When?

The official launch Naadam will be on 11 July 2009 (read about the 2008 Mongolian Naadam and Launch) but you can choose to leave any time of the year. You've got plenty of time for some great fundraising for the charities. See our fundraising page for tips on how to get that charity cash.

The Launch

Wrestler, London 2007

Wrestlers at the 2008 London NaadamThe launch will be a great opportunity to line up all of the vehicles and on the same weekend as the Naadam festival in Mongolia. Once again we'll be teaming up with the Mongolian Association of Great Britain to put on the largest Naadam Festival London has ever seen. Naadam is the national festival of Mongolia and includes the three traditional Mongolian sports of wrestling, horse racing and archery. For those of you accustomed to Mongolia cuisine there will even be some buuz, Khoo Shuur, milk tea and a bottle or two of vodka. If you've never tried it before...you're in for a treat! The event is free and open to the public, so come along to see the teams off. Full details on the Naadam page.

The Route

After the spectacular launch, the teams will head off east for the coast. After that, the route is up to you. See the routes page for some ideas. There will be prizes for the most ridiculous route taken by a team. Cape town as a checkpoint?

Your family and friends will be able to follow your progress as you text in updates from the road. Using our clever positioning system you'll be able to plot your course, by text message on a google map so your supporters can see exactly where you are. No need for a GPS - we'll give you a list of common locations on the route -or use a GPS to get precise locations. Your mum will be happy knowing you're still alive, and your friends will realise they're losing the bets they made.

The Finish

"When Mongolia throws a party, the rest of Asia locks its doors"

The finish is at Sukhbataar Square, at the centre of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The Mongolians sure know how to party and they're busy putting together a party to make Chinggis Khan proud. We've even got a famous Mongolian wrestler coming along to show you how to drink Mongolian style... (Just make sure you don't drive on Sukhbataar Square, otherwise you'll be spending your first night in the police cells!) When? Teams will be arriving at all sorts of different times so it is going to be impossible to get all the teams together at the finish. We'll be letting the teams decide the best time for the big party but there will be lots of smaller events before and after to entertain the early arrivals and the late arrivals!

Car Handover

Out with CDPFYour vehicle will be handed over to the CDPF in Ulaanbaatar who will use the proceeds from seeling the vehicle to support their children's projects in Mongolia. We've been working with Enkhbataar and his team since 2005. They'll give you a warm welcome at their offices CDPF Offices(see the team blogs from 2008, like this) and let you have a look around the projects they run in UB.

They'll also give you a signed certificate from the President of Mongolia. Something to show your your grandchildren.