Good info

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We came through Takesheken border into China in the reverse direction recently. Here is our route:

28-July Ulan Baataar
29-July Tsetserleg
30-July Tsahir
31-Jul Telmen
1-Aug Tayshir
2-Aug Darvi
3-Aug Manhan
4-Aug Altay
5-Aug Takesheken Border

We stayed in Ger camp in Tsetserleg, guest house in Tsahir, and then free camping for the rest of the time nearby those towns.

We were using the OSM map for Garmin. OSM map shows no track between Manhan and Takesheken border. so we were navigating through GPS positions of towns extracted from our paper map, and got through without any problem. Chinese company is building a major highway linking it to the Russian border.

There is a petrol station on the Southern route about 5 kms north of Manhan. You need to go through a creek crossing to get into Manhan. If you are heading south to the Chinese border, don't go into Manhan as there are lots of creek crossings as you leave town. A better way to head south is to ride about 2 more kms on the Southern route, and then head south next to the new highway that is being built at present. You are not allow to be on it yet.

Riding is generally not too difficult. There is one deep creek crossing near the beginning. We got through with wet gloves! A car that came after us was not so lucky and got stuck.

This is a very scenic route, got high mountain pass of 2900 metre, and temperature went down to 6 degree C. grassland, valleys, etc. you can see all the best of Mongolia there. In some part, you can ride on the new smooth still unpaved highway. Road from Altay to Bulgan is paved about halfway. Bulgan to the border is fully sealed. We managed to get 92 octane petrol all the way except in Altay where they only has 80 Octane.

We are riding BMW F800GS and KTM 990 adventure on Heidenau K60 tyres.

Thanks a million Channy, great stuff

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