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[hank7]

I'm wanting advice from anyone who knows what they're talking about.
I'm presently in kochin south india after traveling for one month; it's the 8th of Nov. My original plan was for an 8 month trip 4 months or so in the south, then up to goa for my uncle's birthday, and the remaining time in the north. Now though after realising due to my youthful impatience, that the south won't sustain me for 4 months i was planning on heading north sometime soon, seeing around assam and shilong after a flight from kalicut then nepal and back down to goa which, i know is pushing it, for march. This is where i need the advice. I was then planning on travelling from India overland back to blighty, but in order to incorporate the west of india and kashmir, which i'm desperate to see and won't be able to fit into the pre b'day section, i was planning, rather than heading back through the middle east etc. to head from kashmir to kashgar, and then onward and upward into russia then across. I feel this would be a great adventure and i like the romantic idea of crossing the channel and seeing the white cliffs then rolling in and kissing the sand and saying 'i'm home' like in robin hood with kevin costner, after such a huge trip. If anyone with any experience of travel in russia, anyone who's traveled in western china around kashgar, anyone who knows the costs and practicalities of such a trip could get in touch and give me some advice on my maybe stupid proposal i'd be much obliged.

[hannah_barney]

I'm wanting advice from anyone who knows what they're talking about.
I'm presently in kochin south india after traveling for one month; it's the 8th of Nov. My original plan was for an 8 month trip 4 months or so in the south, then up to goa for my uncle's birthday, and the remaining time in the north. Now though after realising due to my youthful impatience, that the south won't sustain me for 4 months i was planning on heading north sometime soon, seeing around assam and shilong after a flight from kalicut then nepal and back down to goa which, i know is pushing it, for march. This is where i need the advice. I was then planning on travelling from India overland back to blighty, but in order to incorporate the west of india and kashmir, which i'm desperate to see and won't be able to fit into the pre b'day section, i was planning, rather than heading back through the middle east etc. to head from kashmir to kashgar, and then onward and upward into russia then across. I feel this would be a great adventure and i like the romantic idea of crossing the channel and seeing the white cliffs then rolling in and kissing the sand and saying 'i'm home' like in robin hood with kevin costner, after such a huge trip. If anyone with any experience of travel in russia, anyone who's traveled in western china around kashgar, anyone who knows the costs and practicalities of such a trip could get in touch and give me some advice on my maybe stupid proposal i'd be much obliged.

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[starlagurl]

I don't think it's a stupid proposal. You have a dream, so I think you should follow it!

I'm kind of confused about your question a little bit though. Do you have a timeline you could show us, then maybe we could help you with the specifics?

[hank7]

I don't think it's a stupid proposal. You have a dream, so I think you should follow it!

I'm kind of confused about your question a little bit though. Do you have a timeline you could show us, then maybe we could help you with the specifics?

right then, original plan: 4months south > Goa b'day > North india remaining time of visa and then nepal

New revised plan that family knows nothing about yet: 4 months south and north East incl. Nepal > Goa B'day > Up through rajastan jammu kashmir > china, russia maybe? or down through pakistan iran turkey maybe? > England

looking at the vast size of russia that i'd be crossing if i went north if anyone has any advice about it then that would be good. If, from the said advice, i think the trip would be more interesting the middle eastern way rather than the russian i will head down through pakistan from kashmir back onto the right route. I hope this probably more convoluted explanation has made it easier to understand.

[stevejames]

Hi Hank,

It sounds like a great idea for a trip. However, be warned: Russian bureaucracy might derail your plans before you even get near a train.

I took the Trans-Siberian in February/March of this year. I am also a Brit, and had slowly made my way to Helsinki overland from my front door ready to pop into a Russian embassy and pick up a lovely new visa.

What I didn't realise that a few weeks/months previous, Russia changed the rules so that the only way for citizens of nations outside of the Schengen program to apply for a visa was to do so in their country of residence.

I tried all the options possible in both Finland and Estonia, yet no-one was willing to give me that piece of paper. Tail between my legs, I had to score a cheap return flight via London, stay a night and get an express visa issued. This enabled me to take the Trans-Siberian, and what an incredible experience it was, and I'd heartily recommend it. But if the situation is still as it was earlier this year, it looks as if your options for getting a Russian visa are severely limited.

I'd suggest having a good old dig around to see if those rules still apply - perhaps the Russian Embassy London site is a good place to start. You may be able to courier them your passport and get a visa issued that way - it's worth exploring if you are really keen to travel into Russia.

Sorry to potentially p1$$ on your bonfire - but if it doesn't turn out to be a go-er this time around, do make sure you take the Trans-Siberian on your next trip, as it's an incredible journey through a fascinating country.

[hank7]

cheers steve that was exactley the kind of advice i needed. Where did you head to after the trans-siberia? Anyway i've got 4 months to hopefully sort it out and if i find it's going to be a ridiculous hassle i'll just do the middle-east way which will be great anyway heading through turkey etc. Anyway thanks again and also what do you think to bristol? I'm a northerner and haven't seen much of the south so i was planning on working down around there for a while after my return.