Khakassia to Mongolia road trip: 7 stops across Tuva
The 1,798-kilometer route through Khakassia and Tuva toward Mongolia includes passes at 1,950 meters, with extreme road conditions and sharp temperature fluctuations ranging from +5 to -2°C.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Abaza
- End
- Mongolia
- Stops
- 7
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Abaza — Town in Khakassia where the team gathers on the bank of a beautiful river before heading toward Mongolia.
- Khakassia — Russian federal subject in Siberia, peaceful and quiet region with the Abakan River, starting point before Tuva.
- Pozarym — Ecological complex and national park in Tuva with cafes and guesthouses, recommended stop en route to Mongolia border.
- Tuva — Russian republic bordering Mongolia, crossed via mountain passes with snow and extreme weather conditions.
- Sayan Mountains Pass — Mountain pass at 1950 meters elevation on the border between Khakassia and Tuva with steep icy slopes and challenging driving conditions.
- Russia-Mongolia Border — International border checkpoint between Russia and Mongolia where customs procedures are conducted with relatively smooth processing.
- Mongolia — Country in Central Asia known for vast steppes, mountains, and arid climate with no rain in regions visited by the team.
Useful for your trip
- Where to stay
- Cedar Hotel in Khakassia is a comfortable and pleasant accommodation option. The team stops there every year.
- Food
- Stop in Abaza for breakfast. The hotel can open the kitchen an hour earlier than usual operating hours if requested.
- Tip
- Stop at Pozarym National Park (ecological complex) on the way to Mongolia. It has a café and accommodation options, though it's primarily a nature reserve checkpoint.
- Transport
- The mountain pass from Khakassia to Tuva-Mongolia border reaches 1,950m elevation. Expect snow and ice; bring appropriate equipment and drive carefully on steep descents.
- Transport
- Russia-Mongolia border crossing at Tuva-Mongolia checkpoint takes approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour per vehicle. The process is generally straightforward and quick.
- Avoid
- Do not export more than 10 liters of fuel across the Russia-Mongolia border. Carrying more will cause delays and require additional bureaucratic procedures.
- Tip
- Drones require careful handling at the Russia-Mongolia border. Russian customs inspects them thoroughly; Mongolian customs allows them without issues. Declare if possible.
- Avoid
- When using Russian mobile roaming in Mongolia, you will be forced to enable VPN by Russian operators. Get a local Mongolian SIM card instead for better connectivity.
- Tip
- In Mongolian hotels, passports are collected at reception in exchange for room keys. Write down your passport number and keep track of it—it is essential for the entire trip.
- Where to stay
- Be prepared for basic amenities in Mongolian accommodations: hot water may not be available, plumbing issues are common, and showers may not function properly.
- Save money
- Currency exchange: local people can come to your hotel to exchange money, saving you a trip to a bank or ATM.
- Timing
- Plan approximately 6 hours of driving time from Khakassia to the Russia-Mongolia border, including crossing multiple mountain passes.
Video on this route
It's like in a movie // Mongolia // #mongolia