What started as a quick trip across Central Asia grew into perhaps the most challenging and winding stage of the expedition. Stage 2 is going to involve some challenging and exciting cycle touring in Central Asia and the Middle East. From South East Asia the plan is to:
-
head north from Thailand into Laos, China and/or Tibet. (COMPLETED!)
-
**UPDATE** The expedition is now heading into Nepal, India, Bhutan Bangledesh and Pakistan! (adding another year to the expedition!) (COMPLETED!)
-
From Pakistan, north along the fabled Karakoram Highway, through or around the Taklamakan desert, into “The Stans”. **Update** Visa was denied for Pakistan so the expedition had to back track to China. (COMPLETED!)
-
cycle through the ancient silt routes through Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and dash through Turkmenistan (with a 7-day visa). (COMPLETED!)
-
travel through Iran and up into Armenia and Georgia. (COMPLETED!)
-
cycle through Turkey to Istanbul (COMPLETED!)
-
either cycle through: Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and to England; or Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, France to England and onto Norway.
The plan is to then lay up in Europe and prepare for the next stage of the expedition. Then the expedition will be looking to head south again either through:
-
Spain, Morocco and cycle western Africa; or
-
Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya to Egypt; or
-
Italy to Greece and sail to Egypt; or
-
Italy to Greece and Turkey and through Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and finally to Egypt.
… Then the most difficult leg begins; Africa.
Stage 2 - Asia to Europe
