Tag: bikepacking
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Bikepacking the Tibetan Plateau in China
After spending 6 weeks bikepacking in Mongolia, crossing the country West to East, I reached Ulaanbaatar, where I applied for and received a Chinese tourist visa for two months. I decided to enter China via rail, as the Erenhot border…
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Bikepacking Mongolia: The Altai Mountains
Welcome to the least densely populated country in the world. It was no surprise that crossing from China into Mongolia was like stepping back in time a couple of years – although it has its benefits. No more constant police…
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Bicycle Touring in Xinjiang, China’s most sensitive region
Notes about cycling across Xinjiang/China, coming from Kyrgyzstan: – entry was smooth, friendly border officials who even spoke English– great road surface & cell phone reception everywhere– signs in Chinese & Uyghur (Arabic script)– cameras & fences almost everywhere– modern…
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Bikepacking Tajikistan & the Pamir Highway
My journey across Tajikistan began in the Fergana Valley in the northern and least mountainous part of this landlocked country. It is therefore more densely populated than the other regions, so I quickly experienced the famous Tajik hospitality, being invited…
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Bikepacking Kyrgyzstan during spring
I touched down in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital, after a short three week break in Germany where I had to sort out some personal stuff, and also built my new bike. Over 90% of Kyrgyzstan is covered with mountains – the…
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Cycling across Oman – A Bike Touring Paradise
As soon as entered Oman from the UAE, I took a turn onto a small road heading into the Hajar Mountains. I was rewarded with a rugged but beautiful mountainous landscape, and butter-smooth yet empty roads. This part of the…
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Bicycle Touring in the UAE – A Pleasant Surprise
After 12 hours on the ferry from Bandar Abbas, Iran, I reached the port of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. It was honestly a bit of a relief to make it out of Iran, after my experience being detained…
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Bike Touring in Iran – History, Hospitality & a Military Hiccup
I entered Iran from the Parvez Khan border with Kurdistan-Iraq. The border crossing was quite chaotic, as it is the main trading port between the countries it is very dusty and full of trucks. After some initial confusion about my…
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Bicycle Touring in Iraqi Kurdistan – Unmatched Hospitality
The country (that’s officially not a country) where it’s near impossible to camp or pay for things. The Kurds are the largest ethnic minority without their own country – they live in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. The KRG, Kurdistan-Regional-Government…
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Cycling Across Turkey – From the Mediterranean to Cappadocia, Anatolia and Kurdistan
In order to avoid Istanbul’s traffic craze, I decided to take a ferry from Greece to Turkey, from Thessaloniki to Kusadasi to be exact. I wasn’t off to a great start: The ferry was delayed a few hours and arrived…