Roads in Mongolia
 

Hello, The Travel Bug just won't die. Even though we've been to Mongolia six years ago, we are thinking about going there again this summer. As we did not get any younger, this time we would like to stay on paved roads as much as possible. On this map it looks like a lot has been done since we've been there, but I would appreciate any recent info. Does anybody know which west - east route has now better roads? Northern from Khandagayty, or southern from Tashanta? Maybe paved all the way? How about Russian roads from Novosibirsk to Khandagayty? We know that Chuysky Trakt to Tashanta is perfect. This time we only wish to cross Mongolia from Altai to Kyahta as smooth as possible, to avoid riding the entire lenght of Transsiberian Highway for the fifth time.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...4903458023&z=6

The road from Khandagayty to Kyargas Lake and Tsetserleg is called the Middle Route, and it's the better one. But the thing is, this particular border post is open only for Mongolians and Russians. The road from Olgii - Ulaangom is pretty bad, with water crossings.

If you want an easy west-east crossing you should take the Tashanta border post and the Southern route, Olgii-Khovd-Altai-Bayankhongor. It's almost entirely paved, but pretty degraded so not as smooth as it used to be when new.

Laurent

Thank you Laurent! Is the map I have attached accurate?

More or less, yeah. There's more pavement on the South Route, but some of it in bad shape.
In general, beware of Google Maps for your Mongolian trips, it's very wrong in many places.

i agree.

I have done Mongolia again 2023 ( the 5th time) and been on the southern route. fully paved except some10km in the west.

Middle route to Uliastay mostly paved except some mountain passes. then 200m unpaved to Altai.

Open borders for international travellers to Russia:
Altanbulag North
Tashanta West,
and also one in the far east

Thank you Klaus! I could not find our correspondance from years ago, but I hoped that you will notice my post :-)

Sure I remember