A WORLD-CLASS GRAVEL BIKE ADVENTURE IN ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR PLACES ON EARTH, FINISHING AT THE END OF THE WORLD.
Our fully supported cycling journey begins in Punta Arenas, one of Patagonia's main hubs and the launching point for the kind of once-in-a-lifetime bucket list adventures that dreams are made of. From here, we will sail across the Magellan Strait to arrive in Tierra del Fuego and kick off this stunning journey.
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We will be fully immersed in the heart of the wilds of Chilean Patagonia as you wind your way through the back country gravel tracks to the very end of the earth. As we head south you will cycle through lush valleys, past dramatic mountains backdrops, enchanting woodlands, glacial lakes, haunting shipwrecks, spot mischievous penguins and more miradors & guanacos than you could possibly count.
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This incredible trip is one that belongs at the top of any keen gravel riders 'must-do' list.
SIGN UP NOW FOR*
£305.75
Price per month, depending on departure date. Split the cost with our interest free payment plan. Find out more here
EVENT DATES:
15 - 26 JANUARY 2027
DURATION:
12 DAYS /11 NIGHTS
LOCATION:
CHILE & ARGENTINA,
SOUTH AMERICA
SLEEP STYLE:
HOTEL/HOSTEL/CAMPING
800 KM CYCLING
TOTAL ELEVATION: 6330m
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
ACCOMMODATION
11 nights accommodation included
GUIDES AND SUPPORT
Rat Race Expedition leader, high quality outdoor event crew, British medical and welfare support. Bike mechanic.
SAFETY
Professional local and UK safety staff and medics. Rat Race experts on hand throughout. Audited and accredited to BS8848 expedition safety standard.
TRANSFER POLICY
Transfer your entry to event credit up to 12 weeks before the departure date and protect your entry with optional Refund Protect.
EXTRAS
High quality medal, rat rag and premium t-shirt for all participants. Training Plans available here
EQUIPMENT
In-country bike hire is available at an additional cost.
TRANSFERS
includes one group airport transfer. Pick up and drop off at Puntas Arenas airport.
WE ARE GOING TO BUY A TRACT OF STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT
RAINFOREST IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
RAISE £5000 AND GET UP TO £2500 REFUNDED
RAISE AT LEAST £4000 (EXCLUDING GIFT AID) FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK AND GET £1990
OR FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CHARITY PARTNERSHIP HERE
DAY TWO: REGISTRATION AND BRIEFING ACTIVITIES​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
We will have a leisurely start to the morning allowing you some time to catch up on sleep after a long journey. After breakfast, we will kick things off with a welcome briefing to talk you through the trip, how we will support you and other practical and safety matters. Following our briefing, we will have a round robin of activities including registration, kit check, medical chats, a tech workshop for any GPS worries, and finally we will issue you with the all important event stash – Tees, Rat Rags, your bib numbers and your GPX tracker. In the afternoon, there’s plenty of time to build and refit your bikes, take them on a test ride and see our event mechanic with any tweaks you might need help with. The rest of the afternoon is your own to explore or relax. ​
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DAY THREE: TIERRA DEL FUEGO BEGINS!
We will start the morning off from our event start like in Plaza Mayor, home of adventure and signified by Magellan’s statue. From here, it’s a cruisy 7km cycle to the ferry port where we will board ready to make the 2 hour sailing over to Porvenir.
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On landing on the other side, we have a beautiful 70km loop to really stretch those legs out and have your first taste of gravel on the land of fire. You have 35km of the smooth stuff before turning off of the tarmac and onto the gravel as you make your way back to Porvenir. You will pass by ancient stromatolites here – well worth stopping and dismounting to take in this geological spectacle.
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DAY FOUR: RIDE TO THE PENGUINS
We have a few short tarmac km's to get ourselves to the edge of town, then it's back onto the good stuff. This is an excellent day of gravel riding with small climbs (OK, maybe a few bigger ones too) and descents to keep things interesting. The scenery is spectacular – as it is for most of this journey – and one of today's highlights is Mirador del Bogodon, the high point of the day. After this, it's a thrilling descent down towards the coast, at which point it's flat (almost)! the rest of the way. We will ride parallel to the coast here and you will have the option of tarmac or gravel, as the road has recently been resurfaced but part of the original gravel side road has been left in place alongside.
Our target for the finish line is the King Penguin nature reserve, where we will be able to have a full visit and see them in their natural environment. It's a cruisy few km's on the bike to warm down and get yourselves back to the accommodation from here.
