Interactive World Map to plan travelling from Ukraine during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions

Dmytro Kuleba presented an interactive online map with the most up-to-date information on visas, permits and restrictions in the context of the COVID-19. Even after the end of the pandemic, this map will remain a convenient tool for citizens when planning trips.

This is a map for people. Governments around the world are imposing restrictions on movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rules of entry and transit are constantly updated. How to understand where you can go and where not? Our new map will allow the citizens of Ukraine to avoid confusion” – said the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

This interactive resource is a simplified cartographic model for displaying the peculiarities of entering the countries of the world in order to provide relevant information to citizens of Ukraine who are planning their trip abroad. The data is updated regularly, and three layers of the display allow you to check whether you can enter or transit the country.

Good news awaits us this new year: in the updated list of countries from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Turkey has returned to the “green zone” and after returning from Turkey you have not to go to self-isolation or PCR test:

Allowed. 25.12.2020 The Ministry of Health of Turkey has decided that from 29.12.2020 entry into the country by air and sea, as well as by land is possible provided with a certificate of a negative result of the PCR test for COVID-19, made no more than 72 hours before crossing the border, this rule does not apply to children under 6 years of age.

Persons who have been in the UK, South Africa, Denmark, Brazil and arrived in Turkey by land, air and sea in recent days must present a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours before their entry. to the country, as well as undergo a 14-day quarantine in places designated by the competent authorities of Turkey.

From July 1, 2020, entry is required subject to the mandatory availability of an insurance policy for COVID 19, which can be purchased online, from the tour operator, when purchasing tickets, as well as directly at the airport in Turkey upon arrival.

Based on this encouraging information, we have already started recruiting groups for April in the historic enduro moto tour “Sea 2 Sky: the Lycian Way” along the paths of ancient Lycia. Join our historical moto trip!

A few words from the authors of adventure mototours

Among the many types of leisure activities, traveling on “horseback” has its roots in very ancient times. The spirit of such wanderings is also alive today, only the horses have become steel. A motorcycle, like a horse, needs to be loved, cared for, fed; when riding on a motorbike, like on a horse, you feel alive, truly, the world around.

We invite you to the world of enduro-moto-tourism. Dirtbikes and off-road adventures are in our blood, our greatest passion in life.

We were the first in the world who managed in the absence of roads not only penetrate the Kingdom of Mustang with a motor but also completely ride it up to the Tibetan plateau on the China border.

Moto Pilgrims Adventours expedition to Upper Mustang

We were the first who ride the route along the ancient pedestrian trail the Lycian Way on motorcycles in the Mediterranean region of Turkey.

The Lycian Way start point

Enrich your life traveling with us with unforgettable experiences let’s ride, explore, discover with #motopilgrims #adventours!

Motorcycling tour to the Himalayas, Tibetan Highlands: the lost kingdom of Upper Mustang

In one of the most remote, inaccessible, most beautiful, unique and inimitable corners of the Himalayas, on the Tibetan plateau behind impassable passes, far from tourist routes, there is the Tibetan kingdom of Mustang, which is called the “lost kingdom” for a reason. Remote from civilization, it is part of Nepal and is geographically isolated from the rest of the country. It is the last land of pristine Tibetan traditions.

The Kingdom of Lo (which everyone calls Mustang, although it is more correctly to say “Monthang”), is translated from the Tibetan “Moon Tan” as “fertile plain”, but this is not true at all. Life here is possible only along the channel and tributaries of the Kali Gandaki River, along which from the 15th to the 17th centuries a trade route passed between Tibet and India, which lost its significance after the opening of the so-called “Friendship Road”. As a result, the local population was so impoverished that it was forced to go down the riverbed into the depths of Nepal in order to feed itself. And today, the inhabitants of this region survive mainly due to rare tourists, so you should not skimp and bargain when buying souvenirs, and charity is welcome here. The entire population, represented by the Thakali and Tibetans is about 10 thousand people living in three cities and about 3 dozen villages. there was royal authority, leading a centuries-old genealogy, which in fact no longer has administrative significance in Nepal.

