What is this 'HIGHWAY TO HELL ULTRACYCLE' all about?!

A couple of things. Seeing the Gates of Hell before they close. Tick. 

Visiting one of the least visited countries in the world. Tick. 

But... earning your right to see them, by cycling 300km from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan's Capital, to the Gates of Hell over 2 days. 

BUT WHY?!

My 2 passions in life are fitness and REAL adventure. They bring about true self-development. So it's time to bring them together and share them with the world. 

I have been organising epic group trips to wild countries over the last decade, to places like Central African Republic, Mali, Afghanistan, Yemen and I feel a huge sense of privilege being able to show people these wild places, that perhaps otherwise they wouldn't venture too.

As I've been doing that, I've been doing all the crazy stuff physical challenges above, and I knew how beneficial those experiences have been to me. How huge a part they've played in me becoming who I am. Of me feeling fulfilled, content. How it's help keep me motivated to become financially free, but also to know I'm reaching my potential. Even though most of the experiences are absolute torture while I do them!

So, now, since turning 40 this year. I want to share that with the world. I want to show people that I'm not special. I'm not some elite athlete. I'm just a guy who decided to do some epic stuff. Then some more, and more. And now I'm here. I want to create an event where you'll be the hero of the story. Not some guy or girl you follow on line. 

So sure, 300km off road will be hell. But you'll be a legend when you finish it. And finish it you will. So come with me. 

The first edition of HIGHWAY TO HELL ULTRACYCLE is this AUGUST, 2025. It will be a yearly event, hopefully a huge one in years to come. Come suffer with me on the first one. 

How Does the Ultra Cycle Work?

Basically, all the 'athletes' (cough, cough) start on Race Day 1 at the same starting point, around sunrise. We have approximately 150km (around 100 miles) to get through today, before sunset. 

We'll all be competing at different speeds (from SUPER SLOW to something marginally faster than super slow) and we'll all eventually all meet at Camp at the end of race day 1. Where our time is logged. You then eat together, cry together, and sleep in the pre-setup tents. 

Race day 2, sunrise again, we eat brekkie together, meet at the start point, hear the buzzer, and go again. 150km more today. Meeting at the GATES OF HELL 5-15 hours later, depending on your speed. 

Your time upon arrival at camp is logged, and added to yesterday's time and you are done!

Celebrate in a world of pain and pride. You're officially a legend. Let's get drunk.

Is the race self-sufficient?

NO! I've competed in self-sufficient races before, and I hate them. 

A self-sufficient race is a race where you have to bring EVERYTHING for the enroute duration of the race. All your food, all your sleeping stuff, all your gear. 3,4 or 5 days worth. The bag is heavy. It's uncomfortable. 

So, when designing my own events, I want to make it more enjoyable. Why? firstly, our race doesn't follow any 'easy route'. Lot is off-road, so we have spare bicycles, a mechanic, and water anytime you need. 

So our local Turkmen team set up a wonderful camp for us each night. They provide delicious local fare, both for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. The camp will be waiting for us as we hobble into camp. E

How About Water?

There are water stations, with flags, on the route every 30km. You can refill at will. 

Won't we get lost?

It's (almost) impossible. We have a team of  off-road vehicles driving back and forth the 150km route each day. 

So you literally go in one direction the whole time. Your compass can't fail you there. 

You only have to make it 30km until the next check-point. All good.

How about Medical Care?

Your ass will get chewed up. That's a fact folks. We have a nurse at camp each night, staying with us, who tends to all our wounds at will. 

We also have a doctor on call. 

Join My Turkmenistan Tour, including the GATES OF HELL BEFORE THEY CLOSE!

TLDR? The gates of hell are closing! We don't know if it's 2025, 2026 or 2027, but there is now a permanent base beside the Gates of Hell where engineers are actively trying to shut them down. So come and join me, it may be your last chance!!
Turkmenistan Tour time! Ever since I first visited Turkmenistan, and made a very shaky youtube video about the Gates of Hell, I've had people email me asking if I could finally organise a onestep4ward trip there, so here it is. Turkmenistan is actually the 10th least visited country in the world, with a tricky visa situation and a government who couldn't care less about tourist dollars. So historically it hasn't been the easiest place to visit. That's where I come in though folks, so jump on board and let's go together. 


For hardcore travelers, there are 2 main reasons. It's one of the least visited countries in the world, which is already pretty cool. And then of course, Turkmenistan is famous for their Gates of Hell. And my Turkmenistan tour, of course, focuses on that. But that's not the only reason to visit Turkmenistan. For me there are 3 epic places to visit in this secretive central Asian nation. 

