Motoring Stupidity on a Global Scale, a Guaranteed (But Super-Fun) Disaster, the Unexpected, and the Greatest Adventure on Earth, none of these phrases can describe Mongol Rally the way it deserves.
The Mongol Rally is an annual cross-continent race held by a group named ‘The Adventurists.’
The rules are simple, crappy automobiles and free route, or as their website fully explains:
Rule 1. You can only take a farcically small vehicle of 1 liter or less
(we will allow up to a 1.2 if you’re a bit weak)
Rule 2. You’re completely on your own
Rule 3. You’ve got to raise £1000 for charity
Half of the money goes to CoolEarth Charity; the other £500 can be donated to a charity of your choice.
The main idea is to take traveling to the next level, or as they say, “if nothing goes wrong, everything has gone wrong.” The idea is to communicate with locals when your car breaks down, to use your creativity and survival skills when you’re in the middle of nowhere and make critical decisions in rough situations. You will have to sleep in your car, cooperate with your teammates, sacrifice a meal, or a night sleep, but continue the adventure, after all, the show must go on. You can walk, hitchhike, or even ride a bike, but you have to get to the finishing line.
Teams range from one person up to six or seven; there are no limits or rules for the number of teammates, you can do it solo on a motorbike like a legend or share the glory with your friends, or strangers. Mongol Rally is a great place to make new friends since you are going to spend your days and nights together, tackling different problems along the way.
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Mongol Rally Through Iran, the Real Adventure
There are no fixed routes, and that’s what makes it fun, and the routes vary, as you can see on this map. One of the main routes enters Iran from the northwest countries like Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey and exits from Quchan city to Turkmenistan. This route is full of extraordinary attractions and many UNESCO Heritage Sites.
Iran has 24 Sites such as Golestan Palace in Tehran, Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, Fin Garden in Kashan, and Persepolis in Shiraz.
We take a look at different reasons for putting Iran on your list of Mongol Rally destinations.
The People:
The most important reason for visiting Iran is simply the hospitable, and warm-hearted people.
Some Iranians speak decent English, especially the young generation, and most of them would invite you to their houses to spend an evening, drinking aromatic Persian tea, or for a delicious dinner.
The Roads and Weather:
The roads are pretty decent compared to some other countries, but there are many off-the-beaten paths to take. The north provides mountainous and green roads, while the center and the east lean toward arid and hot. You can pass through both lush forests and dry deserts on the same day. As you can read in our other article, the weather is moderate most of the time as Iran is considered as the country of 4 seasons.
Iran Visa For Mongol Ralley:
The visa process is fairly easy for most nationalities.
You can apply for your e-visa online and get it in 2-3 business days, and you can pick up the visa at the closest embassy to where you live, any embassy on your route. Keep in mind that it is not possible to get your visa at the Iran border. The process is straightforward, and you can read everything about it on our visa page.
Iran visa for British, American, and Canadian citizens, is a little bit complicated. They need to apply at least three months prior to their arrival and provide a detailed CV. They also need to use the services of an agency to book their visa and need to pay for a full-time tour guide to accompany them throughout their stay. Termeh Travel provides tour packages and tailored tours for Mongol Rally at reasonable prices. You can ask our support team, available 24/7, to create an itinerary especially made to match your preferences and needs.
Different Routes for Mongol Rally in Iran
Obviously, there are no fixed routes for the Mongol Rally, but you have to keep in mind that you need to enter Iran from the northwest and exit from the northeast. The fastest way to pass through Iran is by visiting Tabriz, Tehran, Shahroud, and Sabzevar/Quchan.
There is an alternative route to this offering the pure nature, roads full of twists and turns, and unique locations. It’s Tabriz, Rasht, Sari, Gonbad-e Kavus, and Quchan. This route is full of green scenery and passes through Golestan National Park; however, you won’t visit the most important cultural attractions of Tehran, Isfahan, or Shiraz.
We recommend spending more time in Iran and visiting Kashan, Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, or even the Lut Desert.
If you have 8-9 days, you can add Kashan and Isfahan into the mix, making it Tabriz, Tehran, Kashan, Isfahan, Semnan, Shahroud, and Quchan. This way, you will enjoy visiting the magnificent Naqsh-e Jahan square in Isfahan, Golestan Palace in Tehran, and the famous historical houses of Kashan.
Ali Habibi 
solmaz haghighat