Route

In June 2010, I got on my bike, kissed my wife good bye, took two left turns &  officially started my cycle tour heading east, cycling towards India. As the crow flies that was around
9,000 km + 3,000km cycling down the west coast of India. I averaged around 120km a day.

There are several possible routes (see below) my final route took me through Austria>Slovakia>Hungary>Romania>Bulgaria>Turkey>Iran>Pakistan>India .

Along the way I encountered extreme beauty, kindness but unfortunately also poverty & destruction (Pakistan floods) The political circumstances also forced me to be escorted through parts of Iran and Pakistan. But even with those trepidations, I had the journey of a lifetime.

“I know that we shall meet problems along the way, but I’d far rather see for myself what’s going on in the world outside, than rely on newspapers, television, politicians and religious leaders to tell me what I should be thinking”
Michael Palin

There are several way’s to cycle the route, other alternatives depend on the political climate.

Austria>Slovakia > Hungary > Serbia > Bulgaria> Turkey > Iran > Pakistan > India Or..

Austria >Slovakia > Hungary > Serbia > Bulgaria> Turkey > Iran > Turkmenistan > Tajikistan> > China (will involve crossing Tibet or Kashmir) > India