The entrance to this amazing Buddhist region was opened for foreign tourists only in 1991. And I was very lucky to be the first motorcyclist in the world to enter this area with a group of motorcyclists from Ukraine in the spring of 2012. It was me who came up with, organized and conducted such an unusual, unique and amazing expedition. At that time, roads through the Himalayas in this region did not exist at all, and a weak likeness of rocky dirt roads appeared only in 2016. That is why off-road vehicles are necessary for the expedition to the Upper Mustang.

I always choose spring for motorcycle tours because in winter months, due to the harsh climatic conditions, the passes are simply impassable. Our guide in Lo Manthang is a terrific person, a real Buddhist monk, my close friend Phuntchok Gurung. He is a real monk of Tibetan Buddhism from Lo Manthang – Phuntchok, Khyentse Lama. A gorgeous and unique person. Such meetings happen once in a lifetime. And Phuntchok will accompany us the following days throughout the Mustang.

Before telling about our motorcycle expedition, I’ll go a little ahead and tell you about its culmination – the forbidden city of Lo Manthang, which is located at an altitude of 3800m. above sea level. The northern gates are decorated with brass rings, polished by the callused palms of Buddhist monks, which sparkle in the rays of the sun that is especially bright in the highlands. The city is an impregnable fortress and is surrounded by a stone wall. We were the first motorcycle riders in this area and the local residents had never seen motorcycles before. For many hundreds of years, nothing has changed here, the harsh conditions of existence have made this region an ideal place for those who want to retire from the “benefits” of civilization. Even the Chinese Communists’ invasion of Tibet in 1949 and the 1950s did not affect the Kingdom of Mustang, and after the suppression of the anti-Chinese uprising in 1959, the entire Tibetan government, led by Dalai Lama XIV, was forced to find political refuge in India. Then, in the 50s, Mustang was formally annexed to Nepal and this action contributed to the preservation of the existing Tibetan way of life for centuries.

The capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, is the starting and finishing point of our motorcycling expedition to the Kingdom of Mustang. We will also visit the famous tourist region of Kathmandu – Thamel. Our city tour will begin here. We will visit the Pashupati temple complex, where cremations are held, we will see the magnificent stupas of Bodnath and Swayambhunath, as well as golden Buddhas. On the same day, we will receive all necessary permissions before the motorcycling tour that is scheduled for the next morning.

We will set off from Kathmandu and take a 200-kilometer road along the paths at the foothills of the Himalayas to the tourist mecca – the tropical city of Pokhara. We will definitely get a stunning panoramic view of the majestic Himalayan ridge there. In fact, before I conducted the world’s first motorcycle expedition to Lo Manthang, one could reach the remote areas in one of two ways – on foot by mountain trails and this way takes weeks to conclude, or by helicopter, while the flight conditions here are considered one of the most difficult in the world due to strong winds, clouds of sand and dense clouds in the afternoon. As a result, all flights are carried out exclusively in the early morning.

The next morning we will rise to Sarangkot, an overwhelming observation point. We will also cross one of the longest suspension pedestrian bridge in the world. In the evening we are going to bathe in the thermal springs.

The next day will be very eventful and will please our eyes with the views of the eight-thousander Daulagari and the seven-thousander Nilgiri. We will cross the Himalayan ridge along the deepest gorge in the world, moving along an extreme mountainous dirt road. After a really hard enduro trip along the full-flowing channel of the Kali Gandaki River, we will arrive in the village of Kagbeni, which is the starting point of our off-road motorcycle tour to the Upper Mustang.

In Kagbeni, the Tibetan monk Phuntchok Khyantsa Lama will join and accompany us in Mustang. Everywhere we will meet eerie charms over the entrances to the houses – goat heads and horns of yaks, brooms and clay seals. People actually live mainly on subsistence farming, meat is dried hanging down from the ceilings, and tsampa based on flour and tea with butter from yak milk make up a meager food ration.  A checkpoint is located here, warning black and yellow shields are installed with the warning: “Attention! You are entering a closed territory! ”

On the sixth day, we will arrive at the beginning of the trail to the Torangla Pass at an altitude of 4500m and from this point, we will take the road to Muktinath. But first, we will have a walking tour around the village of Kagbeni and visit a temple. We will ride up to the Torang La hiking pass at an altitude of 5450m. and cross another pedestrian bridge over a deep gorge. We will spend the night with friends Maitreya and Nira in their guest house.

