Can yo tell me does train or bus transportation take me from Irkutsk to a border crossing to USA ,Alaska . I will be traveling north of Ulaan Baatar in the month of May,08. PLease tell me information for the russian end of this trip . I have visa for 30 days arranged but need help with travel food and hotel ideas for the trip . Also can I cross the border into Alaska on arrival I have a USA passport. thanks
1
spoerle
As an American you should be able to read a printed guide and to study an atlas.
Where did you get your education?
2
everbrite
There is NO land connection between Russia and the USA in Alaska. There is a body of water between them called the Bering Strait which is NOT passable.
The parts of Russia that are closest to the USA are not reachable overland from the rest of Russia. The train in Russia does NOT travel that far north. There are no buses or permanent roads in most of that part of Russia either as everything is built on permafrost.
There is some information on my website about travel from Russia to Alaska here: Crossing the Bering Strait. Also check #23 of the New RU Sticky. However, I am pretty sure that there is no overland route and that there are no longer flights between Alaska and Magadan. Mavial was the last airline operating between Alaska and Far East Russia and they filed for bankruptcy in late 2006.
There is a newer thread on the TT about the possibility of airline travel directly from the Russian Far East to Alaska. See this thread: Alaska to Kamchatka but unless you plan to fly and pay large amounts for the privilege, forget this idea.
Ruth
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