This is a comprehensive guide on how to take the Caspian sea ferry from Baku in Azerbaijan to Aktau in Kazakhstan.
During my overland hitchhiking trip from Europe to Asia, I already had some experience with taking a boat to reach my next destination.
I took a ferry from Ireland to France, from Athens in Greece to the isle of Crete, I entered Turkey by crossing the Aegean Sea and I sailed on the Mediterranean Sea in Turkey.
So far it had been very easy to travel by sea as all these ferries had a fixed schedule and clear information about where to buy the tickets and where to catch the boat. Crossing the Caspian Sea by boat was a different story.
This boat is a cargo ship that nowadays also functions as a ferry. However, the Caspian Sea ferry doesn’t have a fixed schedule and there’s often a lot of confusion about where to get the tickets and where to catch this boat from.
For one week my travel companion and I were a bit left in the dark about where and especially when we could take this boat and buy the tickets.
Despite the nuisance and long waiting times, traveling from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan by sea turned out to be a memorable adventure and totally worth the trouble!
Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to take the Caspian Sea Ferry from Baku in Azerbaijan to Aktau in Kazakhstan.
Important update (2024): The land- and sea borders of Azerbaijan are still closed and one can only enter the country by airplane. Taking the ferry from Baku to Aktau (from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan) is possible but not the other way around (from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan)!
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1. Where to get tickets and how much does the Caspian Sea Ferry cost
This is where the challenge began. We were told that we could only buy tickets on the day the boat leaves. But how we do know when exactly to purchase the tickets when there’s no fixed schedule? There was also a lot of contradicting information on where to buy these tickets.
Friends of ours told us we had to get in the ticket office of the old seaport in Baku, while according to some blogs we could only buy them directly in the port of Alat. This port is about 75km away from Baku and possibly the place where we had to catch the ferry.
After a lot of uncertainty and confusion, we finally were able to figure it all out.
1) Timetable of the Caspian Sea ferry
There’s no precise timetable for the ferry since its departure depends on the weather and on the amount of cargo that is loaded.
The boat leaves when it’s full, which means, in theory, every 3 to 5 days, but in reality, there might be 5 boats going to Kazakhstan within one week or only 1 boat in two weeks.
It’s really hard to tell so make sure that you’re flexible and have enough time left on your visa when you want to take this ferry!
The best way of finding out when the boat is scheduled to leave is by ringing the Baku ticket office once or even twice a day or the call center of ASCO.
You could also go to the ticket office, which is located at the end of Baku’s Sea Front Boulevard, hidden away between container units (see map below ‘Where to buy the tickets”).
We chose the easiest option, which was asking the girls in the reception of our hostel in Baku to call the ticket office for us.
The receptionists helped travelers like us in the past so they knew exactly who to call to get the right information and it saved us from getting lost in translation.
You can also check the website of the Caspian Sea Ferries to find out when the boats are scheduled to arrive in the port.
Still, this doesn’t mean that they will leave that very same day or the day after so keep calling the ticket office!
2) Where to buy the tickets for the Baku – Aktau ferry and how much does it cost
2024 update: You can nowadays order your tickets online through the official ASCO website. I haven’t made the ferry crossing this year so I don’t know if this system really works. If you decide to try it, please let me and other travelers know if it worked in the comments below so I can update this guide accordingly!
If you travel by motorbike or by car, you have to buy your ticket in the port of Alat, which is about 75 km from Baku. You can buy your ticket in advance and the price depends on the size of your vehicle.
It’s $100 per meter, so for a motorbike, you’ll pay around $150 and for an average-sized car $400. You also have to pay $70 per passenger. You can only pay in cash – there’s an ATM near the ticket office.
If you’re a foot passenger or a cyclist, you have to buy your ticket in the ticket office of Baku, which you can find near the Marine Passenger Terminal at the end of Baku’s Sea Front Boulevard (Milli Park).
You can only buy your ticket there on the day the boat leaves! Go early so you still have enough time to get to the port.
The ticket sales usually start around 10 am. A ticket costs $80 and you have to pay $10 extra for a bicycle.
As I mentioned before, you can purchase your tickets on this website but you might still have to go to the ticket office to change the e-ticket for a paper ticket. Any updates are welcome in the comments below!
How to pay and what is included in the price:
You can only pay in US dollars. There’s an ATM in Alat where you can take the money out and there’s also an exchange office. There are plenty of ATMs and exchange offices in Baku.
