Middle East

Returning through Europe: Turkey

By |2019-08-15T10:03:51+02:00 28th July, 2016|Categories: Turkey, West Turkey|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Lately we have been a bit quiet. The main reason for this is that we have been cycling strongly across Europe. Updates are coming and this is our first recollection of returning to the Asian side of Istanbul and cycling towards Europe. Finally… a decision was made to fly from Nepal to Turkey and continue cycling from [...]

TwistingSpokes in Iran

By |2019-08-15T10:03:56+02:00 30th December, 2015|Categories: Iran, TwistingSpokes in ...|Tags: , , , , , , |

Bicycle touring Iran gave a new dimension to our journey. Our personal perception would be triggered on a daily basis, differences in culture embraced and negotiating traffic would almost become the norm. It was very special to tour this country of which most people only have an idea that has been created by media. We entered Iran during Ramadan on the 8th of July 2014 and left the country on the 24th of August 2014. We have cycled 2016 km and ascended 10833 meters.

TwistingSpokes in Turkey

By |2019-08-15T10:03:58+02:00 10th November, 2015|Categories: Turkey, TwistingSpokes in ...|Tags: , , , , , |

Bicycle touring in Turkey is a great experience! Before we started travelling Turkey by bicycle we had heard from other bicycle tourers the country is one of the best for traveling by bike. We were enthusiastic to reach the country and make our way from Europe to Asia. We entered Turkey on the 1st of May 2014 and left the country on the 7th of July 2014. We have cycled a little bit more than 2440 kilometres and ascended around 20709 meters (2 and a half times mount Everest).

North-east Iran: a jungle and desert route

By |2019-08-15T10:03:16+02:00 18th August, 2014|Categories: Heat and desert, Hospitality, Iran, North Eastern Iran|Tags: , , |

In Iran we are really heading east. The route out of Tehran goes straight in the direction we are heading. We decided to take the longer North-east Iran route to Mashhad so we could avoid cycling only in the desert and heading to the apparently more humid and green Caspian Sea area. See latest photos: Tehran to Golestan and Golestan [...]

Shiraz, Yazd and Isfahan; a journey south without Mojo and Isaba

By |2019-08-15T10:03:16+02:00 3rd August, 2014|Categories: Ancient civilizations, Central-Southern Iran, Heat and desert, Iran|Tags: , , , , |

The days sorting out our visa in Tehran were stressful and hot. Somehow it all worked out very well for us and in two days of searching for embassies we had the visa we needed. If you wonder how and what, please read our post “Iranian and Central Asian visa Information”. Latest photos :  Tehran, Desert day, Isfahan, Yazd, Shiraz and [...]

Cycling to Tehran in an hot air oven

By |2019-08-15T10:03:16+02:00 23rd July, 2014|Categories: Hospitality, Iran, Northern Iran, Off the beaten path|Tags: , , , |

The intensity of Iran has kept a high level regarding people, temperature, headwind and experiences. The last few days we have been cycling over small roads. One Iranian said: “that way only desert and small village”, and wanted us to take the main highway. We thought: “perfect”, and continued on the small road towards the desert and, [...]

Welcoming Iran an understatement

By |2019-08-15T10:03:16+02:00 13th July, 2014|Categories: High mountains, Hospitality, Iran, Western Iran|Tags: , , , , , |

While we cycled over the last Turkish mountain pass (2250m) before reaching the Turkish/Iranian border we were imagining how welcoming Iran would be and how much would change. See all photos West Azerbaijan Iran The border crossing was a bit hectic. As they are building a new border the traffic is redirected around the building site, [...]

My mental battle of bicycle touring

By |2015-11-09T06:03:49+01:00 6th July, 2014|Categories: Reflections, South East Turkey, Thoughts, Turkey|Tags: , , , , |

The thing that is keeping me back most on this trip is my mind... It is hard to say but my mind is really screwed up sometimes. The last three days have been the hardest days for me on this trip. I was almost ready to call it quits. My mental battle of bicycle touring, how did [...]

Mardin to Hakkari, are we still in Turkey?

By |2019-08-15T10:03:16+02:00 6th July, 2014|Categories: Heat and desert, Hospitality, South East Turkey, Turkey|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

How interesting is it that we make plans along the way of our journey and still they always change all the time. We had planned to stay in Mardin to relax, investigate our route in Iraq or Mardin to Hakkari, update website and explore the town. For the photos see, Mardin and The road to Hakkari The town Mardin is [...]

Towards the South-East of Turkey

By |2019-08-15T10:03:17+02:00 21st June, 2014|Categories: Ancient civilizations, Central Turkey, Off the beaten path, South East Turkey, Turkey|Tags: , , , |

Leaving Cappadocia towards the South-East of Turkey was tough after a few great days with friends and eating out a lot. At the same time we were looking forward to be back on the bike and in our bicycle rhythm. We had been looking forward to first Istanbul, then Ankara for our visa and Cappadocia because of [...]

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