Camping Russia, Khazakstan & Mongolia
 

I’d like to hear from anyone who has camped in Russia, Kazakhstan and or Mongolia. I’m a solo female traveler and wanted to know how safe it is to camp? And also if one can camp wild or must one be in a campsite, and if so are there many. I’ll be doing a trans Russia / Kazakhstan / Mongolia trip this summer and would welcome any advice on camping in these countries
THANKS

I will be keeping an eye on this thread as I also want to do some camping in these areas this northern summer, might even see you on the road.

Are you riding or driving?

Cheers
TravellingStrom

Russia
 

Wild or free camping is permitted in Russsia anywhere except in towns, private gardens, church property and water catchment areas (which are signed).

For security reasons (and safety from drunks!) always camp well away from sight of roads.

In remote central and eastern areas be aware of the possibility of bears and take appropriate precautions.

Has been safe to me so far just stay far away from towns etc.
I normally made shopping (water, bread, etc...) late afternoon and start looking camp site couple of hours before sunset. Like to found remote place 0,5-1 km detour form the road or path and far enough from nearest habitation.
Locals are normally friendly but they can be curious just to see foreign peoples. If they come to your camp like Nomands in Mongolia they sit down for while and stay still just watching what you are doing and after 1/2 hour they jump on horse back and ride away whit out a word. :thumbup1:

Camping
 

Hi. In may 2009 I camped right across Western kazakstan, I just stopped and put the tent up 100 m from the road. There is nowhere to "hide" as it is a flat country with no trees.
I experienced no problems and no-one bothered me at all. Highway banditry is prevelant in some parts of the country however. Would I do it again? Yes. Be lucky.:cool4:

We rough camped a few times in Eastern Siberia on our journey across Russia in 2011 and had no problems. There are many "rest areas" leading off the main highway for which the gas/oil pipes have been diverted around allowing a fire to be lit (often not possible to light a fire at the immediate roadside because pipes are running alongside the road).

I was in Mongolia last year and rented a 150cc motorbike and a tent. I had no problems just putting my tent up along the way, however the lady I rented it off said that although 99% of Mongols are lovely people, there's still plenty of young nomads that will steal your bike as you sleep. She recommended I chain my bike to something solid each night or find a nomad family (specifically family with kids) and ask to camp near their gers (tents).

I ended up doing both - Mongols are extraordinarily friendly, and will usually have no problems whatsoever asking to camp near them. On the other hand a freak thunderstorm hit near dusk one night and i just hooned across the fields to a stable-like lean-to (about 1km off the road), pitched my tent, and chained my bike to the post.

All in all, as long as you are out of the cities Mongolia is pretty safe to camp anywhere. Also, as has been said above Mongols are extremely inquisitive and may just rock up and watch you for half an hour before leaving - just forewarning so you don't get freaked out by it.

http://iforce.co.nz/i/yvcdfxoz.vnf.jpg
http://iforce.co.nz/i/5gwj2aeg.pyc.jpg
http://iforce.co.nz/i/rdsqkwli.mup.jpg

I would like to see them try and steal my 650cc Vstrom, even without the tent and stuff that is a heavy bike, they aint pushing that bike too far LOL :)

Don't underestimate determined people.
If you can ride it there, others can push it away - very quietly!

Camping
 

I have camped right through the Khasak Stepe mostly in the wild just 100 or so meters off the road and never had any trouble. The mongolina people were very hospitable and allowed us to camp near their gurs although we did come across people in Mongolia who had no sense of personal space - so don't leave the keys in the ignition unattended or you might find that someone has taken your bike for a joy ride.:scooter:

Happy Travels
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If you haven't camped there before then the only thing you need to be aware of is Mosquitoes.. Millions of them..... And there is a large temperature difference between Kazakhstan and western Mongolia at night so take something warmish.

Enjoy.

Kazakhstan and Mongolia
 

Hi
Wild Camping is great in Kazakhstan, Safe well I don,t know.
When are You planning to be riding through? I am in Kazakhstan at the moment and will be riding across Mongolia this summer, maybe we can join up??
I have a web site Thataway - Gedanke
Let Us know

Camping...
 

Hi There
I solo camped all the way across the countries you mentioned and onto Vladivostock as well, for a while I had my Mum's friend on the back of my bike and althugh she was a bit wary at first (she had NEVER camped before in her life) she soon relaxed into it.
I have two rules about camping rough as a female - either
1) tuck yourself away somewhere quiet where no-one knows you're there
or as one of the others has said,
2) approach a village (gers or houses), introduce yourself and make sure EVERYONE knows you're there. Generally you get treated as an honoured guest, and yes you'll have to get udes to being stared at.

there are NO campsites, so you'll get used to rough camping.

deserts are beautiful places to camp - enjoy yourself.

And Tony - are the bears in Siberia really a threat to humans?! I just assumed I would be OK as they weren't nasty North American bears (I'm not keen on bears after Alaska:rolleyes2:)

Have a great time.

Hi Tiff.

I have only ever seen one in the wild in almost 8 years here - that was near Magadan while showing Colebatch how to ride on dirt! ;)

I think a bear is a bear is a bear.
A hungry, surprised or threatened bear is a potential risk worthy of drawing peoples' attention to, whichever Continent it lives on or language it understands.
But outside those paramaters I doubt they are a problem.

See Ted's current thread.

Hiya
I'll be riding and plan so far is to cross Leave Russia / Kaz in July
Will keep you posted :thumbup1: