Riding a Yak to Mongoloia

This guest post was written by the Return of the Yak team

Last summer I took part in the Mongol Rally; an overland journey with a difference. Travelling from the UK, through the remote and unreported lands of Central Asia, to Mongolia would be hard enough even without the rule that vehicles must have a sub 1.2 litre engine. With a car better suited for the weekly supermarket trip rather than a six week, trans-continental, partly off-road journey, many teams naturally don’t make it to the finish line in Ulaanbaatar. Nothing, from the overall goal to daily plans, is ever guaranteed and it is this unpredictability that makes the Mongol Rally one of the most unique adventures that’s easily accessible to most travellers.

As aspiring filmmakers, we jumped at the opportunity to make a documentary capturing every detail of life spent on the road: the exhilarating highs and the crushing lows; the friends we made and the fascinating countries we visited. However, we needed a hook – something that would set us apart from the 300 or so other teams also taking part – and so we hatched a plan that would also solve our space problem by building our roof box in the shape and size of a Mongolian yak.

The yak more than lived up to our expectations. Not only did it become the focal point of countless camera-phones , elevating us to the status of minor celebrity, but it broke down barriers of language and culture, and garnered us heaps of hospitality and generosity along the way.

Best of all, it also provided the perfect observation deck to contemplate the changing scenery (while risking life and limb in the process!).

Below is a teaser featuring a collection of still photography from the trip. Enjoy!

For more information about our upcoming documentary and our travel blogs, please visit our website: http://returnoftheyak.com

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