Traversing Mongolia - How many days?

[Declan]

Hi All,
Just wondering about how many days it might take me from when I make the border crossing into Mongolia, from the Barnaul direction in the north west, and travel via Ulaanbaator leaving northwards to the border crossing towards Ulan-Ude?

Time of year will be late June, early July. I'm a solo traveler on a KLR650 and like to keep moving. I'm well able for distance and reasonably competent on dirt roads. However, regarding road conditions (I should probably say "track" conditions) Mongolia would be a bit of an unknown entity to me in what distance I could likely cover in a day - hence my question!

Thanks in advance!

[klausmong1]

It really depends on your driving skills.

I think it is possible in 7 days, maybe faster, but then it is a bit hard to do.

And nothing should happen like problems with the bike and so on.

[Declan]

Originally Posted by klausmong1

It really depends on your driving skills.

I think it is possible in 7 days, maybe faster, but then it is a bit hard to do.

And nothing should happen like problems with the bike and so on.

Thanks Klausmong1, Okay, 7 days in and out. I'm guessing the road from Ulaanbaatar north is paved?

[klausmong1]

Yes, it is.

And the last 500km to Ub also from the South or Center Route

[Declan]

Originally Posted by klausmong1

Yes, it is.

And the last 500km to Ub also from the South or Center Route

Thanks again Klausmong1. You speak of a south and center route... Which would be a preferred or more scenic route to UB from the west? What do you recommend?

[klausmong1]

Personally I think that the Centerroute is more scienic than the South or North route.

So if you go Olgii, Khovd, Altai, Uliastay, Tosontsengel and Kharakhorum to UB

[Declan]

Originally Posted by klausmong1

Personally I think that the Centerroute is more scienic than the South or North route.

So if you go Olgii, Khovd, Altai, Uliastay, Tosontsengel and Kharakhorum to UB

Thanks, really appreciate the help!

[fnormet]

There's lots of tarmac in Mongolia already.

In 2015 September the conditions were following:
Bayankhongor to UB, all tarmac, ca 650km paved. Road quality varied from new to not so new.

The road out of Altai towards Bayankongor is paved but can't remember the distance. Maybe sth like 30km.

Khovd to Altai. Road leading out of Khovd towards Altai is paved for about 100km. There were lots of road construction going on as well last year, so I'd imagine they've put down even more tarmac.

[colebatch]

Originally Posted by Declan

Thanks again Klausmong1. You speak of a south and center route... Which would be a preferred or more scenic route to UB from the west? What do you recommend?

Neither of the paved routes. Custom cross country routes are the most scenic.

[Tiger3]

hello I cross mongolia this year by the central road it's very beautiful. I travel alone with gsa 1200; no problem; Video here:



Naranbulag : gravel road

Near sogino 10 KM send.

after Tosonchengel to UB alsphat road.

[klausmong1]

Originally Posted by colebatch

Neither of the paved routes. Custom cross country routes are the most scenic.

I Agree.
When I did the center route in 2013, there was almost no asphalt.

But it seems, that Declan has not so much time, and crosscountry takes longer....

[Declan]

Originally Posted by colebatch

Neither of the paved routes. Custom cross country routes are the most scenic.

Thanks Fnormet, thanks Colebatch. Scenery and the true Mongolian experience are more important to me than roads and I'm quite willing and happy to ride where no roads exist. In any event I previously understood than most of Mongolia is unpaved and with that in mind I was trying to get a handle on how many days to traverse - I need to have a tentative idea in order to make a rudimentary schedule.

Colebatch - What would your recommendation be for a scenic route to UB and can you maybe hazard a guess at about how many days?

Thanks...
Declan

[Declan]

Originally Posted by Tiger3

hello I cross mongolia this year by the central road it's very beautiful. I travel alone with gsa 1200; no problem; Video here:



Naranbulag : gravel road

Near sogino 10 KM send.

after Tosonchengel to UB alsphat road.

Hi Tiger3, great video!! Thanks for the suggested route

[colebatch]

depending on your route, riding speed and intensity you can go from the western border to UB in anything from 3 days to 3 weeks avoiding asphalt pretty much all the way.

I have recommended an excellent custom route that has been devised over many trips to Mongolia to a number of riders in recent years, with very good feedback. The idea behind the route is to take in everything from the high mountain plateaus, the deserts, the grasslands and even some forests, on the ride from the Altai to UB. It is not a direct route (which would be around 2100 km), but winds its way through the countryside over 10 riding days (which is normally about 2 weeks) and covering about 2800 km (a comfy 280 km a day).

PM me if youre interested in more detail.

One of several rides I have shared the trail with is John from the Canadian "MotoMavericks". The first two riding days of John's ride are currently featured in a ride report here, along with pics from those first two days for reference ... hoping more pics from John will be posted in the near future.

MotoMavericks ride WR250R's RTW. Motos, Beer, Adventure | Page 44 | Adventure Rider

Originally Posted by Declan

Thanks Fnormet, thanks Colebatch. Scenery and the true Mongolian experience are more important to me than roads and I'm quite willing and happy to ride where no roads exist. In any event I previously understood than most of Mongolia is unpaved and with that in mind I was trying to get a handle on how many days to traverse - I need to have a tentative idea in order to make a rudimentary schedule.

Colebatch - What would your recommendation be for a scenic route to UB and can you maybe hazard a guess at about how many days?

Thanks...
Declan

[tmotten]

Originally Posted by Tiger3

after Tosonchengel to UB alsphat road.

Wow, that place is changing fast. I can see a paved road from Moron to the lake now. Riding paved roads in Mongolia has been some of the most boring things I've done. Particularly after riding so much dirt. And that was the southern route back then.

I'd recommend just looking through Google Earth. The imagery is amazing and you can draw your route as crazy as you like. Work out fuel distances, export to KMZ, load onto your phone and away you go. Sadly Panoramio is getting killed November 4th. Hopefully there will be a good replacement.