Mongolia and the stans in April
 

i am considering bringing my trip next year forward a month in order to fit in better with work.

The plan is a 10 week trip through TK, UZ, kaz and Mongolia, starting in the beginning of April.

What are the stans like in April? And what about Mongolia in late April/early may?

We're going in a landrover, and I'm thinking about the road conditions at that time of year, particularly in northern Mongolia - ulangomm etc. Are the rivers gonna be crossable? Any other things I should consider?

Cheers,

Mike

Are you planning on crossing the Pamir's?

as it's continually over 3000m snow is a problem :freezing:

check when the earliest passing can be made (and let me know jeiger)

G

No, no plans to do tajikstan or the pamirs - sorry that I can't enlighten on that one but maybe others reading this can? :)

All year round
 

As far as I know the Pamir highway is open all year round, check out Jacques and Mandy's blog. They also posto n here under the name Pumbaa I think ...

pumbaa's home

I know they crossed it in winter.

The Pamir highway is pretty much the best road you will find in Tajikistan, being all tarmac and in really good condition. The most fun is taking the Southern route there, following the Afghan border ... lots of landslides, and loads of great scenery, and also Bibi Fatamas fertility springs. Can't believe I let the wife in there! Oops

ar, I know they crossed in Winter, but I wasn't sure on the snow situation. I would like to head down the Wakhan corridor when we go and am trying to plan my trip around that crossing. Basically cross there as early as possible to make sure we get out of vladivostok before its TOO cold :freezing:

note to self: dont let girlfriend near fertility springs :thumbup1:

hope your family is well Ollie beerchug

G

Mike: Mongolia in late April/May should not be a big issue for a Land Rover. The streams/rivers sometimes run a little high, but if you're worried you can always wait for a large Mongolian truck and cross immediately before or after them so that they can haul you out if needed. It can be very muddy that time of the year depending on rainfall and snowmelt. But it will still be below freezing at night so you can sometimes make some distance first thing in the morning when everything is still frozen. And it always dries up quickly, so at worst you just have to wait a day or two for the mud to dry.

Having said all that, I would recommend going later in the year if you can, just because Mongolia is a lot more attractive starting in June when the grass and flowers are growing. In April/May you're still looking at a very brown/white (dirt and snow) landscape most of the time, except for the evergreens in the north.

Have fun!

Scott

Hi Scott - thanks that's really helpful! I think I've finally settled on a schedule that arrives in Mongolia around the 20th May so maybe it will be a (little) warmer and more pleasant by then! :) I'm planning a route via ulaangom, Lake Telman and the White Lake, so maybe I'll see some of the evergreens you're talking about..

Again - thanks for the information - just what I needed :)