Alat (Azerbaijan) to Kuryk (Kazakhstan) by ferry

This guide covers the eastbound ferry journey from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan. For other routes across the Caspian Sea, see the Caspian Sea ferry overview.

Important: As of September 2026, non-Azerbaijani citizens cannot enter Azerbaijan on this ferry. This guide therefore does not apply to the reverse Kuryk–Alat journey.¹

The Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) operates freight ferries that carry passengers on some sailings. These are not conventional passenger ferries: there is no dependable timetable, and departure depends on cargo operations, weather, port conditions, and whether the sailing accepts passengers.

Journey at a glance

1. Travel from Baku to Alat port, about 70 km south of the city. The Alat port guide explains how to get there by taxi or public transport.
2. Book online if desired. At Alat, exchange the booking code for a vessel-specific paper ticket and wait until passengers are called to board.
3. Take the port transfer and complete Azerbaijan's exit formalities.
4. Board the ferry and sail across the Caspian Sea to Kuryk.
5. After docking, collect your passport and complete Kazakhstan's entry formalities.
6. Travel roughly 100 km by road from the port to Aktau. The Kuryk port guide explains the arrival process and onward transport options.

See the ASCO operator guide for information about booking and collecting tickets, contacting ASCO, and using the assigned vessel to estimate when a sailing may depart.

Booking and ticket collection

ASCO offers online booking in both directions between Alat and Kuryk. This guide covers the Alat–Kuryk direction. The online purchase does not reserve a departure date or a particular vessel, and the emailed booking confirmation is not the final boarding ticket.^{1 2}

Before departure, present the 16-digit booking code and your passport at the ASCO ticket office near Alat port's entrance. Staff will exchange the reservation for a paper ticket showing the assigned vessel. Check that the route and vessel name are correct, keep the paper ticket accessible, and use the vessel name when asking staff about boarding or checking ASCO's tracker.^{1 3 4}

Fares and additional costs

As of 3 September 2026, ASCO published the following one-way passenger fares for Alat–Kuryk. Meals are included.¹

The fare category does not guarantee that a particular cabin will be available or private. Confirm the cabin arrangement when collecting the final ticket.

ASCO's published vehicle tariffs on the same date were USD 460 for a passenger car and USD 110 for a two-wheel motorcycle. Loading and unloading are charged separately, and the driver's passenger fare is not included for small vehicles.⁵ Ask ASCO for a complete quote for your vehicle.

Also budget for travel from Baku to Alat and from Kuryk to Aktau.

Timetable and journey time

There is no fixed passenger timetable. Waiting at Alat may last from a few hours to several days, and loading, weather, berth availability, or repairs can delay the ship further. The sea crossing itself can take about a day in good conditions, but the complete Baku-to-Aktau journey may take several days.^{3 6 4}

Keep your plans flexible and do not base a non-refundable onward connection on an estimated departure or arrival time. The ASCO operator guide explains how to contact the company and track the vessel named on your ticket.

At Alat and boarding

Passengers normally collect their paper ticket near the port entrance, pass security, and wait until their destination or vessel is called. Port transport then takes them to customs and immigration before boarding. The order of these steps and the waiting conditions can vary, so stay alert and keep food, water, warm clothing, medicine, and essential documents with you.

See the Alat port guide for detailed directions from Baku, ticket-office information, boarding procedures, and waiting-room facilities.

On board

Cabins, cleanliness, deck access, meals, and other facilities vary considerably between ships and sailings. Meals are generally included, but bring extra food and water as well as toiletries, a warm layer, charging equipment, and offline entertainment. English may be limited, and mobile service may disappear away from the coast.

See the ASCO ships guide for the vessels used on Caspian crossings and recent passenger experiences aboard them.

Arrival in Kuryk and travel to Aktau

After docking, passengers may remain aboard for several hours while passports and vehicle paperwork are processed. You will then leave under instruction, complete Kazakhstan's entry formalities, and continue from the remote port to Aktau. Scheduled public transport is not confirmed, so arranging or sharing a taxi is usually the least uncertain option.

See the Kuryk port guide for the full arrival procedure, terminal facilities, taxi guidance, reported prices, and backup options if no transport is available.

Sources

1. https://asco.az/en/pages/66; ASCO passenger fares, ticket-office contacts, ticket collection and refund information; accessed 4 September 2026 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

2. https://cabinet.asco.az/passenger-ticket; ASCO passenger booking interface, currently limited to Alat–Kuryk–Alat; accessed 4 September 2026 ↩

3. https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=61109#p61109; report by Stanbridge2, 15 October 2024 ↩ ↩²

4. https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=68112#p68112; report by Yann, 16 May 2026, describing a crossing earlier that month ↩ ↩²

5. https://asco.az/en/pages/3/140; ASCO vehicle transportation tariffs; accessed 4 September 2026 ↩

6. https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=64493#p64493; report by RFM2027, 20 June 2025, describing a 1–5 June 2025 journey ↩