TRIP 1
28 JUN TO 9 JUL 2027
Dads & Lads
Inside many South African school and university holidays.
16 riders
How this started
“We have to come back with them.”Matt and Gareth, somewhere on the steppe, 2026
Before Mongolia, Matt and Gareth had about an hour on a motorbike between them. Gareth arrived with a lifetime total of 12 km. In 2026 we rode across the country together, and both said the same thing about their teenage sons.
So we are going back. Three departures in 2027, 16 riders each.
Three departures
Twelve days each. Sixteen riders each.
TRIP 2
13 TO 24 JUL 2027
Open to all
Families, friends, ladies' trips, gap-year groups, corporate groups.
16 riders
TRIP 3
8 TO 19 AUG 2027
Dads & Lads
Inside the August break at many South African schools, and the northern-hemisphere summer holidays.
16 riders
Dads & Lads is the spirit of the trip, not a rule. Lads are roughly 16 to 24 and everyone rides their own bike. Godfathers, uncles and grandfathers count. Bring two sons, or come on your own.
Families with mums, sisters or daughters are welcome on Trip 2.
Bringing your own group? Book places together on any departure. For 10 or more riders, ask about a private departure on dates of your own.
Three fathers have already asked for places on Trip 1, and two on Trip 2.
Why Mongolia
Pick a horizon and ride to it.
It is the least densely populated country on earth. Most of it is open grazing land or wilderness, and most of its roads are dirt tracks or no road at all. You cross rivers because there is no bridge, and camp where the day ends. Dinner is often around a fire, under the stars.
The people you meet are herding families who still move their gers with the seasons, as they have for thousands of years. Mongolia is known as the land of no fences for good reason. I don't know anywhere on earth that gives you a greater sense of freedom.
~2people per km², the lowest of any country
4.7mhorses, against about 3.5m people
~1,200 kmof tar-free riding
30%larger than South Africa
The route
A tar-free loop west of Ulaanbaatar.
Each trip starts and finishes on the south-western edge of Ulaanbaatar and rides a clockwise loop of about 1,200 km through the country to the west, with no tar at all. The route is chosen to take in as much of Mongolia as ten riding days allow: open steppe, mountain passes, forest, river valleys and lakes, under big skies.
The route shown is for illustration only. Full details and the itinerary go to registered riders on 1 December.
What it's like
Hard days outdoors, fully supported.
Day 1Arrive in Ulaanbaatar. Bikes, kit and briefing. Hotel night.
Days 2 to 11Ten days and about 1,200 km of glorious riding. Gravel, grass, open plains, mountains and rivers.
Day 12A final hotel night in Ulaanbaatar behind you. Fly home.
Nights
The first and last nights are in a comfortable hotel in Ulaanbaatar. Beyond the city we camp most nights (tents supplied), because there is nowhere else to stay, with a few nights in traditional gers along the way. Bucket showers and washing in rivers.
For much of the route there is no phone signal. Twelve days with your son, your friends or your team, and nothing competing for their attention or yours.
Support and bikes
Two support vehicles travel with us. One carries food, drink and camp kit and provides medical support. The other carries spares, fuel and a mechanic.
The bikes are 150cc Shinerays, the workhorses of Mongolia. Low power, light weight, high fun, and very hard to break. In 2026 they took us places we hadn't imagined a 150cc could go: a combined 11,000 km through dozens of river crossings, mud, rock, sand, mountains and steppe, with two punctures between us and no mechanical failures.
Optional · Training weekend
Before the trips, we'll run an introductory riding weekend in the KZN Midlands, on Shinerays or very similar bikes, for anyone who wants it. See the FAQ for details.
From the road, 2026
Twenty-four days of updates, in brief.
Day 3 · Kharkhorin
First proper river crossings, and all three Shinerays (and their riders) crushed them, despite four Frenchmen with cameras firmly focused on the impending disaster. We showed them.Ron, WhatsApp update, 2026
Day 4 · Arkhangai
The land of no fences truly lives up to its name. For hours, the only thing we saw was herds of horses. First night in a ger camp means first shower since Ulaanbaatar. Small pleasures.Ron, WhatsApp update, 2026
Day 5 · Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake
A note on our two novices, who between them had about 60 minutes of riding experience before the tour. A thousand kilometres in, they are both absolutely crushing it.Ron, WhatsApp update, 2026
Day 6 · Ider Valley
Sweeping roads through the fenceless plains and valleys of the steppe. Hard to ride without grinning.Ron, WhatsApp update, 2026
Day 8 · Western Mongolia
Sometimes when Plan A (or B) doesn’t come off, the alternative turns out to be what should have been all along. There is always a way.Ron, WhatsApp update, 2026
Day 9 · Bayan-Ölgii
Gerry arrived in Mongolia with a lifetime total of 12 km on a motorbike. He leaves having crossed the country completely unscathed, with his cup full.Ron, WhatsApp update, 2026
Day 18 · Northern Mongolia
For 30 km of forward progress, we rode 120 km in over eight hours and crossed 18 rivers. We, and our bikes, survived to tell the tale.Ron, WhatsApp update, 2026
Day 21 · Lake Khövsgöl
Two Americans on lovely Royal Enfields are stranded at the lake with clutch issues, while our $800 Shinerays continue to chug along. We take no satisfaction in the irony.Ron, WhatsApp update, 2026
Day 24 · Ulaanbaatar
Ten to twenty days out here will let you experience a really good diversity of the landscapes. Clear your diaries for a couple of weeks next June or July.Ron, WhatsApp update, 2026
Lightly edited from the daily WhatsApp updates sent to friends and family during the 2026 ride.
