When I told my friends I was going to cycle around the world they told me I'd die. 'Other' people did things like that, not normal people like me. I had no money, no bike, hadn't travelled much, wasn't very sporty, and was terrified by the whole prospect. But these seemed like very boring reasons to miss out on this huge adventure.
Over the next three years I had the time of my life, cycling 47,000 kilometres through 35 countries. Cycling around the world really can be as easy as grabbing your bike and heading into the sunset, but hopefully the advice on this page will make that process easier.
Logistics
Why bike touring is the best way to travel (even if you're not a cyclist)!
How much does it cost of cycle around the world?
What's the Secret to Sleeping for Free Anywhere in the World?
The World's Best Bike Touring Routes
Riding the Red Centre - Australia's Outback
Atop the 'Roof of the World' - Tajikistan's Pamir Highway
A Taste of Paradise - Indonesia's Flores Island
Awesome! My sister and brother in-law Dawn and Kevin from England told us about your amazing adventure. When you get to America, we welcome you from Seattle!!
Hi Teri,
Thanks so much! Great to hear from you and I look forward to meeting you in Seattle. Keep following along on the blog and on my Facebook page!
Hi friend
Nice meeting u.
Thank you.
I am greatfull….
This One is Epic Journey ! Be Safe !
You’re Inspirational !!?
Hi Josiah
I’m about 3 months behind you, found your site through a comment on http://www.ridinground.com.
I was wondering how you were getting on and preparing for Central Asia. Good luck with it all. I’d be interested to hear how your visa arrangements have been going, what’s your strategy been? I’m looking at Georgia (Christmas) > Azerbaijan > Kazakhstan > Uzbekistan > Kyrgyzstan > Kazakhstan most likely for a flight to India unless I decide to see if visas are in the offing in Bishkek for the long way round through China.
Get in touch if you can spare the time, otherwise I hope it all goes smoothly for you. Have a wild time.
All the best
Dylan
Hi Dylan,
Really pleased you found my site, and I hope it has been useful!
I have just finished cycling across Central Asia and reached Bishkek. That’s a good trip, and you’ll have less drastically hot conditions than I did.
In terms of visas, I expect the only visas you need will be Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan – you can get 30 days for both. For many countries, Kazakhstan is visa-free for 15 days, and Kyrgyzstan is visa-free for 60 days.
15 days is enough to cross the 600km from the Caspian Sea to Uzbekistan. The hardest part in terms of visas is Uzbekistan and its registration policy; you are meant to register every 3 days, however sometimes you have desert stretches of 500km. When you enter Uzbekistan you will have 500km until the first hotel in Nukus. Similarly, between Khiva and Bukhara, there are nearly 550km with little in the way of hotels. Many cyclists will choose to take a train or taxi for these stretches – I cycled however, and by the time I left I had four 5-day gaps in my registration slips. My registration slips were checked by the police four times, and they always understood when I said I was travelling by bike. On the ground in Uzbekistan, visa registration seems much less scary than the internet would have you believe.
Currently I’m stuck in Bishkek. It is impossible to get Chinese visa here unless you have lived or worked here for 6 months. I’m considering options and may be flying to China myself!
Feel free to get in touch with any other questions you have. I have a lot of information on my Facebook page too: http://www.facebook.com/josiahskeats/
Josiah
Good luck & enjoy your adventure!
Thank You So Much! If the first few days are anything to go by… I will!
Let the epic journey begin! You inspirational hero!!!
Thanks so much Vicky! Can’t wait to keep you updated with how it all goes! 🙂
Have an amazing trip and keep safe
Thanks Dawn – Can’t wait!