UltraLite (Mongolia) is RacingThePlanet's lighter alternative to the Gobi March, run over the same seven days and the same Central Mongolian course, for competitors who want the experience without racing the full 250-kilometer self-supported distance.

UltraLite (Mongolia) 2027 begins on 20 June 2027 and finishes on 26 June 2027, running alongside the Gobi March.

Competitors choose their own daily distance of 10 or 20 kilometers per stage, covering up to 125 kilometers over the seven days – roughly half of the full Gobi March course.

UltraLite competitors generally start at Checkpoint 2 or 3 of each stage and race the second half of that stage, following the same route, checkpoints and camps as the Gobi March.

The final stage (around 10 kilometers) is mandatory for all UltraLite competitors; earlier stages may be skipped, and a competitor need complete only 50 kilometers in total to earn a finisher's medal.

UltraLite offers a supported option: competitors carry a 10-liter day pack weighing around 5 kilograms / 11 pounds while racing, while a separate camp bag of up to 60 liters is transported from camp to camp – see the equipment list for full details.

The minimum age to compete in UltraLite (Mongolia) is 18, with no upper age limit.

In 2026, 26 competitors took part in UltraLite alongside 132 in the Gobi March, together representing around 40 countries.

UltraLite competitors sleep at the same camps as Gobi March competitors, in tents shared with fellow UltraLite competitors, and in traditional Gers (yurts) at some camps.

The course follows the footsteps of the Great Genghis Khan, from the Khar Bukh Balgas Fortress through the UNESCO World Heritage Orkhon Valley to Karakorum, the 13th and 14th century capital of the Mongol Empire.

Terrain includes open grasslands, soft sand and dunes, rocky terrain, riverbeds, gravel tracks and river crossings, at altitudes between 1,015 and 1,765 meters / 3,330 and 5,791 feet.

Checkpoints are spaced roughly every 10 kilometers and offer water, shade and medical support.

Laptops and tablets are available in specially designated CyberTents and CyberGERs so competitors can write blogs and exchange emails during the race – their only contact with the outside world during the week.

Many UltraLite competitors raise money and awareness for charities around the globe through their participation, and RacingThePlanet donates specialised lithium batteries to nomadic families living along the course.

The climate in Mongolia in June is typically dry, though there can be a few rainy days. Daytime temperatures are likely to range between 10 – 25°C / 50 – 77°F, dropping to as low as -2°C / 28°F at night. Mongolia is known as the "Land of the Eternal Blue Sky" for its average of 250 days of blue sky each year.

Ulaanbaatar, the host town for UltraLite (Mongolia), is home to nearly half of Mongolia's population. Mongolia itself is one of the least densely populated countries in the world – there are more horses, cattle and sheep than people.