What It’s Like to Ride a Motorcycle Through Mongolia
If one destination belongs near the top of the list, it is Mongolia. Of all the places Ride Expeditions visit each year, our trips into these enormous landscapes are the ones our ride leaders look forward to most. Nothing quite matches the freedom of riding here: a vast, sparsely populated, genuinely beautiful country with no fences and no walls, just open riding in whichever direction you choose. From the wide plains where herds of wild horses run, to the cool larch forests of the higher country and the clear lakes lapping against ancient volcanic rock, riding a motorcycle in Mongolia is the real thing. If you love blasting along endless gravel trails through big scenery, or carving lines across grassy valleys under huge blue skies, this is the place.
Long trails, long days
Mongolia isn’t just a little country tucked behind Russia. Dwarfed by its northern neighbour it may seem so, but at more than six hundred thousand square miles it is roughly the size of Alaska and several times the size of the UK. And yet it is the most sparsely populated country in the world, with around three million people spread across that vast space, more than half of them now in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. Outside the capital there are few towns and fewer fuel stops. On your own that would be a worry; with a full support team carrying fuel and backup behind you, it is simply part of the appeal – wide, empty country and nothing to fret about.
We run two tours in Mongolia, and between them they cover the two ways to ride this country: hard-wearing dirt-bike enduro, or big-mile adventure riding.If you want the classic dirt-bike trip, the Gobi Explorer is the one: twelve days of trail riding, with a detour down to the soaring White Cliffs and the dunes of the Gobi.
And if you want the biggest of the lot, on a bigger bike, the Gobi to Great Lake Adventure is the one to look at: thirteen days and around 3,760 kilometres, running from the White Cliffs and dunes of the Gobi in the south all the way up to Khuvsgul Lake near the Russian border, then back through central Mongolia past the old monasteries. That one trades the tight, technical trail for sheer distance and big-country adventure riding. Whichever you choose, if you love being out in big, empty country on two wheels, you will be in your element.
Roads, but not as you know them
There are some stunning roads across Mongolia, but if you have come for mile after mile of billiard-table tarmac, this is not that trip – and that is rather the point. The going is gloriously rough and ready, which is exactly why we ride dirt bikes with long-travel suspension, and why you will not see many sportsbikes out here. The slower average speeds are a gift, too: time to watch the camels sweeping across the plains and the eagles riding the thermals off the hot tarmac, instead of lying on the tank chasing a land-speed record.
Gravel trails and woodland smiles
What Mongolia lacks in racetrack blacktop it more than makes up for in world-class trails in just about any direction, and some of what we ride is genuinely jaw-dropping. The first time you take the wide grassy trails through lush green woodland and out into huge river valleys ringed by mountains, it is hard not to be a little overwhelmed. There are so many trails that choosing where to ride is half the skill – and it is one we have spent years building. Our own tour leaders know these routes inside out, and trusted local guides ride with us to keep us sharp on the day’s conditions, so you get the very best of the country rather than just the obvious lines.
Whichever tour you pick, you need to be a confident, experienced rider to get the most from it – properly handy on a trail bike for the Gobi Explorer, and comfortable covering big adventure-bike distances on the Gobi to Great Lake. That said, the Gobi Explorer sits at the more accessible end of our off-road range – ride dirt with a bit of confidence at home and you will be fine, and if you are unsure we will help you pick the right tour and bike. Stood on the pegs for much of the day, we keep the pace swift and flowing, with time to pick through water crossings and rocky climbs, and time to let rip on the gravel with a grin inside every helmet.
Fair-weather biking
Mongolia sits in the centre of East Asia, hemmed in by China and Russia, and is the second-largest landlocked country on the planet. It has a continental climate, with bitter winters that can drop to around minus thirty and short but pleasantly warm summers, which is exactly why we only run tours in the summer months. With well over two hundred sunny days a year, it has earned its nickname, the Land of the Blue Sky. All that sun means very little rain, and in places like the Gobi water is a rare thing indeed. We have rarely had prolonged rain on a Mongolian tour, though it is always possible, and clear skies mean cold nights, so pack something warm for sitting round the campfire.
