Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Northern and Central Asia
Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Like Tree6Likes
  • 1 Post By klausmong1
  • 2 Post By colebatch
  • 3 Post By colebatch

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 24 Oct 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: County Clare, Ireland
Posts: 128
Traversing Mongolia - How many days?

Hi All,
Just wondering about how many days it might take me from when I make the border crossing into Mongolia, from the Barnaul direction in the north west, and travel via Ulaanbaator leaving northwards to the border crossing towards Ulan-Ude?

Time of year will be late June, early July. I'm a solo traveler on a KLR650 and like to keep moving. I'm well able for distance and reasonably competent on dirt roads. However, regarding road conditions (I should probably say "track" conditions) Mongolia would be a bit of an unknown entity to me in what distance I could likely cover in a day - hence my question!

Thanks in advance!
__________________
Your Life is Now!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 24 Oct 2016
klausmong1's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vienna
Posts: 734
It really depends on your driving skills.

I think it is possible in 7 days, maybe faster, but then it is a bit hard to do.

And nothing should happen like problems with the bike and so on.
__________________
www.klausmotorreise.com
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 24 Oct 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: County Clare, Ireland
Posts: 128
Quote:
Originally Posted by klausmong1 View Post
It really depends on your driving skills.

I think it is possible in 7 days, maybe faster, but then it is a bit hard to do.

And nothing should happen like problems with the bike and so on.
Thanks Klausmong1, Okay, 7 days in and out. I'm guessing the road from Ulaanbaatar north is paved?
__________________
Your Life is Now!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 25 Oct 2016
klausmong1's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vienna
Posts: 734
Yes, it is.

And the last 500km to Ub also from the South or Center Route
__________________
www.klausmotorreise.com
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 25 Oct 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: County Clare, Ireland
Posts: 128
Quote:
Originally Posted by klausmong1 View Post
Yes, it is.

And the last 500km to Ub also from the South or Center Route
Thanks again Klausmong1. You speak of a south and center route... Which would be a preferred or more scenic route to UB from the west? What do you recommend?
__________________
Your Life is Now!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 25 Oct 2016
klausmong1's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vienna
Posts: 734
Personally I think that the Centerroute is more scienic than the South or North route.

So if you go Olgii, Khovd, Altai, Uliastay, Tosontsengel and Kharakhorum to UB
__________________
www.klausmotorreise.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 25 Oct 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: County Clare, Ireland
Posts: 128
Quote:
Originally Posted by klausmong1 View Post
Personally I think that the Centerroute is more scienic than the South or North route.

So if you go Olgii, Khovd, Altai, Uliastay, Tosontsengel and Kharakhorum to UB
Thanks, really appreciate the help!
__________________
Your Life is Now!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 26 Oct 2016
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 31
There's lots of tarmac in Mongolia already.

In 2015 September the conditions were following:
Bayankhongor to UB, all tarmac, ca 650km paved. Road quality varied from new to not so new.

The road out of Altai towards Bayankongor is paved but can't remember the distance. Maybe sth like 30km.

Khovd to Altai. Road leading out of Khovd towards Altai is paved for about 100km. There were lots of road construction going on as well last year, so I'd imagine they've put down even more tarmac.
__________________
Frank
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 27 Oct 2016
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
Quote:
Originally Posted by Declan View Post
Thanks again Klausmong1. You speak of a south and center route... Which would be a preferred or more scenic route to UB from the west? What do you recommend?
Neither of the paved routes. Custom cross country routes are the most scenic.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 27 Oct 2016
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Dordogne
Posts: 89
mongolia by center.

hello I cross mongolia this year by the central road it's very beautiful. I travel alone with gsa 1200; no problem; Video here:



Naranbulag : gravel road

Near sogino 10 KM send.

after Tosonchengel to UB alsphat road.
__________________
www.lesroutesdailleurs.com
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 28 Oct 2016
klausmong1's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vienna
Posts: 734
Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch View Post
Neither of the paved routes. Custom cross country routes are the most scenic.
I Agree.
When I did the center route in 2013, there was almost no asphalt.

