Border crossing from Kerch(Ulkraine) ferry to Russian side
Replies: 12 - Last Post: Sep 25, 2012 10:24 PM Last Post By: everbrite
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Border crossing from Kerch(Ulkraine) ferry to Russian side
Hello,We are still in the planning route stage for our overland trip to Mongolia.
An option it to take the short ferry crossing from Kerch over to enter Russia. Does anyone know the latest info if the
border crossing is possible for UK citizens?
Thank you
Caron
4
International crossing but remember that the ferry only operates at certain times.
For those people, who travel without car - main problem especially when moving in direction from port Crimea (ferry terminal on Ukrainian side, it's outskirt of Kerch) to port Caucasus (ferry terminal on Russian side) is not ferry timetable itself (even if you miss closest ferry - next one in most cases will be in 3 hours - unpleasantly of course, but tolerable), but timetable of buses on Russian side.
Last bus from Port Caucasus departs very early (something before 7 p.m.), and then there are NO buses until midnight (midnight buses arrive by night ferry from Ukrainian side, it's long-distance international buses).
And what is more terrible - there are no place for waiting a bus in Port Caucasus. Port Caucasus is located on the end on 18 km sandy spit, there is only the road and some sand on both sides - and two seas.
Near the end of the spit - there are also industrial port building behind the fence. No human habitation, no cafes, no other public accessible places within many kilometers; passenger ferry terminal is tiny and there are only ticket counters within areas, accessible for those who are not a departing passengers.
Yes, you can take a taxi, but taking into account that closest human rural habitation is in 18 km, and closest town with hotel (Temryuk) - is in 60 km - taxi will be quite expensive.
So, if you are traveling without a car - you must use one of morning ferries or ferry at 13:15, or prepare to pay for taxi (but better idea is to stay in Kerch if you missed it). Using ferry at 16:15 is very risky, sometimes it's possible to catch last bus from it, sometimes no. Bus don't wait if ferry arrive later.
Waiting for midnight buses in Port Caucasus is also bad idea, if you travel in nighttime better to try take these buses on Ukrainian side (to avoid situation like "no free seats" - if this become apparent on Ukrainian side - you always can return to Kerch, but on Russian side of bus don't pick you - it's nowhere to go).
5
Hi,Thanks for your reply,
Very informative regarding the area etc,
We are travelling in our camper, which I didn't make clear so apologies but sounds like it would be OK to overnight around the Port Caucasus area?
I thought that it was maybe an easier option to cross here and go through the border formalities to enter Russia, rather than at a busier crossing.
We are heading for Bishkek avoiding road from Astrakan through to Uzbekistan and planning the route past Aral Sea
and Baikonor. I think Volgograd looks very interesting and up through to Saratov.
Does anyone have any thoughts regarding the roads,route etc please?
Any info is very much appreciated.
Thanks
Caron
6
I thought that it was maybe an easier option to cross here and go through the border formalities
to enter Russia, rather than at a busier crossing.
to enter Russia, rather than at a busier crossing.
Please note, that this border crossing is not busy only out of season. In summer this border crossing is very busy, for pedestrians it is not a problem (ferry capacity for pedestrian is enough), but ferry can take very limited quantity of cars - in summer it's not enough, so waiting in queue to ferry for cars during 4-6 hours in summer is more than common.
9
I want to go from Kerch to either Kradnodar, Rostov or Sochi. Which are possible? Which are possible in one day's bus travel?I will take the morning ferry as early as I can take to give me a good start.
Is it better to take a bus from Kerch, which then goes on the ferry to one of these destinations?
or
Get on the ferry, then wait for a bus to one of these destinations from the Russian side?
Does anyone have info on bus numbers, timetables, travel duration and prices?
Thanks.
11
Hi Ruth,So you recommend getting a bus whilst in Kerch to either Krasnodar or Sochi, before crossing the border then looking? Ok no probs.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything with timetables from Kerch to Sochi. I found a site in Cyrillic but I don't know if I was looking at the correct thing or not.
The times are more important than the prices, as I have to get one of these buses regardless.
Thanks.
