UB to Bishkek advice
 

Two of us are planning to ship bikes Summer 2015 to UB and ride to Bishkek. We'll have around three weeks and we're getting together on 27 August to do our first planning session. We'd very much like some input from those who have ridden the region so we can be realistic about what's achievable.

Some questions we'd love to know the answers to or your advice:

1. Which route would you recommend UB to Tsagaannuur, Bayan-Ölgii; northern via Murun, southern via Bayankhongor or through the middle via the Tosontsengal?

2. How many days riding UB to Tsagaannuur, Bayan-Ölgii?

3. Which border crossing Russia to Kazakhstan?

4. We have a window of 25 June to 20 August; is the any particular benefit of going end-June to mid-July compared to end-July to mid-August?

Reason for asking is we're trying to see what might be possible to expect to be achievable before hitting Bishkek. Given we only have three weeks for the full trip, could we do the Pamir Highway? Samarkand? Issyk Kul?

We're not trying to plan every last minute of the trip but just get some guidance and put a rough plan together.

Thanks for any input you have.

1. not necessarily any of the above. There is a lot of scope to put together more custom routes across Mongolia depending on the level of riders / bikes, how "out there" you want to get, what your Gps capability is and what your fuel range is.

2. Depending on the answers to 1, 3 to 10 days.

3. Zmeinogorsk - Shemonaikha

4. In that area you have flexibility of dates. Late August will have an increased probability of snow at high passes in pamir.

Thanks Walter

Modman is on a G650X-Country and I'm currently on an F800GS although I may try to swap it out for something lighter. He's more off-road savvy than me. I'm okay on gravel but hate sand, of which I understand there is a lot in Mongolia. We rode Iceland last year and loved it.

So, fuel range is relatively low, we're not wanting to "out there", just "there" but we're okay with GPS.

No there is not so much sand in Mongolia. Its mostly just packed earth.

Generally speaking you have to go out of your way to find sand there ... like down to the southern Gobi, or to remote western Zavkhaan. There are patches of sand here and there but they are not really there on any of the main routes. There are no dunes to cross. Nothing significant in terms of sand.

If its your first trip to Mongolia, I would try the Northern or Middle routes. The southern one is generally speaking boring, and by far the least scenic of the three more common options.

If you have a chance to get a lighter bike, you will thank yourself later. If not, you will be fine on the F800, but it will be more work than a lighter bike.

And heaps less fun

Well after our catch up today Paul, I am keener than ever. The X Country is being pimped bit by bit and I like the route ideas we came up with today in addition to Walters advice, roll on 2015!

Well, here's what we've got, I think. Would be grateful for any insight on timing or any deviations that might be fun:

UB - Orkhon Valley - Uvs Noor - Shemonaikha, 1750 miles, 9 - 10 days
Shemonaikha - Charyn Canyon - Kolsai Lakes - Issyk Kul - Osh, 1500 miles, 3 - 5 days
Osh - Pamir Highway (clockwise) - Dushanbe - Shakhrisabz - Samarkand - Bishkek, 1750 miles 9 - 10 days

Still have to check border crossings down south but lots of options to cut for Bishkek if we're behind schedule. We're not trying to push it too much on miles per day as we want to enjoy the ride but as we have limited time, if we can get the Pamirs in as well as Mongolia, so much the better.

Still open on dates but three-plus weeks from end-June to mid-July is looking more and more likely.

Is recommended the bartang valley instead of the main pamir highway

You could go osh - karakul - down the bartang - khorog

Then depending on time ride the wakhan corridor and back over the mountain pass (I forget the name sorry) and back along the pamir to khorog

This way you get 3 great roads in around the pamirs before you head north up to dushanbe

Thanks Jamie

How much more challenging is the Bartang Valley to ride compared to the main Pamir Highway?

Pamir Highway is all asphalt (apart from a few hundred yards at the AkBaital Pass) so in challenging terms its about 0.1 out of 10.

The Bartang road is almost all dirt, with many sections often underwater, plenty of steep drops ... its a fair bit more challenging. Most of all its known for its exceptional scenery.

I think the bartang really depends on the water levels next year, but if you ride west from karakul to khorog via bartang it is literally all downhill (I did it the other way)

I did it around a month ago and the water was apparently quite low, I'm glad the water wasn't much higher as we still had to make several water crossings but nothing that was to crazy!

The main pamir highway is mostly paved, there are odd bits that are gravel but nothing crazy

For me the bartang was the highlight of the pamirs!

Thanks guys.

So, we're confirmed leaving Irkutsk 11th July aiming to be in Bishkek 31st July.

Shout if you'll be around and want to hook up along the way.

Issukul Osh is 600 kms Sir. 1 or 2 days of fantastic riding thro hills and can camp or stay in Caravans.

In Osh there are Hubb members who reside there and conduct biking activities n to riders in Bishkek.