But it seems, that Declan has not so much time, and crosscountry takes longer....
__________________
www.klausmotorreise.com
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 29 Oct 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: County Clare, Ireland
Posts: 128
Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch View Post
Neither of the paved routes. Custom cross country routes are the most scenic.
Thanks Fnormet, thanks Colebatch. Scenery and the true Mongolian experience are more important to me than roads and I'm quite willing and happy to ride where no roads exist. In any event I previously understood than most of Mongolia is unpaved and with that in mind I was trying to get a handle on how many days to traverse - I need to have a tentative idea in order to make a rudimentary schedule.

Colebatch - What would your recommendation be for a scenic route to UB and can you maybe hazard a guess at about how many days?

Thanks...
Declan
__________________
Your Life is Now!
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 2 Nov 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: County Clare, Ireland
Posts: 128
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiger3 View Post
hello I cross mongolia this year by the central road it's very beautiful. I travel alone with gsa 1200; no problem; Video here:



Naranbulag : gravel road

Near sogino 10 KM send.

after Tosonchengel to UB alsphat road.
Hi Tiger3, great video!! Thanks for the suggested route
__________________
Your Life is Now!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 2 Nov 2016
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
depending on your route, riding speed and intensity you can go from the western border to UB in anything from 3 days to 3 weeks avoiding asphalt pretty much all the way.

I have recommended an excellent custom route that has been devised over many trips to Mongolia to a number of riders in recent years, with very good feedback. The idea behind the route is to take in everything from the high mountain plateaus, the deserts, the grasslands and even some forests, on the ride from the Altai to UB. It is not a direct route (which would be around 2100 km), but winds its way through the countryside over 10 riding days (which is normally about 2 weeks) and covering about 2800 km (a comfy 280 km a day).

PM me if youre interested in more detail.

One of several rides I have shared the trail with is John from the Canadian "MotoMavericks". The first two riding days of John's ride are currently featured in a ride report here, along with pics from those first two days for reference ... hoping more pics from John will be posted in the near future.

MotoMavericks ride WR250R's RTW. Motos, Beer, Adventure | Page 44 | Adventure Rider


Quote:
Originally Posted by Declan View Post
Thanks Fnormet, thanks Colebatch. Scenery and the true Mongolian experience are more important to me than roads and I'm quite willing and happy to ride where no roads exist. In any event I previously understood than most of Mongolia is unpaved and with that in mind I was trying to get a handle on how many days to traverse - I need to have a tentative idea in order to make a rudimentary schedule.

Colebatch - What would your recommendation be for a scenic route to UB and can you maybe hazard a guess at about how many days?

Thanks...
Declan

Last edited by colebatch; 26 Mar 2017 at 12:16.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 2 Nov 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Calgary AB
Posts: 1,028
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiger3 View Post
after Tosonchengel to UB alsphat road.
Wow, that place is changing fast. I can see a paved road from Moron to the lake now. Riding paved roads in Mongolia has been some of the most boring things I've done. Particularly after riding so much dirt. And that was the southern route back then.

I'd recommend just looking through Google Earth. The imagery is amazing and you can draw your route as crazy as you like. Work out fuel distances, export to KMZ, load onto your phone and away you go. Sadly Panoramio is getting killed November 4th. Hopefully there will be a good replacement.
__________________
Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Last edited by tmotten; 6 Nov 2016 at 16:58.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Mongolia map lbendel Northern and Central Asia 25 30 Jan 2019 14:34
2015 - Heading east from Europe, add your itinerary / plans kim Travellers Seeking Travellers 190 5 Mar 2016 08:38
R1200R or F650Dakar for Mongolia two-up fahrer1 Northern and Central Asia 44 18 Sep 2015 16:22
Suggest an itinerary for 10 days in Mongolia? Ben-SG Northern and Central Asia 6 27 Aug 2014 05:51
Mongolia: offroad adventure heaven macmice Ride Tales 1 12 Dec 2013 13:54

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-14
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 16:46.