 

On the last day of the first week of our motorcycle tour, we will ride through the territory of the Upper Mustang. The mountains around are amazing, and the sky is so blue that you begin to doubt the reality of what you see. Little has changed over the past centuries. At the kilometer depth of the gorge, the Kali Gandaki river runs. The road is difficult as there are a lot of steep ups and downs, cliffs, rocky tali. We will see clear signs of an ancient ocean floor. You can even find fossilized mollusks (100 million years old) there.  In the evening we will reach the village of Gami and stay overnight in the best guest house available.

Early in the morning we will be on our way to the capital city of the desired kingdom. Militarized patrols will check our documents, permits and passports carefully, and also warn us about the consequences of unauthorized entry. The Windy pass at an altitude of 4000m. is ahead. At the pass we will get the magnificent view of the forbidden city of Lo Manthang. We will spend the night in the best hotel in Lo Manthang. It is going to be a relaxing and peaceful evening.

Our next day we will devote to excursions and communication with local residents and our steel horses will be serviced by mechanics. It is one of the few places where you can buy authentic Tibetan culture items, amulets, various medicines based on herbs and resins that cannot be found anywhere else. Night in the royal palace of Lo Manthang.

On the tenth day, we will reach the border with China. We will ride up to the Tibetan plateau with stunning panoramas of the Himalayas. Our friend Phuntchok will perform an ancient Tibetan ritual ceremony. And we will take part in this mystical rite. On the way back we will visit Chhoser village with the temple and school of young monks. And our group will also ascend to the oldest man-made multi-storey complex of caves which dates back over 2800 years! We will stay overnight again in the royal palace of Lo Manthang.

It might seem that we have already seen everything possible, but it is not without reason that our motorcycle expedition is the most extensive and long-lasting one.

On the 11th day, we will reach the yak shepherds’ camp and there we will be treated with real Tibetan medicinal tea, dairy products and meat of these majestic artiodactyls. And the culmination of the day will be one of the most mystical rites on the planet – Heavenly burial (jhator or bya gtor). It is also called “giving charity to birds,” because according to Tibetan beliefs, at the time of death, the soul of a person leaves the body, and since a person at all stages of life should benefit the outside world, the body of the deceased is dismembered and fed to birds as the last manifestation of true charity. This is the only possible burial rite for most Tibetans, an exception is made only for Dalai and Panchen Lamas, whose bodies are embalmed and covered with gold.

It will not be the last surprise of the day as in the evening the monk will present a unique experience to each member of the group – he will conduct an individual ritual of Puja that will fill our bodies and souls with a stream of great grace.

On the twelfth day, we will leave this highly spiritual and mystical land. We will say goodbye to Phuntchok and set off. Despite the fact that we will ride along the same road we will see the surrounding beauty of nature from a different angle. On the following days, we will visit 108 holy sources and a huge statue of Buddha.

We will end our motorcycle journey in Pokhara. There we will have enough time for activities which are not included in our motorcycle tour cost – paragliding, flights on small planes to the Himalayas and others. We will visit the mountain museum in Pokhara and enjoy the views of the highest mountain peaks in the world again. Then we will fly back to Kathmandu and have souvenir shopping in Thamel’s shops. You have done it. And a tiny part of the Himalayas and Tibet will stay in your mind and your heart forever…

Historical heritage of ancient Lycia: ‘Sea to Sky’ motorcycle tour in Turkey

Ancient Lycia

Why the Lycian Way on enduro motorcycles, what was the ancient Lycia, who were the ancient Lycians and why is it important to visit this area at least once in your life?

So, Lykia is the historical name of the Tekke peninsula that forms the southern coast of the Turkish Riviera in the Mediterranean Sea. Everything here is strewn with the remains of ancient civilizations, the myths about which we read in our childhood.

The Lycian Way on moto with Vladlen Ovchar

The Lycians

The Lycians, once ruled the area, were one of the first civilizations with a developed democracy, they were an independent and even militant nation with a developed mode of life, artistic art and a fairly high standard of living. The strategic location provided them with unique opportunities for maritime trade. After Persian rule, the Lycians welcomed Alexander the Great and absorbed Greek culture, during the time of dominance of the Roman Empire, they made another leap in the development of culture and transport infrastructure, as well as urban development, filling up cities with theaters, baths, forums, temples, and ceremonial gates. And having fallen under the influence of the Byzantine Empire at the 4th century, Christian temples also appeared on the Lycian hills.

