Absolutely! This is precisely what I told our guide. Charyn canion looks like Monument Valley in Arizona and like a baby grand canyon. Also Schimbulak near Almaty looks 1to1 like Swiss Alps Ski resort. Even same cable car brand. Also at Schimbulak only Swiss brand ads like Milka, deLonghi or Rolex Kazakhstan, from what I have seen until now is a very beautiful country! I can only say: Ya lublu Kazakhstan
Yes, a lot. It's high on my list fpr a long time, but covid and now thw sanctions make it difficult. Flights only via Istanbul and very expensive, areound 700 Euro.
By car I'm not sure, but I've read on reditt that at Belarus border you wait over a day sometimes. I would prefer by car though, but I need at least 2 weeks of time. Maybe something for this summer.
carplates_switzerland Flights only via Istanbul and very expensive, areound 700 Euro.
By car I'm not sure, but I've read on reditt that at Belarus border you wait over a day sometimes. I would prefer by car though
1. This is the shortest air route from Europe to Russia. 2. Did you consider other routes for traveling by car (via Latvia, Estonia, Georgia and Azerbaijan)?
Yes, I considered Georgia especially. I'm planing a trip to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and Iran for 2025. But Russia is so big, if I go I want to focus on Russia and see a lot of cities. For now, let's wait until January when Trump takes over. Maybe sanctions and conflict will end soon. Then driving to St. Petersburg through Finland or Estonia will be easiest and closest.
carplates_switzerland Then driving to St. Petersburg through Finland or Estonia will be easiest and closest.
Some new motorways were built in Russia for recent years. One of them, tolled M11, connects St. Petersburg and Moscow. Another one, M12, connects Moscow, Vladimir and Kazan. A major part of motorway M4 is reconstructed; a long stretch from Moscow to Krasnodar has 4 lanes as well. One more federal road, P217 «Caucasus» is being reconstructed too, from Rostov Oblast to Azerbaijani border.
carplates_switzerland Good to know! This would surely help to drive further distances safer and faster!
Belarusian motorway A1 from Brest to Russian border is nice too. But unfortunately, Polish motorway A2 is not finished yet, stretches from Mińsk Mazowiecki to Biała Podlaska are just under construction now. The final eastern part of A2 from Biała Podlaska to Belarisian border is excluded from European core infrastructure, for further building. I hope this stretch will be built anyway.