Made it to Dushanbe (from Germany) - advice on where to go next!
 

I'd like to make it to either Vladivostok or Magadan by the end of August. Crazy? Yes... I know. I'm super excited I made it this far (from Bremer to Nordkapp and then down again) since June.

I have 2 more entries left on my Russian visa, so I can go to Mongolia or skip it and visit Baikul. I'm reading the Mondy-Khankh border crossing is only for nationals (I'm Canadian), I think that would have been my ideal route.

I'd love to hear what everyone has to suggest in terms of highlights to see and where to go. I'm a sucker for remote wilderness... so I skip city sights at all costs. Some day-long hikes to break up the driving would be perfect as I have not done any good hiking since Norway (didn't feel like walking around the desert hahaha).

Lake Inder in Kazakhstan and the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan were some of my favorite places of the trip so far - absolutely nobody else around. Would highly recommend either if anyone has the chance!

Yes, I'm trying to fit too much into too little time - but I will likely not be able to take a trip like this again until I retire.

ps: driving a non-lifted 4x4 Nissan Xterra.

If you like getting well off the beaten track, Mongolia is awesome, you can drive in just about any direction and there's a lot to discover once you're off the main routes across the country. Central Zavkhan, Dornod and the southern parts of the Gobi aimags (regions) were my favourite.

Baikal is great, but in summer the southern part has quite a lot of tourists, and the northern parts are not very easy to access (until it freezes in late February :D ). Neighbouring Buryatia is great, especially the Barguzin Valley area, and the road from Ulan Ude to Romanovka.

The route to Magadan is one long wilderness once you leave Chita, with only a few small towns along the route. It's seriously beautiful once you cross the passes east of Khandyga.

If you aim for Vladivostok then the coastal areas to the north (between Nakhodka and Plastun roughly) are stunning and very infrequently visited.

If you check the Mongolia sections of my website you'll see pictures and accounts of just about every part of the country, and also neighbouring parts of Russia (though I haven't added the trips to Magadan and back yet).

Enjoy the awesome wilderness :)

EO

Hi Micheal,

I assume you will continu on the pamir highway?
We are now in Khorog :)

And yes do fit in Mongolia, it will be fun.
It is a tight schedule but I know a couple with a Landrover which have roughly the same plan and time frame.