Hello everyone,
I'm preparing a trip from France to Japan this summer, through Belgium, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Mongolia, and then Japan.
I will do it solo, with a KTM 1290 SA R, and have to make it happen in 5 weeks...
I know it is short, but I have some experience of "Quick long trips" ; my last one was in 2015 from Normandy to China through the Stan's and Pamir, back and forth, in 4 weeks... and I loved it
So, I'm finalizing the route and timing to Japan, and have a first set of questions about Russia to Mongolia borders.
I plan to enter Mongolia in Kjachta, coming from Ulan-Ude, and exit North-east through Ereentsav, back to Russia :
- Are both of theses two borders opened to foreign traveller's ? From what I've read, the answer seems to be yes, but any confirmation there ?
- Second question about closing of borders during the Nadaam : my curent schedule is to enter in Mongolia on July 7th, and leave in Ereentsav on July the 12th, then during Nadaam. I've read several contradictories information about closing of all the Mongolians border posts on 11 and 12 July. Does anyone confirm the closing and have any information on that ? I've emailed the french Mongolian ambassy, but no answer....

Thanks !

salut,
le naadam cette année est du 11 au 15 juillet ! frontières fermées pendant cette période

Bonjour et merci mickey76 pour l'info !
You mean that borders will be closed from July 11th to July 15th ? Meaning the last day to enter/exit is July 10th and first day fo enter/exit July 16th ?
If such, bad news for me.... Complicated to synchronize with the ferry in Vladivostok, with 1 departure per week to Sakaiminato, Japan...

I crossed both borders in 2010, with no problems. There was however an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in eastern Mongolia which meant I could not reach the Ereentsav / Solovyevsk border from the Mongolian side (I went around through Russia and crossed in the other direction).

I also know a Dutch traveller who crossed the Ereentsav / Solovyevsk border late last year without problems. Altanbulag / Kyakhta border is crossed very frequently by foreign travellers.

Not heard about borders closing for Nadaam.

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EurasiaOverland a memoir of one quarter of a million kilometres by road through all of the Former USSR, Western and Southern Asia.

Hi JMP pretty much the same plan/route as us. Although we will take much more time. We will see you fly by somewhere

Both borders are international Borders.

During Naadam most of the borders are closed, except the main border Altanbulag/Sukhbaatar ( what you name as Kjachta )
And the border to China.

all the smaller borders are closed, and also usually longer than 3 days.
Usually 5 days, so maybe Eerentsav is closed from 9-13 or 10-15

And to do the road from UB to Eerentsav on a 1290 is also a nice way to have fun

You know that you expect a lot of sandy roads??

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www.klausmotorreise.com

Smaller borders are definitely closed.

Tashanta at the western part of Mongolia for sure, and as far as I know also Eerentsav.

And they are closed usually for 5 days.

2013 it was from 9.-13. of June

And 2015 from 11 - 15. of june.

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www.klausmotorreise.com

Hi Lovetheworld,
Yep ! Would be nice to see you somewhere there ; What vehicle will you use ?

Here is my trip (to date) - "From Roc'h Trevezel to Fuji San" :





When do you plan to start your trip ?

Thanks so much for your answer klausmong1
So, it means that I have no constraints to cross my entry border in Altanbulag/Sukhbaatar, but have to leave at Ereentsav before the 9th or after the 15th... Not so easy for my schedule, but i will change my departure date accordingly, then.
Do you have the official date of the Nadaam in 2018 ? I' read 11 & 12 July ?

For the sandy roads from UB to Eerentsav, yes, I've read some infos on the net, but difficult to know excatly how it is really ; have you been there ? Is it deep sand ? I'm not a specialist of sand, but I used to have some in my previous trip to China and it was not easy but Ok with the 1290

Thanks again !

Naadam is officially always 11.-13.of june.

generally you have sand everywhere in Mongolia.
Sometimes mere, sometimes less.

I have not been this far, but there are just a few roads paved in Mongolia, around Ulaanbaatar, part of the southern route 1/3 - 1/2 and UB to Darkhan and Further Sukhbaatar or Moron / Khuvsgul

So as far as I know the road to Erentsav is not paved ( unless they started last year ) and is more or like "Piste"
That means like everywhere in Mongolia, Gravel and sand....

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www.klausmotorreise.com

Thx again klausmong1.
For Naadam, you mean 11-13 June, or July ?

Hi JMP, we want to through Altai and into Mongolia from western border. Given your planning I think we won't meet but who knows.
We will travel in a 4x4 Hiace campervan.

Sorry, I mean JULY

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www.klausmotorreise.com

In 2010 the road was paved to somewhere beyond Ondorkhaan (now called Chinggis I think). After that it was good gravel along the Kherlen River to Choibalsan. North of Choibalsan are the wonderful grassy plains of the east, complete with herds of wild gazelle; a wonderful sight and one of my favourite parts of Mongolia. No sand really, this is nice rolling grassland.

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EurasiaOverland a memoir of one quarter of a million kilometres by road through all of the Former USSR, Western and Southern Asia.

Hi,

I've planned to exit Mongolia by Tashanta border post on Monday 9th July 2018.
It's before Nadaam, I think (somebody have official dates this year?) and also after week-end.
Do you think all is ok for me about this schedule?

Thanks in advance.

RR.