Ash Dykes

Ash Dykes is a Welsh adventurer, extreme athlete and sought-after keynote speaker, widely recognised as a three-time world-first record holder. His greatest achievement is becoming the first person to walk the entire 4,000-mile length of the Yangtze River, a year-long expedition that confirmed his place among the world’s most determined modern explorers. Ash translates these extraordinary experiences into powerful keynote speeches that challenge audiences to rethink their limits and raise their standards.

Growing up in Old Colwyn, North Wales, Ash developed his resilience in the outdoors long before global recognition followed. He worked as a lifeguard to finance his early expeditions, backing himself when no sponsors would. In 2014, aged just 23, he undertook his first major mission, becoming the first recorded person to complete a solo, unsupported trek across Mongolia, covering 1,500 miles in 78 days while pulling a 120kg trailer. Crossing the Altai Mountains, the Gobi Desert and the Mongolian Steppe alone, Ash earned praise from Sir Ranulph Fiennes and international media attention. Ranulph stated: "this young man’s completion of a ‘first’ solo trek across Mongolia, from the Altai to the Steppe, will have proved both physically and mentally challenging and is an example of great determination.” The experience shaped his philosophy, careful preparation, relentless discipline and the ability to stay calm when plans fall apart.

Ash built on that momentum in 2016 when he became the first person to walk the length of Madagascar’s interior while summiting its eight highest peaks, a 1,600-mile challenge that saw him contract the deadliest strain of malaria and narrowly survive. His achievements earned him the Welsh Adventurer of the Year Award and the UK Adventurer of the Year Award, alongside invitations to 10 Downing Street. He later completed his defining expedition, the world-first walk of the Yangtze River, a 352-day journey involving eight million steps, extreme altitude, wildlife threats and severe calorie deficit. Ash also serves as UK Ambassador for Madagascar Tourism, Special Ambassador for Malaria No More UK, and an Ambassador for COP26, reinforcing his commitment to environmental protection. In 2024, he added another record as part of the first team to kayak the Coppename River in Suriname from source to sea, further extending his global impact. In 2025, Ash travelled the full 3,400-mile length of China’s Yellow River from source to sea for a major international television series, 'Ash Dykes’ Yellow River Adventure'.

As a speaker, Ash delivers more than adventure stories. He offers practical frameworks for resilience, leadership and sustainable thinking, drawn directly from real-world adversity. He speaks openly about burning 7,000 calories a day while surviving on minimal rations, and about breaking a 4,000-mile goal into manageable daily targets. Audiences leave with clear strategies for overcoming pressure, building mental toughness and maintaining focus when conditions shift. Whether addressing corporate leaders, educators or policymakers, Ash brings authenticity, energy and hard-earned insight that stays with people long after the event ends.

In December 2020, we sat down with Ash Dykes and spoke to him about his extraordinary achievements, his near-death experiences and his top tips for dealing with isolation and loneliness. Read our exclusive interview with Ash Dykes today.