Update about the Gobi.
From Ulaanbataar there is now asphalt up to Bayandali (via Dalanzadgad)
Unfortunately parts of the road between Dalanzadgad and Bayandali is already damaged by the heavy rains this summer, but these are just very short stetches. So it is still only a one hour drive. (But turn off to Yolin Am)
From Dalanzadgad to Bulgan (flaming cliffs and petroglyphs) is washboarding but managable.
From Bulgan area to Khongoryn Els takes quite long, maybe 4 hours.
From Khongoryn Els to Bayandali takes 4 hours (for 100km!) and there is lots of traces from the rain, who cut away new ditches in the track. Some of them are impossible even with a 4x4, but soon enough you see where to go, where they made a new path. Just keep paying attention!
This is the road in OSM that stays North of the sand dunes.
This is also the round that the tour companies make in probably 4 to 5 days.
We drove from the "Middle route" to UB and then Gobi, so we we had good asphalt. A lot of people try to go from South or Middle route directly to Gobi but from what I hear those are very bad roads.
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