The cheapest ticket is $70 and it includes all your meals onboard and a bed in a 4 person cabin.
You’ll see that there’s an option to buy a ticket for $80 if you want to have a private 2 person cabin but don’t bother with that. If there are a lot of passengers, you’ll have to share your cabin with 4 people anyway.
→ It’s cheaper for a foot passenger and a cyclist to buy your ticket in the port of Alat ($70). In Baku, you’ll most likely pay $80, even for a 4 person cabin.
Even though we were foot passengers, we didn’t bother going to the ticket office in Baku. We got tired of waiting and calling and as soon as we heard that the boat had arrived, we left Baku and traveled to the port of Alat to buy our tickets there.
When we arrived in Alat, the people at the ticket office told us they couldn’t sell us the tickets and that we had to go back to Baku to buy them there.
Since Alat is 75km from Baku, we really didn’t want to go back and forth. So we stood our ground and told them that the office in Baku had sent us to Alat and that there was no way we could return to Baku since we were on foot.
Eventually, they gave in and sold us the tickets. So you can buy tickets in Alat as a foot passenger and cyclist but you have to be persistent…
2. Where to take the Baku – Aktau ferry
All foot passengers, cyclists, bikers, and cars have to take the ferry in the Baku Sea Port in Alat. This port is about 75km from the city center of Baku.
Note: there is a chance that they might change this (again) and that you have to board the ship in the port of Baku itself. Double-check with the ticket office to be sure!
How to get from Baku to the port in Alat by public transport
The fastest but most expensive option is to take a taxi. This will cost you 50 AZN (about $30) but the driver will drop you off right at the entrance of the port. This is a good solution if you travel on foot or by bicycle and you don’t have much time to get to the port.
If you travel on foot, you can also catch the bus to Alat (bicycles are not allowed on the bus).
Take bus 125 or any other bus that goes from Baku city to the Bina Mall. There you have to take bus 195 towards Qobustan and Alat. This bus ride takes about one hour.
Once you pass Qobustan (you’ll see a big rock with this name), it’s another 10 to 15 minutes until you see a big monument of an Anker with “Baku Sea Port” in the middle of the road. Ask the bus driver to drop you off there.
Cross the highway (be careful!!) and take the first road to the right. From there on it’s another 1.5 km before you arrive at the entrance of the port.
You can always hitchhike.
Hitchhiking in Azerbaijan is fairly easy, just make it clear from the start that you’re doing ‘avtostop‘ (the Russian word for hitchhiking) or the driver might charge you money for the gas.
3. Camping at the port of Baku
Even when you get told to hurry to the port because the boat is going to leave in a few hours, it’s still possible that it takes another day (or two) before the actual departure of the boat (a friend of ours had to wait for a week).
This means that you might have to set up camp at the port.
The security guards will show you where to pitch your tent in the parking lot.
There are facilities like showers and toilets (girls can ask for a key to a separate shower in the shop), an exchange office with an ATM, a little shop where you can buy water, soft drinks, fresh fruits, canned food, crackers, etc.
There’s also a small dining area where you can buy a cup of coffee or tea, charge your electronics and buy wi-fi.
It costs 3 AZN per day or 5 AZN for 2 days. The connection isn’t superb but it’s enough to check your social media and tell your mum you’re still alive and waiting for the boat to Kazakhstan.
→ Tip: if you know with certainty that you’ll have to wait for at least another 6 hours, find yourself a travel buddy with a vehicle and visit the mud volcanoes of Qobustan.
They’re about 30 minutes’ driving from the port and definitely worth visiting! You can find more info about the mud volcanoes here.
4. Customs at the port of Baku
The port guards will tell you when it’s time to board the Caspian Sea ferry. Sometimes they’ll let the trucks go first, other times they will give priority to the travelers.
They let us enter first, which was great since it took another 7 hours before all the cargo was loaded and the ship was ready to go.
Before you board, you’ll have to go through customs. They will check your bags (and car if you’re driving), ask for your registration papers if you stayed longer than 10 days in Azerbaijan, inquire about your visa for Kazakhstan and once you’re stamped out of the country, you can proceed towards the entrance of the boat.
* If you stayed 10 days or more in Azerbaijan, make sure that you got registered. If you didn’t do this, the migration officers might stop you from boarding the boat until you got that sorted, and/or you will have to pay a huge fine (+ $300) and face deportation.