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DAY FIVE: THE LONG ONE
Today is our biggest day in terms of pure mileage, it's also one of the most challenging days in the saddle. It really is a whopper, almost entirely gravel with varying road conditions and undulations - it's enough to keep your lungs and legs working all day, and there will be times when your riding skill is tested. It's well worth all the efforts, as the whole day is incredibly beautiful.
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DAY SIX: ACROSS THE BORDER & INTO ARGENTINA
Another stunning day almost entirely on gravel, but this time much shorter – and a net downhill! Your body will be thankful for the drop in mileage today and on top of that, there will be extra time to get off and stretch the legs when we go through border controls at Cruce Bellavista. On arrival into Argentina, we keep on pedaling towards Rio Grande, one of the biggest towns in Tierra del Fuego.
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DAY SEVEN: ESTANCIA CARMEN
After a short and sharp asphalt section to put Rio Grande behind us, it’s back onto the gravel of Ruta F all day long. Our destination is the incredibly beautiful Estancia Carmen and the final section of riding along the private road towards our home for the night is one of the most fun and stunning sections of the whole journey.
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DAY EIGHT: TO THE WRECK
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Today begins with a spin out on the short section of private road out of the Estancia to get us back onto the main gravel roads. On reaching the junction, we head East towards the Coast and our finish line destination of the Desdemona Shipwreck, a spectacular site nestled on the coast at Cabo San Pablo. Todays route is varied, with a long stretch on the Ruta H gravel road, a tarmac intermission on the asphalt RN3, then back onto gravel following the Ruta A all the way down to the coast.
DAY NINE: SHORT DAY TO LAGO FAGNANO
Let’s clarify here that ‘short’ is a relative term..! This is still a whopper of a day, retracing your tracks for around 40km on the Ruta A before rejoining the RN3, now heading South towards Tolhuin and the massive Lago Fagnano. Once the first 40kms on gravel are in the bag, it’s asphalt the rest of the way today, so this does have potential to be a speedy one. Beware, however, as the Patagonian winds may have other plans in store for you! Even on the asphalt, high chance of headwind means this is likely to be a tough day.
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DAY ONE: ARRIVAL INTO PUNTA ARENAS
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Fly into Punta Arenas where you will be picked up from the airport by our team and taken to the hotel. If you’re already in town, you can meet us directly at the hotel. The rest of the day is your own to catch up on sleep, make any final kit checks and explore town. Punta Arenas is well serviced with many shops, including outdoor shops and bicycle shops.
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DAY TEN: UP, UP & UP OVER PASO GARIBALDI
So close to the finish now! After cruising along the shoreline of the enormous Lago Fagnano to kick the day off, we’ll be on the RN3 most of the day as we wind towards Ushuaia. Paso Garibaldo lies in wait as your last big obstacle, reach the top to earn unforgettable views before a thrilling descent from the pass down to Ushuaia.
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DAY ELEVEN: TO THE END OF THE WORLD!
Today is the victory lap. A short and sweet scenic 25km is all you need to conquer to reach the roads end. The official end of the RN3 demarks the finish line of our bike journey, and after receiving medals and toasting to a job well done, there’s time to explore the surroundings before returning back to Ushuaia for some well earned rest. ​
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DAY TWELVE: TRAVEL DAY
Homeward travel from Ushuaia, back to Punta Arenas, or stay in the area to explore even more of Patagonia.
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ACCOMMODATION
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All accommodation is always offered on a shared basis. If you are taking part on your own, you will be paired with another participant of the same sex. If you have preferences for who you share with you can indicate that on the pre-event forms we send you approx. 3 months before the departure date. Hostel accommodation will be in same sex dorms. There is one night on this adventure where we stay at a fantastic, authentic Estancia, here there are limited beds and half of the group will be camping. Tents will be 2 – 3 people per tent. You are able to bring your own tent if you would like to sleep solo. You will need to bring a sleeping bag and mat for camping nights.
Single supplements may be available on certain nights, please email events@ratrace.com to request availability and costs.
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MEALS​​​
Meals provided are outlined in the itinerary and all dietary requirements will be catered for. Evening meals will consist of one main meal and Pit Stop lunches will be a grab and go offerings. Pit Stops will be regular and these are places you can interact with the Rat Race crew and medics. You can refill your water and top up your snack stash with our goodies. We will always offer salty and sweet snacks and fruit as a minimum. Breakfast in South America can be quite basic so we recommend augmenting it with your own supplies to ensure you are setting off with enough in the tank for the day.