From the 2026 ride
What it looks like on the ground.
Who's leading
Ron Rutland
In 2017 I walked 2,000 km across Mongolia from west to east in 80 days, pulling a cart. In all, I've spent more than six months of my life in Mongolia and have crossed the country three times, on foot and by motorcycle. I'll lead every departure, along with Matt, Gareth or another experienced guide.
Unlikely Expeditions runs hard trips for people who don't think of themselves as adventurers. The unlikely one is always you.
Questions
What people ask.
Do I need to have ridden a motorbike before?
No. Matt and Gareth had about an hour on a motorbike between them before Mongolia in 2026. Gareth arrived with a lifetime total of 12 km, and crossed the country unscathed.
The bikes are light 150cc Shinerays with low power, which is what makes them forgiving. We'll also offer an optional training weekend in the KZN Midlands before departure (see below).
What is the KZN Midlands training weekend?
An optional weekend in the KZN Midlands before departure, for anyone who wants to arrive in Mongolia riding with confidence. We spend it on gravel and dirt roads like the ones you'll ride in Mongolia: starting and stopping, changing gears, riding standing up, braking on loose surfaces, and getting through mud and shallow water.
We'll set the date with the riders who want to come. If you're interested, say yes to the training weekend question when you register. It's optional, and skipping it doesn't affect your place on a trip.
We supply the bikes and the training is free. Accommodation is charged separately, and the details will follow once the date is set.
Do I need a motorbike licence?
We encourage every rider to hold a motorcycle licence or a learner's licence.
Check your travel insurance before you book: most policies only cover motorcycling if you hold a licence for that class of bike in your home country. In South Africa, riders under 18 can only hold a learner's licence for bikes up to 125cc. We'll set out the licence and insurance requirements in the 1 December pack.
Are you insured, and what insurance do I need?
Riders arrange their own travel insurance. It needs to cover you riding a motorcycle, medical treatment and emergency evacuation.
Full insurance requirements, including any minimum cover, come with the booking terms on 1 December.
What are the visa requirements?
South Africans apply online for a Mongolian e-visa, which usually takes two to three days.
UK and EU passport holders currently need no visa for stays under 30 days. That exemption is renewed each year, so check before you travel.
Every rider's passport should be valid until at least March 2028.
How much will it cost?
Full pricing goes to registered riders on 1 December, in the order they registered, before anything goes public. Registering costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
What is the weather like?
July and August are Mongolia's summer, and Mongolia gets around 250 sunny days a year. Days are usually warm, often in the low to mid twenties Celsius. Nights are cool and can drop well below 10°C, colder in the mountains.
Be ready for four seasons in one day. In 2026 we had sunburn and near-freezing rain in the highlands in the same weekend. July is the wettest month, so expect some thunderstorms. A full kit list comes with the itinerary.
How do I get to Ulaanbaatar?
It's something of a mission from South Africa, but worth it. Common routes connect through Istanbul, Seoul, Beijing or Hong Kong.
We'll suggest routes and timings in the 1 December pack. Trip 2 starts during Naadam, Mongolia's national festival, when flights and hotels are busy, so book early for that one.
Will I carry everything on my bike?
No. Two support vehicles travel with us. One carries food, drink, tents and camp kit and provides medical support. The other carries spares, fuel and a mechanic.
You ride with what you need for the day.
Can I come on a Dads & Lads trip without a lad?
Yes. Dads & Lads is the spirit of the trip, not a rule. Come on your own, or bring two sons if you have them. Godfathers, uncles and grandfathers count too.
How old do the lads need to be?
Roughly 16 to 24. Everyone rides their own bike, so a father and son take two places.
Can mums, daughters or partners come?
Yes. Trip 2 is open to all: families, friends, ladies' trips, gap-year groups and corporate groups.
Can I book for a group?
Yes. Book places together on any departure. For 10 or more riders, ask about a private departure on dates of your own.
How fit do I need to be?
Reasonably fit. Expect long days in the saddle, camping, and the odd bike to push out of mud or a river. If you're unsure, ask me.
Where do we sleep?
The first and last nights are in a comfortable hotel in Ulaanbaatar. Beyond the city we camp most nights, because there is nowhere else to stay, with a few nights in traditional gers. Tents are supplied.
Will I have phone signal?
For much of the route, no. Plan for that, and tell the people at home.
I can't make any of these dates. Can I still hear about future trips?
Yes. Register and choose "None of these dates. Keep me posted on future trips". You'll hear about the next ones first.
Have a question that isn't here? WhatsApp or call me on 072 636 3300 and I'll add the answer.
How it works
Register now. Decide in December.
1 · NOWRegister your interest. It takes two minutes, costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
2 · 1 DECEMBERRegistered riders get the full itinerary, pricing and booking terms, in the order they registered, before anything goes public.
3 · THENA deposit secures your place. When a trip is full, there's a waiting list.