5. What to expect on the Caspian Sea ferry from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan
The ferries that take passengers are named “Professor Gul”, “Merkuri-1”, “Barda” and “Shahdag”. We traveled to Kazakhstan on the “Professor Gul”.
Once you arrive on the Caspian Sea ferry, a member of the crew will show you where you can park your car/ motorbike/ bicycle at the base of the ship and guide you towards the common room.
Take all your essentials with you since you won’t be allowed to go back to your vehicle once the ship departs.
One of the crew members will also come around to collect your passport. Don’t worry, it’s safe to give it to them and once the boat arrives at the port in Aktau, someone will hand it back to you in the common room.
This ‘common room’ is the unofficial meeting room on the boat.
It’s a big area with seats where most of the passengers (mainly truck drivers) hang out to watch TV, play games like backgammon and drink tea (which is non-stop available).
You’ll have to wait here until the person in charge comes to give you sheets, a pillow and the keys to your cabin.
1) Cabins on the Caspian SEa ferry
If there are a lot of passengers, you’ll have to share a cabin with 3 other people. Try to buddy up with some of the other travelers you met at the port.
The cabins are very small with 2 bunk beds, a small sink and 4 lockers, which is great for safely storing your valuables away while exploring the boat.
Ask for a cabin with a window if possible! If you travel during the summer, it gets stinking hot inside and you’ll have a hard time sleeping (and imagine the lovely smells when you can’t air out the room…).
Some of our fellow travelers couldn’t handle it and went to sleep outside on the deck instead.
Niko and I shared a cabin with another backpacking couple. The girl and I were the only female travelers on board, which turned out to play to our advantage. We first were appointed to a cabin without a window.
Once all the passengers were on the boat and assigned to a cabin, the woman in charge told me there was one cabin left that I could share with my female friend.
We went to check it out and as soon as we saw that this cabin had a window, we moved our stuff (and our men) to this cabin, opened the window and were finally able to breathe again!
2) Toilets & showers
Most of the ferries crossing the Caspian Sea have now proper facilities for the passengers. It’s almost like you’re staying in a big old floating hostel that has a post-Soviet feel to it.
There’s a bathroom area with toilets and warm showers which are relatively clean.
Tip: take a shower at the start of the journey, when everything is still clean. The longer you’re at sea, the more smelly and dirty it becomes… Don’t forget to bring an extra roll of toilet paper with you.
3) Food on the Caspian Sea ferry
There’s a small dining area on the boat where meals are served 3 times per day: at 8 am, at noon and at 7 pm.
Don’t be late as the cooks are very punctual and will close the dining area one hour after the service and you won’t be able to get food until the next meal.
The food is basic but good. It’s mainly going to be boiled eggs with bread for breakfast, pasta with chicken and mashed potatoes with fish for lunch and/or dinner. We also got some soup, and of course, there’s always plenty of tea.
There is no shop on the boat so it’s not a bad idea to stock up on some snacks and bottles of water before the journey. You’re also allowed to bring some beers on board. However, keep in mind that you’re not allowed to drink alcohol in the port.
4) Entertainment on the Baku – AktAU fERRY
There’s no wi-fi on board but you can charge your electronics in the cabin. There’s a big TV in the common area but why would you want to watch TV while you’re sailing across the Caspian Sea?
Watching the sunrise and sunset on the deck is much better entertainment and at night you can do some proper star gazing! You’re allowed to explore the ship and, if you ask nicely, the crew will let you have a peek in the engine room.
It’s very likely you’ll meet other travelers, especially during the summer.
We met a great bunch of (mainly) cyclists, backpackers, bikers, and road trippers with whom we spent a lot of time chatting, singing and playing games.
If you hitchhike, the chances are big that one of your fellow travelers or one of the truck drivers (if you socialize with them) will offer you a ride into Kazakhstan.
6. How long does it take to sail across the Caspian Sea?
We boarded the ship around 11 pm at night but the next morning at 6 am we were still in the port of Alat. The boat eventually left around 6.30 am.
If you’re lucky like us, the ship will dock 27 hours later in the port of Aktau. If you’re unlucky, well, it might take hours to days before the ship is allowed to dock.
