COVID-19 Update: Rescheduling the trip

18 June 2020

David & Regula

Preparations, Switzerland

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Information: The original language of this blog is German. Any other language is translated using DEEPL's machine translation (www.deepl.com), without proofreading.

Short Version:

„Due to the current situation…“ we postpone the start of the trip to probably fall or winter 2021. .

Long Version:

Short version:
“Due to the current situation…” we postpone the start of the trip to probably fall or winter 2021.

Long version:
When in January the first cases of Corona infection in China became public, we had not yet worried about the planned trip. This quickly changed as the virus spread. On our planned route, the following travel regulations are currently in effect (as of June 18, 2020):

Turkey : Entry with health check possible (temperature measurement). In case of fever, a local quarantine is ordered.
Georgia : Currently no entry as a tourist possible.
Azerbaijan : Upon entry, a 14-day compulsory quarantine in a state facility will be imposed.
Armenia : Currently no entry as a tourist possible.
Iran : A state of emergency is in effect for Khuzestan province due to Covid-19. 14-day self-isolation is mandatory.
Turkmenistan : A health check is performed upon entry (temperature measurement). If there is the slightest evidence of covid-19, quarantine in a government facility will follow.
Uzbekistan : Currently no entry as a tourist possible.
Tajikistan : Upon entry, a 14-day mandatory quarantine in a state facility is carried out.
Kyrgyzstan : Currently no entry possible.
Kazakhstan : Currently no entry as a tourist possible (currently limited until November 1, 2020).
Russia : Currently no entry as a tourist possible.
Mongolia : No entry by land possible. Entry by air is subject to a 21-day mandatory quarantine in a government facility.
China : Currently no entry possible.
Vietnam : Currently no entry as a tourist possible.
Japan : Currently no entry possible from 111 countries.

Therefore, to travel through Asia from west to east is not possible at the moment. And even if we were allowed to enter all countries with a 2-week enforced isolation, we would spend about 30 weeks in quarantine until we reach Japan. Especially, we would be happy if we would not be forced into a state institution in Tajikistan, for example … 😉

Another (important) aspect is the general travel warning of the EDA (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs): If there would be an illness or accident on the trip, our insurance could deny any help.

For these reasons, we will postpone the start of our trip probably to autumn or winter 2021.