Three Part Mongolia Trip Report
 

For those interested in Mongolia, or perhaps looking to plan a route through this huge country which is packed with beautiful places, welcoming people and err.. some pretty awful roads (and food!), this might be of interest...

This is the first stage (split into three parts) of two stages in Mongolia, and cover 2.5 months and the West, South-west, Centre, Capital, South and South-east of the country.

Part 1/3 starts on the Kazakhstan-Russia border. I drive across the gently beautiful Altai Territory, then up the M52, the Chuya Highway which leads to Mongolia. I stop in Kosh Agach to collect a border zone permit, and then drive almost all the way to the Ukok Plateau (though I actually chicken out of the last bit of road, fearing damage to the truck just before my long Mongolian trip). Then it's into Mongolia and some exploring in the gorgeous Altai Tavan Bogd National Park.

Read it here:

Stage 22 – Russia & Mongolia: Altai To The Gobi Desert [1/3] | EurasiaOverland

Here is a view onto the Ukok Plateau:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_...-Bogd-Ukok.jpg

And the glorious Khurgan Lake, on the Mongolia-China border:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D...urgan-Nuur.jpg


Part 2/3 starts in Olgii, briefly following the Southern Route to stunning Tolbo Lake, then heading due south along a very remote and rough corridor immediately adjacent to the Chinese border, experiencing the hospitality of the native Kazakhs, who maintain a very traditional existence. Then the worst piste in Mongolia down to Bulgan, and from there east to have a very lucky encounter with true wild (not feral) horses in Great Gobi 'B' Strictly Protected Area. From here north through Altai and Uliastai, then to the striking Khar Lake, where desert sands meet the green steppe. On through the centre, picking up the tourist trail at Tariat and heading straight to Ulaanbaatar, though with a thought-provoking stop at Kharkhorin.

Read it here:

Stage 22 – Russia & Mongolia: Altai To The Gobi Desert [2/3] | EurasiaOverland

Przewalski's Horse in Great Gobi 'B' Strictly Protected Area:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C...1035-Takhi.jpg

Striking Khar Lake:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n...Nuur-Dunes.jpg


Part 3/3 Starts in the unlovable capital, Ulaanbaatar. I head south-east and then west, skirting the Gobi Desert, visiting the rock formations at Ikh Gazriin Chuluu and the beautiful Gimpil Darjaalan Monastery in Erdenedalai, before rejoining the Southern Route at Arvaikheer. After a short stretch on horrible washboard, I leave the Southern Route and plunge south into the true desert landscapes of Bayankhongor and Omnogovi Provinces, stopping at the fantastic petroglyphs of Bayangiin Nuruu, the extinct volcano of Khatan Suudal, then driving off-piste to the gorgeous sand dunes of Khongoryn Els. Then it's ever-east past a petrified forest, a vast coal mine, natural stone arch and finally onto the moonscape of the Dariganga Volcanic Field in the far south-west of Mongolia. After a few days in police 'detention' a fast run to the far north and into Russia.

Read it here:

Stage 22 – Russia & Mongolia: Altai To The Gobi Desert [3/3] | EurasiaOverland


Gorgeous sand-scape of Khongoryn Els:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-V...ngorin-Els.jpg

The Dariganga Volcanic Field

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-r...gd-Sunrise.jpg

I would be very happy to help anyone with Mongolia plans :D

Thanks for looking

EO

Another epic report! Interesting and well written as always. :thumbup1:

Bit off topic, but any recommendations for Belarus, I'm going to be there next August, and then heading across into Russia and back via Georgia/Turkey for Sept/Oct. Will probably cross from Ukraine into Belarus and start in Brest for my Belarus trip.

Hi Liam, thanks a lot for the comments, and for following the website :)

Great idea to visit Belarus, it's worth the (minor) hassle of obtaining a visa.

I loved Belarus, I'm not sure if it was by chance, but I found the people there very interesting, like Russians but more westward looking. In fact Belarus seemed like Russia with a few refinements, it's cleaner, the roads are better, and (surprisingly), I was never hassled by the police.

At the same time it's a state-run economy and there are lots of throwbacks to the USSR. But despite this, being squashed between Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and western Ukraine has obviously influenced the country.

One thing to note is that Belarus was basically pulverised during WWII and there are virtually no old buildings. It's also pretty flat, so don't come expecting any sensational tourist sites. It is however very beautiful, and my highlights (aside from the people) would be...

- Brest Fortress; second only to Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd for experiencing Soviet WWII cult (the memorial at Khatyn, near Minsk is also thought-provoking)
- Polessia; this area of fields and forest extends into northern Ukraine and is very beautiful. The town of Mazyr is nicely located on the Pripyat River, upstream of Chernobyl. There are also abandoned radioactive villages which you can poke around (at your own risk - it is illegal and radioactive)
- Minsk; after maybe Tashkent, this is one of the best remaining Soviet cities with murals and monumentalist architecture.
- Pinsk; a sleepy town on the Pina River (and birthplace of Kapuscinski)
- Hrodna; another nice town!

See if anything else here takes your fancy!

https://picasaweb.google.com/1136194...e?noredirect=1

Cheers!

EO

Thank-you!

I must say i liked Polessia when i was in Ukraine, even the god forsaken road made of rocks I drove along and beside for hours!

One of my future destinations....Sure i am getting a lot of infos in your site!

Thank you for your post!

Mongolia
 

Aug 2014, Mongolia.
Cold and dry but the temperature dropping fast. Ride safe. Attachment 14414

Attachment 14415

Hello EO

My friend is right now in Mongolia and tomorrow he will arrive in Kharkhorin (Karakorum), by motorcycle.

He would like to go to Gobi desert to see the dunes. Do you know about any road directly from Karakorum to Dalanzadgad? Or it is quicker via UB? Do you know about the roads, if there is asphalt or not? Is there any (good) road approaching this dune? (Khongoryn Els)

I took a quick look onto your site, you said you drove to Arvaikheer. Is this a better option?


Thanks
Cristian / Bob

The road from Ulaanbaatar to Mandalgovi is the one to take. Approaching from Arvaikheer or Sainshand both require quite long desert crossings on pistes which are not well marked. I cannot remember if the road to Mandalgovi was asphalted or not, and did not take the road from Mandalgovi to Dalanzadgad.

To get to the dunes there is certainly no asphalt, but the track from Dalanzadgad is easy to follow.

Hope this helps

EO

Thank you

Cristian / Bob