100 MILES ACROSS A FROZEN LAKE IN THE DEPTHS OF OUTER MONGOLIA. BY ANY MEANS…
In winter, the ice freezes across its entire near-100-mile length to a depth of over a metre thick, creating for Rat Race the ultimate adventure challenge course. This is the Mongol 100 – the most surreal, audacious and hauntingly beautiful adventure challenge known to Man. The objective is to traverse the entirety of the lake from north to south, by any means: Foot, skate or bike.
$232.96
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*price per month, depending on departure day when you sign up in March, click here for more info on pricing
25 FEB - 3 MAR / 2024
2 - 9 MARCH / 2025
EVENT DATES:
DISTANCE:
100 MILES (160 KM)
SLEEP STYLE:
CAMPING
LOCATION:
OUTER MONGOLIA
DURATION:
8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
DIFFICULTY RATING: CAN I DO THIS?
This adventure is for anyone with a moderate level of fitness.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
ACCOMODATION
7 nights camping
ALL MEALS
All meals included as standard, at hotels and in camp, cooked up by our expert catering crew
TRANSFERS
Airport transfer.
GUIDES AND SUPPORT
Professional support vehicles, safety staff, medical and welfare.
SAFETY
Professional local and UK safety staff, bike mechanic, medics, drivers, route safety staff and Rat Race experts on hand throughout. Audited and accredited to BS8848 expedition safety standard.
TRANSFER POLICY
Flexible transfer policy up to 12 weeks before your departure.
EXTRAS
High quality medal, rat rag and premium t-shirt for all participants.
RAISE £5000 AND GET UP TO £2500 REFUNDED
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MORE INFORMATION:
Our most surreal, audacious and hauntingly beautiful adventure. In a remote corner of North-Western Mongolia lies Lake Khovsgol: One of 17 ancient lakes in the World over 2 million years-old and which contains the World’s purest fresh water.
The shores are lined with ancient stands of boreal forest and packed with Wolves. It is serene, hostile, stunning, intimidating. In winter, the ice freezes across its entire near-100-mile length to a depth of over a metre thick and here lies our adventure. Traversing the entirety of the lake from north to south, by any means: foot, skate or bike.
DAY ONE: SUNDAY
Arrive Ulaan Baatar International Airport. (Most international flights arrive early morning). Be met by our team and transfer to Khatgal by road. Travelling through hundreds of miles of mountain and forest wilderness as we leave civilisation behind and head to the lake. Accommodation is in a permanent cosy ger camp at Khatgal. A slap-up meal and drinks are provided to welcome you to Mongolia after your long journey, plus some local entertainment.
ACCOMMODATION: Ger camp.
MEALS: Breakfast, hot dinner and simple lunch.
DAY TWO: MONDAY
Enjoy your stunning and surreal new surroundings and get used to life at between -20 and -40. After a hearty breakfast we will complete kit checks today, plus provide safety briefings. For those biking and skating, you will be asked to complete a small proficiency test on the ice. You can also stretch those legs on the ice itself and ‘feel it for real.’ Accommodation will again be in our cosy permanent ger camp at Khatgal and we will again provide meals.
ACCOMMODATION: Ger camp.
MEALS: Breakfast, hot dinner and simple lunch.
DAY THREE: TUESDAY
We will rise at first light and board our transports for the journey from Khatgal to Khank at the northern end of the lake. This journey is an adventure in its own right as we ride in convoy over the entire length of the frozen lake. Today will allow you to see the route itself and will give you immense confidence in what lies ahead. We will stop for lunch ‘al fresco’ on the ice and continue towards our toasty permanent ger camp at Khank, arriving in mid to late afternoon. A hearty dinner awaits, before you hunker down in preparation for what lies ahead.
ACCOMMODATION: Wilderness camp.
MEALS: Hot water is provided at breakfast, pit stops and at dinner for the use by participants in the preparation of their own expedition foods.
DAY FOUR: WEDNESDAY
The Mongol 100 begins! From the start line metres from your ger you will strike out south down the lake, heading for our first overnight camp on the eastern shore. Distances will always be approximate, due to the route taken to provide safe passage. 3 pit stops will be provided each day, at approximately 10km intervals and you will cover (approx.) 40km today to reach your first wilderness camp. You’ll also likely spend a good bit of time today ‘sorting’ your clothing in this first stage of the challenge and managing temperature – layering particularly. Accommodation will be in gers in the first of 3 true wildnerness camps, with a log burning stove in each one and a roaring communal fire around which we will congregate in the evening to share tales from day 1.
ACCOMMODATION: Wilderness camp.
MEALS: Hot water is provided at breakfast, pit stops and at dinner for the use by participants in the preparation of their own expedition foods.
DAY FIVE: THURSDAY
Day 2 sees us aim for the island in the middle of the lake and to our second wilderness camp. By now you may be getting used to your mode of travel and to the endless bangs, rumbles and crashes emanating from underneath your feet. Pinch yourself every now and then and remember where you are – running, riding or gliding across a frozen lake in Mongolia! Accommodation is again in one of our stunning wilderness camps, nestled on the edge of the island with views over the lake towards both shores.
