A Mammoth Steppe - Full Documentary to Mongolia

Team Mammoth Steppe planned and delivered the adventure of a lifetime - driving from the UK, through Europe and Central Asia to Mongolia....in an ex-postal van!
Treading a fine line between adventure and outright danger, the team traversed some of the most barren and hostile places in the world, with only a map and compass to guide them.
After 5 weeks on (and off) the road, multiple run ins with the local authorities, stonings from Kazakhstani yobs and many vehicle failures, the team finally completed their epic adventure.
All the filming and editing was done by the team.
If you only have 2 minutes spare then see our trailer here: • COMING SOON A Mammoth ...

[@iainweein]

This should have so many more views

[@elmengh]

Awesome video...that is a once in a lifetime trip !! excellent!!

[@susanadam6094]

Am watching this five years later absolutely rivetted... It's the best comedy drama I've watched in ages just brilliant 👏👏👏👏👏🥰....

[@JoelHodder]

Fantastic video guys. Really well edited too. Damn those Mongolian landscapes are utterly breathtaking.... don't you sometimes just wish you were back there?!

[@mammothsteppe1586]

There's not a day that goes by...There is some regret that we couldn't interact more with the people, but the clock was ticking and you never know how tough the next river crossing is going to be!

[@TryggHavet]

Reminds me a lot to the old days of Top Gear, the kind of true, wild and epic adventure sublimed by masterful filming and editing ! Brilliant guys ;-)

[@thesunday2023]

God bless these men for that action, they are hero's

[@icarogemini]

I have done the same itinerary, in 2012, from Italy to Mongolia, by hitch hiking. And now i have a car (citroen Bx) with your same engine....the legendary XUD9 1.9 diesel without turbo ;)

[@BobodiMobil]

14:58 That's scary!! Thank you for sharing this, we need to reroute our Asia-Europe road trip then.

[@mrsporty9669]

Well done. Very inspiring ☺️

[@markjennings2315]

If you intended donating a vehicle to Mongolia maybe you should have selected one that had a chance of having parts for future needs. A Mitsubishi Delica 4x4 would have been a great choice. They have Mitsubishi everywhere in Mongolia.

[@peterpyke1213]

great film and adventure.glad i could share a little of it with you.thanks

[@move214]

excellent video....learn many things from this

[@mammothsteppe1586]

Glad you enjoyed, thanks

[@mohammedafzal9777]

Great video best and most adventurous love it to bit. Kind regards from UK.

[@alexblacksmith5605]

Absolutely love the pilot got one ourselves great tribute to it thanks.

[@dfcvda]

me too, I just got a second `crew` bus pilot.

[@chilman6461]

Hi mate I got ldv maxus and think it's brilliant

[@Gerelwarrior]

Great journey you guys!!! Greetings and cheers from Mongolia

[@feettongue5616]

Superb well done guys...I am so envious....wish I were with you on this trip...wow I loved it keep on posting...great to see your friendships.

[@sweddybob8864]

Top lads. I drove a ldv at the post office. How you did 10000 miles in that is a credit to you

[@TheWorldHopper]

Great images and marvelous editing :)

[@mammothsteppe1586]

Thanks!

[@mrmelk2000]

Thank you for such a great video! It is such a huge inspiration for a trip I've just started planning (briefly) going from Oslo to Hong Kong. It's actually just a dream at the moment, but videos like this just keeps my motivation up

[@slicklandy7819]

Thanks for the upload, very well put together. Well done on completing the rally.

[@MasterBait1]

This video deserve a lot more view

[@nassergad2853]

Amazing Trip I love it soooooooooooooooooo much

[@JonDoesFlow]

Immense. Well done.

[@danielpedersen4483]

Brilliant vid and project. Well done lads!!!

[@Hashbrowning]

Amazing and so well done! I recognized the Top Gear reference, and applaud it.Well done with the film, and major props for the journey. Hoping a young lad from Southern California could do something like what you all did some day soon.

[@June-rp2gf]

This is epic.

[@solivagantbong168]

Enjoyed the travel documentary to bits..amazing journey, you guys inspired me !

[@eliaskarlsson4528]

Super cool :)

[@damianrawcliffe4033]

Outstanding! Well done chaps

[@williamcutting5224]

I enjoyed the hell out of this. You were smart, respectful, funny...I could totally see myself traveling with someone like you. Thanks

[@fredbutlerfb]

The production on this is just amazing! Great work on commenting during the adventure. Music's spot on too

[@Surfinbadger]

awesome

[@shazbot7120]

What a great idea, and a very entertaining doc! Cheers from America--well done! What a great story you can tell your grandchildren! This deserves a lot more views than its gotten!

[@oMinjin]

Hi You should travel to Mongolia also

[@abomala1607]

amazing footage and editing great job, great adventure

[@mammothsteppe1586]

Thanks for the feedback

[@abomala1607]

how did you perfom this nice slow slide of the camera that guive this pro look?

