Hundreds of participants have taken up this adventure again this year, for which all you need is a desire to travel and “a car that you could have traded for a bag of chips.”
The elements needed to take part in the Mongol Rally, the crazy 16,000-kilometer race from Europe to Eastern Kazakhstan, are simple: a desire to travel and experience adventure, plus a car that you “could have traded for a bag of chips”. A maximum of 1,300 cubic centimeters (125 for motorbikes) and the older the better. Also essential are good maps, a tent, some mechanical knowledge and an open mind to observe the change in culture over the thousands of kilometers of road.
This is how this charity race works. As a physical journey, but also a personal and internal one, in which there is no assistance from the organization. It is run by the British group The Adventurists, who have resumed the race in 2024 after a five-year hiatus due to the pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine.The Adventurists only coordinate the start and finish parties, and have already opened registrations for the 2025 edition. Preparations can take months and range from obtaining the vehicle; contributing GBP500 (about 600 euros, at the current exchange rate) in sponsorship for charity, i.e. for the host organization, Cool Earth; processing visas to cross some of the 25 countries along the 16,000-kilometer route, and the vaccinations that must be undergone before setting off on the adventure. That’s why you must prepare in advance, organize everything so that the chaos that follows remains somewhat orderly.
One of the mottos of the race is that “if everything has gone well, something has not gone well.” Participants must be 100% open to improvisation and have the ability to adapt to the most extreme travel conditions, which are exacerbated by the fact that they are often traveling in old cars that are not suitable for demanding roads such as those faced during the race, especially in the last stretch of the adventure. “The worse the car, the greater the adventure. In fact, if you see that your car is going better than expected, it is probably better to put sugar in the gas tank,” explain the organizers.
The rules and characteristics of the cars are described on the event’s website. One very important one is that the teams, made up of a maximum of four people, are completely on their own. From there, they have to raise funds for Cool Earth and, very importantly, “take your rubbish with you”. This includes the car in which the journey is made.
The organizers ask participants to pay a deposit for transporting their vehicles from the finish to the starting point after the rally. This money can also be saved by driving back, although after a month in the car, there may be little desire to return the same way. That is why The Adventurists offer the option of transporting cars back to Eastern Europe by train.
It’s a big question that the organizers themselves answer in an approximate way. The cost can be as low as zero euros if sponsorship is sought to cover the expenses inherent in an adventure of this type, which are diverse and, in some cases, high. To start with, the registration for 2025 amounts to GBP895 for cars and GBP425 for motorcycles, that is, 1,060 and 500 euros respectively.
In addition, the car must be purchased, although this is probably neither the first nor the second largest item on the budget. In the last edition, for example, travel restrictions in Azerbaijan meant that driving had to be stopped and the vehicle had to be sent by alternative transport from Georgia, which cost between GBP900 and GBP1,300, plus the cost of the adventurers’ flights.
The organization itself estimates the cost of fuel at more than GBP500, although, logically, everything depends on the type of vehicle and the route followed. This makes it difficult to make a very exact estimate. Visas must also be budgeted for, which must be processed at the different embassies of the countries you plan to visit months in advance. The Adventurists set an approximate maximum limit of around GBP900, although, depending on the route and even the nationality of the person who processes them, the cost can be significantly reduced.
If there is one thing that the organization recommends, it is good travel insurance. Health comes first and, therefore, you should spend around GBP100 on this to avoid being stranded in the most extreme conditions. In terms of health, it is also important to get vaccinated, for which you should consult specialists, with an estimated cost of another GBP100 per person.
Finally, there are a number of essential and boring formalities that must be completed before you set off to drive for four or five weeks for 14 hours a day. Visas, good vehicle insurance with international coverage, the carnet de passo (a kind of visa for the car required in some countries), having the vehicle’s documents in order, and the international driving license. With all this, the adventure can begin, although we will have to wait until the summer of 2025 for the next edition.
Write: Rafa Honrubia