It all depends on the weather and the docking space in the port. As long as you’re on board, you will get fed 3 times per day so you won’t starve while you’re waiting. You might just get very bored and impatient.
Arriving in Aktau
7. Arriving in Aktau, Kazakhstan
As soon as the ship is about to dock, you’ll hear an announcement that you’ve got to pack your bags and bring them to the common room.
One of the crew members will be there to return your passport and then you’ll have to wait until the Kazakh immigration officers, accompanied by sniffer dogs and intimidating guns, come on board to check your papers and bags.
Once this first control is done, you’re allowed to leave the boat.
A couple of vans will be waiting at the exit of the boat to bring the passengers to the passport control offices. There you’ll have to fill in an immigration card.
The migration officers will check your visa (check here if you need one), and stamp your passport.
If you need a Letter of Invitation (LOI) to enter Kazakhstan, you’ll have to get registered at the Migration Police in Aktau.
Once you got your passport stamped and you don’t have a vehicle, you’re free to go! Welcome to Kazakhstan!
There’s a small coffee shop near the exit of the port where you can buy something to drink and eat and you’ll also find a small exchange office to buy some Kazakh tenge.
If you travel by bicycle, motorbike or car, you’ll have to go back to the boat to get your vehicle and get customs clearance.
The process is quite fast for cyclists and they’ll be out within two hours but if you came by motorbike or car, get ready for a never-ending cycle of paperwork and stamps!
We arrived at 10 am in the port of Aktau and all of our friends who traveled by motorized vehicles were finally allowed to leave the port at 5 pm!
8. How to get from the port to Aktau and where to stay in Aktau
You can get from the port of Aktau to the city center by hitching a ride or taking a taxi. The taxi shouldn’t cost more than 500 KZT.
In case you’re going to travel by train, you can always head straight towards the train station of Aktau. There is after all not much to see or do in Aktau. It’s a strange city if you ask me!
Some people prefer to spend a day in the city, mostly to recover from the boat journey and to get ready for the upcoming (road)trip.
We stayed a couple of nights at a budget hostel called “Kemerek”, a little bit outside of the city center. We paid 3000 KZT ($10) for a room.
There are a lot of fancy hotels in the city, starting from $25 per person but there aren’t that many budget hostels.
The local kids in Aktau weren’t used to seeing foreigners and absolutely loved the motorbikes of our friends!
Traveling from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan by boat was definitely a memorable adventure! You’ll have to be patient and flexible and enjoy the moment.
Don’t have too many expectations and just see how everything goes. My advice is to sit back, relax, socialize and enjoy the journey since you have no idea when you’ll reach your destination!
I hope this guide was helpful to you! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below or send me an email.
Did you recently cross the Caspian Sea? Please share your updates and stories in the comments below as they can be useful to other travelers!
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Adventurous and refreshingly honest—this guide perfectly captures the unpredictable, raw experience of crossing the Caspian Sea the overland way!
Thank you!
Hi Cynthia and fellow travelers,
thank you so much for this amazing and helpful guide!
I’m currently planning an overland journey by car from Germany to Kazakhstan and was wondering if anyone has any recent updates (2025) regarding entry into Azerbaijan via land border from Georgia.
So far, all official sources still state that only air entry is permitted, but I heard of rare exceptions and would love to know if this has changed – especially for travelers intending to take the Alat–Kuryk ferry.
Would be great to hear from anyone who crossed into Azerbaijan by land recently. Any confirmations or denials?
Thanks a lot in advance & happy travels,
Marcel
It’s still closed: https://oc-media.org/azerbaijan-extends-covid-land-border-closure-until-2026/
Thank you for your super detailed post! I am currently researching my east-west silk roads journey for March/April. To be honest I plan to wing most of it and if I find myself unable to progress I assume (possibly naively) that I can backtrack and fly if needed. This sounds like quite the experience! I do tend towards sea sickness – I’m hoping taking necessary med is sufficient. (50year old female solo). Thanks!
Hi Cynthia,
Thank you for this very useful blog. I was in Baku and was struggling a lot with finding information about the ferry. I came across your blog and it helped me out a lot. I went to the ticket office in Baku but they said the only way to Kazachstan was to go by plane. I asked some people to call to the ASCO ticket office but no succes. It seemed impossible. We decided to just hitchhike to the port in Alat to ask them if we could take a ferry. They told us there was a ferry going tomorrow. We were very happy we could still go. We had to wait for two nights in the port though but it wasn’t too bad. We didn’t expect other backpackers to take the ferry at this time of the year (10th of november 2024) but eventually we were with five. It was a great experience after all and wanted to thank you for providing this information. Kind regards, Sam
Hi Sam, thank you for sharing your experiences, hope it was a memorable adventure!
