Day 39, 08 July 2012 Beyneu to Aktau

Today total distance traveled 500km

The road leading from Beyneu to Aktau was one of the worst roads we had since we left rural China.

Aktau is hundreds of kilometers from anywhere else of any size, with all its water derived from desalination.

Local uranium and oil finds were the reason Aktau was created by the Soviet back in the late 50’s. As uranium mining, nuclear power and chemical operations were wound down in the 1990’s, Aktau found her new lease of life as a centre for both onshore and offshore oil thanks to recent oil and gas boom.

The first thing we did after we arrived in Aktau was to check out the ferry schedule to Baku. We have almost no information on how we are going to do it. The only thing we knew was we need to cross the Caspian in 5days time otherwise we will be behind our schedule to arrive London on 1 August 2012.

We found a run down apartment in Mikrorayon 5 area for TG6000 per night from our guide. Please contact +777 55410 380 (direct to owner) if you are interested. The place was good with clean mattresses, complete kitchen sets with fridge and running hot water.

Caspian Sea swimming!