Shipping from Mongolia to Vladivostok, or other ideas how to make it through China
 

I'm currently planning a trip by motorcycle from Europe to far Eastern Russia and back from next May to September. While I have a rough concept about the route I will take to Mongolia and how I will get back from Lake Baikal, everything beyond Lake Baikal is still a bit of a mess.

My main concern as of now is what the ways are to get from Mongolia to Vladivostok without driving through Russia(I want to save that for my way back home).

What are the options?

#1 Travelling by myself through China: still seems to be impossible. Initially I hoped they dropped the supervisor in a Jeep rule with the new visa regulations valid since September 1st. Since this doesn't seems to be the case, and being chased by a Jeep with a stalker that doesn't speak my language isn't my definition of travelling I abandoned this option.

#2 Train or truck/bus through China: it seems like very few people have done this so far, and since I've never been in the Asian part of Russia, nor Mongolia and have never done any shipping in China I don't have a really good idea how shipping works in that part of the world. I don't know where to start with my research, does anybody know who I should contact for further info or an offer without obligation? All shipping by train from Mongolia to Vladivostok I found is either by BAM or Transsiberian. I will see enough of Russia after Vladivostok, that's why I'm not very keen on travelling there the same way.

#3 Airplane from Ulaanbaator to Vladivostok: seems to be the fastest, easiest and perhaps even cheapest way, but I would prefer to travel a little closer to the ground. That's why I wanna go there in the first place.

#4 Something I haven't thought about yet

Any help is appreciated.

Hi. Sounds like a big mission

try emailing Edward from Navo travel

edward.zhao@navo-tour.com

These guys are travel agents in China and can help you with advice about traveling though China, and they can organize a guide if you want to go down that option. Good luck.

I'll be doing a similar trip between April and September but by Land Rover. However, we will only be going as far east as Lake Baikal and will then drop down into Mongolia and head back west through Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

As you have already found out, travelling through China with a vehicle is possible but comes with its challenges, not least of which is the cost associated with getting the vehicle into the country. As you don't seem to be particularly interested in visiting China and are only looking for an alternate route to Vladivostock, I don't think taking your bike through China is a good option for you.

For me, it seems like a lot of messing about to ship the bike from Mongolia to Vlad, just to avoid riding far east Russia in both directions. But I don't know anything about bike shipping options - it might be easier and take less time than I imagine.

There is a lot of information on this forum about riding bikes in eastern Russia - the BAM Road, Road of Bones, Old Summer Road, etc. It would be worth reading through those posts to get an idea of what is involved and the time required to cover those sections.

During your route planning, you should also be aware of the limitations of the Russian visa (length of time for the various visas and how many consecutive days they allow you to be in the country).

If it helps at all, the route for my trip can be viewed on a map using the following link (you can zoom in and move about the map to get a better look at the various countries) - Bermuda Rover Overland - Driving trip | EveryTrail