Thank you for this blog! Very helpful for us! Here is our journey 🙂
We crossed the Caspian Sea about 2 weeks ago – We went to the ticket office(milli park) which gave us a number which is on the asco website (no tickets given), we called this number everyday in Baku until we emailed the asco (contact@asco.az) we had an email back to call another number, call it serval times no answer. Our hotel stay was finished so we decided to make our way to Baku port.
We got the bus 125 to Bina Mall filled up with snacks and did a shared taxi with people going the same way.
We got to the port and went to buy our tickets when the guy showed us my partners WhatsApp’s picture and said is this you (we were speechless) anyway we brought our tickets in ANZ as they said they didn’t mind. It was €70 each or 119 AZN (I think) There is a cash point there but to be on the safe side take cash with you(that’s what we did) We were then taken through to where security look through your stuff and taken to a porter cabin. There are toilets, seats and sun lounges in there, you can walk around the cabin but it’s gated so you can’t go far. (You can pay for WiFi and the number for the shop and cafe are in the cabin) We waited 26 hours in the cabin. The security guard came in and told us to get our stuff as we are off and a ferry is here. We went through customs and everything (very easy) to which lead us to the ferry. We boarded at 4ish where the captain takes your passport and left at 21:30. You get 3 meals a day. Breakfast- egg,cheese and bread Lunch- pasta and a chicken drumstick and Dinner- lentils with a meat. There is unlimited tea and biscuits as well in the lobby area!
Our ferry journey was about 30 hours, you are called into the lobby area to take your bedding and belongings so they can clean the rooms, if your a tourist (like us) we were pushed to the front and got our passports and where told to go to the end of the ferry to wait for a mini bus. Again the wait was about 2/3 hours, got to customs stamped in and sorted, shared a taxi to Aktau and made our way to Uzbekistan through next day via Beyneu on the train.
Thank you so much for this useful report Jennie!
Thank you for usefull and and very detail information
SRF
ksa
Hi Cynthia
Thankyou for this information which is really helpful. I think at the moment that it’s only possible to enter Azerbaijan by flight? I’m trying to get from UK to S Korea early next year overland but this problem, and the issue with getting into Russia seem to be making this impossible! Do you, or does anyone else reading this, (if anyone is reading this) know a route currently to get to S Korea from UK overland?
Many thanks and safe travels
Pippa
Hi Pippa,
Yes, Azerbaijan still hasn’t opened its land borders but I’ve heard they might in 2024…
Not sure (in the light of completion) that this is such a romantic/sentimental experience. The ticket is indeed easily purchased on-line for US$70. On your arrival at the port, your printed copy is exchanged for a proper receipted ticket. If taking the buses (right numbers) make sure you know where/what is “Bina Mall” to change buses as it is possible to go too far past it.
Not sure tents are done anymore. There is a lot of chairs and massage table type “beds” in the waiting hall which is airconned. And it’s here where you can wait up to 4 days for a boat to be ready. If the wind is more than 25 knots in the narrow exit canal, the port authority will close the port to entry/exit ships. We waited 40 hours and after a day it starts to feel like a prison yard. The male toilet is foul and I didn’t ask about the shower location. You can go further into the port on foot to a small shop, bakery, barber & cafe which caters to the drivers.
I was put on one of the 2 new ships (2 yo) Azerbijan and Zarifa Aliyeva. 4 berth windowed cabins with ensuite. Fairly modern and (basically) clean. The ensuite doubles as the shower and its floor is heated so there’s no wet floors for long. The bill “common room” is uninviting & has only 12 chairs with none outside. I was with 2 “‘Strayan” Joanna Lumley hopefuls amongst a hundred multinational truck drivers who are a class unto themselves… There were some pseudo fights among a Ukrainian group in the dining room – pushing, shoving, headlocks etc – all no doubt fuelled by Illegal liquor smuggled past the customs guards. All best of friends by the morning. The “dining room” often has hours in advance of those advertised – be alert, though the fare is very basic.
