The Mongol Rally: Crossing the Mongol Rally finish line
The Mongol Rally finish line is actually in Russia
A few years ago, the Mongol Rally finish line was moved from Ulaanbaatar, in Mongolia, to Ulan Ude in Russia. It’s easier to ship the cars back that way. Mongolia didn’t want any more beaten and broken cars dumped in their capital. They said it would be an easy day’s drive between the two cities, so we took them at face value and set off north after a lazy breakfast in our hostel.
A day’s drive, yes. But an entire day. And not easy. The road north from the capital was not as new as the other paved roads we’d used in Mongolia. It was rough, patched, potholed and slow. And a lot busier than the beautiful new roads in the west.
A final border crossing before the Mongol Rally finish line
We reached the border in the late afternoon. And we waited. It was the usual procedure. Wait to get in, wait for the car to be searched, wait for a passport stamp, a customs stamp, another stamp for no particular reason, and yet another stamp to confirm you have all the others. Then, repeat the procedure on the other side.
By the time we’d navigated this particularly infuriating border crossing (it’s okay to swear at people if they don’t understand you, right?), it was already going dark. The finish line party would start in an hour, and we still had at least four hours of driving ahead. At least the roads in Russia would be better.
Or so we thought. It turned out the road to Mongolia wasn’t a priority, and we had dirt sections, potholed sections and long stretches of roadworks to navigate on the endless, dark drive north.
The Mongol Rally finish line party
We finally reached Ulan Ude and the Mongol Rally finish line a little before midnight, with the finish line fireworks visible as we approached the city. By the time we arrived, the party seemed to be dying down; those who had drunk too much were being carried home, and others were ‘dancing’ alone on the empty dance floor. But we did get another brief firework display and a few beers before hitting the hay, exhausted after another long day on the road.
Officially crossing the Mongol Rally finish line
The following morning, we officially crossed the Mongol Rally finish line. Photos on the podium, sign the finishers list with our best story, and then turn around and head home.
It had taken us 51 days to drive the 10,769 miles to Ulan Ude. We had crossed 25 countries, 7 time zones, three seas, boiling deserts and freezing mountain ranges. It had been amazing, unpleasant, fun, painful, infuriating, rewarding and everything in between. The Mongol Rally had been everything we had hoped for and more. Now we just had to get home!
Basking in our glory on the Mongol Rally finish line
This Leg
Days: 2
Countries: 2
Distance: 363 miles
Time in car: 13 hours
Total
Days: 51
Countries: 25
Distance: 10,769 miles
Time in car: 13 days 8 hours 30 minutes