so dim?" I will say, that the Cacasus in
general kick Turkmenistan's ass as a destination. They are
just among the FSU's more vibrant places, so they can keep
one a bit more interested.
good luck, count yerself a trailblazer and stay out of real
trouble,
Yawn