Arabic version: عائلة منغولية تتحدى أسعار الوقود في مغامرة عالمية

The Sharavnyam family, consisting of Tuvshinjargel, his wife Amarzaya, and their three children, are on an ambitious journey traveling across Australia and around the world in their campervan. According to ABC News, they have already covered more than 70,000 kilometres since leaving Mongolia more than eight years ago.

Despite surging fuel prices and global conflicts, Tuvshinjargel remains committed to their travels. He shared that their dream of exploration is stronger than the rising costs of diesel, which they find particularly high in Australia. “When we first came to Australia it was expensive, but now it’s more than doubled,” he noted, mentioning that they pay $250 per fill.

The family, who sold all their possessions in Mongolia to fund their travels, has shipped their campervan across oceans and visited several countries including Iran, where they found surprisingly low fuel costs. Tuvshinjargel recalled, “I can have 80 litres of diesel for $US1 in Iran,” emphasizing the stark contrast with current Australian prices.

While the Sharavnyams continue their journey, many Australians are reconsidering their travel plans due to high fuel costs. Recent data indicates that 41 percent of Australians have canceled or scaled back their travel plans. The NRMA has reported a decline in bookings at holiday parks, reflecting the impact of rising prices and global unrest on domestic travel.

The family plans to travel from Sydney to Darwin via Queensland before shipping their van to Los Angeles. Tuvshinjargel expressed that their primary goal is to create lasting memories with their children during this unique journey, stating, “Your kids will not live with you all the time, and when they’re [teenagers], they go to their room with devices. But we don’t have any doors to close. So that’s really beautiful because we live in 2 metres. We live close.”