Getting from there to here...
In 2001 the two of us, Mark & Cheryl, met on a 9 month overland trip from London to Cape Town with Truck Africa. Since then we had been discussing, planning and saving for the next big overland trip, except this time we wanted the freedom to go where and when we desired, without being part of a large tour group.
Realistically this meant taking our own overland vehicle.
Realistically this meant taking our own overland vehicle.
Mark has worked at Toyota and Land Rover factories as an Engineer - and has over 10 years experience of both companies very different approaches to manufacturing and quality...
But he conveniently forgot all that, let his heart overrule his head, and bought a 1996 Land Rover Defender 110...
After lots of research, modifications, expense, breakdowns, repairs, test trips, yet more modifications, and learning some mechanic and foreign language basics, the vehicle and ourselves were as ready as we could be?
It took just over three years to plan and prepare, but finally we were about ready in May 2013 to embark on a journey from our home in Leicestershire across Europe, Russia, and then aiming to follow some of the old Silk Road routes, through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan. From here we headed North into Kyrgyzstan, back into Kazakhstan and the Russian Altai before exploring Mongolia and then the long trip home across Siberia.
But he conveniently forgot all that, let his heart overrule his head, and bought a 1996 Land Rover Defender 110...
After lots of research, modifications, expense, breakdowns, repairs, test trips, yet more modifications, and learning some mechanic and foreign language basics, the vehicle and ourselves were as ready as we could be?
It took just over three years to plan and prepare, but finally we were about ready in May 2013 to embark on a journey from our home in Leicestershire across Europe, Russia, and then aiming to follow some of the old Silk Road routes, through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan. From here we headed North into Kyrgyzstan, back into Kazakhstan and the Russian Altai before exploring Mongolia and then the long trip home across Siberia.
The trip covered some 20,000 miles and took nearly 6 months to complete.
We met some fantastic people along the way and saw some incredible and beautiful parts of the world...
We also had our fair share of mishaps, breakdowns and run-ins with the military, police and border forces of a few of the countries en-route...
We met some fantastic people along the way and saw some incredible and beautiful parts of the world...
We also had our fair share of mishaps, breakdowns and run-ins with the military, police and border forces of a few of the countries en-route...
People and places
Getting in touch
If you are interested in our trip, please view our Blog above or visit our Facebook page Scarlet 4x4.
If you have any questions regarding journey preparation, or have any experience of the countries we have visited we would love to hear from you! Please use the above Contact us page or via Facebook.
If you have any questions regarding journey preparation, or have any experience of the countries we have visited we would love to hear from you! Please use the above Contact us page or via Facebook.