Monkey Run Mongolia

Full Details: Monkey Run Mongolia

Well, here it is. An all new shiny Monkey Run with gigantic-hairy-monkey-adventure nuts. This is the Monkey Run Mongolia.

There is a load of information below but frankly what else do you need to know, it’s monkey bikes across Mongolia. Just sign up.

Join the Adventure

1. The Route
2. Dates
3. What's included?
4. Entry Fee
5. I have a few questions...
6. Right. I'm ready sign me up.
7. Follow the Monkey Run

1. The Route

"This one is going to be ridiculous. I love Mongolia and monkey bikes, they both start with the letter "M", so it's like the Universe has told us to do it"
Mr Tom - Adventurists' Chief Idiot

Mongolia is big. Really fucking big. And driving through it (as any of you ex-Mongol Ralliers know) is brain squashingly awesome. 1000's of miles of endless horizons, mountains, dirt roads, no roads, nomads, deserts and steppe all collide in a sort adventuristic spaff. So riding through it on a motorbike designed for children is quite simply resplendent. Mongolia calls to the soul of the Monkey Bike like a fly to a shit.

From where? to where?

We've been organising adventures in Mongolia for well over a decade. In fact, we're not quite sure why we didn't start with a Monkey Run Mongolia. But here we are, bringing together all we know of this most excellent country and all we know of Monkey bikes. It's going to be a disaster.

We are planning an all new un-route now to take in vast swathes of all that Mongolia has to offer. We won't be telling you where to go or how to get there. We'll just be giving you a start line and a finish line and leaving the adventure up to you. All you need to do is get to the capital city Ulaanbaatar and we'll get you out to the start and bring you back from the finish.

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2. Dates

We shall congregate at a secret location in the capital Ulaanbataar to begin as we mean to go on with the toasting of Mongolian vodka. The next morning we shall whisk you off to the start line camp. And once we arrive much partying will ensue.

Some of you will be shit at riding monkey bikes so there'll be a day for you to get your hands on your steed and ride it around like a fool. We'll be around to explain all the things that will break, which end goes forwards and other helpful things.

Then it's time to set off. You will start the morning at the sharp end of miles of adventuring chaos. And after 10 days there is some chance you will have made it to the finish. Heavy pour glasses of Mongolian vodka shall be raised, and then raised again, and quite possibly again as we mark your entry to the halls of adventuring legend.

July 2023

1st July 2023: Beers in Ulaanbaatar
2nd July 2023: Set forth to the start camp
3rd July 2023: Test driving & rider briefing
4th July 2023: Test driving & launch party
5th July 2023: Launch day
14th July 2023: Finish line & party

September 2023

9th September 2023: Beers in Ulaanbaatar
10th September 2023: Set forth to the start camp
11th September 2023: Test driving & rider briefing
12th September 2023: Test driving & launch party
13th September 2023: Launch day
22nd September 2023: Finish line & party

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3. What's included?

Rather a lot as it turns out. For your paltry entry fee you'll get to take part in the mother of all monkey bike adventures. And that means...

We'll get you from Ulaanbataar to the middle of nowhere for the launch and even bring you back from the finish line at the end. Handy.
We'll put you up and stuff you full of food at the start and finish.
We'll give you your very own (for a while) monkey bike to fall madly in love with as you ride across the wilderness.
We'll provide a custom tracking app for your smartphone including offline tracking functionality so we know where you are even if you (hopefully) haven't a clue.
We'll give you a map that is almost completely useless.
We'll give you 2 parties to spoil your internal organs.
And some other stuff it would be boring to write here.
Oh and you'll get to help the Institute of Adventure Research set up a whole new adventure for all mankind. So you get one of the converted blue badges of joy.

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4. Entry Fee

Entry Fee: £1,595 per rider

This one is slightly more expensive due to the glorious nature of the terrain, the ridiculous un-route and all the stuff that's included.

The marvellous Mongolian steppe is remote so we'll be setting up a start and finish camp. This will be an incredible way to start and finish the adventure but also means we've had to nudge up the fee. Still an absolute steal for the adventure we'll be having out there.

Pay in monthly instalments

Choose 'monthly by card' when you sign up and you can spread the entry fee across 6 monthly payments.

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5. I have a few questions...

What should I bring?

As little as possible is what we always say. But for this one you will need to carry everything you need to survive in 10kg of luggage. Why 10kg? Because we've noticed a worrying trend of people bringing too much guff with them on adventures. And this makes the wheels fall off the back of monkey bikes.

Inside that you'll be want to carry...

A tent - you can get little 1 man things that weight less than 1kg.
A sleeping bag.
Any food you're not going to be happy finding and eating on the way.
The clothes you want to prevent hypothermia - water proof things for example.
Black tie for the finish line

We'll supply you with some basic tools and some useful bits and pieces that might fall off, snap or stop working. So beyond that the remaining weight could just be filled with your favourite bags of crisps? Or how about your favourite songs on vinyl - always handy.

Where will I sleep?

As many of you know Mongolia is a Nomadic culture and they often allow people to sleep in their homes as you travel through. Don't rely on this and be prepared to leave a bit of cash. We'll be giving you a crash course in Steppe etiquette at the pre race training so you don't blunder about the steppe being rude in this incredible culture.

So if you're not sleeping at the start of finish line, or in a very generous Nomads ger, you'll be curled up in your tent. There is the odd village along the way and some of these will have hotels and hostels to sleep in. But by no means regularly or every night.

What will I eat?

Mutton, noodles? What ever you bring with you, buy on route or are lucky enough to be offered along the way.

Where will I get petrol?

Small towns and settlements (called 'Soums') will have petrol available and you'll have to tailor your route to the availability of petrol. If you run out in the middle of nowhere you will have to barter with a passing vehicle (if there are any) to see what you can buy or carry a bit of extra fuel with you.