Frequently Asked questions

Yes! You’ll need a motorcycle license in your home country valid to ride a 300cc motorcycle ( the CRF300L actually has a capacity of 286cc). You may also need an international permit, check with your government’s travel guide as Mongolia has different regulations for different  nationalities. 

Expect river crossings, sand, mud, hills and general rough dirt track conditions. Six to nine hours of riding will be required each day, so good base fitness is needed. But generally, the riding will be mild for a rider with experience off-road. The distances, weather, being self-sufficient and solving problems as they popup will be the real challenge of the rally. 

The key points to remember is the Mongolian Adventure Rally is more challenging than a tour group, if you’re not up for some challenges along the way this is not the event for you. And if you are a beginner on a motorcycle, still figuring out the basics, and have never done any long self-supported rides, this is also not the ride for you.

Unfortunately not. We are solely focused on providing the best motorcycle rally possible and do not have any capacity in our support vehicles for non-riding guests. We also believe our motorcycles and the terrain in Mongolia isn’t suited for pillions so its not possible to ride two-up on this event.

We open entries 10 months before departure and aim to sell out our events 5 months before departure. Our events take a lot of planning, so we cannot accept late joiners or hold places. Entries for our 2027 rallies will open in September 2026, with rallies taking place in July and August 2027.

Limited support means just that. You will need to be self-sufficient on the motorcycle. If the shit hits the fan we will be available to provided help from the 4WD backup vehicles and have staff employed to do just that. Please remember, depending on whether other riders require assistance, and distances to be traveled, this may take some time for the sweep to catch up to you.

Your first point of call should be trying to fix any problems locally yourself or with help from other rally riders. The Mongolian people will always be willing to help. Even with the language barrier they will understand your problem and help find a fix. We will also supply you with a basic tool kit and spares, including most importantly spare tubes! If your mechanical skills are a little rusty, on the setup and testing day we can give you a run down of the basics and help you practice changing a tube. Its all much simpler and more manageable than the larger bikes most of us own at home.

Absolutely not. We understand that the word “rally” can also mean a race, but to us, the word means freedom, exploration, and independence. The Mongolian Adventure Rally is a self-guided, non-competitive navigational rally. Those arriving first or going the fastest will not be rewarded, and riding at dangerous speeds or racing is not allowed at our events. We encourage you to slow down and take your time — the riders and groups that take the longest always have the best adventures.

For a detailed list of what to pack and bring on the rally visit our gear guide page. 

Yes. This is the advantage of the non-competitive rally format. You are bound to find like minded riders to team up with. Or spend some time riding alone and experience the true remoteness of the Mongolian steppe solo. We have had a few riders come solo so far and all have had an amazing time and teamed up and made friends along the way.

Generally, it will not be an issue at all. English is widely spoken in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, but not so much in rural areas! Be relaxed, things will take longer, but the friendly locals will understand your basic needs and be willing to help. We also include a few handy phrases in our guidebook to get you started! In our support vans we also have Mongolian – English translators traveling with us to help solve any problems you need a hand with.

UB is short for Ulaanbaatar, the capital, and only large city in Mongolia. This will be your entry/exit & start point for the event. Even the locals think the name is too long and use UB. 

A ger is the Mongolian word for a yurt. A traditional large circular tent of sorts traditionally made of felt, this is where the majority of the rural people live. And during the event you will have many opportunities to stay the night in one.

We advise arriving in Ulaanbaatar at least one full day before the Rally’s start. This will give you some time to relax, get your bearings, and explore the city.

The Rally officially finishes the morning after the last day of riding. It’s here we transport you the short distance and drop you off anywhere you please in Ulaanbaatar, or transport you to the airport if departing. Many will choose to head straight to the airport from the finish accommodation while some riders choose to stay an extra day or two in UB after the ride to recover before flying home. Check the itineraries on the homepage for dates and further details.

While only a small city, Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, is interesting and worth exploring. We recommend giving yourself at least one full day before the rally starts to shake off the jet lag and get your bearings.

Below are some centrally located pre- or post ride accommodation options to suit every budget.

1. Upmarket option: Novatel
A western-style high-end hotel located close to the city centre.

2. Mid-range option: Urgoo Hotel
A little dated but a reasonably priced hotel in a great location close to the National Museum. ( If they are booked out online try contacting them direct urgooboutiquehotel@gmail.com) 

3. Budget option: Khongor Guest House
Cheap and cheerful accommodation with shared bathroom facilities, within a short walk of most attractions.

All international flights will arrive into Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN), about 52km outside of Ulaanbaatar (UB).

Your hotel may have arranged a transfer to your accommodation. If not, you can easily grab a taxi for around 120,000 Mongolian (approx. $40 USD). The service desk on level 1 can help you book a taxi if needed. The journey into UB usually takes 45 minutes to one hour, depending on traffic.