[@mammothsteppe1586]

We fitted our cameras to a homemade tripod mounted linear bearing. The manually operated low friction trolley gives the slow sliding effect. It also had to be compact and robust to bring on the trip. We found it a good low budget way to add production value :)

[@richuncletim]

What an adventure, you had the courage to try and you made it all the way! Great shots, great trip, great living!

[@rescuelegacy6669]

Road tip of a lifetime! Kudos on an excellent production!

[@guygoodhart3160]

An excellent vid, really enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing

[@lupualexandru7696]

You guys are legends, so impressed with everything you've done. Congrats

[@melvyncox3361]

Excellent!Great job lads....And good old Pilot😎👍!

[@davidsier4047]

Fantastic effort chaps, you are an inspiration and we are going to give it a go.

[@thecatalunya1]

Many thanks how enjoyed this... regards from the mountains of Catalunya spain...

[@graemew7001]

Well done guys, you certainly proved me wrong as I started watching this video thinking not a hope in an LDV and yet it got there with very little trouble. Its an epic thing that Mongolia Rally, you have to be damned sure of yourself to try it in my opinion.

[@mathiaseriksen5270]

what time of year did u boys do it on

[@davidzeager262]

Absolutely amazing editing and photography! World class! Looks like a great adventure as well! Where and when is the next one?

[@harbourwoodlandvisitor2445]

So this model of ldv van originates back from the 70s,80s sharpa van I believe, I could be wrong but, In 1983, someone gave me a lift to my house which was at the top of a veay narrow and steep country lane. Most new cars at time period would be driven up that hill in second or even sometimes first, not third gear. The mighty sherpa van had a high compression engine which is what made me see somthing like a mirical happen when the man who showed me how he could effortless climbe the hill in third and even forth gear at on 15, 20 mph without stalling the engine. That engine had so much compression and torque you could put a rope around a house and pull it down without even revving the engine high and as far as I can remember it was a carb, not fuel injection fuelled . People mock British built vehicles but as the ldv van did show it got them there all in one peice.

[@mclooper]

thanks for sharing your adventure epic!

[@mammothsteppe1586]

To all Mammoth Steppe followers: There 'unseen footage' is currently being collated and is definitely worth seeing! We'll keep you posted...

[@Tina-fd5dr]

Well made. Awesome looking journey. :)

[@mammothsteppe1586]

Many thanks!

[@vintagestuffguy1998]

Amazing! i absolutely love this, very inspiring !

[@mammothsteppe1586]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed

[@jamesrothwell8693]

I had to drive one of those LDV things from Kent to Surrey once, just few junctions around the M25 and I was sick of it. Impressive you even attempted to drive it to Mongolia!

[@chilman6461]

Man up haha I have had one 2 years mate

[@carefree167]

I see all of you with a happy smile, the trip is so funny.

[@dannygrace4868]

Shooting skill, editing skill, story telling skill..... I enjoyed every corner! Thanks!

[@Reidy1968]

Just come across your documentary fellas. Outstanding effort from start to finish.

[@mammothsteppe1586]

Many thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@TheCossak]

Excellent movie, loved every minute of it. I hope to see more!

[@bullwelcome9182]

wow good luck guys... I like Mongolia^^

[@Rkmng]

Thanks for uploading this wonderful video , after long time I see a true travel video in youtube ...

[@4seka]

Well done lads

[@guygoodhart3160]

where did you get your road maps and how accurate were they?

[@thomashuang9592]

Amazing

[@mammothsteppe1586]

For those wanting more Mammoth Steppe, the unseen footage has now been released to mark the three year anniversary. Enjoy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIazepamfJ2NaNE

[@SeaBassVEVO]

Mammoth Steppe Amazing!!!

[@jonathantaff3007]

outstanding! What are you all up to now?

[@mbahjoyo956]

🇲🇨 you are top man👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@jastew1971]

Great documentary. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I am curious about something- were you guys against getting a vehicle with a more sturdier suspension and beefier tires? I know the van served the purpose if providing lots of cargo space, but I was just wondering about that.

[@mammothsteppe1586]

Hi, we would have liked to upgrade but didn't have the budget so had to make do. In the end, the leaf spring suspension was very simple, strong and did the job. We didn't actually get a single puncture throughout the whole route, however did get through lots of tyres due to uneven wear from overloading the van. It definitely was not designed for this terrain, but that's the fun of it!

[@billnicholson559]

Very enterprising, good video. May I ask how you arranged insurance for these out-of-the-way countries? I am thinking of a not dissimilar trip. Thanks

[@mammothsteppe1586]

Hi Bill, in most countries we paid a fee at the border to cover the vehicle. Good luck!

[@bassach3692]

Thanks you guys enjoyed your film. What incredible van. What happens to the van.

[@mammothsteppe1586]

Thanks. We donated the van plus our equipment to Go Help charity in Mongolia and then flew home.

[@dyonweug5593]

Awesome documentary! Really helpful in understanding the difficulty of this undertaking.. But where does the unseen footage stays?

[@mammothsteppe1586]

We are planning to release it for the third year anniversary of completing the adventure in a few weeks - keep posted!

