The Mongol Rally Adventure: Conquering the Unknown.
In the summer of 2019, my friend Alex and I embarked on an epic journey that few dare to undertake – the Mongol Rally.
This isn’t just any road trip; it’s an endurance test that challenges your resourcefulness, patience, and sanity.
The rules are as simple as they are absurd: you must drive a ridiculously small, old, underpowered junk car from Europe to Mongolia (or beyond), without a set route or backup support.
It’s rally designed for the truly adventurous, with a focus on embracing the unknown and navigating the most challenging roads on Earth.
Meet Diana, Our Trusty Steed
We knew from the start that our car would be the most critical part of this journey, and the Mongol Rally’s rule of using a vehicle with an engine no larger than 1 liter made it even more challenging.
After some searching, we found a 40-year-old Toyota Starlet station wagon in a junkyard, a relic of the past that had seen better days.
We bought it for a thousand euros, named it Diana, and started transforming her into our adventure companion.
Diana needed some serious modifications to survive the 20,000 km trek through some of the world’s most unforgiving terrains.
We stripped out the back seats to make room for an inflatable mattress, converted door panels into storage compartments, and welded a metal sheet under the engine to protect it from the inevitable rocks and debris.
A roof rack was added to carry spare parts, extra fuel, and our camping gear.
Our goal wasn’t just to survive the rally, but to enjoy every twist, turn, and breakdown along the way.
The Road to Mongolia
Our journey took us through 18 countries, starting in Tenerife and winding through Europe and Central Asia before reaching our final destination in Siberia, Russia.
Alex started the drive from Tenerife, through Spain, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. I picked up Diana in the Netherlands, gave her a makeover with rally decorations, and drove her to the official start line in Prague, Czech Republic.
From there, we embarked on the true adventure: Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia.
Each country brought its own challenges, from the towering peaks of the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan – a road so treacherous that it’s considered impassable at night – to the vast, empty plains of Mongolia.
The Pamir Highway, in particular, pushed Diana to her limits. It’s a route notorious for deep potholes and crumbling infrastructure, where the lack of 4×4 capability in our car made every mile a gamble. But Diana proved to be tougher than she looked, navigating the rough terrain with a mix of determination and sheer luck.
Encounters with the Unexpected
The beauty of the Mongol Rally lies in the unexpected encounters that make the journey unforgettable.
One of the most harrowing moments was crossing a river in Mongolia at night.
Diana “drowned” in the middle of the river, and we found ourselves stranded.
Fortunately, a local family of sheep herders, living nearby in a yurt, came to our rescue.
The herder pulled Diana out by tying it to his pickup truck.
His wives brought us their yurt-made camel cheese – hard as a rock and about the same taste.
While I started a fire for the night to try and dry our clothes, wallets, and everything else that was water logged when the car dove into the river, Alex tirelessly took the engine apart using a head torch as his only light, meticulously cleaning each piece with benzine before reassembling it.
In the morning, the herder drove 50 kilometers on his motorcycle to the nearest town to get us engine oil, replacing the mud-clogged oil that Alex had drained.
Meanwhile, the herder’s kids taught us how to light a fire using only camel dung.
Despite all their help, the herder refused to take any money in return, a humbling reminder of the incredible kindness found even in the most remote corners of the world.
Another unforgettable experience was meeting a group of elderly men in Tajikistan, who invited us to join their family reunion lunch by a remote mountain lake.
These unplanned moments of connection, whether sharing a meal, fixing a car, or simply exchanging stories, were the true treasures of our journey.
In Kyrgyzstan, we stayed with a Muslim family who welcomed us into their home with incredible warmth.
They were even open to us enjoying some Țuică – a strong homemade Romanian spirit with 55% alcohol that we got as a parting present from Alex’s friend.
It didn’t take much for me to get tipsy, and before long, both of us were deep in what we thought were philosophical discussions about life and creation.
Watching the video later, it was clear just how hilarious our drunken ramblings had been!
The Road’s Challenges
While the rally is filled with moments of joy and connection, it’s also a relentless test of endurance.
There were days when the endless driving, rough roads, and mechanical failures took their toll.
I vividly remember falling ill. But despite my condition, we had to keep moving through a remote mountain region, as the next town was a million kilometers away.
When we finally arrived, exhausted and desperate for a place to sleep, we found the town fully booked.
It was only through the kindness of a local (fully booked) hostel owner, who convinced her neighbor to offer us a room, that we found shelter for the night on the floor of her living room.
Diana’s mechanical issues were a constant challenge.
Alex, with his impressive knowledge of car mechanics, often had to improvise repairs with duct tape and zip ties to keep us moving.
Towards the end of our journey, starting Diana required a push every time, a task often aided by the ever-helpful locals.
The Finish Line and Beyond
Crossing the finish line in Siberia was a moment of triumph, a mix of pride, relief, and exhaustion.
Out of the many cars that start the Mongol Rally, only about two-thirds make it to the end.
That Diana, our 40-year-old junkyard find, managed to complete the journey was nothing short of miraculous.
The celebration at the finish line was bittersweet – we had survived and thrived on an adventure of a lifetime, but it also marked the end of a journey that had taught me so much.
The Mongol Rally wasn’t just about reaching the destination; it was about the journey and the lessons learned along the way.
It taught me resilience, gratitude, and the incredible power of human connection.
The Mongol Rally was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, one that I’m unlikely to repeat but will always cherish.
As I look forward to my next adventure, I carry with me the knowledge that the greatest experiences in life often come when I leave the map behind and embrace the unknown.
More from the Mongol Rally here: