The Thrilling Journey of the Mongol Rally
We were stopped on a two-lane road, crowded by cornfields on either side; beyond the cone of our headlamps, there was only the deepest blue of a night barely speckled by stars. I’d just awoken from a nap, not long after crossing the border into Ukraine.
‘Why are we stopped?’ I asked Hilton. He and Brent were sitting up front, both of them leaning forward, squinting at the dark.
‘The guy was waving at us. There was a guy. I don’t know where he went.’
This sounded familiar. Someone had warned us to never pull over for anyone trying to wave us down around here.
‘We should go!’ Before I’d finished that sentence, I glanced behind our car and caught the shape of someone running towards us—his hand reaching for the handle of my door. ‘Go go GO!’
Hilton hit the gas, and we sped off with a lurch. The car buzzed with the whining of an engine that would rather not accelerate and the collective racing of our hearts. Expletives filled the air.
That was one of many moments over 31 days when I had no idea what we were doing or why, or what someone was trying to tell us, or where we were headed. The only answer to any of it? The Mongol Rally and all of its delightful, occasionally dangerous, absurdity.
That night would continue for many hours. We got lost, nearly ran out of gas, and had to circle back to the scene of the almost-ambush. We drove all night to reach Odessa on the Black Sea, a beautiful place, I’m sure, but I slept for most of the day in a stuffy motel room before taking a brief, bleary-eyed walk on the beach.
Almost seven years ago, two friends and I crossed the finish line of the Mongol Rally in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, after thirty-one days on the road. Today, you can embark on a similar adventure.
What is the Mongol Rally?
The concept of the Mongol Rally is simple – until it’s anything but. You find a team of people who are adventurous enough to drive the length of Europe and much of Asia. You pile into a small car (the almost non-existent rules stipulate 1-liter engines or less), and then you do your best to drive from a secret location just west of Prague to the Siberian town of Ulan-Ude, 400 miles north of Ulaanbaatar—and hope that both your sanity and your car can make it that far.
The Adventurists (the team behind this unique challenge) throws epic parties at both the starting line and finish, offering some organizational assistance before you take off. However, don’t count on them to support you – you’re on your own out there when things go awry. And, likely, many things will!
So what do you gain from this madness? For one, bragging rights and memories that stick with you, akin to dead bugs on a license plate that’s been driving through a desolate desert for weeks. Moreover, you’ll also raise money for a fantastic non-profit organization called Cool Earth.
Driving Junkers to Combat the Climate Crisis
Cool Earth collaborates with indigenous tribes to protect rainforests from deforestation—a critical move during this time of climate crisis. They operate in Peru, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Cambodia, and Papua New Guinea, empowering local communities with sustainable livelihoods tied to the forests they rely on. By supporting communities surrounding rainforests, Cool Earth safeguards ecosystems vital for our planet’s health.
While it is unlikely that you will pass through any rainforests on this meandering journey, there’s no set route—so it’s not impossible. Regardless, the Mongol Rally presents a unique chance to experience a vast swath of the world, breathe in the air of places you might never consider visiting, and create connections through the unforgettable experiences you’ll encounter. It will certainly be hard. However, it will likely deepen your appreciation for the incredible world we inhabit. Additionally, helping protect the environment by raising funds for Cool Earth makes the journey even more rewarding.
It’s £695 to participate in the 2020 event, kicking off on July 19. Each team must raise £1,000 for charity, with at least £500 directed to Cool Earth and the rest towards a charity of your choosing.
To this day, it remains one of the best and worst things I’ve ever done. So what are you waiting for? Go, go, GO.