Hello, and welcome to the blog for the Odyssey Overland expedition from Kathmandu to Istanbul. With just 11 weeks to go until the start of the expeditions, preparations are underway around the world as everyone in our group prepares to head off on this epic adventure from Kathmandu in Nepal, via China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and finishing in Istanbul, Turkey. 12 weeks of exploration and adventure on our custom-built overland truck, Calypso.
Preparing for an expedition is part of the fun! Although when it comes to visas, the "fun" element often seems to be lacking, with plenty of forms to fill in and bureaucratic hoops to jump through. As many countries that we visit on this expedition only issue visas with 3-month validity, visa applications can only get going in the last 6-8 weeks prior to departure, any earlier and the visas won't be valid when the expedition reaches the border... The visa process can be quite frustrating as passports and forms disappear off into embassies for often weeks at a time, although it does put things in context a little when you remember that citizens of the countries we visit often have significantly more onerous requirements should they wish to visit our countries!
This blog is a great way to keep up to date with the expedition - the real updates will start in early September when the preparations are finished, and the expedition hits the road!
Preparing for an expedition is part of the fun! Although when it comes to visas, the "fun" element often seems to be lacking, with plenty of forms to fill in and bureaucratic hoops to jump through. As many countries that we visit on this expedition only issue visas with 3-month validity, visa applications can only get going in the last 6-8 weeks prior to departure, any earlier and the visas won't be valid when the expedition reaches the border... The visa process can be quite frustrating as passports and forms disappear off into embassies for often weeks at a time, although it does put things in context a little when you remember that citizens of the countries we visit often have significantly more onerous requirements should they wish to visit our countries!
This blog is a great way to keep up to date with the expedition - the real updates will start in early September when the preparations are finished, and the expedition hits the road!
