Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Northern and Central Asia
Border crossing RUS to Mong, in Altai region. Help! Border crossing RUS to Mong, in Altai region. Help!
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Like Tree7Likes

Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 27 May 2014
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2
Border crossing RUS to Mong, in Altai region. Help!
Hi,We are two norwegian guys heading for the mongolian border through Altai russia,. We are in Astana right now and just read about needing to have a permission by the FSB to go further south then kosh-agash to the mongolian border. and that it is necessary for an application in russian at least ten days in advanced.

This sounds like a nightmare!

Does anybody know anything about this? I have never heard of it before, but if its true it really messes up the trip.

Would be very grateful for any information about this!

Espen
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 27 May 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 102
As long as you stay on the main road to Tashanta, you need no border (FSB) permit.
Has the permit application improved? When we got the permit in 2011, it was application 60 days in advance for foreigners.

If you search in this forum, you find similar threads.
__________________
Cycling in Asia: Thailand to Turkey, Siberia and Central Asia
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 27 May 2014
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2
We're heading to Mongolia through Tashanta. I checked with the travel agency that handles my visas, and the special FSB permit for border zones is only need if you plan on exploring off the main transit routes.

If you're just driving through and staying on the main highway, no special permit is needed.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 28 May 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Germany
Posts: 147
You don't need one for the main road. It's 60 days for the permit if you want to go off the main road.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 30 May 2014
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3
Tashanta border crossing 21-05
We crossed the border without any problems. We had no permit. We also didn't go of the main road. The only thing at the border was that the russians asked for the customs declaration we got in Kazachstan. Luckily we didn't trow it away, so keep this declaration which you got in Kaz.

Good trip!
Pieter
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 30 May 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2014
Location: East Yorkshireman...in the Chum Phae area, Thailand
Posts: 1,342
Which border crossing did you leave Kazakhstan from??
The Shemonaikha/Zmeinogorsk or did you use the Semipalatinsk/Rubtsovsk crossing.
I was thinking of using the Shemonaikha/Zmeinogorsk crossing and go up to Petropavlovskoe then down to Ust Kan before getting back on to the highway to go to the Tashanta crossing
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 1 Jun 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
you can actually deviate off the main road. We crossed from Semey and headed east from Rubtsovsk and Kurya on minor roads.

You will know when you have gone too far off the track because there is a sign mentioning permits in Cyrillic... and English! We were stupid enough to carry on through minor villages trying to find a direct route through. We went about 20km off road east from Sentelik (sp?) but couldn't find a way through.

Adam (Short Way Round | …short on legs…short on hair…and short on cash – riding around the world the ShortWayRound!) tried again the next day but got hideously bogged about 5km further than we got the day before. We asked around and none of the locals knew a way through so we canned the idea and worked our way around instead.

Great area, beautiful part of the world.

Russian Altai Region – Taking the road less travelled from Kazakhstan to Mongolia | Sirocco Overland | Сирокко Оверленд

G
__________________
Land Rover D90
www.Siroccoverland.com | Follow us on Facebook
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 1 Jun 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2014
Location: East Yorkshireman...in the Chum Phae area, Thailand
Posts: 1,342
Quote:
Originally Posted by Griffdowg View Post
you can actually deviate off the main road. We crossed from Semey and headed east from Rubtsovsk and Kurya on minor roads.

You will know when you have gone too far off the track because there is a sign mentioning permits in Cyrillic... and English! We were stupid enough to carry on through minor villages trying to find a direct route through. We went about 20km off road east from Sentelik (sp?) but couldn't find a way through.

Adam (Short Way Round | …short on legs…short on hair…and short on cash – riding around the world the ShortWayRound!) tried again the next day but got hideously bogged about 5km further than we got the day before. We asked around and none of the locals knew a way through so we canned the idea and worked our way around instead.

Great area, beautiful part of the world.

Russian Altai Region – Taking the road less travelled from Kazakhstan to Mongolia | Sirocco Overland | Сирокко Оверленд

G
Permits??!! is this the FSB thing? Where did you head to from Kurya? I take it eventually you ended up on the R256 which takes you to the Mongolia Border Crossing
Last edited by Caps; 1 Jun 2014 at 10:31. Reason: add info
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 1 Jun 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caps View Post
Permits??!! is this the FSB thing? Where did you head to from Kurya? I take it eventually you ended up on the R256 which takes you to the Mongolia Border Crossing
This is where we ended up: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@51.2.../data=!3m1!1e3

From Google Earth it does look like there is a route through, but we had no joy.
This is well within the area requiring permits. We worked our way back north and around the mountain range back down and joined the M52 at Ust-Kan.