Not much to do, no TV, board games, etc though on Zafiya, the crew is quite liberal in allowing bridge visits which were quite interesting for the state of art tech.
The new ships are 12.5 knots so the trip time is about 18 hours. It was cloudy so no romantic sunsets … but good views of the oil rig islands in the night.
Something different, but if I had the time again I’d look seriously at the direct flight option !
Thank you for sharing your experiences and updates. When I crossed the Caspian Sea, I met several backpackers and we bonded well during the waiting time at the port and on the boat. The weather was great so I was lucky with the sunsets (as you can see on the photos) and we kept ourselves busy with chatting, playing games that some of us brought, etc. We also had some great chats with the truck drivers. I had a great time but these travel experiences are subjective and a lot often depends on the circumstances.
Baku, the vibrant capital of Azerbaijan, has always fascinated me with its blend of modernity and rich history. This article beautifully captures the essence of this captivating city, from its iconic landmarks like the Flame Towers to its charming Old City with its narrow alleys and historic architecture. The detailed descriptions and vivid imagery truly transport the reader to the heart of Baku, making them feel like they are experiencing it firsthand. Reading this article has only intensified my desire to visit Baku and immerse myself in its unique culture and mesmerizing beauty. Kudos to the author for providing such an insightful and inspiring guide to this remarkable destination!
Thank you so much Eric!
Hello!
Thank you for your elaborate article. I am currently in Aktau and was looking forward to taking the ferry to Baku from here. But, someone in an office in the city told me that the ferry isn’t running.
Do you know where I can get more information? It’s hard to accept/believe that there is no possibility to cross the Caspian just yet, my travel route was set on this. The person at the office wasn’t able to provide further information. If someone know how I can reach someone who knows more, perhaps from another ferry company, it would be a great help.
Best,
Mees
Hi Mees, I received updates that the ferry from Baku to Aktau is running but don’t have any current updates concerning Aktau to Baku. I hope someone will be able to provide some current info to help you! Best wishes, Cynthia
Hi Mees, maybe now you already know, but Azerbaijan is still closed to enter by land or sea, you can only fly into it. That’s why the ferry from Kazakhstan is not running. Hopefully it will change soon 🤞🏻
Hi Cynthia,
thanks for your great job, that you provide all your information with people.
You are a big inspiration for our travel planning.
Is it possible to get the name of the hostel in Baku?
THX and greetings
Sophie
Hi Sophie,
Thanks so much!
The hostel I stayed at is no longer there but there are plenty more good hostels that will offer help.
Have a great trip!
Hi , we can confirm that the ferry is running , we have just arrived at Port of Baku Alat on 12th May 2023 and have bought tickets for the crossing to Kurik , Kazakhstan.
Happy travels
Darren and Nicole Sanderson UK
Thank you Darren and Nicole!
So great, thanks for your answer.
Hi Daren, thanks for this amazing new, could you tell me how long you’ve been waiting at the port ? Is there any delay issue related to the current situation ? Thanks !
Hey Cynthia
Thanks so much for this super helpful blog providing information that seems to be nowhere available 🙂
Especially interesting because we are planning to do the same crossing in couple of weeks from now.
I was only wondering if you also encountered some issues with overland border crossing into Azerbaijan due to Covid regulations. We heard from the Swiss embassy and the German travel advice that currently entering and leaving Azerbaijan is only possible through Baku’s airport and they claimed it’s already a while like that. Is there a way to get around that?
Thanks so much for your Help
Hi Severin,
I’m afraid that entering Azerbaijan by land isn’t possible yet. You can fly into Azerbaijan without restrictions and exit via land or sea but not enter via a land or sea border. There are also no updates if this will change anytime soon.
Hey Cynthia
Thanks so much for your reply. Very helpful!
So you’re saying leaving Azerbaijan through sea boarder is possible? Because the Consul of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Switzerland wrote me “At the moment travels to and from Azerbaijan is only possible via air.”. Also the German travel advice for Azerbaijan
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/aserbaidschansicherheit/201888
in the chapter Leaving and Transit reads: “The international train, bus and ferry traffic is suspended.”
Therefore I assumed also leaving Azerbaijan using the ferry from Baku is not an option.
Hi Severin, leaving Azerbaijan by land – or in this case by sea -shouldn’t be a problem (I’m receiving messages from other travelers doing the same). Let us know about your journey and experiences!
Hi travellers!
