Before riding across Mongolia, I thought I was quite well prepared. I had experience travelling in remote areas, I had read a lot about the country and I had a general plan. Still, Mongolia has a way of teaching you things on the road that you can’t fully understand beforehand.
Looking back, these mistakes didn’t ruin the trip, but they definitely made parts of it harder than necessary.
Underestimating Distances
On the map, Mongolia can look simple. Wide open spaces, tracks going in the right direction, towns that seem reasonably close together. In reality, riding conditions often slow you down more than expected.
Soft sand, mud after rain, rocky sections and river crossings all take energy and time. I sometimes planned distances that were too ambitious, which meant arriving late, tired or still needing to find a place to camp.
What I learned:
Plan shorter riding days than you think you need.
Fuel Stress Is Real
Fuel planning was something that was quite important. There were one or two moments when I expected to find petrol but didn’t and almost ran out of it. That was enough to remind me how important it is to keep an eye on your fuel level.
Terrain, wind and small navigation detours can all increase fuel consumption by quite a bit.
What I learned:
Refuel when you have the opportunity and keep a small safety margin, but there’s no need to worry about it all the time.
Bringing Too Much Gear
Like many travellers, I packed a few “just in case” items. After several days of off-road riding, the extra weight became noticeable. A heavier bike is harder to control in sand and more tiring to lift after a fall.
What I learned:
Minimalism makes riding easier and more enjoyable.
Not Respecting the Weather Enough
Weather in Mongolia can change quickly. I had days where rain turned easy tracks into slippery mud, making riding much harder than expected. One morning I crashed twice within the first kilometer. I hurt my ankle and realised I wasn’t riding in control anymore. At that moment I had to swallow my ego and accept that pushing on would probably only make things worse. I turned back, found a place to camp and waited for better conditions.
What I learned:
Patience is part of travelling in Mongolia. Sometimes the smartest decision is simply to stop early and try again the next day.
Navigation Is Not Always Straightforward
Offline maps helped a lot, but navigation in Mongolia is rarely straightforward. Tracks can disappear, split into several directions or suddenly become too rough to follow. At times a route that looked simple on the map turned into a muddy riverbed, or a bridge that was marked simply wasn’t there anymore.
Sometimes choosing a longer but more visible track was the smarter option.
What I learned:
Use maps as guidance, but trust your own judgement and adapt to the landscape.
Riding Too Fast in the Beginning
At the start of the trip I was full of energy and excitement. I covered long distances and didn’t always listen to my body. After a few days, fatigue caught up with me.
What I learned:
Find a rhythm early and ride at a sustainable pace.
The Biggest Lesson
Mongolia is not a place where everything goes according to plan. And that’s part of what makes it so special.
The trip became easier once I stopped trying to control every detail and started adapting to the landscape, the weather and the daily realities of travelling in a remote country.
Many of my best memories came from moments when plans changed unexpectedly.
Want to Avoid Some of These Mistakes?
In my full Mongolia Motorbike Guide I share:
- my real route
- fuel planning strategy
- realistic riding distances
- packing advice
- navigation tips
- lessons learned on the trip
- and much more
👉 Explore the Mongolia Motorbike Guide
