Poles of Inconvenience
The Poles of Inconvenience Rally - More info
A summer of total inconvenience, getting stuck all over the planet.
1. What are the Poles of Inconvenience?
This un-route starts in Czechia and finishes in Georgia but it's the Poles of Inconvenience that really bring the stupid. Think of it is as curated network of chaos.
Instead of driving straight to the finish line you can join likeminded fools in seeking out totally ridiculous POIs along the way. Each carefully selected locational nugget of stupid will force adventure upon you and your tiny stead.
Some of the Poles may be inconvenient in the classic sense of being nestled in remote corners of wilderness areas. Others might be topographically inconvenient, like the top of a mountain, or in the middle of a sea of sand dunes in the Sahara and others will be logistically inconvenient.
It's totally up to you which POIs you tackle but your chances of winning the overall Champion of the Poles prize (and £3000) will definitely increase if you bag a few along the way.



Bagging a Pole


2. The Original Finish Line
Georgia - The Original Finish Line




3. Institute of Adventure Research Finish Lines
Sierra Leone


Uzbekistan (Pending border to opening)


Oman


4. The Rules
Rule 1: Small and Shit
You need to drive a small, shit car to make the rally tougher. It's no fun if it's too easy. If you want easy go for a spa weekend. If you want to make it harder, take a small bike.
Rule 2: No set route & no support
You also choose your own route between the start and the finish including how many Poles of Inconvenience you tick off along the way.
Rule 3: Raise £500 for charity
We've changed the official charity this year to support their Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. Money raised by teams on the Mongol Rally Poles of Inconvenience 2022 will go towards helping refugees caught up in the war.
If you'd prefer to raise money for other registered charities that's all good. Anything over the £500 minimum for the official charity can be donated to your own causes. And if you've already started fundraising for our normal official charity Cool Earth you can carry on fundraising for them if you prefer.


5. The Dates
If you're short on time you can hit a handful of Poles of Inconvenience and arrive in time for the first finish line party after one week.
Or maybe you're got all the time in the world because you just got fired for taking your trousers off in the office and working in your pants again. You can do the UK Convoy, then drive to Georgia via North Africa, the Arctic Circle and southern Iran just in time for the last finish party three weeks after the launch.
16th July: Launch Party, Czechia
17th July: Launch Day, Czechia
23rd July: Finish Line Opens & First Finish Party
30th July: Finish Party No. 2
6th August: Final Finish Party & Finish Line Closing Ceremony


6. Entry fee and what you get
Stuff
- Rally decals for your car or bike
- Poles of Inconvenience patch for each team member
- Team t-shirt for every rallier
Events
- A rolling and ever expanding UK convoy to travel to the launch in true chaotic style (and increase the chances of getting arrested for causing a vehicular public disturbance like you’ve always dreamed.)
- The Czechout launch party in Czechia including live music, DJs and other random entertainments.
- Free camping at the launch site on 16th July.
- Launch Day ceremony to depart in style amidst a cacophony of noise and tiny vehicles full of like minded idiots.
- A Finish Line stage to mark the end of your adventure and a free beer on arrival from the rally crew. Open from 23rd July through to 6th August.
- Choice of 3 Finish Parties spread across consecutive Saturdays on 23rd & 30th July plus 6th August. You can take one week or one month for this adventure and hit a big old knees up in Georgia with other teams. The final party on the third weekend will include the prizegiving.


Live tracking map and coverage
- Free tracking on the live Poles of Inconvenience may using the handy tracking app supplied by Wayward Travel (iOs & Android). Live from the start of the UK convoy on.
- A rolling newsfeed of coverage including your teams updates and photos posted for the world to be jealous.
The Poles of Inconvenience (and Refreshment)
- The sprawling network of carefully crafted and curated Poles of Inconvenience - or POIs - to track down on your circuitous route to the finish line in Georgia, or after Georgia on your way home if you prefer. Listed online and in your tracking app.
- We will also select some Points of Refreshment - PORs - rally friendly establishments where you can meet up with other ralliers.


Other stuff included in your entry fee
- Free visa advice from a consultant with a decade of experience (handy if you want to bag one of the POIs in Iran
- A team handbook full of info
- Recommended shipping partners and options for sending your car home without you.

7. The Prizes
2022 Poles of Inconvenience Champion
£1,500 Cash + £1,500 Adventure Voucher + Trophy
Extra points available for sartorial excellence and taking completely unnecessary large objects with you for no reason other than its funny and difficult.


2022 Runner Up
£500 Adventure Voucher + Adventurists Hipflask

Charity Fundraising Champion
£500 Adventure Voucher + Adventurists Hipflask


Best Vehicle Award
£500 Adventure Voucher + Adventurists Hipflask


8. Official Charity: Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal by the DEC

From an update on their website on the launch of the Ukraine appeal, 3rd March 2022:
"DEC has launched an urgent appeal to raise funds to help those forced to flee their homes in Ukraine in what is predicted to be the biggest refugee crisis this century ... More than 1 million people have fled Ukraine in recent days and many more have been displaced inside the country due to intense fighting. Inside Ukraine, homes continue to be destroyed and essential infrastructure such as water supplies, hospitals and schools have been hit.
"Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the DEC, said: “The unfolding crisis in Ukraine is horrific and heart-breaking. And the grim reality is that it is likely to get worse.”
"The DEC brings together 15 leading aid charities at times of crisis overseas. Thirteen of these are responding in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries who have taken in refugees. Every pound donated by the UK public will be matched by the UK government through its UK Aid Match scheme up to the value of £20 million – the largest commitment ever made to a DEC appeal through UK Aid Match."
How to fundraise for the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Appeal
We ask that every team does their best to raise at least £500. Nobody is going to kick you off the rally if you don't hit the £500 target but as long as you've given it a bloody good go that's all we ask.
If every team raised £1000 we'd collectively have contributed a very meaningful chunk of money to a very worth cause.
About the Disasters Emergency Committee
When large-scale disasters hit countries without the capacity to respond, the DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to raise funds quickly and efficiently. In these times of crisis, people in life-and-death situations need our help and our mission is to save, protect and rebuild lives through effective humanitarian response.
The DEC’s 15 member charities are: Action Against Hunger, ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, International Rescue Committee UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam GB, Plan International UK, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.