Ash Dykes is a world-renowned explorer, extreme athlete, motivational speaker, and five-time Guiness world record holder. Known for pushing the boundaries of human endurance, Ash has completed some of the most daring and physically demanding expeditions in the world.
Ash made history as the first person to walk solo and unsupported across Mongolia — a 1,500-mile journey through the Altai Mountains and Gobi Desert, pulling a 120kg trailer behind him, carrying everything needed to survive. In Madagascar, he became the first person to trek the full length of the island’s interior, summiting its eight highest peaks during a gruelling 1,600-mile, 155-day mission. During which, he crossed crocodile infested rivers, caught the deadliest strain of malaria, was held at gunpoint, had to hunt and gather, whilst being eaten alive by the leeches and spider of the rainforest.
Perhaps most notably, Ash completed a record-setting 4,000-mile expedition along the entire length of the Yangtze River in China — a 352-day challenge through diverse and often treacherous terrain, earning international acclaim and engaging millions through blogs, live streams, and media coverage which garnered 1.1billion people in reach on completion.
Ash’s expeditions are more than physical and mental feats — they are global storytelling events. He has filmed multiple international television series, with his latest being a 21,000-kilometer journey along the Great Wall of China. His adventures have attracted partnerships with leading global brands, to include Jaguar Land River, GQ and Adidas, as well as appearances on major platforms such as BBC World News, Forbes, National Geographic, TEDx, and The Joe Rogan Experience.
Beyond exploration, Ash is a passionate advocate for environmental conservation and global health. He has served as the UK Ambassador for Madagascar Tourism and as Special Ambassador for Malaria No More UK. His work raises awareness about the challenges facing some of the world’s most remote communities.
A sought-after keynote speaker, Ash uses his powerful storytelling to inspire resilience, ambition, and a mindset of possibility. Whether crossing uncharted landscapes or addressing global audiences, Ash is living proof of what can be achieved when grit, vision, and purpose align.
Talking Points
From the Edge: How Resilience, Risk-Taking & Self-Leadership Drive High Performance
Ash Dykes is a British Explorer, Extreme Athlete, and five-time world first record holder who has completed some of the most daring expeditions in modern history. From hiking the entire 4,000-mile Yangtze River, to crossing Mongolia solo, to leading teams through the uncharted jungles of Suriname, Ash has faced wolves, bandits, deadly disease, and life-threatening extremes of heat and cold.From the Edge: How Resilience, Risk-Taking & Self-Leadership Drive High Performance
In his Keynotes, Ash translates these experiences into powerful lessons for corporate audiences. He explores how to build resilience under pressure, lead through uncertainty, and foster innovation when resources are limited. With real stories of survival, discipline, and adaptability, Ash connects the high-stakes world of exploration to the demands of modern business. Audiences gain practical frameworks for self-leadership, risk management, and sustainable high performance.
Key Takeaways
- Leadership under pressure: making clear decisions and setting the tone in chaos.
- Resilience and adaptability: frameworks for thriving through uncertainty, not just surviving.
- Innovation through constraint: how limits spark creativity and problem-solving.
- Discipline over motivation: repeatable systems that sustain long-term success.
- Team dynamics: trust, accountability, and clarity as the anchors of performance.
Leadership Workshops
Deep dive into resilience models, adaptive planning & mindset frameworks.
Leadership Workshops
Video
Life lessons learnt from the extremes | Ash Dykes | TEDxHangzhouSalon
In this epic talk, Ash describes some of the situations he’s faced during his world first record expeditions, in various countries and how lessons learnt from these, can be used in everyday life. He talks about breaking your goals down, holding your vision, eradicating doubt and understanding that we can’t always be motivated, but we can be disciplined. “Ash Dykes, British Adventurer and Extreme Athlete, 3x world first record holder, author of Mission Possible and motivational speaker, who recently headlined news on becoming the first recorded person to hike the entire 4,000 mile long Yangtze River in China, the longest river to run through a single nation. He faced bears, altitude, wolves, -20DC, blizzards and had to send 10 of the 16 people who had joined him during different sections back home, due to injury, fear of wildlife and altitude sickness.
