6 weeks to go!!!

6 weeks and counting down...and preparations in full swing...

Good news is we have 2 Visa´s sorted out (Tajikistan and Krygzstan), bad news is we still have 5 to get done...

The route on paper (it is unlikely to turn out that way in reality) is from Istanbul, we will follow the coastline south, then head eastwards (with a possible detour into Syria), then through Capadocia and Anatolia to Iran (with a possible side trip to Armenia)...a couple of weeks in Iran, and then north east to meet the Stans crossing Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Krygystan...and into China through Kashgar...if time permits, the plan is to get to Hong Kong and from there to South East Asia...for our flight back home..

So far, the biggest challenge is working out how to cross Turkmenistan..you either get a tourist visa, but then you need to book an official tour (minimum 1000 euros) or get transit visa (but then you need to get in and out in 3 days), and we will only be able to sort out this visa on the ground in Iran...we´ll see!