• The Gates of Hell. Come and see them soon! The rumours are that they're due to close it any time!
• Ashgabat, the futuristic capital city. One of the strangest cities in the world. Just wait and see. 
• Yangy Kala Canyon. Central Asia's answer to the grand canyon, and including a cool overnight train to traverse the country, to the coast of the Caspian Sea, to reach it!

There are some other spots around the country that are historic, and hold cultural significance too. But my trips are more focused on crazy adventures so I've tailored this tour to include the 3 coolest places and try to keep the cost, and time, down. I know a lot of the people who travel with me have the same outlook, so I hope this works for all you guys too!

The Derweza gas crater, also known as the Door to Hell, is a natural gas field in Turkmenistan that collapsed into an underground cavern in 1971, creating a large crater approximately 70 meters in diameter and 20 meters deep. In an effort to prevent the release of toxic gases, Soviet scientists set the crater on fire, hoping that the gas would burn off within a few weeks. However, the fire has been burning continuously for over 50 years, creating a spectacular and eerie sight that draws visitors from around the world. The area around the crater is now a popular tourist attraction and has been dubbed the "Gates of Hell" due to the infernal flames that never go out.

You're welcome to land any time on August 15th and my team will meet you at the airport. If you want to come a day earlier to prepare for the cycle, that's fine too. Let me know in advance so I can organise the permits, the hotel and the airport transfer. It's about an additional $100-$150 for all that. 

Flights to Turkmenistan are super limited. And the few that do exist arrive at awful times. Most of us will probably fly via Istanbul or Dubai, and land at a god-awful hour, similar to my Mauritania trips. 

Don't worry, airport pick-ups are still organised even if it's the middle of the night!

Safe doesn't even come close. I'll avoid getting political as the permits are hard enough to get, but let's just say everyone obeys the law in Turkmenistan, and leave it at that. As we say in Ireland, "safe as houses"

You can arrive anytime on August 15th. Ideally early so you can prep and be ready for Day 1 of the cycle tomorrow. 

If you need to come one day early, that's possible too. Message me and I can help organise. 

Early start folks. We have 100 miles/150km to get through today. So quick brekkie and then to the support cars.

They'll drive us to the start-point, AND WE'RE OFF!

Sometime between 5-15 hours later we'll reach our 150km mark, where tents and dinner is awaiting us. Time to rest that ass. One more BIG day tomorrow. 

Ooooph, how's that ass today? Not great! 

And the sunburn? Dehydration? Hunger? Weary limbs? Yeah I thought so. What a way to spend a so-called holiday eh?!

Anyway, today you are officially an actual LEGEND! We did it. 200 miles/300km. On a sh*tty bike, on an awful service. And you're greeted at the Gates of Hell. Burning in your honour. A night in tents, with some booze and new friends, is just what the doctor ordered. Well done folks. 

Brekkie in the desert. Then we drive back to Ashgabat.

And the next bit is in your hands. Either tonight is your last night. We get back to the Ashgabat hotel, and have a city tour. And then your last night in Turkmenistan before your flight home tomorrow, complete with medal and memories. 

ADD-ON OPTION:

Or.... you may want to extend your trip with me as I take an old Soviet Russian nighttrain across the country to the Caspian Sea. 

If you take the optional extension, in that case....

Our friends at our Ashgabat hotel from the day before kindly allow us to use their facilities to clean up after a night of camping. Hot showers, a gym/pool if you want, even a sauna. Manage your expectations here though, the hotel hasn't been upgraded since about 1950!

Then we have a civilised lunch spot (with real coffee!), before we'll then head to the train station for one of my favourite things to do in unique countries, an overnight train across the whole country towards Turkmenbashi. 

We'll wake up in Turkmenbashy and have a short sightseeing tour where you'll get a chance to have your first sight of the Caspian Sea. 

We'll then hop back in 4WD vehicles and make our way to Central Asia's proud answer to the Grand Canyon, Yangy Kala. This canyon was the former floor of the Tethys sea, and over time, millions of years created the current 'design' of unusual forms and multicolor pictures. We'll chill here for a bit, soak up just where in the world we are, before we head back to Turkmenbashi to overnight in our Caspian Sea resort. 

Back to the airport folks (god it feels like we live in these places!). We fly back to Ashgabat, check out the UNESCO world heritage site of Nisa Fortress, then we check into our hotels once more. 

We have another city tour to properly explore the city, including the iconic Ferris Wheel. 

Then this evening we'll have an dinner at the cities best restaurant, where we'll have a chance to see Ashgabat by night as we drive there. Overnight at the hotel.

We're out of here. Or more probably, we all left at 2am the day before! We'll be in touch about plans for that.

Now... Madagascar anyone?!  I have a charity trip running there RIGHT AFTER THIS!