Russia, Mongolia and China (UK to OZ)

We are in the process of taking what feel like some big brave steps to travel across Russia, Mongolia and into China using our own vehicle. We are starting in Scandinavia during April/May this year. We have been planning for some time but the reality is now kicking in big time. Hoping we might be able to collect some good advice, contacts and help along the way - if anyone has anything useful for us at anytime - we'd be glad to hear - or just to keep an eye on us, we'd be grateful. Anyone wants to join/meet up along the way - just shout - we'll be trundling about or most likely breaking down somewhere (such faith!).

we will be following your footsteps in 2013 taking in central Asia and Siberia, shipping out of Vladivostok to Aus need to pick your brains about Aus formalities at somepoint. maybe once your there! we will need to stay for 2-3years to earn enough to ship out of Aus again.

G

Sounds good Loved Mongolia....feel free to visit our pics videos etc at Rhino Project (the top banner for the Mongolia trip)

When do you think you are going?

G - Are you going to do the famous Road of Bones (Kolyma)? We were initially thinking about shipping from Vlad but for us the cost of shipping the container on and then cost of travelling ourselves, neutralised the China transit cost option with guide - hence China transit. We also looked at ferry to S Korea and shipping from there but again not cheap even though container shipment seems to be. Anyway, you've probably looked into all that already. Maybe China will have relaxed costs by then, who knows. And, we'd be honoured sir G to offer advice once we are in Oz though it would be damn strange as we're usually the one's seeking - Imagine!.

Bevhelee on here is now NFA and also transiting to Oz with his family and 2 dogs but we're waiting for details on his planned route now we have ours - Bevhelee - any news if your reading this????? U coming with us???? (am told China eats dogs for dinner though!). What's the plan?

Rusty - cool site and re-designed since we last looked - we'll be picking your brains. Lake Baikal is a must for us and we think we might try to transit Mongolia in time for Nadaam festival mid-July although our plan says later currently. We might be able to hook up with 2 bikers at Erenhot border at this time and try to share transit costs for China leg. What do you think would be a comfortable transit time through Russia from Helsinki to Mongolia in your view - with a little bit of time to poodle about a bit?

Griffdowg said:

we will be following your footsteps in 2013 taking in central Asia and Siberia, shipping out of Vladivostok to Aus need to pick your brains about Aus formalities at somepoint. maybe once your there! we will need to stay for 2-3years to earn enough to ship out of Aus again.

G

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Hi Griffdowg

We will be doing a round the world trip in 2013. Looking at starting May 2013.
Don't know what route we will be takin for definate, but central asia Mongolia Russia then down te aus sounds pretty sound.

Sounds like you've already done some research so I'm probably mistaken, but I always understood that you couldn't drive your own vehicle into China?

Yeah - you can transit China but not on your own. You must pre-determine the route and arrange documents well in advance with tour operator. When you transit you must have a guide with you at all times and you are not allowed to deter from the pre-organised itinerary. Oh - and it's very expensive to do - not easy. Many would say a bureaucratic nightmare.

Liam - anything is possible with $$$ a lot of faff. too much $$$ for us to traverse China. Besides, we are keeping the 90 (crazy) so no room for a guide. Limits our options but there you go. We will travel to Vlad and ship out to Aus (£3000k max).

Cassie - the ROB and the Kolyma are 2 seperate roads Kolyma highway is now predominantly sealed (supposed) the ROB runs close to it, but is in a bad state of repair. Both run west to east from Yakutsk to Magadan. Unsure if we are going to do this route as it leads to Magadan which is in the middle of nowhere with (almost) no way out. So ship to vlad from there, or drive the ROB back! either way will eat time and $$$ instead I think we might try to find the BAM highway. Very little known about this strech, but I do have a contact. Completely wild traverse and we can drop down to the trans siberia highway for the remaining drive to Vlad.

I would love to spend alot of time in this area and initially I thought this could be a 12 month trip but after some research it looks like its going to be too cold. So we are aiming to be in Turkey for march, across the Caspian and into Tajikistan for May. I want to spend alot if time in the High Pamirs. KYJ KAS June, Mongolia July Russia Aug/September and ship out. I hear the port in Vlad can freeze over in October!

Wanderlust - Got a route sorted? rough plan?

G

G - several internet resources I have checked including Wikpedia, CompassExpeditions and the Hubb advise Road of Bones is now officially known as the Kolyma Highway. Maybe you mean Kolyma mountains are next to it? I'm not completely sure about it. Feel free to correct me. I have been going with the herd on this one. Not that we're crossing the ROB but we've been told that best time to cross is when covered in ice - wooohoooo! Actually I've been told it's quite passable but I wouldn't want to bet it's an easy traverse.
Agree with faf of China but there's 4 of us and a possible 40ft container instead 20ft to contend with - so for us cost-wise - the transit is the better option. If it was just two of us, I don't think we'd bother, we couldn't justify but now we are settled on it, the lure of the trip is starting to kick in a positive way.

Who knows

glad your feeling better about it our trip is a long way off yet, but forever dreaming. China makes sense for a family, I agree.

