Cycling In Turkmenistan And Iran - Border Crossing - Mary To Mashad

km

Turkmenistan to Iran – Mary to Mashad (413 km)

0

Get dropped on the edge of town, just before the main road to Saraghs (200m before the roundabout) there is a market and cafes, very friendly. Then turn left at the roundabout

4

Arch – end of Mary, cafe nearbye

12

Trees on left – plenty of grassy campsites

30

Last of trees for resting and camping

50

Cafe/Restaurant in big group of trees on left

68

Beginning of Haus Hans – row of cafes along the main road, first one is also a hotel

69

Last cafe, road crosses a large channel and bends right. From here there should be a road that head directly to Saraghs, but we were told it was rubbish and to go down the main road. We think that it is probably OK but we couldn't find it because everyone told us to go the other way.

84

Railway station / small cafe and canal

102

Road to left – opposite a dome shaped brick building, the surface looks rubbish but this is the short cut road to Saraghs. It wiggles but improves and saves you about 50km

102.3 If you see the large canal you've gone too far, but this is a well hidden place for camping although the mosquitoes could be hell. Go back and take the short cut road. 118.5 You come out on the main road to Saraghs 119

Cafe and shops & a well with good water

138

We camped at the first place we could see no houses – just behind the dunes. There's only a brief area that's OK.

152

Good places to camp again

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Town on right; 171 Town on left

177

Passport control

191

Town arch - Saraghs

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Passport check turn right at daft monument 500m later

200

Reach Turkmenistan border post, lots of stupid forms & signing of currency declaration – make sure it says less than when you entered – 1 hour

201

Bridge over nothing takes you to Iran, all the customs stuff and passport control is simple but not fast. Closed for lunch etc. There is a bank in the building for changing money with OK rates

202.5 Turn right out of border area. You are now in Sarakhs 204

Reach main road, go left – there is a little shop on the right selling sandwiches (Iranian style and drinks) This road takes you to Mashad. From now on there are many signs giving the distances to Mashad. They are almost NEVER right and sometimes miss 20km out. Don't believe them.

236

Gonbadli town starts – shops and food

239

Good camping possible in trees on the right

261

Shukhar village - shops. Turn left for the Caravanserai Robat e Sharaf – a must of it's a Friday. 5Km along a very hilly road there are loads of picnicking Iranian families.

274

End of first part of climb (750m) then flattish grassland, lots of places to camp

278

Cafe and shop

299

Top of pass (1000m)

303

Mazdavand (700m) Shops and water. From here the road gradually climbs all the way to Mashad. The road is generally good quality and not very steep anywhere. It passes through a wide valley and then across a highish plain to Mashad.

331

Small village with shops; 337 Small village with shops; 341 Small village with shops

361

Tourist town with shrine – lots of shops

393

Sign saying you are in Mashad – You are not. You have at least 20km to get near the centre.

413

Mashad (1000m)