Final impressions

Now that the dust has settled some of our adventurers sit back and remember the journey, from the cathedral of Cologne to the amazing reception in Afghanistan.

Baharak - Afghanistan

Sophie Ibbotson:

- Arriving in Baharak -

The road between Ishkashim and Baharak is a little scary. The road regularly drops away into the swollen river below, and there are a few villages along the way whose residents have a reputation for being occasionally less than friendly. The burning of a school in Warduj had already delayed our departure once, and we were keen to keep the Isuzu moving. The anticipated four-hour drive turned out to be five and a half hours, and there was nowhere suitable to stop for a wee. By the time I reached Baharak I was bursting.

Nechem - Afghanistan

Sophie Ibbotson:

We were supposed to spend just one night in Ishkashim before travelling on to Baharak. However, in the night a school was torched in Warduj and, although this was a tribal issue rather than an anti-government attack, it was felt expedient to remain an extra day in Ishkashim to let things start to calm down. Instead, we took the time to visit Nechem, a small village half an hour’s drive away where 11 years ago Afghanaid built a water pump.

Ishkashim - Afghanistan

Sophie Ibbotson:

For the last few days we’ve been following the Tajik-Afghan border. At times Afghanistan has been so close you could almost reach out and touch it, but still it remained out of reach. That is until now.

Khorog - Tajikistan

Sophie Ibbotson:

I’m sat in the Aga Khan’s Hotel Serena in Khorog, looking out of the window across an immaculately kept lawn towards a small suspension bridge that leads to Afghanistan. The fluttering flags either side of the river identify their respective sovereignties and one or two guards lounge in the sunlight. No one is crossing today, and there is little else to do.

Dushanbe - Tajikistan

The team enjoys a brief rest at the Hyatt and many parks of Dushanbe before undertaking the many final preparations to be made before the final border crossing into Afghanistan can be undertaken!

Iskanderkul and the Aznob pass

More diesel tribulations are overcome as the team continue on to Iskanderkul lake, stopping to experience the fantastic nature before braving the harrowing mountain pass of Aznob.

Samarkand - Uzbekistan

Find out what happens when the team discovers that there is apparently no more diesel in Tashkent and how they managed to scrounge up enough to get to Samarkand, a beautiful city filled with amazing architecture and Islamic history.

Post Script - Latvia

Jo Dew-Jones:

Here it is then - the transit lounge in Riga Airport, on what is my first visit to the wonderful nation of Lativa. First impressions are highly favourable - the sun is out, and the tarmac laid out on the runway before me seems good quality indeed.

Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan

Yet another border crossing can be chalked up as the team enters Uzbekistan! Although the crossing itself was not without several challenges, including closed crossing points and broken down vehicles. Of course, this is nothing the four travelers can't overcome!