Mongolia Border Crossing - Erdeenstav (Borzya to Choybalsan Rail)

Reportedly since May 2004 the border crossing at Ereen Tsav in Dornod province is now a permanent highway checkpoint open five days a week, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This does not mean that you can take the train across or even that you can take a bus or car across at this point because I believe that the Russians have made their side of this border a restricted area which requires a special border permit.

See this thread for more information: Ereentsav border crossing

There would appear to be a railway spur that goes across this border, but the Russian Railways website does not show any trains operating through the border town on Solovevsk. Also this spur does not connect to Ulan Bator.

Rethink your plans.

If you are looking for adventure and have more time, and are willing to miss the Lake Baikal area, consider taking the train from Moscow to Barnaul and the bus to Gorno Altaisk and then other transport across the border from the Altai Republic of Russia to the Bayan-Ulgii province of Mongolia at Tsagaan-Nuur. Search the TT as there are several threads discussing this route including this one: Siberia to Mongolia border crossings

Then spend your time traveling across Mongolia to UB.

If you are willing to pay for it, I suspect that you can find a driver with vehicle to take you most anywhere. It will be expensive if you are on your own and plan to travel far.

For horse back riding trips, try stepperiders.com

Ruth

Edited by: everbrite

Thanks alot for that Ruth, that really has changed my plans - sounds great! From looking at the given link, it looks like I have to hitch a ride over the border. Have you done this route before? Seems fairly easy to hitch a ride from most peoples comments. Are the buses to Gorno Altaisk regular or not?

Seems like a great way to get to ulaanbaatar, and best of all, it means no back-tracking. There are 4 of us so that will atleast bring the price down for individuals, I just hope it doesn't create a problem in finding a truck with room for 4!

Thanks,

Sam

I have traveled in Altai but not to or across the border. I did so back in 2003 before this area became restricted for foreigners and locals.

I am not sure that it will be all that easy with 4 people.

There is regular bus service from Barnaul and Biisk to Gorno Altaisk. Be sure to register there.

From Gorno Altaisk there is some public transport but not all that much. This area is popular with Russian tourists. There are lots of summer camps here and places to vacation but you won't find too many English speakers or foreigners.

I am not sure how easy or difficult it will be to locate transport to and across the border with a group of 4. Remember that most people crossing the border will be unlikely to have empty space for 4 people with their gear.

Ruth

mmm, I will PM a few people see what they think...It maybe possible to split up and meet up on the mongolian side.

If not, we maybe forced to use this instead; http://eng.eurazia.su/transport

Hopfully there is enough traffic and willing drivers to do this...

Did you get the train to Barnaul from Moscow? Or a bus from Novosibirsk?

In 2003, I traveled from Moscow to Kazan, from Kazan to Yekaterinburg, from Yekaterinburg to Novosibirsk and from there to Barnaul. My daughter and I spent the day in Kazan and Novosibirsk and several days with friends in Yekaterinburg. Our friends from Moscow, flew from there to Barnaul. We flew back.

Ruth

On paper this border is supposed to work. But I have only heard of one traveler to attempt a cross here and he was turned back. Even if it did work, you would not cross on the train. The crossing is on a road.

If you want to visit eastern Mongolia its now possible to fly to/from Choibalsan and Hailar, just over the border in China. EZ Nis airlines (a Mongolian company) offers the flight and for the next two months the price to fly Choibalsan-Hailar is just 49,000 MNT (about $35) each way. The flights are on Sunday and Wednesday. The customs situation in Choibalsan is still getting worked out but it should be possible to make this flight starting in mid-April.

Mike