What to wear
With both trips around sixty per cent off-road, the right kit matters. On the Gobi Explorer, whichever of the two bikes you choose, lightweight layered trail kit beats heavy, bulky adventure gear: a lightweight Gore-Tex jacket over a padded riding shirt works well, or an enduro jacket with built-in armour, and for trousers we would lean enduro, though motocross-style jeans will do, ideally with separate knee protection against flying stones and unscheduled dismounts. On the Gobi to Great Lake, the adventure bikes and the longer road sections make a more touring-oriented adventure setup the better call. Either way, bring sturdy adventure or off-road boots with good ankle protection and thick soles for standing up, not walking or paddock boots, because we are not walking and this is no paddock. Helmets should be adventure or off-road style, with goggles rather than a visor to keep the dust out.
Old school or new school
By now you have gathered the Gobi Explorer is for dirt lovers, and to carry you across it we offer two very capable bikes. First, a favourite the world over: the Suzuki DRZ400. Since 2000 it has won fans from Alaska to Adelaide, and with the updated DR-Z4S arriving it looks set to run for years yet. A flexible, usable motor, good suspension, a fine chassis and one of the comfiest seats ever fitted to an off-road bike make it the relaxed, comfortable all-rounder – ideal if you are coming off a road background. And for those who like a bit more muscle, the KTM EXC 450: monster power matched to a chassis that can take on the world, yet flexible enough to trickle down a rocky descent like a careful mountain goat. It is the choice of our tour mnager Henk, who knows a thing or two about bikes and loves putting that power to use on the big trails. The Gobi to Great Lake is a different proposition – that one runs adventure bikes built for big days and long distances rather than tight enduro trail.
Gear up to Gers
If you have not heard of a Ger, it is what much of the world calls a yurt, and on this trip you will get to know these cosy round tents well. Tourism is still fairly thin on the ground here, so hotels tend to be basic and confined to the larger towns, of which there are few. Out on the plains and at the smaller settlements, enterprising Mongolians have set up little camps of yurts, fully kitted with comfortable beds and a log fire, though some camps are simpler than others. Whether you are near the Tsenkher Hot Springs or on the shore of one of Mongolia’s many lakes, stepping out of a warm Ger into the morning sun beats a hotel corridor every time. From campfire feasts to hearty breakfasts under the sun, we rather love Ger life, and so will you.
So what is next?
Hopefully that has whetted the appetite. Two ways forward.
You can head to the tour pages for both Mongolian adventures, where you will find full information on each and a list of the common questions about licences, currency, SIM cards and the rest. Or, if you would rather talk it through, there is a live chat, and you can always ask to be put through to one of the team – real people who have actually ridden the route. After that it is just a matter of booking and telling your mates, to make them either jealous or keen to join you. Come on your own or with the gang, either way Mongolia is a special place to ride.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to ride in Mongolia?
Summer, and only summer. The continental climate gives short, warm summers and brutally cold winters down to around minus thirty, so we run the tours in the warm months when the trails are open and the skies are at their bluest. Even then the nights can be cold, so a warm layer for the evenings earns its place.
Do I need off-road experience?
For the Gobi Explorer, our dirt-bike trip, yes – you want to be a confident, experienced trail rider, comfortable standing on the pegs through gravel, water crossings and the odd rocky climb. The Gobi to Great Lake is on adventure bikes and trades technical trail for big distance, but it still asks for stamina and a steady hand over long days. If you are not sure which fits your level, talk to us before you book.
Which tour and which bike should I choose?
The Gobi Explorer is our twelve-day dirt-bike trip, taking in the Gobi; the Gobi to Great Lake is the thirteen-day adventure-bike epic up to Khuvsgul Lake. On the Gobi Explorer you pick from two bikes: the Suzuki DRZ400, the relaxed, comfortable all-rounder, ideal off a road background; or the KTM EXC 450, the punchy choice for experienced off-road riders. We are happy to talk it through.
Where will I be sleeping?
A mix of basic hotels in the few larger towns and traditional Ger camps out on the plains – round felt tents with proper beds and a log fire. Out near the hot springs or beside a lake, a warm Ger beats a hotel corridor every time.
What about licenses, permits and money?
You will want the right motorcycle licence and, in most cases, an International Driving Permit, and the local currency is the Mongolian tugrik. Requirements change, so confirm licence and permit details with your own authority before you travel – the tour team can point you in the right direction.