We've just tried Borshoo/Khandagayty and been turned away, so no, it's definitely not open for non-Russians or Mongols.

Laurent

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2- and 4-wheeled explorer and photographer
Overland Aventure

(TL;DR : we failed to get the permit with the instructions in this thread)

We intended to drive from Altaï to Tuva so we followed the above instructions. We sent emails with forms to both FSB (Altaï and Tuva) and only got replies from the Tuva side. We tried to contact the Altai FSB office by phone when in Russia, through a Russian, but the phone number was wrong. They got another number from which they said they would call back (they didn't). So we tried to show up at the Gorno-Altaysk office, but failed to find it. So we ended up at the FSB compound in Kosh-Agach, which is easy to find as it's one massive and new compound.

There, after much waiting because of our lack of knowledge of Russian, we were finally ushered in to their office, where they told us they hadn't received our application. Much to our surprise, once passed the entry gate sentry, they were very kind and keen to help us, they even went through the compound to find the only guy who could speak a few words of English (with Google translate helping).

We showed the recipient address (altay@fsb.ru) and they said it's wrong. Ok, so we started to copy another address from a poster hanging on the wall, but they said no, it's also wrong. We asked for the correct address for the next ones, so a lady left running through the offices and came back much later, panting, with a piece of paper. Then they spent another few minutes trying to type the e-mail address with laying characters, which they hardly understand. This is the address they gave us (the last version) :

pu.gornyjaltaj@mail.ru

I still have my doubts, "pu" might be "ru", etc.. I haven't tried it. Anyway, we asked if it was possible to get the permit on the spot. The guy said maybe, come back later, and then it wasn't possible. They told us that it takes 20 days (not 60) to clear a permit for foreigners. So went ahead and with their help, we filled out the permits, meaning to drive to Tuva in a month when we would cross here again back from Mongolia.

One month later, we showed up at the FSB in Kosh-Agach, met Vitaly, the English speaker, who was visibly a little embarrassed that we actually came back. He left for a few minutes before coming back and telling us that the guy processing the permits has beed run down by a car and was dead.. ! (sounds like the dog ate my homework to me, they probably threw the forms in the bin).

Bottom line : it's not that easy, but if you speak Russian I bet it's much easier. Also, it seemed the permits are processed in Gorno-Altaysk, so it would be more useful to show at their office (maybe somebody can give the coordinates ?).

Maybe others can fill in with more helpful details.

Cheers,
Laurent

PS: another catch : they were reluctant to give us a permit, because we told them we intended to go to Kyzyl and would then enter Tuva on a border zone without a permit for Tuva, and that is forbidden. We told them a permit awaits us in Tuva, but they didn't care. We tried to explain that the permit could have been sent there at the checkpoint, or that at the checkpoint they could call Kyzyl and asked for permission, but they couldn't care less. We would be "breaking the law" as they said. So that didn't help.

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2- and 4-wheeled explorer and photographer
Overland Aventure

whew, thanks for the detailed write-up. Tuva is still on my list...

Sorry to hear about your problems.

The Gorno-Altaysk FSB office is maybe just 100m from where Google Maps says it is. Very easy to find and I'd say most locals would point you when asked for "FSB". The address is also on the FSB web site (along with phone numbers and email addresses). It's a large new building with top security and lots of satellite dishes. It's this building:

https://www.google.com/maps/search/F...55!2d51.942186

I was told by email and on the phone that I could not get the permit in Kosh-Agash, they insisted on Gorno-Altaysk, which was a detour for for me.

The border permit I got included Tuva! Infact I was told by them that this is the only way to do, which makes sense. You have to get a permit for the whole area before you enter it. I was checked both ways and on the Ukok and the permit was fine.

They were surprisingly friendly too. I pointed out that they missed an area I had requested and they added that on the spot.


Cheers,
Steffen

Hi

we got our permit 3 years ago in Aktash and used the adress pugornyjaltaj@mail.ru as stated in an old post. If that adress is still valid, or you have to use the adress with an additional point (pu.gornyjaltaj@mail.ru), you have to try.

Fine that the permit is now processed faster, in our case at least for the Tuvan permit, it had a processing time of almost 60 days, as can be followed by the date you applied and the date of the stamp on the permit.

