Hi

After about a week I'm planning to enter Mongolia from Russia at Tashanta.

I've entered / exited Russia with a car several times at various borders, but there seems to be a lot of BS on the web about this border.

The typically vague LP statement says something about needing prior permission to cross this border with a vehicle. This definitely sounds like bull... am I right? Who the hell would I ask for prior permission? I asked the Mongolian consul in Almaty if I need any paperwork to enter Mongolia here with a car, and he said no.

People also talk about a permit to corss this border. This also sounds like crap. The M-52 is a federal road and therefore I expect I need only a Mongolian visa to approach the border crossing.

I met a Mongol Rallyer in 2008 who had to abandon his car at the Mongolian side of the Tashanta border as they wouldn't let it in... apparently it was a temporary thing.. I guess the Mongolians were getting sick of all the junk cars that were littering their country in the name of charity. I am planning to leave with my vehicle... are they once again allowing vehicles to enter at Tashanta?

I also heard (though I don't believe this) that the Mongolians want a carnet???? I have one, but I'd be very suprised if they accept it... they are not listed on the back page of the carnet.

As far as I know, the only unusual thing I have to do is registration in Gorno Altaisk.

So, could someone who has crossed this border with a car / bike recently please reassure me that this is a normal border crossing, and not some half-impossible obstacle course of nonsense bureacracy? There seem to be more legends about this border than there are about the Khyber Pass.

Oh, and did you need to pay anything at the border?? Mongolian car insurance? Any taxes etc?

Thanks a lot

Daniel

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4.5 years around Eurasia in a Toyota Hilux|http://eurasiaoverland.wordpress.com/
Pictures Here|https://picasaweb.google.com/113619413612674951960

Do yourself a favour and either throw the LP away or just use it for finding accommodation.

As far as vehicle travel goes I think the LP is either no more useful than expensive ballast or perhaps slightly useful as a source of fire starting paper.

Mind you, I expressed my opinion on LP once before on this site and got pretty wildly flamed. Some people (apparently) seem to love it.

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Mongolians want car insurance. Thats the only border fee. No taxes. And I also know nothing about registering at Gorno Altaisk, despite approaching that border twice last year, once from each direction. I would suggest that too is hype.

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Thanks for confirming that this was all bull. I can't slam LP too much as they can be good, but as concerns vehicle travel, they are hopeless, for instance saying you need a carnet to enter Georgia FFS.

As regards the Mongolians wanting to see car insurance... does this mean I can buy it at the border?? Is it expensive?

I registered today in Gorno Altaisk. They don't seem to check it on the M52, but if you want to get off the upper Chuiyskiy Trakt, which is aborder zone, you need to be registered in GA to apply for the border permit... or at least that was the case in 2007.

Thanks again,

Daniel

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4.5 years around Eurasia in a Toyota Hilux|http://eurasiaoverland.wordpress.com/
Pictures Here|https://picasaweb.google.com/113619413612674951960

We bought insurance at the border for a truck...one month was from memory about 40usd....very approx figure.

I understood that in years gone by you were required to get advance permission to cross this border but that changed quite a while ago. We had no issues, and the Mongolians were incredibly friendly and welcoming.

Enjoy the trip.

LP is great for finding hotels or tourist sites, but thats about it. and once a cheap hotel gets listed in LP, they get crowded. LP is also pretty handy if travelling by thumb/backpack. They dunno jack about bikes.

I went in n out of MGL, bought ins at the border, and aside from most of the border guards being complete idiots, I had no problems at all.

Lovely country, outside of UB

Doug

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www.motosapiens.org

My Motorcycle Hotel/Cafe in Bulgaria

We crossed from Mongolia to Russia at Tashanta about 5 days ago. No problems at all and we were through in under 3 hours. I understand the border is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

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Chris

We also had no problems crossing border to Mongolia 23rd or 24 of July last month. There were 6 motorcycles (3 finns, irishman, two polish bikes and one german couple)

But two british guys doing their charity run from Manchester to Mongolia couldnt enter the country with their car without paying tax from it. They were planning to donate car to charity in Mongolia.

There was guy trying to sell traffic insurance in border in Mongolia as we entered. We did not buy it and we did not had any troubles.

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www.samiv.org - My webpage

Hello all,

Revival time

Any later information on the Tashanta to Tsagaannuur border crossing?

Planning on driving a definite "non donating" vehicle from Russia to Mongolia, then onto UB.

Whats the latest any one?

UK driving licence OK, Chinese driving licence OK, or still need the international driving permit (licence)

latest diesel prices in Mongolia would also help.



vette

UK driving licence OK. You also need your V5. You will need to pay some sort of environmental tax these days. Its a pittance, but you pay it when a guy stops you about 100 yards after you exit the border zone.

Its not open on weekends, or at night ... and it shuts for lunch.

Other than that, youre fine.

Petrol this year was just under 1 EUR per litre. I imagine diesel is much the same. Its notably cheaper in Russia (about 55p a litre) , so stock up in Kosh Agach.

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Hi Colebatch,

When I was writing out the post this morning, some thing told me you would be along to give some good advice.

Thank you.

Where are you these days?

vette

We crossed the border on bikes from the Mongolian side late August, it was on a Friday just before 5pm and were the last going through.
The officals were packing up as we were being processed, only took about 45mins in total including the 20k dash to the Russian side.

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Sounds encouraging.

That was Mongolia to Russia, may be the same Russia to Mongolia?

vette

January 2013 prices (last price change was on 24 December 2012)
Diesel 1,750 MNT
A-80 1,530 MNT
A-92 1,620 MNT
A-95 1,700 MNT (expected to go up by 50 MNT)
A-98 1,800 MNT (expected to go up by 50 MNT)




Have a nice ride
Dan

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vette