ACCOMMODATION: Wilderness camp.
MEALS: Hot water is provided at breakfast, pit stops and at dinner for the use by participants in the preparation of their own expedition foods.
DAY SIX: FRIDAY
Another long day on foot over (approx.) a marathon’s worth of icy terrain – by now the legs will definitely be feeling it but hopefully you’ll be in a good rhythm. The route will provide safe passage to our third and final wilderness camp on the shore of the lake, amidst the ancient boreal forest which envelops the whole World at this latitude. We will serve up an amazing feast of reindeer meat and livers around the huge open fire.
ACCOMMODATION: Wilderness camp.
MEALS: Hot water is provided at breakfast, pit stops and at dinner for the use by participants in the preparation of their own expedition foods.
DAY SEVEN: SATURDAY
The fourth and final stage brings you across another 30 – 40km stage and right back to where it all began at Khatgal, at the southern end of lake Khovsgol. The finish line will be established amongst the ice sculptures of the Ice Festival. You will feel astonished at your achievement as you sail through it, having completed quite probably the most unique, memorable and emotional event you’ve ever done.
Tonight is now all about the party. Those who know Rat Race will know this is as much a part of the event as the event itself. Enjoy a cracking local meal, event video highlights on the big screen, presentation of your finisher’s medals and other very secret and special mementos before partying the night away with local music, local food and perhaps the odd vodka and beer, all laid on by us in tribute to yourselves and your mighty achievement.
ACCOMMODATION: Ger camp.
MEALS: Breakfast, hot dinner and simple lunch.
DAY EIGHT: SUNDAY
After a morning sorting kit, viewing the ice sculptures once more and saying goodbye to our warm Mongolian hosts, we saddle up for the return trip to Ulaan Baatar by road.
ACCOMMODATION: NA
NOTE THAT TIMINGS AND ITINERARIES ARE APPROX AND OUTLINE AND MAY CHANGE
Our accommodation is split between the comfortable GER CAMPS and WILDERNESS CAMPS.
ACCOMMODATION
PERMANENT GER CAMPS
Upon arrival at Khatgal at the southern end of the lake, you will spend 2 nights in a permanent ger camp facility, followed by a night in one at the other end of the lake and then again in Khatgal at the end.
WILDERNESS CAMPS
This is the essence of the event experience and we will pride ourselves on the quality and ambience of these campsites, although these are undoubtedly very rustic. Ride, skate, hike or run into camp and enjoy a night under a star-filled sky, a roaring fire and plenty of tales of derring-do from the ice. We will provide gers, mattresses, toilets, and hot water service.
MEALS
AT PERMANENT GER CAMPS
Including hot and cold options for breakfast, hot dinner and simple lunch. Hot drinks and water are also provided with all meals. Hot drinks are provided at breakfast also. Meat will feature heavily and unfortunately, we cannot commit to vegetarian, gluten free or vegan options being consistently provided by our in country catering, we recommend that you augment this with expedition meals. See below for advice for intolerances and dietary requirements.
AT WILDERNESS CAMPS
Hot water is provided at breakfast, pit stops and at dinner for the use by participants in the preparation of their own expedition foods (freeze-dried meals recommended). These meals will be carried in the participants’ overnight holdalls. Beverages to mix with hot water at camps (such as blueberry tea, sea buckthorn juice, English tea) will also be provided. The exception is at camp 3, where a reindeer meat feast will be laid on by the organisers.
There are no participant cooking facilities provided at the camps BUT there is hot water provided at all camps, allowing you to prepare your own freeze-dried and packet meals as you wish at all times.
Gluten-free, Vegan or other dietary requirements: If you have food intolerances or you have made food choices in respect of vegetarian or vegan diets, the catering we provide in Mongolia will not necessarily be brilliant for you. We are being open and up front about this now. That does not mean you cannot come and that there won’t be anything to eat. There are veggies on offer, dishes are frequently accompanied by rice and soups are often made with a veggie base. The diet also features some delicious fish soup dishes too. Certainly for Vegetarians therefore, depending on how strict a code you enforce, there may be options to ‘mix and match’ a bit!
But the bottom line is this: If you have a dietary requirement, the baseline service from our catered ger camps is meat heavy. We will always have lashings of hot water available however, so the preparation of your own meals mixed with hot water; both inside the permanent ger camps and (like everyone else will do) in the wilderness ger camps is absolutely fine.
So please do come, eat what you wish (and don’t what you don’t) and fill your belly with your own yummy things, mixed with hot water drawn fresh from the lake.
CAMPLIFE
WHAT CAN I EXPECT?
Quite simply, you can expect a campsite experience that will blow your mind. All of these sites are in stunning lakeside locations and you will sleep in traditional wood-fired heated Mongolian gers (you might know them as yurts) amongst ancient boreal forest, with the sounds of wolves howling in the trees. The sunsets and the sunrises are always spectacular, as the sky is always blue and the ice is always shimmering. There is no more authentically local experience than this.
