A Day in the Life of a Gobi March Volunteer

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Volunteering at the Gobi March is not your average day in the office! Days are long, full, and absolutely unforgettable.

Early Morning: Sunrise, Steam, and Strong Coffee

It all starts early. Really early. Around 4:30 a.m., the first volunteers begin to stir as the faint light spills across the horizon and hot water is put on to boil. There’s a chill in the air, Mongolia’s desert mornings can be surprisingly cool, and everyone gradually gathers near the kettle for a quick caffeine fix and their instant oats before the day begins.

By 5:30, bags are packed, breakfast is finished, and gear is loaded into vehicles. The plains hum with quiet anticipation as the staff and volunteer team gather for a quick morning briefing, a chance to confirm roles and logistics, swap updates, and share a bit of banter before heading out.

6:00 a.m.: Hitting the Road. As the sun climbs, the convoy of 4x4s roll out of camp in a plume of dust, each vehicle bound for its checkpoint. The drive alone is an adventure – often long and bumpy, always beautiful. Checkpoint teams set up tents, stools, water stations, and shade tarps, ready to welcome the first competitors. For those at checkpoints 2, 3 or 4, there’s time to take in the silence, explore the nearby surroundings or take a sweepstake on first runner times. Checkpoint 1 are often racing to get set up for the first runner in time!

Checkpoint and camp duties

At the checkpoints, volunteers spend the day welcoming competitors, filling up water bottles, monitoring progress, ringing cow bells and cheering everyone along. Checkpoints close once the final competitors and sweepers have passed and volunteers pack everything back into the vehicles, leaving no trace behind, and head towards the next camp.

On the way, volunteers often have the chance to connect with the locals and many bring small gifts to share with the children. Volunteers are often invited inside the traditional gers to share milk tea or homemade cheese, and it’s these moments - unexpected, warm, and genuine - that linger long after the race.

Back at camp, volunteers join the checkpoint 4 team, or man the cyber tent and café, helping runners refuel and read messages from loved ones back home.

Evening: Reflections Under the Big Sky

By early evening, the last competitors arrive, cheered in by volunteers who’ve been waiting for hours with smiles and clapping hands. At 8:00 p.m., the daily volunteer briefing brings everyone together once more to review the day and plan for tomorrow. Not long after, everyone hits the sack!

Volunteering at the Gobi March isn’t glamorous, but it is extraordinary. It’s long days, dust in your hair, endless laughter, and the kind of teamwork that feels like family. It’s about being part of something bigger, not just a race, but a moving community that brings together athletes, locals, and volunteers in one of the wildest, most beautiful places on Earth.

If you’re thinking about joining the volunteer team, come ready to work hard, laugh often, and fall in love with the Gobi. Yes, the days are long, but the memories last a lifetime.