Ferry to Turkmenbashi

Trip Start May 28, 2006
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Trip End May 17, 2007


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Flag of Turkmenistan  ,
Tuesday, June 27, 2006

We heard that fewer than 100 tourists cross this particular border each year. Getting across the Caspian with our truck required obtaining a place on a cargo ferry that has proved tricky for previous overlanding trucks. The crossing itself should take 15 hours but we'd heard 3 days was not unusual.

It turned out much better than feared - and Renee and Pete (the trip leaders) told us the bribery budget to get us on the boat didn't take too much of a hammering (apart from a randomn $25 sub to drive up the ramp between the shore and the ferry...). A handful of hours to clear customs in Baku and we were away - complete with cabins hired from the crew.

Ferry to Turkmenbashi
Ferry to Turkmenbashi
 Our Georgian wine stocks (the 40+ litres to get us to Kathmandu are being stored in jerry cans purchased for the purpose) helped the journey go fast, we got off lightly with a crossing of 20 hours.

As well as a forensic examination of all our belongings, a whole series of mysterious fees, forms and stamps we actually had to pass a medical to get into the country. No way the Azeri-style passport photo medical examination was going to do getting in here! Having been led individually into a 45deg plus cabin we had our temperature taken via an under-arm thermometer - we won't go into the details but much hilarity ensued when John, who was the last to go, tried to put the thing in his mouth!

5+ hours later and we were in!
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