I am currently in Azerbaijan and plan to arrive in Kazakhstan by sea in a fortnight.
I read on my government (France) website that for travellers arriving by land and sea, an Entry Permit is required. Do you know how to get this? I am not sure if it is the Letter of Invitation (LOI), but something else.
Hi Guillaume,
It’s the first time that I hear that an entry permit is required. Normally, you don’t need an LOI and as a French passport holder, you receive a visa on arrival to enter Kazakhstan. Have a good trip!
Hey Guillaume,
We are also planning to go through that route and was just wondering if you entered Azerbaijan by air. According to the information I have from Switzerland and Germany Azerbaijan currently only allows entry and exit through air due to covid.
But would be happy if you tell me that’s not true 🙂
Hello Séverin,
I entered Azerbaijan by air and entry to Azerbaijan is only allowed by air (still unfortunately). However, you can leave Azerbaijan by land, sea and air.
If you need more information you can contact me on my Instagram @Ingetrotteur 😊
Guillaume
Thank you Cynthia for your feedback 😊
Hi Cynthia. I’ve found your blog so interesting and inspiring. I’d like to travel through Central Asia myself, avoiding plane travel as much as possible. I would like to cross the Caspian Sea via ferry to cut down on flights, but I wonder whether this would be advisable for someone who would not be travelling with a tent (because of the likely time spent camping at the Port of Baku that you mention). I wonder what your thoughts are on this? Many thanks and happy travels!
Hi Rebecca, thank you for your kind words! As for your question, you could ask your ho(s)tel in Baku to phone daily to the port and ask for updates concerning the ferry. This way you probably won’t have to camp at the port and just travel there on the day of departure. I hope this helps. Best wishes, Cynthia
Hi here! A great guide to taking a ferry to Central Asia on the Kaspan Sea! I also wanna go through this path with my car in December 2022. I have worked and lived in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for over 20 years. So I need to go back there and bring my personal belongings back to Europe. Update is Kazakhstan has cancelled the entry card!
Hi Tashbek, thank you for the update and please let us know how your journey went! Do you mean by entry card the migration card?
Hi! Cynthia, no cards n forms at all to pass the passport control gate of Kazahstan!
Thanks for the update Tashbek, highly appreciate it! How was the ferry crossing?
Thanks for sharing all your experiences and valuable infromation!
I just really want to know this, I want to cross the sea with my full-size overland pickup truck (Ford F-150). Do they allow north Americans with larger cars to cross the border by sea on this ship? How much does it cost?
Hi Sintash, as the ferries are meant for trucks to cross, I think they will allow your pickup truck as well. However, I don’t know how much it would cost. They usually charge by the meter ($100/meter). The prices might have gone up this summer and I haven’t received any updates about it yet. You’re always welcome to let me know once you’ve crossed the Caspian sea 🙂
thank you, Cynthia! very helpful. i’m also planning to travel from Baku to Kazakhstan by ferry this June.
Hi Dion, that’s great news! Let me know how your journey went!
I am planning to cross in June 2022 with a vehicle. please do update here if you get any other information.
hi Dion and Cynthia, i am french and i would like riding with my motobike from Azerbadjan to Kasakstan in februry 2023. Dion, have you performed your trip in June ? The azerbadjan border by road is open ?
Thank you very much for your answer, freindly yours. Eric
Thank you for the article Cynthia, it’s so helpful. Me and my boyfriend want to cross with our camper the Caspian Sea with the ferry in May 2022. Does anyone have any updates on the situation? Alo, we are travelling with our dog.:) Do you know if it’s possible to bring your dog on the ferry? We first wanted to go overland, but as Turkmenistan and Iran don’t give out visa at the moment this is not an option.
Hi Petra,
Kazakhstan is currently still being difficult about foreign travelers entering the country. Taking your dog on the ferry might also be challenging as the ferry takes about 26 hours and the dog can’t really go to the toilet on this boat… I haven’t heard of people bringing their pet on the ferry yet… Best is to contact the ferry companies directly… Wishing you good luck and all the best!!
Hi Cynthia,
A friend and I are hoping to do this trip this summer also. Thanks for the great info and I’d love to know more re. any updates you might have etc..
Regards
Eoin
Hi Eoin,
I’m not sure if you’ll already be able to enter Kazakhstan by land (or in this case by sea) by the summer. At the moment, you can only enter Kazakhstan by air. I’ll update this post soon!
