Bikepacking
Round the World by Bicycle 🇺🇦
Contributed by Volodymyr Muliar
Around the World
A continuous round-the-world cycling expedition to raise funds for Ukraine, spanning over 35,000 kilometres across Europe, Africa, the Americas, Oceania, and Asia. Driven by a commitment to avoid flights where possible, the journey took in everything from the sands of the Sahara to the Carretera Austral and the Australian outback.
Still under way
- Distance
- 35000
- Stages
- 26
- Days
- 859
Fundraising for Help Ukraine
Fundraising for Cycling Around the World to Help Ukraine
Also found on Youtube
At noon on May 31, 2024, my son Marko and I started a bicycle trip from Hexham in England. For him, it was a two-day ride; for me, a round-the-world cycling expedition in support of Ukraine had begun. Riding my bike around the world, I carried something very special with me: a paper bird from Marko. This bird flew across the continents with me, a reminder that you can do anything if you keep going.
Before setting off, I had already cycled 75,000 km across 45 countries. The goal this time was to visit all inhabited continents without flying, using the most environmentally friendly transport. Though the plan to sail across the Atlantic proved impossible, and border issues forced another flight, the journey took me through Europe, Africa, the Americas, Oceania, and into Asia. By the time I reached northern India, I had pedalled 35,000 kilometres.
Stage 1: England
The journey began in England. For the first couple of days, I had the happiness of sharing the ride with my son Marko all the way to legendary Durham. I then pedalled through North East England, passing York and the Humber Bridge, and enjoying country roads. Eventually, I made my way to London, then Canterbury, and arrived at Dover to take the ferry to France.
A round-the-world cycling tour is starting! With Marko in England
Bike touring England: impressive York, Dunholme memorial and more
Leaving England With Adventures
Stage 2: France
- Distance
- 2000
France was the second country on the route and my first completely new country. I rode through its northern region from Calais to Paris. Visiting the Eiffel Tower wasn't a top priority, but seeing it with my own eyes was incredibly moving. I continued through central France, a picturesque flat region, visiting ancient cities like Vendôme, Tours, and Poitiers. I then passed through Bordeaux and rode beautiful stretches along the Atlantic Ocean before reaching the Pyrenees. By the time I reached Mimizan on the Atlantic coast, I had passed the 2000 km mark.
Central France by bike: Vendôme, Tours, Poitiers
France from Bordeaux to the Pyrenees 🌎
Stage 3: Northern Spain
- Distance
- 3000
Riding in Spain was different from France, as there were mountains right from the start. The Basque Country ended up being one of the most enjoyable parts of my trip, with its spectacular views and the foothills of the Pyrenees. For 11 days, I pedalled through northern Spain, wild camping along the Atlantic coast. The route coincided with the legendary Way of St. James through Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia. I experienced extreme weather, from downpours to hellish heat, but the beauty of the small seaside towns made up for the difficult hills. By the time I was in the middle of Galicia, another thousand kilometres had been covered.
All the charm of the Basque Country, Spain. In Bilbao with Ukrainians 🚴
Northern Spain by bike: Cantabria, Asturias and the Camino de Santiago 🚴
Cycling Spain on a world tour: the provincial charm of Galicia 🚴
Stage 4: Portugal
- Distance
- 4000
Portugal was the fourth country on my route and a completely new experience for me. I rode through the northwestern part, mostly along the Atlantic coast, visiting ancient castles, colourful villages, and beautiful beaches. I arrived in Lisbon and had wonderful meetings with Ukrainians there. By the time I reached the small seaside town of Zambujeira do Mar in the south, I had passed the 4000 km mark. Surprisingly, after more than 4100 km on all kinds of roads, my Continental tyres hadn't suffered a single puncture.
Bike Touring Portugal's North: Epic Routes & Unforgettable Views 🚴
Portugal by bicycle: the southern part. With Ukrainians in Lisbon 🚴
Beautiful aerial views of Portugal
Stage 5: Southern Spain and Leaving Europe
After Portugal, I was back in Spain, riding through crazy hot Seville and beautiful, inspiring Cádiz in Andalusia. I reached Tarifa, the southernmost point of Europe. There, I was delighted to meet Neil Bullock, the man who had kindly given me my bicycle for the expedition. Sadly, just an hour before sailing to Africa, I landed in a proper mess and lost my drone while filming.
Southern Spain by bike: a hot hell. LOST DRONE leaving Europe! 🚴
Stage 6: Northern Morocco
I crossed to Tangier, diving into a completely different world. I pedalled south through Morocco, passing remote villages and having unforgettable meetings with Berbers. The country fascinated me with its unique colour. I spent two delightful days in the beautiful and atmospheric capital, Rabat. Then I visited Casablanca to get my visa for Mauritania, and continued to immerse myself in the provincial heartland, chatting with locals, some of whom surprisingly spoke Ukrainian.