[@mammothsteppe1586]

It's here!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIazepamfJ2NaNE

[@jfk1150]

Loved the movie lads. Excellent story and well filmed, told and edited.

[@citypd]

I watched your video so much fun. You guys were very challenging.

[@alexandergrande8310]

This deserves millions upon millions of views. Never been stuck on something so entertained. Underrated as fuuuck

[@interludo]

i enjoyed watching this thanks. was it the DW8 peugeot engine?

[@mammothsteppe1586]

Glad you enjoyed it! Yes the 1.9 diesel, which was difficult to fuel in Uzbekistan!

[@glowskulls100]

Yep I got one doing up at present. Have had many over the years even when they were called Sherpa's. Very basic but easy to repair. One of the first to have carbon fibre leaf springs. My mate said LDV stands for Ludicrously Disastrous Vehicle but I think not. Nice one fella's

[@guldisloo11]

You guys are ridiculous. I love it!

[@jonathanbjork]

What an adventure! Just finish the video and my first though is; I WANNA DO IT TO!! Great job all of you, and great documentary! All the best, Jonathan.

[@mammothsteppe1586]

Many thanks!

[@temsbab1565]

I am doing same trip from birmingham to mongolia in my land rover 101 fc

[@Straitjacket808]

Great trip. What an amazing adventure.

[@jamesvicke7s]

Amazing, what an experience

[@Chinareport]

This documentary is so much in line with uour thinking, we had to tweet it #asiareportcom so our followers / visitors would have a proper idea of what to do to get themselves a proper life in the coming year 2016. njoying it all the way; everyone should just get driving and leave the car somewhere!

[@chrisblatherwick7846]

so what did you do with the van? just left it there?

[@georgecollins2412]

where abouts in the uk did you start in on this journey?

[@liamomilano9398]

gnarly!

[@alimuc]

big respect to all of you guys for you good cause. you guys must be cool

[@wiktorblaszczynski7270]

Wow that is awesome guys😀😉👍 i want to do something like this in the close future and just have many many questions but main one how does it work to get over the border do you need visas and why do you have to stop on the mongolian border what do you need to get into mongolia thanks👌

[@mammothsteppe1586]

Hi Wiktor. I think we needed 6 visas in total. They require some prior planning but otherwise didn't have too many issues. The border control were very interested in the van and it helped showing them our route on a map - often when we couldn't speak the local language! The issue entering Mongolia was that we were importing a vehicle so it was more complicated and took more time. From what we could work out, the storm also cut the internet connection!

[@mikasr.5]

Do you like top gear by any chance

[@fojnica2226]

nice story..greetings from croatia

[@abz78]

Hi chaps, we're taking part in this years Mongolia Charity Rally in a Renault Kangoo - any tips?

[@mammothsteppe1586]

+Abhishek Prasad you won't regret it. A good tip would be to go for a trail run before you set off to practise using all the gear. Sort out the cash, difficult to know how much local cash you'll need. Some good camping chairs are essential. Stick a map of your route on your car to show non-English speaking locals / boarder guards. Also don't forget to pack insect spray and baby wipes...Enjoy!

[@abz78]

+Mammoth Steppe thanks for the response and tips, I can't wait!

[@EdiDrums]

Baby wipes?! A little piece of home?!

[@eddimorra2151]

Very god roadtrip, good video I look from start to end.

[@simplebeing7583]

fascinating journey on an old banger.

[@djdubtron9966]

fantastic .. :)

[@blobby273]

Could at least have donated a descent van where will Mr Mongolian get parts for an LDV ?fantastic achievement Naive but adventures have to be or they wouldn't ever set off .

[@chilman6461]

It is a good van a newer van would not make it and would be harder for them to fix

[@AunknownMan]

Just amazing

[@tsevelmaachimid1328]

😍👍😍

[@ianvassamampatuan695]

what's the soundtrack at the end pls?

[@PinkTortoise420]

How could I get into contact with y'all? I'd like to ask you a couple questions about your trip!

[@mammothsteppe1586]

+Jackson Charles drop us an email on [e-mail]

[@casement18]

well done lads you shown that a good old battered royal mail van can make it thousands of miles and survive is it still going do you know

[@FStopProductions]

*Pretty sick video :)* Hope to see you on our channel!

[@SteveClark123]

great job chaps !

[@georgefoster6868]

Bunch of well heeled hooray Henrys on a jolly.

[@UK-Blue]

Astonishing you chose such a crap van. Excellent! Cheers 🐕

[@babulexplorer]

👍

[@alexanderkubanski9563]

Great video guys. Absulotely loved every minute of it! Quick question. How was you able to take a 2.4 Litre van on this rally? I'm thinking of doing the rally in 2020, but I was always under the impression that the vehicle had to have a maximum engine size of 1.0 Litre. Is this correct? Any help will be much appreciated, thanks

[@mammothsteppe1586]

Thanks for the comment. It's a 1.8 litre diesel engine. I think that rule only applies to the Mongol Rally, and we did the Mongolia Charity Rally which is more lenient.

[@thamrinthandi93]

great journey…...