We were this year also in pogranzona, but in Mongolia in the NP Tavan Bogd. Permit processing in Olgii is possible within one day, but still some open questions (especially if you need a guide or not).

Kind regards

Christian

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

Hello,

i'm considering doing the Tuva track in July 2016.

Has anybody ride it in 2015 and has some recent info on the area?

How are the roads?
The section between kosh agach and Mugur Aksy (190 km)can be done in one day?

Any info, track, gps point, beside the ones in Walter file and OSM, would be great.

On the other hand, if I fail to get the permit in Gorno Altaysk, has anybody tried to cross to Abaza on any of these roads:
https://goo.gl/maps/R3rgPom5ySQ2

Thank you,
Adrian

If all goes to plan we will be around that area (part of Tuva track) next July at some point. I will apply for my Business visa end of Feb then apply for the Border permit (valid one year).


Looking at your map, we rode last year from the shore of lake Teletskoye (Artybash) back to Gorno-Altaysk on the P375. The road was asphalt and in very good condition all the way.
Beyond that, where the road split going either north or west toward Gorno, I don't know.


Maybe see you on the road.

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Hi,

I also took in 2012 the road from lake Teletskoye (Artybash) back to Gorno-Altaysk on the P375. Was good.

Could you please keep me posted on the dealing with the Tuva/altai permit? Especially if you have some other info then the one here.

Plan to be there around 7th of July.

see you on the road,
Adrian

Hi Adrian

A friend of mine has taken a slightly more northerly route, which I believe parallels the railway line between Novokuznetsk and Aksiz. You can see an account of it here:

Offroad: Altai - Khakassia Track - Tuva - Gentleman Adventurer

I've never heard of the more southerly track of the routes you have posted (leaving from near Teletskoye), though that doesn't mean it's not possible.

Kosh Agach to Mugur Aksy is doable in a day. But Mugur Aksy is not the sort of place you want to hang around; people in the area are famously drunk and aggressive (had rocks thrown at me nearby).

If you're taking the northern route into Khakassia, don't miss the amazing Scythian temple at Salbyk.

EO

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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.

Thanks for the info. Depending on the time and weather I will try one of the routes there.

What are your plans for this year?

Adrian

If you're taking the northern route into Khakassia, don't miss the amazing Scythian temple at Salbyk.

EO[/QUOTE]

I'll be transiting from Abakhan to Tashanta, to UB, and likely on to Irkutsk this summer Mid-july-mid August. Using the great info in this thread, I submitted all the paperwork. Tuva looks like it will be fine, we will pick the permits up in Kyzyl. The only weird one is the permit for Altai. I requested to pick up the permit in Mugur Aksy, but they said they can't do that because it's Mugur Aksy is in Tuva and outside of their jurisdiction. They said we would have to pick up the permit in Kosh Agach which is essentially after we transit the border area, if that makes sense. Not sure if it will be a problem, I guess we will have to hope we aren't stopped. Any suggestions?

I am getting my border permit sorted via a travel agency. Not sure how far that will go. They charge 500 roubles per permit. I think!


The travel agency was recommended to me by my Visa Agency as they could not help for that.


The travel agency's details are below.


I am not 100% sure what I will get and if this covers Tuva as well as Altai.... Things seem to get lost in translation as my Russian is too basic and their English is Google!


I will keep you posted as we will get there some time late July. If we get the permits, it would be great, if not, it won't be the end of the world.


website: www.tur-aguna.ru


email: touraguna@mail.ru


address: in Gorno-Altaisk:
Адрес: рес.Алтай, г.Горно-Алтайск, пр. Кммунистический, 68, оф.322,
тел./факс: 8(38822)4-74-61, 8 (913) 999-00-52

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

any news about the border crossing?
i want to ride in the tuva-region on my way back from UB...

according to this side:
http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/22...trol and Ports
its open

this side says, it's also closed:
http://caravanistan.com/border-crossings/mongolia/

It's NOT open to foreigners. You may be able to cross Mongolia to Russia, but definitely not the other way. We got turned back in 2015 and had to postpone the Mongolia leg of our trip because of it.

This is the Altai FSB email that worked for us: pugornyjaltaj@mail.ru. They took about 3-5 days to respond.