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This summer I had the privilege of exploring Afghanistan on my bicycle, something which wouldn’t have been possible (or advisable) for the majority of the past 40 years when the country was plagued by wars. In this post I will share my experience, the route I took, and provide tips & information on the customs & logistics in Afghanistan. The Route I will be focussing on my crossing of the mountains, the Hindu Kush, in Central Afganistan, as I was likely the first person to cy

My initial plan was to spend quite some time in Northern Pakistan, but unfortunately just as I entered the country, the conflict with India started kicking off: In Gilgit, the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan, I had to decide whether I stick with my initial route which would take me to Skardu and close to the border areas with India & Kashmir, or if I head in the opposite direction towards the city of Chitral. Due to the uncertainty at the time I chose the latter, just to be safe.

My journey cycling the Karakoram Highway continues, but not in China: After crossing the world’s highest border, the 4700m high Khunjerab Pass by bus (one is not allowed to cross in independently), I reached the Pakistani border town of Sost in the Autonomous Region of Gilgit-Baltistan. Although it might not be as modern or well organised as China, one great feat was that I was able to communicate with locals again, as everyone here speaks English. And the scenery here was ev

The Chapursan Valley stretches some 70km from the border town of Sost in Northern Pakistan, all the way to the Afghan border at the Wakhan Corridor. Home to rare wildlife such as Ibex & Marco Polo Sheep and Snow Leopards, the valley also houses ethnic Wakhi people who are living off their livestock and agriculture and are renowned for their hospitality.But to reach their picturesque villages, one has to travel on a rough, unpaved road which is often blocked due to landslides.

While browsing some Chinese maps I stumbled upon an interesting place marked as a tourist attraction: The Muji Mud Volcanoes. Located deep in a remote valley in Xinjiang, close to the Tajik border, I couldn’t find much information about this place on the internet. So, I decided to cycle there. The route took me along a beautiful road with stunning mountain & plateau scenery, and passed by yurts and small settlements inhabited by Kyrgyz people, who are living off their livesto

After spending more than 6 weeks hiking in Nepal while waiting for my Rohloff Gear Hub to be repaired, I flew from Kathmandu to Kashgar, where I was finally reunited with my bike. Thanks to MJ & his bike shop crew in Guangzhou, the only bike shop in China able to service these hubs, who not only repaired it, but then also shipped it across the country. But I couldn’t have timed my arrival any worse: Just as I made it to Kashgar, a massive sandstorm originating from the nearby

My initial plan was to cycle from Hanoi, Vietnam, towards Bangkok, Thailand, but I had to change my route thanks to some problems with the gear hub on my bike.So I once again entered China, where I could quickly order the otherwise difficult to source replacement parts. The region I visited is called Guangxi, and it boasts the same beautiful Karst landscape, but unlike in Vietnam you won’t find a single other foreign tourist here. On top of that it is cleaner, less densely po

I touched down in Hanoi, and at first had mixed feelings about cycling in Vietnam. The city and especially the air is still very polluted, and traffic seems to only have gotten worse from when I last visited a few years ago. Obviously I wanted to avoid any bigger cities on my route, and set off to cycle towards the Ha Giang province in the north. Shortly after I left Hanoi behind me, I really started to enjoy my time in the countryside. The picturesque hilly landscape (Karst