Hello, Africa! Wild camping in Morocco 🌎
Morocco by Bicycle: From Remote Villages to the Capital Rabat 🚴
Марокко на велосипеді захоплює: Касабланка, Ель-Джадіда і різна екзотика 🚴
Життя в селах Марокко очима веломандрівника: "Слава Україні!" та інші несподіванки | Двоколісні №237
Stage 7: The Sahara in Morocco
- Distance
- 7000
As I moved closer to the Sahara Desert, I had to ride against strong winds and even got caught in a dust storm. One night, I stayed in a remote abandoned village that looked like a place of ghosts. Pedalling through the endless sandy expanses was a real endurance test. The heat, the wind, and the incredibly straight roads wore me out, but the desert also inspired me. I set my own record for the longest distance covered in a day by bike. Racing to reach the Mauritanian border before my visa expired, I passed the 7000 km mark, having covered my seventh thousand kilometres in just seven days.
Bike Touring Africa: Hidden Villages of Morocco
Stage 8: Mauritania
Crossing into Mauritania, conditions turned truly extreme. The road narrowed, the wind turned against me, and the heat rose to 40 degrees. It was one of the poorest countries I had ever been to, with huge distances between tiny plywood villages where finding fruit was impossible. I lived through a real sandstorm. The capital, Nouakchott, shocked me with its chaos and dirt, but despite everything, the Mauritanian people were incredibly friendly and hospitable, often stopping in the desert to offer me water.
Mauritania is extreme! Sandstorm in the desert 🚴
Mauritania by bicycle. Nouakchott is the trashiest capital I've seen 🚴
From Mauritania to Senegal: The Sahara is left behind! Africa by bike 🚴
Stage 9: Senegal
- Distance
- 8000
Arriving in Senegal after the Sahara felt like diving into the Garden of Eden. The lush greenery, the water, and the cheerful, friendly people were a real joy. I rode through the colourful backcountry, encountering baobabs, sandy roads, and river crossings. However, the capital, Dakar, shocked me with its incredible disorder and noise. I arrived there with almost 8000 km behind me, completing the Euro-African leg. I then spent days in the port searching for a cargo ship to South America, hoping to avoid flying. I lived in my tent at the yacht club, hoping a sailboat would pick me and my bike up.
Senegal - paradise after the Sahara
Stuck in Senegal looking for a ship. Charming African villages 🚴
Stage 10: Cape Verde and the Atlantic Flight
I finally managed a three-day sail from Senegal to Cape Verde on a catamaran, thanks to some new friends. It was my first ocean sailing, and although I got seasick on the first day, it was a fantastic experience. I then spent a month living in my tent on the beach in Mindelo, hoping to find another boat to cross the rest of the Atlantic. I spent hours at the pier every day, but no ship materialized. With weather windows closing, I had to abandon the idea of a flight-free journey and bought a plane ticket to Uruguay.
My first ocean sailing trip! The Atlantic on a yacht with a biсycle
BOAT HITCHHIKING in Mindelo, Cape Verde: more difficult than expected
Stage 11: Uruguay and Eastern Argentina
- Distance
- 10000
I flew into Montevideo, Uruguay, and quickly made my way to Buenos Aires. From there, I began riding south through eastern Argentina. The initial hundreds of kilometres were across a flat, horribly boring plain with roads as straight as an arrow. Reaching the first small sierras was a genuine relief. As I entered Patagonia, the riding became a tough trial. Huge distances separated the towns, vegetation was sparse, and powerful winds and fierce thunderstorms battered me. By the time I was deep in the Patagonian steppe, I had passed 10,000 km.
FINALLY! From Africa to America with a bike (but not the way I wanted) 🚴
From Uruguay to Argentina. Problems in Buenos Aires: bike, finances... 🚴
Bike touring through Argentina: both boring and exciting 🚴
Patagonia by bike is a CHALLENGE! I couldn't stand it and stopped... 🚴
New Year in Patagonia, Argentina 🌎
Stage 12: Tierra del Fuego and Ushuaia
- Distance
- 11500
I visited Puerto Madryn to stay with a Ukrainian friend, then pressed on through wild Patagonia. Finally, I reached the island of Tierra del Fuego. The winds there were fierce, capable of stopping the most determined traveller. I made it to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, having clocked about 11,500 km. It was the southernmost location of my life. My plan had been to find a boat to Antarctica, but the only option was a tourist cruise costing over $8000, which wouldn't even let me cycle. I let the Antarctic dream go, caught a nasty cold, and rested before turning north.
