Day

Date

From

To

Dist.
(km)

Route

Stayed in

Comments

109

13th Nov

Tabriz

30km from Miyaneh

130

32E - Tabriz, Boston Abad, Miyaneh road.

Free camped.

Crossed a 2100m pass between Tabriz and Bostan Abad, very fast after that.

110

14th Nov

30km from Miyaneh

35km from Zanjan

127

32E - Miyaneh, Zanjan road.

Free camped.

Downhill to Miyaneh then slightly uphill all day.

111

15th Nov

35km from Zanjan

20km From Khorram Darreh

115

32E - Zanjan, Qazvin road.

Free camped.

Very slightly uphill all day with cross headwind. A very cold night in the evening (camped at 1800m). Visited the highest Islamic domed building in Soltaniyeh on the way.

112

16th Nov

20km From Khorram Darreh

50km past Qazvin

155

32E - Khorram Darreh, Qazvin, Tehran road.

Free camped.

Fast cross tail wind. Flat or slightly downhill all day.

113

17th Nov

50km past Qazvin

Tehran centre

118

32E - Karaj, Tehran centre.

Hotel Asia.

Very busy entering Tehran - Karaj especially, however it wasn't as bad as Istanbul! Arrived midday.

114

18th Nov

Tehran centre

Tehran centre

0

-

Mashad Hotel.

Rest day

115

19th Nov

Tehran centre

Tehran centre

0

-

Mashad Hotel.

Rest day

116

20th Nov

Tehran centre

Tehran centre

0

-

Mashad Hotel.

Rest day

117

21st Nov

Tehran centre

Tehran centre

0

-

Mashad Hotel.

Rest day

118

22nd Nov

Tehran centre

Qom

155

71S - Tehran, Qom.

Safa Hotel.

Visited the incomplete holy shrine of Emam Khomeini and the main Iran-Iraq war cemetery on the Qom road 20km from Tehran. The cemetery is one of the largest in the world at 9 miles long. A fast day on the road.

119

23rd Nov

Qom

Kashan

104

71S - Qom, Kashan.

Guesthouse.

Visited the beautiful tomb of Fateme at Qom. It was one of the highlights of the trip because of the fine architecture.

120

24th Nov

Kashan

15km past Natanz

97

Quiet road to Natanz and Esfahan.

Free camped.

The road today was one of the best of the trip - great mountain scenery. Climbed about 800m.

121

25th Nov

15km past Natanz

Esfahan

118

Murcheh Kort, 65S road to Esfahan.

Amir Kabir Hostel.

Crossed a pass of 2100m 30km after our camp. We had a stonking headwind so we only reached the top at 13:00hrs! Downhill after that into Esfahan.

122

26th Nov

Esfahan

Esfahan

0

-

Amir Kabir Hostel.

Rest day

123

27th Nov

Esfahan

Esfahan

0

-

Amir Kabir Hostel.

Rest day

124

28th Nov

Esfahan

Esfahan

0

-

Amir Kabir Hostel.

Rest day

125

29th Nov

Esfahan

Esfahan

0

-

Amir Kabir Hostel.

Rest day

126

30th Nov

Esfahan

Just passed Shahreza

94

65S - Esfahan to Shiraz road.

Free camped.

Left at lunchtime after saying good-bye to our new friends from Esfahan. Climbed about 300m today.

127

1st dec

Just passed Shahreza

About 30km from Abadeh

90

65S - Esfahan to Shiraz road.

Free camped.

Very strong head wind and uphill all day. Discovered an abandoned ancient high walled city made from mud bricks just off the road. Camped inside one of the many rooms still standing. Just great!

128

2nd DEC

About 30km from Abadeh

Debidt

118

65S - Esfahan to Shiraz road.

Stayed with a local family.

It was uphill and raining all day. Miserable. Crossed a pass of about 2450m. Arrived into Debidt nearing dark and soaking wet! We met Abdul and he offered to entertain us for the night.

129

3rd DEC

Debidt

Next to Persepolis

130

65S - Esfahan to Shiraz road.

Free camped next to Persepolis

Started cold and very misty but eventually turned out to be nice. A climb in the morning then gradually downhill for the rest of the day.

130

4th DEC

Next to Persepolis

Shiraz

62

65S - Esfahan to Shiraz road.

Zand hotel.

Started to rain when we woke up so we waited until mid day but it got even wetter! Left sightseeing at Persepolis for another day.

131

5th DEC

Shiraz

Shiraz

0

-

Zand hotel.

Rest day

132

6th DEC

Shiraz

Shiraz

0

-

Zand hotel.

Rest day

133

7th DEC

Shiraz

Shiraz

0

-

Zand hotel.

Rest day

134

8th DEC

Shiraz

Shiraz

0

-

Zand hotel.

Rest day

135

9th DEC

Shiraz

Shiraz

0

-

Zand hotel.

Rest day

136

10th DEC

Shiraz

Just past Sarvestan

91

86 - Shiraz, Sarvestan.

Our first camp under the road in a bridge!

Left late and took it easy. Flat with great views over Maharlou salt lake - complete with flamingo's!

137

11th DEC

Just past Sarvestan

Just past Estahban

94

86 - Sarvestan, Estahban.

