Actual Infos for Mongolia because of weather
 

Hello

I am right now in Mongolia and have some Information because of the current weather situation.

As because of the very unusuall heavy rainfall the last days there might be some problems.

In the far west the area around Bayan Olgii is partly under water.

It is possible to go there, but maybe you need to detour or wait because of high water levels.

The route from the border to Ulaangom is not doable, it is even hard without rain there, but now dangerous.

From Olgii to Ulaangom there are watercrossings, same problem.
Might not be doable at the moment.
And because of the weathersituation it can chance in a hour.

Well, to be honest, I talked to one today who said it is doable, but only with a guide from the area who can call people for the current situation and lead you through, but also there the planning is made in realtime on the route.

Today there were also floodings in the area around Altai city, but also ther it should be doable to go there, can just be a detour sometimes.

and dont camp close to water, waterlevels can rise very quick at the moment ...

that's because the typhoon past by china. the weather will be better since this weekend.

Hopefully, but right now the waterlevels are high and on weekend it will be raining again.

I will go to this areas next week and can give more actual information then.

Hello, are there any updates on this situation?

I am in Kazakhstan right now but next week I hope to begin to travel from the western border Tsaaganuur to Altanbulag. Wondering which way I could take to be safe. In a 4x4.

Weather is getting better.

The last days to Uliastay we had lot of rain, but with a 4x4 no problem.

Now we are heading down to altai and then to Olgii, so I will know soon

Hi Klaus,

Assuming that weather is turning normal again, I had a more general question. Does it make sense to take the road from Olgii to Altaj and then to Uliastaj (I think the road you are taking) if we want to visit the Khar Nuur (Zakhvan) North West of Uliastaj?
And then Jargalant / Tariat (lake) / Kharkorin Monastary and to Ulaambatar?
Or does it make sense to go more directly from Olgii ovet Kyargas Nuur to Khar Nuur and the earlier mentioned sites?
Over Altaj I think it is much longer but better roads so actually shorter in time and more comfortable? (I know, vomfortability is not a reason to go to Mongolia :D )

Maybe we see each other on the way because we are coming up from Kyrgystan.

Thanks in advance!

I think that is ok.

You have asphalt and from Altai to Uliastay good gravelroad.

And after Uliastay to Telmen gravel and construction, but ok.

I have now finished my trip but I wanted to provide some information that may be helpful to anyone looking for the direct rout from the eastern border to Ulaangom.

In Tsagaannuur right after you enter from the Russian Altai there is a petrol station at the road intersection at the town. Across the road there's a guy who lives in the yurt with his family. He is able to guide one across the nasty mud/water crossing that lies between here and the most direct way to Ulaangom. Google maps shows it as a road and I can assure you it is NOT and some of the worst mosquitoes I have ever experienced.

The guide asked me for a lot - I think 3000 rubles for what took about 3 hours of work guiding and walking through water and mudd to get my 4x4 across. But to me it was worth it - the scenery on this route in incredible and it is very remote (zero tourists). To me it was the highlight of my time in Mongolia.

His name is Khumar Khan, phone +97695015400.

Sorry could not post the information sooner, but I hope this helps future travellers!

To add, I do not agree that Altai to Uliastaj is a good gravel road. Only the part near Uliastaj is reasonable.
The rest of the road is either swerving or has stones or holes or whatever. It can be done, even with a Prius, but the average speed is low so you will spend most of your day.
I am talking about the red road in Open Street Maps.

It may not even be that bad to go from Olgii pretty direct over Khyargas lake, but there are parts where it is hard to find the right track and so on. Scenery should be nice.

I was not that impressed by the scenery from Olgii to Altaj.
Khar Us Nuur was nice. And we went to Chandmani because of the Mongolian throat singing.
The roads to and from Chandmani were not that good obviously, as expected, but even they were not slower then from Altaj to Uliastaj :P
Also went to Dorgon/Durgun nuur, where on the east side the sand dunes meet the water, quite nice.

Now we will head into Zavkan with some tracks probably also driving in sand tracks etc. Then join the middle route and see how much is asphalt :)

As said from Khovd to Altaj is very good asphalt. Between Olgii and Khovd is not finished yet so that takes time. In 2019 probably very smooth.

Wll, I have done the road Altai - Uliastay 4 weeks ago.

And I was amazed how good it was compare to years earlier.

But yes, it is still offroad

Haha then it must have been a complete mudpit before.
Fortunately around the Gants pass the road is good.

I drove all the road in 2wd, it is not that hard even though there has been a bit of rain. Only the rocky part is dangerous for normal cars.
Just very slow. Maybe a bit faster on the bike.

I agree, for bikes it is easy on rocky parts.
2013 it was a lot of tracked sand on the road wich made it hard

Ah good. Yes that is a difference between bikes and cars.
I love sandy tracks because they are soft and comfortable to drive for us, but must be horrible on the bike keeping balance.

Update about the Gobi.

From Ulaanbataar there is now asphalt up to Bayandali (via Dalanzadgad)
Unfortunately parts of the road between Dalanzadgad and Bayandali is already damaged by the heavy rains this summer, but these are just very short stetches. So it is still only a one hour drive. (But turn off to Yolin Am)

From Dalanzadgad to Bulgan (flaming cliffs and petroglyphs) is washboarding but managable.

From Bulgan area to Khongoryn Els takes quite long, maybe 4 hours.
From Khongoryn Els to Bayandali takes 4 hours (for 100km!) and there is lots of traces from the rain, who cut away new ditches in the track. Some of them are impossible even with a 4x4, but soon enough you see where to go, where they made a new path. Just keep paying attention!
This is the road in OSM that stays North of the sand dunes.
This is also the round that the tour companies make in probably 4 to 5 days.

We drove from the "Middle route" to UB and then Gobi, so we we had good asphalt. A lot of people try to go from South or Middle route directly to Gobi but from what I hear those are very bad roads.