Crossing Ukraine Border via Bicycle

Look closely at a map and I think you will discover that there is no way to avoid Moldova if you try to cross close to the Black Sea.

There are very few international crossings between Ukraine and Romania and they are all in the west. So, if you want to avoid Moldova, there are limited possibilities.

There seem to be either 6 or 8 border-crossing places between Romania and Ukraine but not all are international crossings. Several places are closed to car/pedestrian transit and you can't cross the border unless you are traveling by train. Some are locals only. If you really want to avoid Moldova, then you have a long way to go from Odessa as you cannot cross the border at Tulcea.

You might want to read this thread about cycling across a Ukrainian border: Halmeu Crossing from Romania to Ukraine

I believe that you may need to rethink your plans to stay along the Black Sea.

Ruth

Hi Kelly,

I only can tell you about the border crossing here in Maramures, in Sighet (Sighetu Marmatiei). That crossing with Ukraine is also open for bicycles; the locals often do this (as some tourists do).

Have a good trip,
Matthijs

Border crossing in Ubla, Slovakia, is also open to bicycles.

OK, so my plans have been altered, primarily because from all I read, it is not possible to cross from Russia to Abkazia, but it is possible to cross from Abkazia to Russia (i think). Now I am trying to deal with the Russian Visa red-tape. So here are my questions:

1. On the Russian visa application, it asks for a date of entry. Since I will be on bicycle beginning in Istanbul, my arrival date into russia could vary by weeks depending on many factors as you might imagine. How do I account for this?

2. Are bicycles allowed to cross the border at the crossing between Gagra, Georgia and Sochi (not sure of border crossing name)?

3. I would like to allow for up to a month in Russia. What type of visa would work. Note that I'll be camping out, will NOT be staying in hotels or with hosts. Which visa will allow for this?

thanks for any info anyone can provide.

OP - I am amazed you were turned back at the PL/UA border. Were you crossing at Krościenko / Смільниця? As far as I know, this border is open to private cars but not trucks. Why they would ban bicycles is a mystery to me.

For your last question, the simplest Russian visas are tourist visas but they're generally only for one month, at fixed dates. You either need to more research to pin down your likely journey time and date of entry, or go for a business visa which is more complicated & expensive but more flexible.

BTW you have the Abkhazia restrictions the wrong way round. The difficult direction is Russia - Abkhazia - Georgia becuase the Georgians at Zugdidi regard you as having entered Georgia illegally. You risk being detained, although they are selective who they detain. The direction Georgia - Abkhazia - Russia is easier, provided you don't intend to re-visit Georgia on that passport.

We were trying to cross at the Kroscienko border crossing. The borderguard would not let us proceed on bicycle, or by foot pushing the bicycle. I asked if we could put our bicycles on a vehicle and cross that way. They responded that that would be OK. However, after waiting for hours for an empty vehicle we finally gave up. Every vehicle that came through was packed with Ukrainians and purchased goods--hence no room whatsoever for bicycles. I still don't understand why they won't simply let bicycles pass through.

Maybe you could have got away to do two or three crossings carrying "bicycle parts".

You might enjoy the Belgian joke about taking bicycles across borders
http://www.jokebuddha.com/Smuggling

Hi Kelly, maybe it is better to make a new post for your questions. This post has been made in March, so not so many people will read it. If you make a new one, everybody will see it again...

Good luck,
Matthijs