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Time to get through Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia

Hello all, I'm hoping to draw on your collective wisdom of Central Asia.

We will be driving through Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia in September this year. We're entering Russia from Estonia on August 24 and we need to be to China by October 10 strictly to make our tour group start date for the China crossing. I've listed our route and proposed dates below. What do yall think about the amount of time we've left to do this? Possible? Insanely ambitious? We are not afraid to drive up to 8-10 hours/day if needed. We'll be in a 4x4.

Route map here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...JQ&usp=sharing

DATES
Russia: Aug 24-Sep 4 (11 days)
Kazakhstan, Aktobe-Almaty: Sep 4-Sep 13 (9 days)
Kyrgyzstan: Sep 13-Sep 15 (2 days)
Kazakhstan, Almaty-Astana: Sep 15-Sep 18 (3 days)
Russia (to get to Mongolia): Sep 18-Sep 23 (5 days)
Mongolia: Sep 23-Oct 10 (17 days, including getting Chinese visa in Ulaanbaatar)

THANK YOU in advance for your help!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felice and Luke (Post 534433)

Hello, in my opinion, it looks ok. If I was you, I would try to stay a bit less in Kazakhstan and a bit more in Kyrgyzstan.

I don't understand if you want to pass through Astana (to visit it?) on the way from Aktobe to Almaty, as seen on your map, or after Almaty on your way to Russian Altai, as written here (in this case 3 days are not enough IMHO).
If you want to visit Astana, I think maybe you can choose to enter Kazakhstan from Celjabinsk (RU) -> Astana -> Almaty -> Kyrgyzstan -> Semey (or Oskemen) -> Altai region

I don't know about getting Chinese visa in UB...

Enjoy the trip!

Thanks for the advice, crisidsto! Good pick up on the Astana thing - that was a mistake on my list. We will pass through Astana on the way from Aktobe to Almaty, not on the way to the Altai.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felice and Luke (Post 534488)

Thanks for the advice, crisidsto! Good pick up on the Astana thing - that was a mistake on my list. We will pass through Astana on the way from Aktobe to Almaty, not on the way to the Altai.

Aktobe to Astana...mmmhh, I never took that route but it doesn't look like there is something special on that way.

In my opinion your two best options are
-enter Kazakhstan close to Aktobe and take the M32 till Almaty
-enter Kazakhstan from Celjabinsk, visit Astana (if you want to do it) and go south to Almaty
There are so many things to see in Kyrgyzstan, it's a shame to stay just two days and to spend way more days in the Kazakh steppe (please don't misunderstand, I love Kazakhstan, but if it is just for the driving, it is way less interesting than Kyrgyzstan)

+1 on what they said...

i love to drive...

kazakhstan was interesting even thou is was crazy hot, but kyrgystan was spectacular...

Agreed with what the others above says about Kazakhstan versus Kyrgizstan. More time in the latter would be my priority as well.

Try also to put in a rest day here and there as if something happen to youre vehicle (god forbid it does) or you get a day or two running between bed and toilet (foodpoisoning - it happend to several of the persons I rode with including myself in Kazakhstan) as your entering day to China is 100 % fixed. So you cant be late for that day...

Definitely spend more time in Kyrgyz. I ended up not going through the east around the lake to Kazakhstan in order to make time. Missing out on amazing off-road tracks in the mountains.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felice and Luke (Post 534433)

In 2009 we got heavy snow in Mongolia at the time you are suggesting. We actually had some very painfully cold miserable days.

However it was still possible to ride along the main routes despite being cold. While I bitched and moaned at the time it was worth the adventure and the experience was rewarding.

September through the Altai was one of the most spectacular places I have been. It was already very icy during the night but during the day we had comfortable temperatures. We went up into the Mongolian Altai and make a quick about turn as the snow was pretty thick on the passes.

All up I think that your time's should work out even if you have a few really icy starts.

Hi,

6/7 weeks is plenty of time to get there. In 2014 we travelled with 2 small 125cc bikes and it took us a month to get to Samarkand.... despite problems. And in two months we made it to Mongolia, again, with lots of waiting around for a new engine and repairs on the way....

Why don't you visit Uzbekistan on the way? Uzbekistan is part of the "Silk Road" and has absolutely amazing towns! Just google “Khiva” and you will know what I mean!
It is well worth it and the locals are incredibly friendly. Also it would be a shame not to drive the Pamir highway (Tajikistan).

Details of my trip are on my blog (2014 section - see link in my signature below

We may bump into you guys. We are going back in that direction this summer, leaving the UK mid-June, and ending in Kyrgyzstan 15th of September so we will around the Stans during August and September….

Cheers,