Hello,
This summer we plan to do some alternative Transsiberian journey. In stead of going straight from Moscow untill Ulaanbator, we plan to get off the train in Novosibirsk, travel through the Russian Altay, crossing at Tashanta, and go overland to ULB or Erlian, where we will get train/bus to Beijing.
While the Russian part is already arranged (with help from some Russian friends), we still are thinking about what to see and do in Mongolia. The problem is that we only have about 10 days to get from the west to the center, so we'll definetely have to make some choices.
The biggest choice is if we go south or north to ULB (or possible Erlian if we go south). Which route would you advice and what are the must-see and must do things on the route. We like more or less adventurous things and contact with the locals, so some hints in this direction are welcome.
Ruben
Have you looked at maps of Mongolia?
I am not sure that you have time to go South from Tashanta. Normally a trip from UB to the Gobi desert desert and back takes about 5 days.
Were you planning to have a guide or to take public transport? the answer will make a difference.
Ruth
Hi Ruben,
Ruth is right - it really depends what kind of trip you are thinking of.
The bus from Olgii to Ulanbataar takes 40-42 hours - that's about 1/5 of the time you have in Mongolia. It goes by the south route through Khovd, Altai, Bayankhongor, ...
If you want to get a feeling of Mongolia I can suggest 2 things:
1. Go by the route the bus takes but do it slowly, stopping in the towns on the way and mixing with the locals. very few tourists stop in these towns. You can also do some detours to smaller villages on the way. Keep spare time because transportation is pretty tricky.
2. Take about a week in the western region - Bayan Olgii. I think the scenery there is one of the best in Mongolia. You can have a great trek in the Altai Tavan Bogd national park. After that you can take the bus to Ulanbataar.
Good luck and good travels.
If you want specific details or ideas ask on the thread or PM me.
Yoni
Hi Ruth and Yoni,
At the moment plans are not fully concretised, so both the public transport/UAZ tours variants are open. However, probably we will do big parts of the trip with a guide, to "maximize" our 10 days in Mongolia. Plan 1 sounds very interesting but as we are with a group of 7 friends (7 different diary's makes the schedule as tight as it is), it might be rather tricky. I was already considering your second plan, but somehow I was looking to incorporate the Gobi.In a way it's a pitty to miss the Gobi, but probably this would have lead into too much driving time.
Could you therefore give me maybe some detailed ideas about which tour(s)/areas are a must-do starting from Olgii? Potanin/Tsagaan Gol/horse trek/eagle hunters? It all looks amazing, but it might be interesting to know some experiences.
thanks a lot.
Ruben
Hi Ruben,
I walked 2 summers ago from a bit east of the Potanin base camp (about where the dirt road ends) south to Khoton Nuur and then hitch-hiked back to Olgii. I got to where I started with a driver from Olgii that dropped us off and went back. We were 3 and it took us 5 days. The trek was really great - just walking there and meeting locals. We were invited to almost every ger we past by on the way.
I didn't do horse riding so I cant help with that and you won't be in eagle hunting season.
I don't have information about guides so I can't help with that either. The tourist information center in Olgii which is just north of the main square was very helpful and helped us arrange the driver and the border permits which you will need in that area.
7 people is quite a lot. I believe you can hire 2 jeeps or squeeze in a van and make a longer tour.
If i'm allowed to express my personal view, trying to drive all the way to the gobi just to say you've been there is not the best way to experience Mongolia nor the Gobi. Discovering Mongolia through the people is much more interesting and getting a feel of the Gobi by trying to get to a distant village in it (and either getting there or not) is a much more potent experience than driving through the desert in a car. I especially believe Mongolia can and should be experienced this way since it is still relatively very untraveled and the people are very warm and welcoming.
But again - that's me and I totally respect and understand any other way of travel.
Good travels
Yoni
Hi Rubenio, I am planning to do the exact same trip now, with around 10 days also...when are you leaving? Let me know how it goes?
Also how are you planning to get across the tashanta border? We are a group of 4 planning to hitch a ride over...
Hi Sam,
We are leaving at the end of July, so still some time to go. Maybe you'll be there first?
I spent already 2 summers in the Russian Altay (work reasons) so I got to know some Russians who want to drive us somewhat around. They'll drop us off in Olgii, so normally border problems will be limited. They told me, that as Russians they can rather easily cross the Mongolian border (with some paperwork). People who live in the Kosh Agatch Region however can go without restrictions across the border. (better check this somewhere). As such you should rather easily find some transport (taxi/truck) at the black market in Kosh Agatch to Tsagaangol (although a free ride with 4 will be more difficult), probably the few hostels in KA can arrange it. Last year one of our team took a taxi from the market in KA to Gorno Altaisk for 6000 roebels.
Greetz
Ruben
Ah ok, yeh we will be there first...probably the first half of July. Ah thats great that you have your driver already sorted out! Do you have any advice on what to do in Russian Altay? Travel Recommendations/Highlights etc. We are also on some kind of time limit, but would be nice to take a few excursions whilst in the Russian Altay, even if it justs camping a few miles off the road and soaking it all up!
mmm we are prepared to pay a bit to get over the border so hopfully it works out. We're two boys and two girls so we can split down if necessary!
Its getting closer!
It depends a bit on what you want, but these are some ideas, which you might include in your trip.
-Take a Russian Banja, in the nice and hot public banja with beer in Gorno Altaisk. While on the road to the south, try also some local banja (if you never did it). Always fun!
-Go walk next to the Aktru glaciers in the mountain Range south of the Kuray steppe. you can camp also up there at the base of the glaciers, but it is nicer to go back and camp in the Kuray steppe and enjoy an amazing sunrise.
-Raft on the Katun
-Spend a night in Kosh Agatch and take a swim at the local 'beach'
-visit Karakol valley
...
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