Rides
Requirements
| Carnet de Passage | no requirements |
| Insurance | required, buy at boarder |
| International driving permit | not required |
| Travel Visa | required, buy at boarder |
Why would I go there?
Mongolia is a hidden frontier, with endless stretches of lush grassland dotted with wild camels, eagles, horses, and nomads. The only paths are dusty trails that wind through the land like lifelines, shifting from thick mud to loose gravel to rivers that completely engulf the road. It’s an adventure rider’s paradise and one of the best places in the world to explore on a motorbike.
The south boasts the glistening Gobi Desert, the west is home to nomadic eagle hunters, in the central belt you’ll find the old capital and its ancient monasteries while the east has its deep valleys. Forget about hotels and fine dining; Mongolia is wild camping, gazing at a billion shimmering stars and living on a diet of horse milk and mutton the whole way.
Where is it?
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered only by Russia and China. At a glance, it might seem like it touches Kazakhstan, but a sliver of Russian territory lies between them. This means that if you’re overlanding and want to reach Kazakhstan, you’ll need a Russian visa or transit visa to pass through.
What is there to do?
In Mongolia, it’s all about riding… and riding some more. The joy comes from the journey itself, while the challenge lies in handling whatever surprises Mongolia throws your way – and it seems to dream up something new every single day.
The country feels like an endless, rolling canvas of both mind-numbing monotony and breathtaking wonder. One day, mountains and red cliffs jut dramatically from the earth, only to give way to flat grasslands the next. Two days later, you’re wrestling your rear wheel out of a stubborn sand dune. The day after, you’re wading through a waist-high river to test its depth before slipping and sliding through thick, muddy swamps.
Through it all, you’ll go from wringing sweat out of your shirt to huddling around a dung oven in a chilly yurt, drenched and trying to dry your pants.
How do I ride there?
You could ride from the UK, but it’s about 4,500 miles through Russia on the dull route or roughly 7,000 miles through Central Asia if you want something more exciting. A simpler option is to fly into Ulaanbaatar, the capital, and rent a motorcycle. There are plenty of rental companies with affordable bikes, plus numerous Mongolian enduro outfits offering KTMs.
Know before you go…
A Mongolian visa is single-entry and valid for 30 days. You can get it in your home country or from an embassy abroad for about £60—pretty straightforward. You’ll also need Mongolian vehicle insurance, which costs around £20 for the same duration.
In Mongolia, fuel is a common concern, but a 200-mile tank range is usually enough. You’ll come across stations in towns, and if you run into trouble, yurts often have jerry cans on hand.
Mongolia offers three main routes: north, middle, and south. Choose the middle one for a more enjoyable adventure.
Top Tips…
1. Learn how to safely cross a river and handle situations where your bike gets submerged.
2. Carry tools and spare tubes, and get comfortable with changing tires and fixing punctures.
3. Bring enough food and water to last for two to three days—you might end up needing it.
4. Make sure you have good knobbly tires, practice lifting your bike, pack light, and ensure you have a way to charge your phone.
5. Download Maps.Me on your phone for easy navigation – it’s free and works great.
6. You can camp anywhere you want, except in National Parks that charge entry fees.
Riding in Mongolia
You need understandable documents.
As a tip, it is to laminate all of your key documents or otherwise waterproof them. It is also highly recommended to scan all your original documents and email them to an easily accessible email address.
It is also worth printing off the Constat Amiable D’accident Automobile, which is used across numerous and other countries (the downloadable one on our website has English as well as French).
Speed limits.
Unless otherwise stated by appropriate signs, the following national speed limits apply:
Highways 49 mph (80 km/h)
Residential areas 37 mph (60 km/h)
Please note, this page was correct when written in November 2025.