Russia Altai to Western Mongolia

I'm thinking of trying to go from Russia to Olgii, Mongolia for a climb of Tavan Bogd next summer but unsure how to get there without my own car. I could go via Irkutsk/Ulan-Ude to Ulaan Bataar then spend way too many days in jeeps which would be painful and not cheap. But there may be a bus thru the Altai.

From Wiki:

"There is a bus from Tsagaannuur, Mongolia to Astana, Kazakhstan that passes through Altai Krai and the Altai Republic."

Where is Tsagaanuur? I put it in google maps and it locates Gurvansaikhan, Mongolia instead. Are they the same?

1)does that bus still operate ?
2) could I pick it up in Kosh Agach?
3) does this travel close to Olgii?

Cheers.

Jon

take a flight from UB to Olgy!

Yes, I'm aware of that option but if I'm Russian Altai, like around Gorno-Altaisk, it is makes more sense to me to go to the Mongolian border near Kosh Agach than going all the way to UB so I can almost entirely double back.

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That border is supposedly open to everyone. I actually got a reply when I posted on the Russia branch:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/europe-eastern-europe-the-caucasus/Russia/russia-altai-to-western-mongolia?page=1#post_21510549

In the Altai has a border checkpoint between Russia (Tashanta) and Mongolia (Tsagannuur). He has the status of an international checkpoint. Citizens of any country can cross border there. Bun there are regular bus between sides, only local transport (taxi, minivans etc). Between Tashanta and Kosh Agach too.
"here is a bus from Tsagaannuur, Mongolia to Astana, Kazakhstan that passes through Altai Krai and the Altai Republic"
Seebs to be fake, because 1)Tsagaannuur is very little point to send bus there. The destination can be Ulgiy, not Tsagaannuur 2) there were a bus from Karaganda to Ulgiy, but for several years, this bus does not go.

Thanks, Biser, and for the message too.

But I'm a bit confused - there is transport from Kosh Agach to the border (i.e., minivans)? And again from the border to Olgii?

Did you ever find out the answer to this? I would super love to leave Mongolia via Olgii, through Russia and onto Kazakhstan.

Did you check what I wrote above in #4?

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