While things can go wrong on any overseas trip, Mongolia is a safe country to visit, and serious crimes against travellers are very uncommon. Always check the latest travel advice from your home country before travelling anywhere. The Australian government rates Mongolia as safer to travel to than Thailand and FranceWhile things can go wrong on any overseas trip, Mongolia is a safe country to visit, and serious crimes against travellers are very uncommon. The Australian government rates Mongolia as safer to travel to than Thailand and France! Always check the latest travel advice from your home country before traveling anywhere.

Ensure you see your doctor for vaccinations and a check-up before you leave. It’s also essential to have adequate travel insurance, just in case you do require medical care, or experience other issues, whilst away.

Insurance is such a personal thing and we have riders from around the world join us, so we can’t recommend a “one size fits all policy”. Choose a policy that covers riding a 300cc motorcycle in Mongolia, and make sure you are covered for at least US$200,000 to cover medical repatriation if necessary. Read the fine print carefully. If you’re unsure, it’s best to phone or email the insurer directly to make sure the policy is right for you.

Thanks to our GPS trackers mounted to each motorcycle, your friends and family can follow your progress in real-time on our website here! Please note these trackers cannot be used as a navigator, you will have to bring your own smart phone or Garmin device for that.

In addition, each day you’ll pass through two to three villages where you’ll have cellular reception and Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to keep in touch with those at home, as well as your fellow riders. At the start and finish rally accommodation reliable WIFI connection is available.  

All our motorcycles have USB (Type-A ports), so you can charge your navigation device or other small electronics while riding. Every 2–3 days, you’ll stay at a ger camp with power outlets (Type C). Some riders have brought large, heavy power banks in the past but found they didn’t use them much — so we don’t recommend bringing one. The same goes for bulky electronics like drones and DSLR cameras — most people find they’re too busy enjoying the adventure to use them much.

July and August are summer months in Mongolia. Expect mostly warm weather and cool nights in the desert and at altitude with the odd passing rain event. Of course due to the nature of weather anything is possible, especially in the north, due to altitudes of over 1600m. When we camp in the mountains it may be cold at night so we recommend bringing a three seasons sleeping bag not a summer one. For a detailed list of what to bring to Mongolia for the rally visit our gear guide.   

Sorry this will not be possible, this isn’t the trip for you! Once in the countryside expect mostly camping, homestays, and very basic hotels. The choice is yours. This is all part of the adventure after all. Showers and running toilets could be few and far between on the steppe.

Most riders use their Apple or Android phones mounted to a RAM, Quad Lock, or similar mount (7/8″ handlebar size required). We can help you set up a free offline navigation app and load our routes onto your device on the setup and test day (Wi-Fi is available at the starting accommodation). For an easy navigation app try Maps.Me, you can download the best quality offline maps of Mongolia on it, all for free.

Some riders bring Garmins as well, but they’re not necessary. Unless you use them regularly and keep the software updated, they can be difficult to operate. We’ve had people show up with old units they haven’t switched on in years —and they often cause problems!

If this sounds like you please leave it in the back of that cupboard, and please just bring your smartphone!

Sorry, no! The 

Yes everyone is welcome, and in fact we encourage people from all nations to join us. Meeting people from far flung places only adds to the fun. So far we have had riders join us from Ireland, England, Germany, Canada, United States of America, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

Traveling with all your gear to and from Mongolia will require a larger bag to transport this all in, plus anything additional you want to bring to use outside the ride. For those staying in UB before and after the ride, your hotel should happily store this extra gear for you to collect on your return. For those who are flying in or out directly before and after the ride and not booking additional accommodation. Contact us via email and we will help find you a solution, this will not be an issue. Please note anything you bring with you to the rally start accommodation you will need to carry on your motorcycle. We don’t have room in the support vehicles for carrying riders excess luggage. so pack appropriately. Check out our gear guide for what to bring here.

The finish accommodation for the rally is located on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar on the airport side. We will transport you from here to the airport on the morning of the departure from the event or anywhere in the Ulaanbaatar city if staying on. It takes 25 minutes to get to the airport and a little longer, traffic depending, to get into the city centre. Check our event itineraries on the home page for further details on these dates. If you’re coming or going outside these dates we can help you book a taxi. 

The organisers are Australian, most of our customers are European, Australian, and New Zealanders, and the ride takes place in Mongolia! So why is the entry fee to be paid in USD? The simple answer is that our suppliers in Mongolia want to be paid in USD. The local Mongolian currency the Tugrik, can be volatile, so they want to protect themselves from inflation over time.
This inflation isn’t something that rally participants need to worry about, as we are visiting for a short period of time. Any money exchanged to local currency will be exchanged at the current rate and spent within our visit. On the other hand, our Mongolian suppliers are paid many months before the event, or contracts are signed up to a year in advance. Over that time frame, the local currency could rise or most likely fall by a significant amount for them, hence the need to pay them in USD to safeguard against that.

Yes, halfway through the rally we’ll have a rest day in a major town and centre. At or near the suggested accommodation, there will be a laundromat where you can wash and dry your clothes for a reasonable price.