UK to Mongolia and back on £4000 Is it possible ?
 

Hi People

I’m trying to figure out a budget for a six month trip. 2 months in Africa riding from the UK to Dakar and back, looks like £2000 or £2500 will do that. However the second leg is 4 month round trip from the UK to Mongolia and back. Is it possible to do that on £4000?


Thanks
Shaun

Hi Shaun,
I posted on the Morocco question; I think the same applies here. £35 a day at today’s prices should be fine. I went to far eastern Russian and back and found it cheap to travel. You are going to need a double entry visa for Russia and if you go through an agency expect to pay around £150. Health insurance is worth considering aprox £150.

I took euros and had no problem changing them at banks. There is a 500 Euro note which is handy for large amounts.

If you are exchanging a large amount of sterling shop around for a good rate, I have used
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates from Travel Money Services
There is a risk, in as much as the have your money for a period and no guarantees. But there are no charges.
These are part of the same company
Exchange Rates for Travel Money

Steve

A Belgian I was riding with in Africa had a wad of 500 euro notes, two reasons come to mind as to why these are a bad idea:nono:

Try losing 1 of them at about £300 per note!!
and 2nd, as he found. How many people/places are prepared to accept them? The UK's £50 note is enough of a problem.

Dave,
Those are considerations;

The exchange issue never arose. I had around 12 notes, 6000 Euro. Only changed them one at a time, backed up the note with my passport when asked, and not once had any trouble. The most caution to a note was taken in a bank in Northern Ireland.

Regarding safety, well that depends on the individual.

What is your alternative?

Steve

Usually nothing bigger than $50 or €50, spread in different places about my person or hidden on the bike, I realise the problem if you need to carry a large amount of cash, but it's bad enough if you lost €50,...thats nearly a day's budget, but €500, nearly a weeks budget!!!
Enjoy your trip.

Securing 12 notes is a lot less of a problem than 120 notes.

Maybe we should get back on topic, sorry Shaun.

Steve

Heh Shaun,

I am interested in your experience (once you have done it of course) as I plan to do this either next year or the year after. Without inflation of course I am starting to think about the trip now.

Cheers,

possibly going to be 2 but probably 3 years
 

It’s possibly going to be 2 but probably 3 years before I do it, at the moment half of this years savings are taken up on bike and rider preparation. So, you may end up doing it b4 me :) or we may end up doing it at the same time, in which case we could hook up? but, planning now

Sounds like a plan!

have I missed the point?
 

Hi Steve

Thanks for both postings, How does that work mate? are russian Ukraine and Kazakhstan visas the same ? I was thinking about multiple entry visas? Or have I missed the point?

also £35 or $60 seems a lot for this run seeing most of it is just camping and gas for the bike in places like Mongolia

Shaun

Steve,

You don't need a visa for the Ukraine. You can stay 90 days from the date of arrival. However, Russia and Kazakhstan are different.

Cheers,

have I missed the point
 

Quick reply riderbob :) thanks

On my GPS software it looks like you go through a little bit of Russia from Kazakhstan into Mongolia, but on my big world wall map it looks like you don’t?

Ukraine through Russia to get into Kazakhstan = 1 entry 1 exit
Kazakhstan through Russia to get into Mongolia = 1 entry 1 exit
Mongolia back through Russia to get back into Kazakhstan = 1 entry 1 exit
Kazakhstan back through Russia to get back into the Ukraine = 1 entry 1 exit

Or have I missed the point?

Shaun

Your intinerary is correct. From Russia to Mongolia is much easier that going through China. I'm not up to date on China but I assume it is still difficult to get visas.

multiple entry
 

Hi Rob

SteveAttwood says i need a double entry visa for Russia ?

looking at this lot i'd say I was thinking about multiple entry business visas? what you recon m8 ?

Shaun

If you avoid the Ukraine and double entry visa will do otherwise you will need more. I travel to Moscow on business fairly regularly and they start on a single entry first (one month), then double entry (three months) and then you can get multiple entry (12 months). I've used the visa for holidays once without any problems.

If you don't go to Russia at all I would start applying for a visa now and work your way upto a 12 month multiple entry. However, it may be simpler that what I've outlined as I've never had a tourist visa as I have never needed one.

Hopefully someone else can chip in.