Tierra del Fuego: Riding to the End of the World’s Wild Winds 🚴
Ushuaia, the southernmost city on Earth. To Antarctica with a bicycle? 🚴
Stage 13: Southern Chile (Carretera Austral)
Heading north into Chile, I rode the Carretera Austral. It was an unearthly beauty and without a doubt one of the most stunning stretches I had ever cycled. For about 1000 km, I passed grand mountains, glaciers, rivers, and endless forests, wild camping every night. I eventually left the Carretera Austral, arriving in Chaitén under its volcano, and took a ferry to Puerto Montt. I then pedalled along the noisy Route 5 towards Santiago, experiencing fantastic Chilean hospitality along the way.
Carretera Austral, Chile: The Unreal Beauty You Have to See! 🚴
The best route in South America: Carretera Austral, Chile by bicycle 🚴
Life under a volcano: Chaiten, Chile. Chilean hospitality is something 🚴
Stage 14: Northern Chile (The Atacama)
Leaving Santiago, I pedalled north into the grand Atacama Desert. It was my second time here, and its otherworldly, harsh beauty captivated me again. I spent three wonderful days with Austrian friends Klaus and Sonja in their campervan, exploring the coast, visiting a space observatory, and seeing wildlife up close. Continuing north, I explored isolated mining villages and visited Humberstone, an abandoned ghost town and former saltpetre mine, before reaching the border with Peru.
Bike Touring Chile: From Santiago to the Atacama Desert 🌵
Atacama Desert, Chile: So Much to See! Three Camper Days with Friends
A magical place on Earth: where the Atacama Desert meets the Pacific 🚴
In my Top 5 in Chile: a ghost town in the Atacama Desert. Hello, Peru! 🚴
Stage 15: Peru
Entering Peru, I faced the hardest part of the entire trip: crossing the main ridge of the Andes. I climbed passes over 4500 m high to reach Lake Titicaca, battling altitude sickness along the way. In Cusco, I took my first planned non-cycling detour, heading on foot to the legendary Machu Picchu. Back on the bike, I met old friends in Lima and rode north along the Pacific coast. I explored Sechín, one of the oldest civilisations of the continent, and broke my own daily distance record as I left the country.
Bike Touring Peru: Desert Roads, Inca Echoes and Lima Old Friends 🚴
Hiking to Iconic Machu Picchu, Peru: Discovering the Inca’s Lost City
Road to Machu Picchu from Cusco: Peru That Captivated Me!
Peru: Cradle of the Americas. Leaving Country and Breaking a Record 🚴
Stage 16: Ecuador
Ecuador was a kingdom of bananas and shamans, exotically different from Peru. I crossed the Earth's equator by bike three times in a single day and even managed to pitch my tent right on the line. It was an inspiring and exhausting stretch.
Сycling Ecuador: a vibrant land full of surprises and new discoveries 🚴 Two-Wheeled Chronicles #269
4000m of Climbing to Quito: My Toughest Day Cycling Ecuador 🚴 Two-Wheeled Chronicles #270
A Night in a Tent on Earth’s Equator | Inspiring & Exhausting Ecuador 🚴 Two-Wheeled Chronicles #271
Stage 17: Colombia
Entering Colombia, I found a beautiful and exotic country that often carries a dangerous reputation. Unfortunately, that reputation proved true for me: in Medellín, a city once notorious for cartels, I was robbed. Despite the setback, the beauty and hospitality of the country left a deep impression on me.
First Time in Colombia: Dangerous or Amazing? 🌎 World Cycling Journey 🚴 Two-Wheeled Chronicles #272
The Dark Side of Beautiful Colombia (I Got Robbed!) 🌎 Cycling the World 🚴Two-Wheeled Chronicles №273
Stage 18: Panama
I crossed the Caribbean Sea to reach Panama, sailing on small boats to the remote islands of the Guna Yala province. The indigenous communities there had preserved their traditional way of life and culture almost completely, making it one of the most authentic places I had ever seen. After a tough ride through the jungle, I reached Panama City, crossed the Panama Canal, and officially entered North America.
Colombia to Panama via the Caribbean!
Legendary Panama City. Entering the 4th Continent!
Stage 19: Costa Rica and the Nicaraguan Border
I pedalled through Costa Rica and arrived at the border with Nicaragua. There, I hit an unexpected wall: I was refused entry. The border guards questioned me closely and scrolled through my YouTube channel, ultimately turning me away. Since Nicaragua supports Russia's aggression, being a Ukrainian YouTuber was likely the reason. With no safe passenger boats to bypass the country, I was forced to buy a plane ticket.
Costa Rica is the wettest country in my life!
Costa Rica / Nicaragua: Rejected at the Border!