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Kit List
This is our planned kit list for this adventure, additional items may be added but these will be communicated to you in our EEI document (3 months prior to the event).
General
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Gaffa tape
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Ear plugs
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Watch
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Snacks/treats – enough to augment the pit stops
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Sunglasses – Cat 3 or better
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Power pack
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Water carrying capacity of 2 litres minimum
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Duffel for all luggage – no hard cases
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Sleeping bag liner
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Sleeping bag
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Personal First aid kit (See more details below)
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Sun cream
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Trainers or boots for the evenings
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Flipflops or sandals – to air your feet
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Sunhat
Cycling phase
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Bike
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Bike box
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Cycling helmet
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GPS device with handle bar mount
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Cycling gloves x 2 (long and short)
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Cycling bibs/shorts
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Cycling jerseys
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Neck buff
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Spare batteries for lights
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High visibility vest or clothing item for tunnels etc
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Chamois cream
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Hydration bladder with backpack (optional)
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Bike shoes
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Socks
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Bar end Lights
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Head torch and spare batteries
Bike spares - MANDATORY
(our minimum spec for mandatory spare bike kit )
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4 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre (carry 2 with you at all times when riding)
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Change of tyres – for the off-road section on day 2
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Tyre levers
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1 x puncture repair kit (if running a tubeless set up, have a slime spare and repair kit)
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Peddle spanner
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Bike multitool
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Chain link remover
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Chain links x 2 – ensure they are for your specific bike chain
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Small pump
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1 x gear cable
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1 x brake cable
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Cable ties
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Rear Hanger suitable for your own bike
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Small bottle of oil
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An old rag and toothbrush for bike cleaning
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Bike lock
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Spare torch
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Front light
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Rear light
Personal Med kit - MANDATORY (Our minimum spec for mandatory medical kit (to be always carried)
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1 x crepe roll bandage
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Gauze or similar absorbent dressing
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Small set of scissors
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Pain Killers (paracetamol)
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Steri-Strips
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Antiseptic (spray or cream)
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Assorted plasters
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Rubber gloves
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Prescribed medication
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Zinc oxide tape
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Compeed – various sizes
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Lube stick (silicone-based)
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Sudacrem
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PAY IN INSTALMENTS
SIGN UP TODAY
/ MONTH
£305.75
INTEREST FREE!
PAY IN FULL
£4750
/ TOTAL PAYMENT
SIGN UP TODAY
*All entries will are in GBP A booking fee of 2.99% will be added to all payments.
PAY MONTHLY INTEREST FREE!
ENTER NOW AND SPREAD THE COST INTEREST FREE WITH OUR INSTALMENT PLAN
We’ve put together a fantastic new instalment plan that allows you to choose how many months you want to spread the cost of this brilliant adventure over. You can pay it off all in one go or spread it over as many months as you like, totally interest free*. The payments will be split equally allowing you to budget and plan for this stunning journey. All payments to be made before February, 3 months prior to the event.
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*When you sign up to the instalment plan Rat Race will then set up a reoccurring payment and your card will be debited on the same date each month. If there is an error with your payment you will receive reminders from Stripe, our payment provider, and also the Rat Race customer service team. After 3 attempts to contact you if the outstanding balance remains unpaid we will assume you wish to cancel your entry and will withdraw you from the event and you will not be eligible to enter our transfer process and no monies will be refunded.
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Please see here for full terms and conditions and our cancellation policy.
PROTECT YOUR NON-REFUNDABLE BOOKING WITH REFUND PROTECT
Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. PLEASE NOTE this protection is with our 3rd party partner Refund Protect and NOT Rat Race. In the event you make a refund application this is administered by the Refund Protect customer service team, Rat Race are not privy to the application and cannot intervene on your behalf to influence the outcome determined by their team.
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To check the full list of qualifying unforeseen circumstances that are protected please click here to view Refund Protect terms and conditions.
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To add Refund Protect (administered by a 3rd party) to your Rat Race booking simply select this option when presented during the entry process. Refund Protect cannot be added retrospectively. Rat Race will then send you name and booking details to Refund Protect in order to protect your transaction with them. If you opt to pay in instalments and transfer your entry before the entry cost is full paid you will be liable to ensure the cost of Refund Protect has been fully covered. This total amount will be deducted from any Rat Race credit due through the transfer process or you will be invoiced by Rat Race for the outstanding amount as Rat Race have paid this on your behalf to Refund Protect at point of entry.
