Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Best way to get from Arvaikheer/Khakhorin to Olgii

Country forums / North-East Asia / Mongolia

Hello.
I plan to go hike in the 8 lakes and after that I would like to get to Olgii.
What is the best way to do it? are there any flights/bus that continue from those cities to the west or I have to go back to UB?
What about hitchhiking?

Thanks a lot!!

Kfir =)

Hi Kfir (keywords: Kharkhorin, Arvaikheer)

Hiking in the 8 lake region will be a wonderful experience.
Unfortunately traveling west will not be easy.
The simple answer is to go back to UB (7-8 hours).
There is an airport in Kharkhorin and in Arvaikheer, but no scheduled flights go there at this time.
There are buses, trucks and vans going west passing through Arvaikheer, but in most cases they are packed full. If you have the time you may try hitching. Try the gas station.

Share your hiking experiences.

Dan

1

thanks for the answers.
Well I cant afford a van or jeep tour only for myself, and as this is already off season .. it will be hard to arrange a group. Ill try my best to hitch hike.

by the way, from where it will be more easy form Khakhorin or from Arvaikheer. and if I can ask one more question - if I start by foot from Khakhorin and want to go to the 8 lakes and from there to Arvaikheer..how many days it suppose to take? it seems like an easy walk route. will it be more easy to hitch hike/ jump on a tour van to the 8 lakes from Khakhorin or from Arvaikheer?

Thanks a lot

Kfir

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l'm planning to hitchhike from UB to Olgii as well. Is this a bad idea? How much time should I allot for this to take (I know it's impossible to say for certain)?

Has anyone hitchhiked this path before, and how did it go?

Thanks for any light you can shed!
-Steve

3

Hi ................................................ (key words: Arvaikheer, Kharkhorin, 8 lakes, UB, Olgii)

Q: by foot from Khakhorin to 8 lakes and from there to Arvaikheer..how many days it suppose to take?
A: 10-15 days of easy walking. Will be less if you manage to combine part hitching and part walking.

Q: where it will be more easy form Khakhorin or from Arvaikheer (to 8 lakes)
A: from Arvaikheer it is shorter. From Kharkhorin it is easier navigating along the river, with slightly better hitching opportunities.

Q: it seems like an easy walk route (kharkhorin - 8 lakes - Arvaikheer)
A: it is not difficult, but there is an issue of supplies. You should be able to carry a few days of food supplies, and sufficient water.

Q: will it be more easy to hitch hike/ jump on a tour van to the 8 lakes from Khakhorin or from Arvaikheer?
A: There are more tours reaching Kharkhorin, but very few this time of year will be traveling to 8 lakes.

Q: l'm planning to hitchhike from UB to Olgii as well. Is this a bad idea?
A: if you have no time limitations, it is a great way to travel. Expect to pay truck drivers for the ride.

Q: How much time should I allot for this to take (UB to Olgii)
A: Three days if you manage to get a direct ride on the first day. I would expect 7-10 days to be more feasible.
Expect full days of waiting for nothing.

Enjoy the ride

Dan

4

Hi .......................... (Arvaikheer)

Trade fair in Arvaikheer
Arvaikheer will have a larger than usual amount of traffic during 21-23 September 2012 due to a trade fair in Arvaikheer of local manufacturers and businesses.
This might help with your hitchhike planning. If you happen to be in town it might be worthwhile to visit the fair.

Dan

5

Thanks Dan!

6