WHAT ARE THE FACILITIES?
There are 2 types of camp we will use, which have many similarities (you will sleep in gers at all times) but have some varying characteristics. At the start and end of the route at Khatgal and Khank, the permanent ger camps will serve up hot food, have cold beer available to buy (no need to chill it as you just walk outside and it’s ice-cold), vodka, local crafts for sale (and fur hats), some power outlets, 3G phone signal and some internet provision. There are no showers at any of the camps and you will find that, owing to the nature of the trip and the cold, you’ll not really miss a shower too much (and you will probably wear the same clothes for 4 days, too).
At the permanent gers, you will sleep between 4 and 8 to a ger and the gers will be allocated to you. At the wilderness camps you will sleep 8 to a ger. You’ll get used to this quickly as the more folk to a ger, the warmer it is. Result! It can be cramped, but there is space in the ger roof to hang kit to dry and the camaraderie of this environment will form quickly. You’ll love it.
IS THE GER WARM?
Yes and no but mostly yes. They can get too warm believe it or not. The general cycle is for your wood-burning stove, located in the centre of the ger, to be stocked every 3 hours or so by our ‘fire fairies.’ You do not need to touch, light or stock the fire. Which means it gets very hot. You may be taking off clothes and coming out of your sleeping bag. But as the fire cools over this period, the interior of the ger cools too, of course. At the end of the cycle it can get cool (although never ever as cold as outside) so that 4 season sleeping bag is 100% required.
WILL I JUST GET TOO COLD AND NEVER WARM UP?
No. if you get cold while out on the route, quick action to ‘layer-up’ will prevent this going any further. If you do get too cold out there, we will intervene with re-warming in vehicles and the application of more layers, with Deels and other Mongolian layers such as furs. We need you to manage yourself as much as possible of course in order to prevent you getting too cold. In all cases, it is a case of layering up before it becomes a problem. If you feel yourself getting cold, put on more clothes.
In camp it is similar, although we have immediate respite with a big communal fire, which gets incredibly hot and which is lovely to sit up against, warming hands, feet and all other appendages. And of course you will have your gers, with a roaring wood-burning stove and the body-heat of 7 others, plus a 4 season sleeping bag to crawl into. Remove all wet clothes and change with dry ones and big thick layers (like your down jacket and Deel) and you will be toasty in no time.
WHAT ABOUT GOING TO THE TOILET?
At all camps we will have ‘long drop’ toilet cubicles or ‘thunder boxes’ that you sit on. It’s a cold few minutes wrestling with layers of clothes and kit to ‘do the deed’ and there is definitely no dwelling with the Sunday papers involved. Take your own toilet roll, get in and out quickly and return to the warmth of the ger as soon as you can.
The date-range is set and the route is tried and tested. However, our challenges unfold in some of the most spectacular places on Earth. Sometimes we do have to change plans on account of weather or other unforeseen factors. If we do have to do so, you will be informed and usually, these unforeseen changes simply add to the flavour of proceedings and provide for a good story to tell at day’s end! That having been said, our route is likely to remain largely intact, regardless of any on-the-ground changes.
Click ‘Buy Event Voucher’ 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.
Rat Race require you to be over 18 on the day of Registration for this adventure. If you wish to participate as a family group or with a responsible adult and you are 16+, we will consider applications on an individual basis. Please contact us if this is the case.
Getting to the start line is important and we are there to help you as best we can. However, if you feel on reflection that it is just not your time yet, we do have a transfer system that you can use to transfer out, receive Rat Race credit and come back again next year or do something else. Credit is typically valid for 12 months and there is a fee to be paid for transferring out in this way. We want to be really clear that this option is there for you if you need it, but it does have a deadline. View our full terms and conditions here.
The latest kit list will be sent to you before the event within the Essential Event Information Document.
Of course. If you run for Children with Cancer UK and raise the target amount for this event per person, we will refund your entry fee up to the amount of £2500. You are of course more than welcome to fundraise for any cause close to your heart.
Yes, you can. We welcome support on almost all of our events and if you do decide you want to come and work with us, we will make sure we look after you. Click here to find out more about volunteering for Rat Race.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 and go through your kit. 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.
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 t-shirt 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! You are welcome to arrange your own accommodation if you wish but this will not result in a reduction in the event fee from us, you will also then be responsible for ensuring you are at our meeting points at the arranged time and we will not be able to transport you to and from your own accommodation, you will need to be able to do this independently.
Yes, although we do have some cut-offs - this is basically the amount of daylight available each day. We want everyone to finish and the amount of time available is genuinely the amount of daylight available to complete the job, from the published start time until nightfall (the start time always being after first light). If you do end up lagging behind and you really cannot make it in time, we will pick you up in an event vehicle (or horse and sled) and transport you to the overnight camp. You can re-start the next day if you wish. There is none of this ‘if you miss a cut-off you’re out’ stuff on this event.