Hi Petra,
Please update once you have taken the ferry across as I am planning to cross in June 2022 with a vehicle
and Cynthia thank you very much for such an informative write up
Worth checking on Turkmenistan – I was told they would start issuing tourist visas again ‘by the summer’. (2023)
Hi Cathy, yes, that’s true but know that you can only travel to Turkmenistan via a guided tour. They won’t let independent travelers in…
Hi Petra, I’m also planning to get from Azarbeidjan to Kazachstan with my camper and my dog. How did it go for you? You managed to take the ferry crossing or went overland somehow? Enjoy all the travels! Regards, Lora
This is more than a year from the last post
so I am not expecting much but I want to avoid Iran
so the ferry sounds like an adventure(except in a F-9 gale).
The ferry is definitely an adventure! You just need to check the current requirements for Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. I’ll make updates soon!
I meant Caspian not Black Sea, sorry
Hello, Please help me as i am doing this in the next two weeks. I have seen that there is a train available from Baku to kazakstan and I was thinking of applying for a Russian transit visa to take a train from Azerbiajan(baku) at Bilajari station through Russia along the Black sea to Kazakstan and eventually Almaty. I did not see anything written on your site about this option. For me, I would feel better knowing when I am leaving than waiting for the ferry you described that may never come. So what do you think of my idea? I am not 20 or even 30 anymore and I am needing to get to Asia and my bank does not reimburse me for cancelled flights right away so I am going via land becasue my objective is just to get there. IF my bank reimbursed me up front then I could afford to lose every time an airline cancelled . I just cannot afford to do that. My plan is to move to Vietnam to teach English but I do want to see some of the Silk Road countries along the way so I have decided to take on your longest overland route to Asia form Europe. I am currently in Ohrid and will be taking a bus to Istanbul. If you have any cheap providers of buses that the refugees use for transport in the opposite duirection please let me know. I know there are some in Istanbul, I simply do not know their names because i am European. Covid is bugging me so much that I am not letting it get in my way and I am undertaking the journey overland. I have wanted to see Central Asia I oove mountains lakes and bazaars but my goal is to Vietnam. I plan to apply for a transit visa to get to Vietnam from China. Okay Thanks let me know about the train idea from Baku to Kazakstan.
Hi Tatiana,
While your idea to take a train from Baku to Kazakhstan sounds amazing, I’m not sure if you’ll be able to do so. Firstly, going to Baku will be a huge detour. You’re better off taking a train from Eastern Europe into Russia. Secondly, Covid will stand in your way. I don’t think that Russia is currently giving visas (I might be wrong). For Kazakhstan, you’ll need a corona test and a special tourist visa which is very pricey. I’m not someone telling people not to do something, even when the plan sounds difficult. However, you should really look into the countries you want to travel through right now as many still have restrictions in place and aren’t letting foreigners in. Many land borders are still closed. You might end up paying a lot more and getting stuck in a country while traveling overland now then taking an airplane to Vietnam… Wishing you all the best!
Thanks for this blog. Lifesavers.
Great to hear Sarah! When are you going to make this trip?
i love baku.
We loved it as well 🙂
This article was absolutely amazing. I love the way you write, it’s so clear, informative, and catching the whole way through. This was so helpful and very fun to read. Thanks for the amazing literary artwork!
Thank you so much Francis! I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed my guide and writing style! Are you planning on taking this ferry?
Hi, I picked up a link to your blog from “Lost with Purpose”. The Caspian Sea crossing was the first item I read. It reminded me of one of the adventures of Fitzroy Maclean related in his book “Eastern Approaches”. In the late 1930’s, Maclean was a young British diplomat stationed in Moscow. He was determined to explore Central Asia. As the area was closed to foreigners it took some ingenuity. One of his attempts was to cross the Caspian from Baku. He didn’t make but did get to experience ferry travel on the Caspian.
His adventures lured me to Uzbekistan and I’ve been there several times. I thought you might enjoy his experiences from 80 years ago. Regards, Arne
Hi Arne! Thank you for your book suggestion! Wow, now this guy was a real explorer! It was already a hassle to take this ferry, I can’t even imagine how it must have been 80 years ago!
Traveling nowadays is definitely very different from how it used to be. I love reading stories like this so thank you, I’ll definitely look up this book! All the best!