Thorn Tree travel forum

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Wrong, since the train does in fact stop in Mongolia, you will need a transit visa. If you want to avoid a transit visa than take the #19/20 train through Manchuria. This train does NOT pass through Mongolia and crosses into Russia from Manzhouli to Zabaikalsk. If you don't want to take the through train, you can take the train to Manzhouli and then cross the border and take a train from Zabaikalsk to Chita and on to Novosibirsk.

There is NO Mongolian consulate in Novosibirsk. There are consulates in Irkutsk and Ulan Ude.

BTW I don't think that you can get two Mongolian visas in Beijing as generally you are only permitted to have one valid visa on your passport as a time.

BTW you can take the train from Novosibirks to Biisk and then travel overland through Altai. I did this a couple of years ago. If you don't speak Russian though, I would not recommend going this route alone.

I assume that then you intend to cross to Tsagaan Nuur in Bayan Ulgii province. You might want to read this thread: Russia Mongolia land borders thread.

Ruth

First check: Everbrite's travel pages, the New RU sticky,and New RU train sticky

Since I have taken the time to answer your question, it would be nice if you took the time to respond as to whether the information was helpful.