So, the whole story is as follows: we are taking from august the 1st till september the 30th an expedition (2 months) , 4 people with 2 Subaru Forester 2.0, through Asia, 35.000 km. Route is Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Mongolia, again Russia (Altai), Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria and back to Romania. So, we will visit the Altai region on returning from Mongolia to Kazakhstan (China would have been AWFULLY expensive to drive through). That's why we wanted on the way to Mongolia to go Moskva-Ural-Central Siberia (northern than any road)-Irkutsk-Ulan-Ude-Mongolia.
Now, any advice would be appreciated. Anyhow, our expedition is in a shape of a heart, we want to step the record for 'the longest expedition in shape on a heart'.
Thank you all!

Here's a part of ourt project in russian:

РУМЫНИЯ – АЗИЯ 2012-Длиннейшая экспедиция в виде сердца

Экспедицию организует Hard Enduro Club Arad, некомерческая ассоциация, которая включает любителей природы и моторов. Экспедиции всегда организовались и будут организоваться, пока приключения будут привлекать людей, пока они будут стараться распознать собственные лимиты. Что новое принесет наша экспедиция?

Мы жители Арада, города на западе Румынии, любители моторного спорта и путешествий, желающие осуществить Великое Приключение нашей жизни, и не только для собственного удовольствия, но и как представители нашего города и нашей страны. Гостеприимство румын известно во всем мире, как и наши прекрасные пейзажи, которые жители Азии могут посетить. Мы также хотим посетить разные зоны, познакомиться с их фольклором, уровнем цивилизации, достопримечательностями.

Экспедиция состоит из 4 членов и 2 автомобилей – на каждой машине будет 2 человека.

I see now... Sounds like a great trip parts of which I already did and some I only wish about
Mongolia is certainly beautiful, too, and fishing there is unbeatable for sure.

For Russia, as far as I know there's a northern road off the beaten path, but it goes from Moscow or St. Petersburg to the Urals, I believe, or maybe to Tyumen. People say it's nice, but I've never been there. After Tyumen, you will have to get down to Tomsk/Novosibirsk/Kemerovo etc., I think. Anyway, I think Tyumen region is worth visiting, so I'd opt to go there if time and money allows

Additionally, I'd recommend you to secure contacts in different cities on your way through Russia. You can easily do it through off-road forums in different cities, and this should be really useful. Wouldn't like to frighten you, but many things can happen from a simple breakage to quite a serious problem. You will certainly need some sort of friends to help you out in such cases.

I personally am not too much help regarding any repairs, but at least I can translate and refer you to necessary people, so send me a private message if you'd like to have my mobile phone (I myself will be travelling around Baikal in early August, but I should be in Tomsk when you come over here). Btw, I'd also recommend you to buy a local SIM card. Not sure if foreigners are allowed to do this, but I think they are. This should save you a lot of money even though we have in-country roaming which may be quite expensive sometimes.

Does any of you speak Russian? English is not as common here as in Europe, so this may pose problems, too.

People in Russia are mostly friendly, but be careful anyway. Try to avoid drunk people in villages

I hope at you identical Subaru cars and you can bring together one from two cars? You crazy. I consider subaru there will be no resource for such travel!

montesambra2 писал(а):Yes, Olimpia, we would be interested, as long as it's not far away from our route!!

Oh, no. Our route is impossible for Subaru Forester

montesambra2 писал(а):and, btw, Which might be the most spectacular roas for crossing the Urals?

Two roads cross the Ural Mountains. I went to the south (M5) only. The road is good, the mountains are beautiful, but very high traffic. The road from St. Petersburg to the northern Urals is bad. The asphalt is broken, low-speed traffic.

По английски писать не умею....читать умею и даже понимаю но не писать....
ну если машины действительно одинаковые, то отправляйте их через Орловку.
там как раз всего 100км зимника......если осилят я им памятник поставлю (не рукотворный)

Thank you all, again!
Спасибо!

Пал Саныч писал(а):I hope at you identical Subaru cars and you can bring together one from two cars? You crazy. I consider subaru there will be no resource for such travel!

Yes, there are 2 complete identical cars and one of is is a good car mechanic and we will have spare parts and the cars are speciallly prepared!
thank you!
Of course, we don't come to do especially offroad tracks, just avoiding the 'usual' highways to see the real wild Siberia!

Cool figli!

Please, share with us your emotions after journey ending. Especially about Mongolia part. All of us are too interested how your cars will suffer local "highways"

Yes, I will! In fact, we are interested to meet during the expedition all of you off-road fans who are willing to share a word with us! Just write us here!

jam, why do you think Forresters cannot survive Mongolia? Local people drive much less suitable cars there And as far as we all know here, Skoda Octavia can also cross Mongolia

Adrian, so you're going to cross Turkmenistan as well? I was going to go there this summer, but then the plans have changed. There may be various problems with this country, but most probably you will easily get a transit visa on the border (though it's not cheap). They also normally charge the difference in gasoline prices from those who enter by cars (they have VERY cheap gasoline there), so the entrance may become an expensive thing to do.

Uzbekistan is also an interesting country with some "specific" rules, but you shouldn't have problems there, I guess.

If you're experienced and lucky, you may try to fish taimen in Mongolia (it should be there not far from Baikal, but not in the western parts). It's quite rare and very good Mongolian gasoline is pretty bad, prepare some improvers.

montesambra2
If there is a photo that can also share them here!
Topic I moved to a section of the Journey!

We are now arranging the visa for Iran. Turkmenistan is a little bit complicated with transit visa, I have spoken to the embassy. And Uzbekistan might be the time to short to get the visa, nearest embassy is in Austria (..so we'll try Kazhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran or if not possible, then Kazahstan-ferry-Azerbaidjan.
We will try in Mongolia evrything what you have reccomended
Cheers!

Nice and cool!!

Very cute!

Based on my own (quite limited indeed) experience with Turkmenistan embassy, you should give transit visa a try. I'm pretty sure things on the border will differ from what they say in the embassy. I think you have good chances.

montesambra2
We're on the Kolyma, come to visit)))
When planning to start?

desperado писал(а):montesambra2
We're on the Kolyma, come to visit)))
When planning to start?

Там же написано 1 августа!

да я половину слов не помню, не говоря уже про спряжения, наклонения, пасты симплы, прогресивы и прочую орфографию)))

А может и правда иностранцу показать где раки зимуют??? Я окромя Гари ничего долгого и интересного не знаю, хотя дождей нет, дорога должна быть сухой, но на спорте не полезу я туда... Надо куда то на реку выехать и по возможности стерлядки пару хвостов изловить (купить) под водовку... ато кто стерлядки с водкой не пробовал, то в сибири не бывал...

п.с. правда по термометру нифига чёт мы не в сибири живем. зимой снега по щиколотку, летом жара +30 два месяца

Пал Саныч писал(а):Я окромя Гари ничего долгого и интересного не знаю, хотя дождей нет, дорога должна быть сухой, но на спорте не полезу я туда...

До Гари уже дорога асфальт. Администрация на своих пузотерах ездила туда на прошлой неделе

Пал Саныч писал(а):А может и правда иностранцу показать где раки зимуют??? Надо куда то на реку выехать и по возможности стерлядки пару хвостов изловить (купить) под водовку... ато кто стерлядки с водкой не пробовал, то в сибири не бывал...

Если у них будет время и желание. И если в обще доедут до Томска.