New border zone regulation/ Altai concern

1

I used to wish my country had a great leader like Putin!

But day by day I start to think that Russia is no better than the USA, just another empire.

All this beurocracy is getting ridiculous! Welcome back to the Sovietunion! But only the bad aspects of it, not the good ones! :-)

2

tend to agree with you...

Best regards- Igor Fedyaev

http://www.adventuretravel.ru/eng

3

ok so you say I can't enter the altai region and travel there if I come in Jul ?
I can't see my self getting permissions especially when me and 2 friends are individual travelers.
is it really such a restrict law or is it a bit flexible ?
I think I'm just going to come and if someone will tell me something I'll just say "oops didn't know sorry" and offer them 400 rubels for being so nice:)

4

lavia85 - Please read what is written. The following areas can be visited without a special permit but you still must register in Gorno Altaisk.
* Aktru area (Northern Chuya Range), Maashei Gorge and Kurai Range (trekking, mountaineering, horse riding and archaeological sightseeing) - most developed facilities for such a remote place here.
* Chuya, middle Katun, Chulyshman, Bashkaus rivers- rafting, fishing, archaeological sightseeing
* Teletskoe lake
* Shavlo Lakes (Katunskiy Range)- trekking, horse riding
* Beltyr village area (trekking, archaeological sightseeing, horse riding)

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.

5

see also http://dontmind.freeshell.org/trekking/altai/#permit for what happens if you come there and don't know anything 'bout any borderzone...

6

Do you know if this regulation apply only to people willing to enter this region and already being in Russia or also to people in Mongolia and willing to enter Russia through the Tsagaanuur - Tashanta border ? (sorry but I don't understand russian, and I can't fully read the fsb paper since the google translation is rather incomplete).

This is basically what I planned to do before seeing this piece of information.The fact is that I am currently in Mongolian and I have a russian visa. As after Mongolia, my goal is to reach Barnaul in Russia, I don't actually plan to visit the Altai Border zone, but only cross it, as fast as I can (it will probably take 2 days and 1 night to gett of the zone cause of lack of public transport in Kosh-Agach). Does the fsb paper talk about some transit permit, easier to obtain ?
I really wouldn't like to find myself trapped in the no-man's-land between mongolian and russian borders, if after clearing mongolian immigration, I am denied entry into Russia, despite my visa...

I already got in tough with the company that provided me the invitation letter necessary for the russian visa and they told me they were unaware of any problems entering the Altai region. They didn't even know this fsb thing.
Tried also to contact FSB directly in english, but I doubt there'll be any answer...

Mikael

7

I have no more information than what is posted here but there have been reports at the border crossing near Chita of people being refused without having obtained a Russian border permit in advance.

OTOH there are no such reports at this border crossing though there have been no reports since this new rule was instituted in Nov 2008.

Please report back your experience.

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.

8

I am planning a trip to the Altai for the end of July that will include many of these restricted areas and I just came across this thread. Has anyone successfully applied for and received this new permit? Or has anyone traveled in the border area of the Altai recently who did not do the whole application process?

Thanks so much!

Jennifer

9

Finally, we decided to try our luck and headed to Olgii, ready to keep on to Kosh Agash afterwards (we went before to the russian consulate in UB and they said to us that they were not aware of any kind of special permit and that only a visa in order was required to get through this border).
In Olgii, we met at least 3 other couples of travellers who came through the Tashanta - Tsagaanur border (from Russia to Mongolia) with their own vehicle and no permit. They got through with no problem and didn't see any FSB checkpoint. We met another traveller, travelling with no vehicle, who actually saw a kind of checkpoint and was said he didn't need any permit as long as he stayed on the main road Gorno-Altaisk - Tashanta.
Eventually, we ourselves crossed the border on the 18 of july, as the same time than 2 other couples with their vehicle, and reached Gorno-Altaisk, out of the border zone, without seeing any checkpoint.

Hope this can help.

Mikael

10

Hello all! Just a note to let you know we made it over the border at Tashanta no problem. We talked to a travel agent in Gorno that clarified that there is no border zone along that road, only if you leave the M52 at Kosh-Agach will you have a problem.

Also, registration in Gorno-Altaisk did indeed end up being important, and our invitation letters from the internet/Moscow-based agency we used did not suffice. We've posted alot of details on how we registered that should make it MUCH quicker if you're in the same boat as we were.

Check it out on our blog under the Trip Info ->Visas, Registration & Borders section.

Cheers,

Jen