G

G - so your doing the 2nd half of Russia while we do the first. Interesting. The weather is a major factor. I think Oct onwards is winter proper. Also read you are considering now a trailer - interested to know why you've decided this. Is it for the big trip? I thought you had your Maggi and all pretty much taped or are you still retaining?

yer a converted Sankey Trailer. I cannot afford the £££ or time to prepare a 110 when I have a fully prepared 90 ready to go. I will remove the maggi and put it ontop of the trialer lid which will be fitted with gas struts. There will be slide drawers out of the rear tailgate to. Spare wheel attached to front of trailer along with 80L diesel. Water will be carried inside. typically this trailer build will cost ~£500 where as selling the 90, buying a 110 and preparing will run me into thousands more spent.

The main reason is the 90 does not have the payload for a dedicated solo trip like this, so I need that little extra for fuel/water. I also feel that the terrain encountered on this trip (predominanlty gravel and dirt roads) will suit a trailer better than say a west Africa trip (sand/mud). the weight will also be distributed over 6 wheels instead of 4 like a 110 and the 90 should be alot lighter with 50/50 in the trailer. We can also then afford to ditch the trailer and put everything in the 90 for the 20ft container to Aus if we meet up with a LC or 110 and split the cost.

the trailer will mean I have to get rid of my lightweight next year but its got to go anyway.

options, all options.

Griffdowg said:

yer a converted Sankey Trailer. I cannot afford the £££ or time to prepare a 110 when I have a fully prepared 90 ready to go. I will remove the maggi and put it ontop of the trialer lid which will be fitted with gas struts. There will be slide drawers out of the rear tailgate to. Spare wheel attached to front of trailer along with 80L diesel. Water will be carried inside. typically this trailer build will cost ~£500 where as selling the 90, buying a 110 and preparing will run me into thousands more spent.

The main reason is the 90 does not have the payload for a dedicated solo trip like this, so I need that little extra for fuel/water. I also feel that the terrain encountered on this trip (predominanlty gravel and dirt roads) will suit a trailer better than say a west Africa trip (sand/mud). the weight will also be distributed over 6 wheels instead of 4 like a 110 and the 90 should be alot lighter with 50/50 in the trailer. We can also then afford to ditch the trailer and put everything in the 90 for the 20ft container to Aus if we meet up with a LC or 110 and split the cost.

the trailer will mean I have to get rid of my lightweight next year but its got to go anyway.

options, all options.

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I'll swap you me sankey

Sirus said:

I'll swap you me sankey

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I was hopeing to make a little more than £250 on it also want to sell it to someone who will look after it!

G

Griffdowg said:

I was hopeing to make a little more than £250 on it also want to sell it to someone who will look after it!

G

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It would be looked after just fine....it would look great in the line up of landrover history thats in front of the house.

Griffdowg said:

Liam - anything is possible with $$$ a lot of faff. too much $$$ for us to traverse China. Besides, we are keeping the 90 (crazy) so no room for a guide. Limits our options but there you go. We will travel to Vlad and ship out to Aus (£3000k max).

Cassie - the ROB and the Kolyma are 2 seperate roads Kolyma highway is now predominantly sealed (supposed) the ROB runs close to it, but is in a bad state of repair. Both run west to east from Yakutsk to Magadan. Unsure if we are going to do this route as it leads to Magadan which is in the middle of nowhere with (almost) no way out. So ship to vlad from there, or drive the ROB back! either way will eat time and $$$ instead I think we might try to find the BAM highway. Very little known about this strech, but I do have a contact. Completely wild traverse and we can drop down to the trans siberia highway for the remaining drive to Vlad.

I would love to spend alot of time in this area and initially I thought this could be a 12 month trip but after some research it looks like its going to be too cold. So we are aiming to be in Turkey for march, across the Caspian and into Tajikistan for May. I want to spend alot if time in the High Pamirs. KYJ KAS June, Mongolia July Russia Aug/September and ship out. I hear the port in Vlad can freeze over in October!

Wanderlust - Got a route sorted? rough plan?

G

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No definate plans yet Griffdowg expect we will be we will be finishing work for good in april 2013 that's for sure. Selling the house and then starting our new lives, as for the route it is anybody's guess. If i say we should go left, then the wife say's we should go right. Yer know how it goes. Have to see how the world is in 3 years time. We are open to all option's.

Griffdowg said:

Who knows

glad your feeling better about it our trip is a long way off yet, but forever dreaming. China makes sense for a family, I agree.

G

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Really do not miss out on China, you will regret it for ever.

If your doing West to East, let me know, I can really pick some interesting places for you.

'vette

Vette - we are transiting Mongolia to Laos via Chengdu. Let us know if you think of any must sees while we are there. We are looking forward to it.
G- glad your keeping your Maggi. Your planned set-up makes great sense - like the idea.

have a quick look at our blog in my signature as we drove across russia to mongolia and back last year in about 5 months.

Hi Big Ad, have been dipping in and out of your website now and again - means much more to us now we are travelling through the same places! Was interesting before but even more interesting now.
Bevhelee and us transiting together now - all the way thru to Oz so there'll be 7 of us (4 adults, 3children, two Land Rovers (plus a biker called Jim we think who'll meeting us at China border). Bleedin' expensive to transit China - phew!