The entire region is replete with sarcophagi, rock tombs, amphitheaters and other remains of ancient cities, making it one of the most popular places on the planet for adventure seekers and just lovers of the natural beauty of the Mediterranean. Here forestry predominates, juniper is mixed with strawberry trees and carob and give way to peanut pines and cedar at higher rocks.

Kate Clow, the founder

Based on the rich historical heritage, the British amateur historian Kate Clow marked the Lycian trail based on Roman roads, old footpaths, and mule trails, and today it is included in the list of “10 best in the world of walking routes.”

It connects 19 ancient cities of the region by stoned underfoot trail laid mainly along the roads built by the Romans through the coastal massifs of the Taurus Mountains. Riding down to emerald coves surrounded by orange groves of valleys and climbing up the rocky mountain paths in the clouds, our route will pass along this breathtaking trail dotted with the objects of the historical heritage of UNESCO. I’ll tell you more in more detail about each of them on the way of our motorcycle tour “Sea to Sky: the Lycian Way” in further blog publications.

The Lycian Way motorcycle tour in Turkey: what’s included:

The Lycian motorcycle tour price is based on a clear understanding of all the direct and indirect expenses, there won’t be any hidden fees. The calculation is made directly by the author of the tour who personally driven the route long before leading the first group. The level of English knowledge freely allows to recruit tourists from every corner of the globe, and the guide will be happy also to practice French with participants from the respective countries. Ukrainian and Russian languages as a matter of course.

Helydonia cape top

Our price includes accommodation in Antalya before the start and after the end of the tour, as well as all the stopovers for a night in the resort villages of the Turkish Riviera according to the tour program. For the most part, it will be small guest houses or bungalows, where fresh linen and hot showers are guaranteed, as well as recreation areas in the garden with citrus trees. In the spring, the tour dates fall on the end of the orange and lemon season, in the fall we are waiting for freshly squeezed pomegranate juice.

In each accommodation participants are offered standard Turkish breakfasts (Kahvaltı, which means “kahve altı” – “before coffee”), which usually consist of:

On the one hand, breakfasts won’t include a wide variety of dishes due to the fact that, because of the climatic conditions, our tours are held in spring and autumn outside the tourist season. In turn, on the other hand, it will have a positive effect on restaurant pricing, where we will have lunches and dinners.

Moto tour in Turkey: the price includes rental of light dual-purpose enduro motorcycles where our choice has long been focused on the Honda CRF 250L. This is the best model for novice riders, it is easy to steer, it is powerful enough, relatively light and fitting for riding on long distances thanks to a comfortable motorcycle saddle, a long-stroke suspension, large disc brakes (important in the mountains on serpentines), with weather protection and a sufficient fuel tank capacity. Additionally, our motorcycles are equipped with custom-made bumpers to protect a cooling radiator and plastic from damage when dropped. We also equip you with a protective moto helmet and a waterproof bag for personal items on the trunk. Refueling along the route is also included. What of additional body-guard equipment should be taken into account is described in detail in the article “What’s not included and ought to be borne in mind”.

Olympos antien city

Regardless of the level of driving skills, no one is immune from falls and injuries, so we insure your lives and health for all the trip duration. Our travel is classified by insurance companies as “irregular sports activities abroad”, so it isn’t ordinary travel insurance, but “Sport class D” that includes two-wheeled vehicles driving and emergency evacuation in cases of emergency.

Also, the tour price includes entrance tickets to ancient cities and other attractions according to the tour program, namely:

Ucagiz Simena

And of course, the highlights awaiting you:

During this week you are waiting for a really rich excursion program and enduro off-road travel, the really active holiday. Let’s ride, explore, discover with #motopilgrims #adventours!

Important:

the guide reserves the right to make changes to the moto tour program, if this is required by the safety conditions of participants, for reasons beyond his control, such as, for example, difficult weather conditions, emergency situations on the road or any other force majeure.  Also, the guide cannot be responsible for the actions / or inaction of third parties, such as airlines, local authorities, and residents. And finally, the compliance with the counties’ laws and legal regimes by the tour participants themselves isn’t our area of responsibility.