Let's go on an adVANture

It’s March 2021 when we close the doors of our apartment and open the ones of our van. We start the motor wave our friends & family goodbye and head towards the unknown. It’s time to hit the dusty ways, the tiny paths, the silk roads. With liters of oil, a lot of enthousiasm and not nearly enough knowledge of our engine we start the trip of a lifetime. The trip we dreamed of for so many years. We are driving the ancient Silk Road, following the footsteps of many merchants.

Our adventures in blog form are found below.

On our way to Kalash Valley

On our way to Kalash Valley

Wherever we go I always try to document a local tribe, nomads or people who hold on to their traditions and culture while the world is changing. Pakistan has both.

Visiting the Switzerland of Pakistan: Swat

Visiting the Switzerland of Pakistan: Swat

Everyone told us that Swat valley is a must visit when in Pakistan, and when locals tell you something, you listen. Right? Well, sometimes you shouldn’t.

Peshawar, buddha and ditching the police

Peshawar, buddha and ditching the police

I’m sitting in the forest with a view on the mountains while in the distance I hear drums. For the first time in a very long time Yuri put on his sweater and I wear my hair loose without feeling too hot.

The Pakistani escort service

The Pakistani escort service

You would think by now we would have gotten rid of the Pakistani escort service. Well … read about it here.

Police operation Quetta

Police operation Quetta

Finally we arrived in Quetta, but the police operation didn’t stop. Getting money from the ATM, getting a SIMcard, even doing groceries we do accompanied by the police.

Adobe cities

Adobe cities

Villages, castles, hotels made of mud. Plenty of them can be found in Iran where Adobe buildings are still used in cities like Yazd. But most are turned into museums like the castle of Rayen and the famous citadel of BAM.

An oasis in the desert

An oasis in the desert

We went, voluntarily, to the hottest place ever recorded on earth. And after a night in this extraordinary landscape we moved our asses to an oasis where palmtree gave us shade and water cooled us down. But it didn’t all go as planned.

Arabian Nights in Persia

Arabian Nights in Persia

Exploring the true meaning of a tale from Arabian Nights or ancient times at a caravanserai in the desert. Far away from anything modern and the closest thing to the freedom we crave for right now.

The mother of caravanserais

The mother of caravanserais

999 Caravanserai were built in Iran. These roadside inns were used by travellers, merchants and even kings. We visited the mother of Caravanserai.

Our first days in Iran

Our first days in Iran

From ancient sites to previous capitals and from meeting new friends to exploring the largest bazar in the world. Read here about our first days in Iran.

The border crossing into Iran

The border crossing into Iran

Every good thing comes to an end. It’s time to say goodbye to shorts, lose hair and t-shirts. Today we cross the border into Iran. In this blog you’ll read how that went.

A last goodbye

A last goodbye

After weeks of exploring the beautiful Christian country of Armenia it is time to head south and get ready for a new adventure and some more Silk Road explorings.

Ready for part two

Ready for part two

We are finally back at exploring and take that seriously, with visiting an abandoned textile factory and hiking 15km’s in the mountains in one day!

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