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
At Rat Race, we create extraordinary adventures for everyone people. We know we’re a premium brand and that those adventures are premium experiences. In our 20th year, we have decided that our commitment to investment in our standards, safety and quality of experience should be matched in our commitment to the transparency in showing how we spend your hard-earned cash in bringing these adventures to life.
So here it is. A pie chart of how we spend your money in bringing our events and trips to life.
RAISE AT LEAST £5000 (EXCLUDING GIFT AID) FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK AND GET £2500 OF YOUR ENTRY FEE REFUNDED!
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Our longstanding partnership with Children with Cancer UK gives #ratracers the opportunity to raise much needed funds for this great cause in exchange for a refund of their entry fee. So far our #ratracers have raised over £2million for Children with Cancer UK and we would love for you to join the team to help us chase down that £3million target!
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The funds you raise will be invested into vital specialist research to improve survival rates in children and young people and help more of them ring the end of treatment bell.
All you need to do is set up a Just Giving page here and start your fundraising! You will have until 1 month after the event date to hit your target and then send us the link to your page which will allow us to process your refund. Refunds will be made 2 – 3 months after the event completion date.
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Refunds are not mandatory you are welcome to opt-out of receiving a refund. Should participants opt-out their refund will instead be used by Children with Cancer UK to help fund their research.
If you choose to support Children with Cancer UK and raise £5000, you will also receive:
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A Children with Cancer UK fundraising and training pack
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Regular Children with Cancer UK updates
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A dedicated point of contact at the charity
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A technical Children with Cancer UK t-shirt to wear with pride
For more information on Children with Cancer UK please visit www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk.
Alternatively please contact the Sports Team on 020 7430 7788 or email sports@childrenwithcancer.org.uk.
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Children with Cancer UK is a registered national charity (no. 298405)
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The nature of an adventure is that sometimes, the uncertain becomes certain! That is all part of the adventure. Whilst we will always strive to pull off ‘Plan A,’ it may well be that for any one of a number of reasons, we cannot do so and we ned to wheel put Plan B, C or D. We do line up contingencies for many eventualities of course. But it is worth knowing that the course may change if we deem it prudent for your safety or for other operational or weather-based reasons and we must always reserve the right to do so. Ultimately our skill and judgement in organising such events is part of why you are entering, so we must be able to exercise this on your behalf where we deem it necessary. If we do have to make a route change, we will strive to inform you in good time (if that is possible). Usually, these unforeseen changes simply add to the flavour of proceedings and provide for a good story to tell at day’s end!
Click ‘Enter Now’ and go through the sign-up process, you’ll then be issued with an event voucher which will automatically reserve you a place in the event you have chosen.
At Rat Race we are determined to get you on the start line even when life throws up its own obstacles! If you find yourself unable to join us on the start line of this event, you are able to transfer your entry into an event credit voucher once for use on a new entry into an event of your choice, whether that be the same event a year later or a completely new adventure! Transfers must be requested within the qualifying transfer window to be accepted and processed.
Credit vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Credit voucher are exempt from the transfer process. To find out more information and how to submit a request, view of full transfer policy HERE 
At Rat Race we are determined to get you on the start line even when life throws up its own obstacles! If you find yourself unable to join us on the start line of this event, you are able to transfer your entry into an event credit voucher once for use on a new entry into an event of your choice, whether that be the same event a year later or a completely new adventure! Transfers must be requested within the qualifying transfer window to be accepted and processed.
Credit vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Credit voucher are exempt from the transfer process. To find out more information and how to submit a request, view of full transfer policy HERE 
A gravel bike is essential, you can hire one in country from us. We do suggest that you have experience riding on gravel and that you’re confident manoeuvring on this terrain.
Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. PLEASE NOTE this protection is with our 3rd party partner Refund Protect and NOT Rat Race. In the event you make a refund application this is administered by the Refund Protect customer service team, Rat Race are not privy to the application and cannot intervene on your behalf to influence the outcome determined by their team. To check the full list of qualifying unforeseen circumstances that are protected please click here to view Refund Protect terms and conditions. To add Refund Protect (administered by a 3rd party) to your Rat Race booking simply select this option when presented during the entry process. Refund Protect cannot be added retrospectively. Rat Race will then send you name and booking details to Refund Protect in order to protect your transaction with them. If you opt to pay in instalments and transfer your entry before the entry cost is full paid you will be liable to ensure the cost of Refund Protect has been fully covered. This total amount will be deducted from any Rat Race credit due through the transfer process or you will be invoiced by Rat Race for the outstanding amount as Rat Race have paid this on your behalf to Refund Protect at point of entry. 
