Overlanding Europe to Asia until the road ends

“Why not do it by car?” We exchanged a glance, and in that moment, the idea took on a life bigger than we’d ever imagined. It was wild. For as long as we could remember, we had dreamed of traveling the world together—not for a few fleeting weeks, but for an undefined period. To truly break free from the daily grind and immerse ourselves in the unknown. Yet, after 13 years together, we had always settled for short holidays, returning to the same routine and facing the inevitable post-travel blues.

One of those trips was a summer holiday to Kyrgyzstan in 2023. We rented a 4WD car with a rooftop tent and ventured into the mountainous, remote wilderness. Our love for overlanding was born. We had no clue what we were doing, but the intoxicating freedom of driving any road we pleased and camping wherever we wanted left a lasting impression. We didn’t want it to end—we wanted to do it longer, better.

Back home, work demands were ever-increasing, and family challenges were piling up. We knew it was time to make a change: life wasn’t going to wait for us. If we wanted to truly live, we had to act now. So, we made the decision we’d been dreaming about for years. We would take that world trip together. And this time, we wouldn’t settle for planes, ferries, trains, or buses. Why not do it by car?

We stared at a world map, feeling the narcotic pull of possibility, and pinpointed one of the furthest places we could drive to from our home in the Netherlands: Singapore. That would mean overlanding through Europe, Türkiye, Iran, Central Asia, China, and Southeast Asia—all the way to where the road would end. Literally. We didn’t fully understand what such a journey would entail. But if this trip has taught us anything, it’s that when you want something badly enough, you’ll move mountains to make it happen.

And so, we began. We bought a car and gear fit for the task—a Toyota 4Runner with a rooftop tent—and spent months transforming it into our mobile home. We took medical and technical courses to prepare for emergencies, tackled the endless bureaucracy of visas and travel permits, and spent countless late nights piecing together the itinerary.

In early 2024, we took the leap: we both quit our jobs, knowing we were as ready as we’d ever be. After saving up for nine years, it was finally time to embark on this journey of a lifetime. With only five weeks to reach Iran due to the validity of our visa, we moved swiftly through Europe. That suited us just fine—our real goal was to dive deeper into Asia. After falling head over heels for Kyrgyzstan the year before, we knew we had to see more of that incredible region.

Slowly, we learned to embrace life on the road. No deadlines, no rigid plans, just the rhythm of the journey. The hum of the engine and the thrill of off-road trails became our new normal. After five weeks, we had settled into this new life, just in time for the real adventure to begin. Leaving Türkiye behind, we crossed into Iran, a country we knew only through the lens of Western media.

We felt a hint of unease, amplified by the Turkish border guard’s warning: “It’s a dangerous place.” But the moment we crossed the border, that fear melted away.

Iran quickly became one of our favorite countries, offering hospitality unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Everywhere we went—whether at a market stall, a local restaurant, or a grocery store—people invited us into their homes for tea, dinner, or even a place to sleep. On top of that, they insisted we didn’t pay because "we were guests." It was a powerful reminder that secondhand stories can never replace firsthand experiences; only by seeing the world for ourselves can we truly understand it.

Next came Turkmenistan, a place unlike anything we’d ever encountered. For a few surreal days, we felt transported to an alternate reality, one dominated by the paranoia of dictatorship. Ashgabat, the capital, was a city of pure extravagance—its streets lined with buildings made of dazzling white marble and shimmering gold. Only white cars were allowed to enter the city center, so we had to leave our vehicle parked on the outskirts. Ashgabat was a display of power and excess, standing alone in the vast desert.

Almost alone, that is. Right in the heart of the desert stood a blazing crater, ominously dubbed “The Gates of Hell.”

This fiery pit has been burning since the 1980s, adding an otherworldly atmosphere to the landscape. Our time in Turkmenistan was marked by constant surveillance. We saw nothing but undercover agents and had hardly any interactions with locals. Our government-assigned guide received regular calls to check our whereabouts. After a few days, we found ourselves feeling increasingly paranoid, aware of being watched at every step. By the time we crossed into Uzbekistan, we were in desperate need of a break to recover.

We ventured further east along the historic Silk Road, navigating the vast deserts and rugged mountains of Central Asia. Finally, we reached the legendary Pamir Highway. This high-altitude road pushed us to our limits.

The thin air, the isolation, and the raw beauty made us feel more alive than ever. This was why we had embarked on this expedition—to push boundaries, embrace the unknown, and rediscover the meaning of adventure.

Leaving behind the untamed beauty of Central Asia, we faced the most challenging leg of our expedition: overlanding through China with our own vehicle. This required meticulous preparation long before our arrival. Beyond the visa, self-driving in China demands a Chinese driver’s license, temporary Chinese license plates, and the constant presence of a local guide. To share costs, we joined a convoy of fellow overlanders under a single guide’s supervision.

Traveling through China felt like stepping onto a high-speed train, with breathtaking highlights flashing past at dizzying speed. With just 27 days to cover this vast country and 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) to conquer, every day was a race against time. We passed through the heavily monitored Xinjiang region, reached the historic end (or starting point, depending on your perspective) of the Silk Road, marveled at the famous Terracotta Warriors, and had a brief encounter with baby pandas in Chengdu, among many other highlights. This leg of the journey quickly became the pinnacle of our entire expedition. Our itinerary through China, aptly named “From the Desert to the Tropics,” revealed its full meaning as the barren sands of the north gradually gave way to lush tropical forests, sprawling tea fields, and pouring monsoons. Welcome to the jungle.

Southeast Asia forced us to downshift. Life here unfolded at a slower pace, far removed from the rush of China. Smooth asphalt gave way to muddy tracks, flooded roads, and frequent power outages. It was monsoon season, and pitching our tent in the torrential rain quickly lost its appeal. Yet, we pressed on, inching closer to a milestone we once only dreamed of reaching.

When the sun was out, we soaked in the beauty of Southeast Asia. Wild camping on pristine beaches, swimming in crystal-clear waters, and exploring vibrant underwater worlds. One unforgettable moment was driving through the gates of Angkor Wat in Cambodia with our own car, an incredible milestone of the expedition. These peaceful, reflective days offered a perfect respite before we set off further south.

And then, finally, there it was—Singapore. We could hardly believe it when we arrived. What once seemed like an impossible journey had brought us to the “southernmost point of continental Asia.”

We had laughed, cried, and forged lifelong friendships along the way. The memories of this epic overland expedition will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

So, that’s it? We’ve reached our goal and now it’s time to head back to our “normal lives”? Ha, yeah right. A journey like this can’t simply be undone. You can’t return to life as it was, as if nothing happened. This kind of adventure leaves a mark—a feeling you can’t shake, new thoughts that won’t leave your mind, and possibilities you never knew existed.

Our trusted Toyota 4Runner is currently sailing to Dubai by container ship, ready to kick off the second leg of our expedition. From the Middle East, we’ll hit the road back to Europe, savoring every kilometer of the journey. And as we go, our minds are already wandering to new places with ideas for future overlanding expeditions. There are countless roads still waiting to be explored. One thing’s certain: our overlanding life is far from over. We’ve only just begun.