Hi

After about a week I'm planning to enter Mongolia from Russia at Tashanta.

I've entered / exited Russia with a car several times at various borders, but there seems to be a lot of BS on the web about this border.

The typically vague LP statement says something about needing prior permission to cross this border with a vehicle. This definitely sounds like bull... am I right? Who the hell would I ask for prior permission? I asked the Mongolian consul in Almaty if I need any paperwork to enter Mongolia here with a car, and he said no.

People also talk about a permit to corss this border. This also sounds like crap. The M-52 is a federal road and therefore I expect I need only a Mongolian visa to approach the border crossing.

I met a Mongol Rallyer in 2008 who had to abandon his car at the Mongolian side of the Tashanta border as they wouldn't let it in... apparently it was a temporary thing.. I guess the Mongolians were getting sick of all the junk cars that were littering their country in the name of charity. I am planning to leave with my vehicle... are they once again allowing vehicles to enter at Tashanta?

I also heard (though I don't believe this) that the Mongolians want a carnet???? I have one, but I'd be very suprised if they accept it... they are not listed on the back page of the carnet.

As far as I know, the only unusual thing I have to do is registration in Gorno Altaisk.

So, could someone who has crossed this border with a car / bike recently please reassure me that this is a normal border crossing, and not some half-impossible obstacle course of nonsense bureacracy? There seem to be more legends about this border than there are about the Khyber Pass.

Oh, and did you need to pay anything at the border?? Mongolian car insurance? Any taxes etc?

Thanks a lot

Daniel

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Do yourself a favour and either throw the LP away or just use it for finding accommodation.

As far as vehicle travel goes I think the LP is either no more useful than expensive ballast or perhaps slightly useful as a source of fire starting paper.

Mind you, I expressed my opinion on LP once before on this site and got pretty wildly flamed. Some people (apparently) seem to love it.

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Mongolians want car insurance. Thats the only border fee. No taxes. And I also know nothing about registering at Gorno Altaisk, despite approaching that border twice last year, once from each direction. I would suggest that too is hype.

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Thanks for confirming that this was all bull. I can't slam LP too much as they can be good, but as concerns vehicle travel, they are hopeless, for instance saying you need a carnet to enter Georgia FFS.

As regards the Mongolians wanting to see car insurance... does this mean I can buy it at the border?? Is it expensive?

I registered today in Gorno Altaisk. They don't seem to check it on the M52, but if you want to get off the upper Chuiyskiy Trakt, which is aborder zone, you need to be registered in GA to apply for the border permit... or at least that was the case in 2007.

Thanks again,

Daniel

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We bought insurance at the border for a truck...one month was from memory about 40usd....very approx figure.

I understood that in years gone by you were required to get advance permission to cross this border but that changed quite a while ago. We had no issues, and the Mongolians were incredibly friendly and welcoming.

Enjoy the trip.

LP is great for finding hotels or tourist sites, but thats about it. and once a cheap hotel gets listed in LP, they get crowded. LP is also pretty handy if travelling by thumb/backpack. They dunno jack about bikes.

I went in n out of MGL, bought ins at the border, and aside from most of the border guards being complete idiots, I had no problems at all.

Lovely country, outside of UB

Doug

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My Motorcycle Hotel/Cafe in Bulgaria

We crossed from Mongolia to Russia at Tashanta about 5 days ago. No problems at all and we were through in under 3 hours. I understand the border is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

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Chris

Hi,

I would like to try this border crossing next month from Russia to Mongolia.

Could anyone give info how could get to the Tashanta checkpoint by public transport from Barnaul ( I shall be starting from Novosibirsk ) and after the Mongolian immigration what public transport options are available to nearest township for trip arrangement and bus to UB.

I travel alone and has no vehicle.

Thank you

Frankie, this is a vehicle based travel forum. I know its your first post, but to be honest we are unlikely to know about bus timetables here. We are more able to help if your question is "where is the nearest fuel station to the mongolian border along the M52" etc.

In terms of your question, I think if you ask around Barnaul, you want to try and find the "AvtoStanstiya" (Bus Station), where if you ask around in decent enough Russian, you can probably find a bus from Barnaul to Kosh Agach - or if not, get one to Gorno Altaisk and try from the bus station in Gorno Altaisk for Kosh Agach. Once in Kosh Agach, you could ask around and see if you can find a minibus from there to Olgiy in Mongolia.

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When I crossed the border in 2012 there was a (Polish?) father/son pair hitchhiking. They were'nt allowed to cross until they had organised a lift through no-mans land (10km?). The car driver had to confirm he was "responsible" for the pair whilst in no mans land, before they were allowed to leave Russia. I'm not aware of any buses/taxis that shuttle between the 2 border posts.

Note: The border was closed on Sundays.

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TBS.com

There is plenty of public transport from Barnaul. You can take a direct bus to Gorno Altaisk (as we did 2012 with bicycles) or take the train to Bijsk and then the bus. From Gorno Altaisk there exist busses further on, but Kosh Agatsh has only few connections (this is as far as public transport gets you), it is advaisable to stop in between, as Altai is really beautiful.
From Kosh Agatsh you will have to find a taxi or hitchhike to Tashanta. In Tashanta in the morning you may well be able to get a lift on a truck (border usually opens at 9).

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Cycling in Asia: Thailand to Turkey, Siberia and Central Asia

What are the current opening hours and days of this border crossing (Tashanta )?

9am to 6pm ( be aware of 1hr time difference between Russia and Mongolia )

also 1 hr lunch break.

Mon to Sat , Sunday closed and also around Naadam ( 11.-13 of july ) it is closed for 5 days.

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