G
__________________
Land Rover D90
www.Siroccoverland.com | Follow us on Facebook
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 1 Jun 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2014
Location: East Yorkshireman...in the Chum Phae area, Thailand
Posts: 1,342
Quote:
Originally Posted by Griffdowg View Post
This is where we ended up: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@51.2.../data=!3m1!1e3

From Google Earth it does look like there is a route through, but we had no joy.
This is well within the area requiring permits. We worked our way back north and around the mountain range back down and joined the M52 at Ust-Kan.

G
Just had a look thx, so did you end up going through any of the places i am looking at going through?? See further up the thread

Thx
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 3 Jun 2014
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
Quote:
Originally Posted by Espen View Post
Hi,We are two norwegian guys heading for the mongolian border through Altai russia,. We are in Astana right now and just read about needing to have a permission by the FSB to go further south then kosh-agash to the mongolian border. and that it is necessary for an application in russian at least ten days in advanced.

This sounds like a nightmare!

Does anybody know anything about this? I have never heard of it before, but if its true it really messes up the trip.

Would be very grateful for any information about this!

Espen
Do yourself a favour and stop reading lonely planet. That information went out of date in 2004.
I assume its LP as they were the only people promoting this false info.

All their info in this part of the world is hopelessly out of date and inaccurate. So much so thats its farcical.

Your LP guide has its primary value as fire kindling. If you arent using it for that then you might as well be carrying a brick in your luggage as ballast.

You need a permit from border guards (which is part of FSB) if you want to turn off the highway aafter Kosh Agach. I.e if you want to take the track to Tuva or to go south towards the KZ border. You need no permit to turn off the highway BEFORE Kosh Agach or to be on the Federal Highway to the border after Kosh Agach
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 3 Jun 2014
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caps View Post
Which border crossing did you leave Kazakhstan from??
The Shemonaikha/Zmeinogorsk or did you use the Semipalatinsk/Rubtsovsk crossing.
I was thinking of using the Shemonaikha/Zmeinogorsk crossing and go up to Petropavlovskoe then down to Ust Kan before getting back on to the highway to go to the Tashanta crossing
That route is fine. Done it many times. Widely regarded as the shortest and more scenic route from Kz to MN.

Lots of waypts on that route on my HUBB waypoints collection including hotels and fuel stops.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 3 Jun 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2014
Location: East Yorkshireman...in the Chum Phae area, Thailand
Posts: 1,342
Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch View Post
That route is fine. Done it many times. Widely regarded as the shortest and more scenic route from Kz to MN.

Lots of waypts on that route on my HUBB waypoints collection including hotels and fuel stops.
Thanks a lot, I have got your waypoints download, that route it is then
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 7 Jun 2014
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
Quote:
Originally Posted by Griffdowg View Post
This is where we ended up: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@51.2.../data=!3m1!1e3

From Google Earth it does look like there is a route through, but we had no joy.
This is well within the area requiring permits. We worked our way back north and around the mountain range back down and joined the M52 at Ust-Kan.

G
From memory you are in a border zone too if you approach Ust Kan from either West or South. Ust Kan can only legally be approached on roads heading north and east. So even if a track through that area is found, theres a risk u get in trouble for it.

The Zmeinogorsk, Kurya, Petropavlovskoe, Ust Kan, Ongudai route works.

Am testing out a variation that skips Petropavlovskoe this season and goes slightly closer to border in that part of the route, but dont expect it to be any quicker
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 7 Jun 2014
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch View Post
From memory you are in a border zone too if you approach Ust Kan from either West or South. Ust Kan can only legally be approached on roads heading north and east. So even if a track through that area is found, theres a risk u get in trouble for it.

The Zmeinogorsk, Kurya, Petropavlovskoe, Ust Kan, Ongudai route works
I think that is the route we backtracked on in the end. Adam came on the same route but cut across over the mountain I think.



Sent from my GT-I8262 using Tapatalk
__________________
Land Rover D90
www.Siroccoverland.com | Follow us on Facebook
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride saralou Ride Tales 3565 3 Days Ago 18:23
Complete Central America/Mexico/Colombia Border Crossing Information sellheim Central America and Mexico 30 7 Mar 2023 00:33
Fire closes Cardenal Samoré border crossing (Lakes Region) till Jan 15-31st! arooni South America 2 14 Mar 2013 22:58
Caucasus and Central Asia - visa and border crossing info crash Northern and Central Asia 19 4 Mar 2013 17:22
Border Crossing Information for Central and South America - Sept 2012 onwards ferretface Trip Paperwork 5 22 Feb 2013 16:19

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-14
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:25.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top