FRANCE-LAOS BY TRAIN

Anissa left Paris in September 2024 to reach Laos mostly by train. She chose an overland route to cut flights, keep a realistic pace, and document what she crossed. This section lists the main legs, key connections, and practical tips.

France → Türkiye (via Central Europe)

Most tickets were booked with Interrail.

Paris (Gare de l’Est) → Zürich — 3 hours by day train.
Zürich → Budapest — overnight train.
Budapest → Bucharest — overnight train.
Bucharest → Istanbul — overnight train.

Tip: If you know your dates, book in advance and choose sleeper or couchette cars.
Several nights seated is tiring.

Her trip inside Türkiye

Route taken: Istanbul → Muğla → Fethiye → Halfeti → Mardin → Trabzon → Hopa.

Domestic tickets are easy to book and generally affordable on obilet.com.

For small towns not listed online, asking locals at stations or bus offices worked well.

Türkiye → Georgia

If you’re not planning to spend time in Türkiye and want to head directly to Georgia.

Istanbul → Batumi (Georgia) — possible by overnight train after arriving in Türkiye.

Any city in Türkiye → Batumi — by bus (bookable on obilet.com).

Batumi → Tbilisi — trains via 12Go or the Georgian Railways site (tre.ge/en).

Georgia → Kazakhstan

This segment is the most complex due to logistics and geopolitics.

Most direct: Georgia → Russia → Kazakhstan.

Tbilisi → Vladikavkaz — bus (border crossing).

Vladikavkaz → Astrakhan — bus.

Astrakhan → Atyrau (Kazakhstan) — overnight train.

Alternative (Anissa’s choice): Georgia → Azerbaijan → Kazakhstan.

Tbilisi → Baku (Azerbaijan) — 1-hour flight (used to avoid transiting Russia).

Baku → Aktau (Kazakhstan) — 48 hour ferry across the Caspian Sea.

The passenger/cargo ferries run between Alat (the port - 70 km south of Baku) and Kuryk (near Aktau).
They don’t follow a fixed timetable: departures depend on cargo and weather, so you may wait hours or a day or two on either side. Most travelers buy tickets at the port (cheaper and more reliable than trying online), typical prices are in the USD 60–80 range for a berth, with simple meals included.

The boats rarely have many passengers, expect mainly a
group of truck drivers (often shuttling between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc.).
Typical crossings take 27–48 hours, plus extra time for immigration and customs.

Plan with flexibility, carry essentials (water, snacks, chargers),
and go directly to the port office for the latest information.

Planning note: Borders, visas, and security conditions change.
Check current rules and traveler reports before you go.

Crossing Kazakhstan by rail (Aktau → Turkistan → Almaty)

Long distances, but very doable and one of Anissa’s favorite parts.

Aktau (Mangyshlak) → Turkistan — 2 days, night train.

Turkistan → Almaty — 24 hours, night train.

Book on the official railway site (railways.kz/en) or via 12Go.
Anissa often bought tickets at stations to check real-time availability.
Prioritize sleeper berths for comfort.

Expect family travel culture on board, friendly, social, and helpful !

Kazakhstan → China

Almaty → Ürümqi — overnight bus, including the land border crossing.

Border procedures can feel strict but are usually routine
(questions about purpose of travel, occupation, route).

China → Laos

Modern rail and good city connections.

Ürümqi → Kunming — very long rail journey with changes (north-west to south of China).

Tickets via 12Go or Trip.com. Prices can be high if you book late.
(Note: China uses a single time zone, Beijing time.)

Kunming → Vientiane (Laos) — direct cross-border train.

Border checks happen during the trip.

Final note:

Reaching Laos overland (with one short flight in Anissa’s case) is possible with planning and flexibility. Your best route will depend on time, budget, visas, and safety. This page aims to give a clear starting point so each traveler can adapt the journey to their needs.eeds.