Stage 20: Mexico and Leaving the Americas
- Distance
- 22000
I flew over Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, landing in Cancún, Mexico, to save passport pages and bypass the block. Riding through the Yucatán Peninsula, I explored the ancient Maya cities of Tulum, Chacchoben, Kohunlich, and Palenque. I wild camped in the jungle among the ruins of a 2000-year-old civilisation. After a full year on the American continent and over 22,000 km covered, I flew out of Vancouver in Canada, leaving the Americas behind.
First time in Mexico: Mayan simplicity & majesty
Hidden Yucatan: Mexico’s Jungle Secrets!
Palenque, Mexico: The Jewel of Maya Civilization
Leaving Mexico and Americas. Where to next?..
Stage 21: Fiji
I crossed the Pacific to Fiji, entering Oceania. I circled the main island of Viti Levu, taking in the coconut groves, tropical nature, and the incredible hospitality of the Fijians. I visited Navala, the only village still building traditional bure houses. However, I ended up stuck in Fiji for almost three months waiting for an Australian visa. It was a psychologically tough wait, but the beauty of the islands made it special.
Cycling 23,000 km to reach Oceania! 🌎 Traditional life in Fiji 🚴
The Unbelievable Hospitality of Rural Fiji
The Secret Past That Blocked Me From Fiji to Australia
Stage 22: Eastern Australia
I finally reached Sydney, Australia, the fifth continent of my trip. Old friends greeted me, and I visited the place where my son Marko was born ten years ago. Setting off across the continent, I rode to Canberra, where I joined the Ukrainian diaspora's protest at the Russian embassy. Local cycling veterans rode out with me to see me off as I headed west.
Australia – The 5th Continent of My Solo World Bicycle Tour!
Cycling Australia’s unusual capital city: Canberra 🌎
Australia’s Wild Side by Bicycle
Stage 23: The Nullarbor and Western Australia
- Distance
- 25000
Approaching Adelaide, my bike computer hit 25,000 km. I rode alongside Polish cycle travellers Wojtek and Michał for a few days before hitting the Nullarbor plain. It was an extreme stretch with distances of up to 200 km between roadhouses, strong headwinds, and billions of pestering flies that required a head net to survive. Despite losing a tooth while wild camping, I made it through. I arrived in Perth, having completed the 4000 km crossing of Australia, and celebrated with the local Ukrainian community.
Cycling Australia: From the Empty Outback to a 100,000-Person Festival! 🚴
Reaching 25,000 km Around the World by bicycle! Now - South Australia
Cycling Australia’s Nullarbor Plain: The Heat Isn’t the Worst Part
Met a Eurovision Star & Lost a Tooth: Cycling Australia’s Nullarbor 🚴
Alone in Western Australia: Beautiful Emptiness
4,000 km Across Australia: Finally Reached Perth!
Stage 24: Indonesia
- Distance
- 35000
I flew into Bali, Indonesia, completing my goal of riding on all inhabited continents. On the island of Sumatra, I crossed the equator for the second time in my life and hit the 30,000 km mark.
Stage 25: India and Nepal
After celebrating exactly two years on the road, I moved on to northern India. My route took an unplanned detour into Nepal, and by that point, the bike computer showed 35,000 kilometres covered. The journey back toward Europe continued.
Closing thoughts
This adventure is still underway...
Whereabouts
- The route spans England, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Cape Verde, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Fiji, Australia, Indonesia, India, and Nepal.
Must-Know
- Nicaragua currently refuses entry to Ukrainians, so flying over to Mexico is required.
- Crossing the Atlantic as a passenger on a cargo ship from Dakar is virtually impossible.
- Taking a bicycle to Antarctica requires joining a tourist cruise, which costs upward of $8000.
Camping
- Wild camping is widely possible in Europe, Patagonia, the Atacama Desert, and Australia.
- The Australian outback offers free campsites, though distances between them can be vast.
Trail Notes
- The route through eastern Argentina is flat, straight, and extremely monotonous.
- The Carretera Austral in Chile offers around 1000 km of incredible natural beauty but requires tackling steep climbs and gravel.
- The Australian outback roads are plagued by relentless swarms of flies.
Gear
- A sturdy, ultralight tent is essential for handling winds, rain, and insects across multiple continents.
- A protective head net is non-negotiable for riding in the Australian outback.
- Durable tyres are crucial for avoiding constant punctures on rough, debris-strewn roads.
Hazards
- Fierce headwinds and crosswinds in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego can make riding impossible.
- Sandstorms are a serious risk in Mauritania and the Sahara.
- Robbery is a significant threat in Colombia, particularly around Medellín.
- The Nullarbor plain in Australia features extreme heat and distances of up to 200 km between supplies.