​We’ve put together a fantastic new instalment plan that allows you to choose how many months you want to spread the cost of this brilliant adventure over. You can pay it off all in one go or spread it over as many months as you like, totally interest free. There is no credit check required to use this facility. When you sign up to the instalment plan Rat Race will then set up a reoccurring payment and your card will be debited on the same date each month. If there is an error with your payment you will receive reminders from Stripe, our payment provider, and also the Rat Race customer service team. After 3 attempts to contact you if the outstanding balance remains unpaid we will assume you wish to cancel your entry and will withdraw you from the event and you will not be eligible to enter our transfer process and no monies will be refunded.
Yes. You need a decent travel policy covering you for general travel and which covers participation in outdoor sports. You will also need what is called an Evacuation Insurance Policy, which is for if we need to send you back to the closest city for urgent medical attention via a helicopter or similar. We also recommend you have this in place as soon as you enter this event and that if you book flights, we highly recommend booking a flexible option for any last-minute changes you might need to make or to ensure you have maximum flexibility if you cannot attend for any reason.
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Travel insurance is compulsory for our events, so please make sure your insurance policy covers the activities you will be participating in. There are a number of specialist providers available including Mann Broadbent.
GPX routes will be provided one week ahead of the event, or you can hire one of our GPX watches/Garmin Edge bike devices with the routes pre-loaded for the duration of the challenge. Don’t worry – you won’t get lost. But if you do – support is never far away.
We will use a mixture of sweepers on foot and in vehicles, crew, medics and support vehicles to support you at intervals by our mobile ‘pit stop’ team. Across the challenge, we will have multiple vehicles at our disposal, plus multiple staff members, snacks and drinks to distribute. So, if it does get too much and you need us motivational support or otherwise, we should be able to assist. You are in good hands.
Once you’ve signed up, you will receive a confirmation email. After that, you will be kept in the loop closer to the event when we will send out our Essential Event Information approximately 12 weeks ahead of the event, detailing the full itinerary, what you need to bring and other important information relating to the specific event you have signed up for. We will also host webinars which you will be invited to (again, closer to the event), where you will have the opportunity to ask questions. There will be a final email one month ahead of the event, just to check you’ve completed all the important forms and are ready for the event ahead.
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If you have chosen to pay in instalments, we will also get in touch with you if any of your payments have been missed.
​Rat Race have been audited and accredited to the prestigious BS8848 expedition safety standard. We have firm emergency protocols and response systems in place whilst out on our adventures. Our main priority above all else is to keep you and our staff safe. Before we leave for each trip a comprehensive in-country risk and threat assessment has been conducted by the Head of Expeditions. All protocols are put in place relating to those assessments. We make sure that the staff involved have the highest level of first aid training; a higher level of medical cover is also put in place if needed; all instructors have qualifications and/ or competencies to match the adventure we will undertake. In the event of an emergency, Rat Race staff and appointed contractors have comprehensive knowledge of procedures which will rapidly be put in place. If needed, our staff will provide first aid and then further medical assistance and evacuation if needed in line with a published Medical Procedures Plan. We have medical back-up and Clinical Directorship provided by a specialist events medical company and we have further emergency response support services provided by competent contracted partner. All our cover is available 24/7 while operations are underway. We use our knowledge and emergency procedures to provide the best possible care in our often remote and austere environments. Before leaving on a trip, we will advise on the insurance cover you are required to have in place for the trip; we will ask for a copy of these insurance details before the departure date.
Race entry includes a glorious finishers medal and bespoke event Rat Race tee. We will request your tshirt size and this will be the size you will be given at Registration.
The short answer is no. The price for this event is for everything outlined on the website and it is very difficult for us to split this out. Our accommodation is based on group rates and is on a shared basis. All of our event logistics, support and organisation has been designed to have all the participants in the same locations to allow transfers, briefings etc to run smoothly and to let you bond with your fellow #ratracers!
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We have designed this challenge so that you may travel at your own pace and in general you will have daylight hours to complete each stage. There will also be some cut-offs within each day, but in the true Rat Race tradition these will be generous and we will always look to help you to achieve your goals in finishing this challenge, vs having to pull out.
Gravel bikes are available to hire through us and will be provided in country, we do recommend bringing your own bike on an event of this nature to ensure the most enjoyable experience. If you are bringing your own bike we will store your bike box in Punta Arenas for you ready for your return at the end of the event. If you are not planning to use the return transfer to Punta Arenas we recommend that you hire a bike as there will be a surcharge to transport your bike box with the group.
BIKE HIRE COMING SOON