In an abandoned house near the road.

Uneventful day. A bit hilly with some nice views.

138

12th DEC

Just past Estahban

In the desert inbetween Neyrizand Sirjan

127

86 - Neyriz, Kerman road.

Under the road in a bridge.

One of the best days cycling of the trip. The road between Estahban and Neyriz was amazing - a 15km descent overlooking Bakhtegan lake with wonderful lava formations by the roadside. A steep 2120m pass after Neyriz. Memorable day.

139

13th DEC

In the desert inbetween Neyrizand Sirjan

35km past Sirjan

105

86 - Sirjan, then 88 - Baft road.

Under the road in a bridge.

Chose to skip Kerman and go straight to Bam on the shorter but hillier road. Open exposed barren desert all day.

140

14th DEC

35km past Sirjan

15km after Baft

81

88 - Baft, Jiroft road.

In an abandoned building near the road (2280m high).

A long but quick climb to 2325m before Baft. Great cycling area here.

141

15th DEC

15km after Baft

6km past Darbmazar

83

88 - Baft, Jiroft road.

Under the road in a bridge (2520m high).

2560m pass just before Rabour, another one 30km later and a 2700m pass before Darbmazar. Hilly all day with no flat bit of road, but the best day's cycling of the trip so far! Beautiful mountain scenery. Storm came in so stopped early.

142

16th DEC

6km past Darbmazar

5km past Saqdar

102

88 - Baft, Jiroft road, then 91 - Bam road.

Red Crescent Society

15km climb to a pass then a monster downhill from 2815m to 755m in 51km. Then a climb back into the mountains to 1820m where we stopped early because of a violent storm.

143

17th DEC

5km past Saqdar

Bam

71

91 then 84 - Bam road.

Akbar hostel.

A short climb to 2275m then downhill all the way into bam (1000m). Arrived at 11am! This ends a truly memorable 8 days of cycling.

144

18th DEC

Bam

Bam

0

-

Akbar hostel.

Rest day

145

19th DEC

Bam

Bam

0

-

Akbar hostel.

Rest day

146

20th DEC

Bam

Bam

0

-

Akbar hostel.

Rest day

147

21st DEC

Bam

Shurgaz

112

84E - Zahedan road.

Camped in an army compound

Entered the desert with a tailwind and then a strong sand storm in the afternoon! Very gradual descent all day, dropping to 450m.

148

22nd DEC

Shurgaz

Norstar Abad

110

84E - Zahedan road.

Camped next to an army compound in the village.

Very hot with nothing but desert and hills all day apart from one police checkpoint halfway. A long climb in the afternoon from 400m to the pass at 1500m, then the descent into Norstar Abad (1090m). Acquired an armed escort for the afternoon!

149

23rd DEC

Norstar Abad

Zahedan

107

84E - Zahedan road.

Hotel Momtazhirmand

Another hot and sunny day with two mini passes to climb. Very gradual climbing and descending all day.

150

24th DEC

Zahedan

Zahedan

0

-

Hotel Momtazhirmand

Spent the day getting our Pakistan visas and looking around town. Despite what you here, it is quite a nice and safe place.

151

25th DEC

Zahedan

Quetta

101

84E - Pakistan road.

On a bus to Quetta

Very easy day, nice and hot. Arrived at the border just before it closed at dusk - straight through in minutes. We took an overnight bus from the border at Taftan to Quetta because the road follows the Afghan border. We will cycle it another time!

152

26th DEC

Quetta

Rohri

0

Overnight train down the Bolan Pass to Rohri.

On the train

Spent a nice day in Quetta - a very friendly but run down place. Decided not to cycle out because of the war taking place next door.

153

27th DEC

Rohri

Lahore

0

Overnight train to Lahore.

On the train

Lots of red tape and bureaucracy involved getting onto the train to Lahore - Fun! Spent most of the day in the train station waiting to be put onto a train - played Scrabble in front of loads of spectators!

154

28th DEC

Lahore

Lahore

0

Same train to Lahore.

YWCA hostel.

Arrived into Lahore a 2pm VERY tired and very smelly! I don't like trains or buses much! On a bike, that's how it should be.

155

29th DEC

Lahore

Lahore

0

-

YWCA hostel.

Rest Day

156

30th DEC

Lahore

Lahore

0

-

YWCA hostel.

Rest Day

157

31st DEC

Lahore

Lahore

0

-

YWCA hostel

Rest Day

158

1st Jan

Lahore

Lahore

0

-

YWCA hostel.

Rest Day

159

2nd Jan

Lahore

Lahore

0

-

YWCA hostel.

Rest Day

160

3rd Jan

Lahore

Amritsar

66

Grand Trunk Road - Lahore, Amritsar.

A Gurdwaras

Great day. Cycled out of the chaos of Lahore to the border, where we watched the hilarious antics of the closing ceremony. The ride into Amritsar was in severe fog and it was getting dark! Visibility was no more than 5m.

161

4th Jan

Amritsar

Amritsar

0

-

A Gurdwaras

Rest Day

162

5th Jan

Amritsar

Amritsar

0

-

A Gurdwaras

Rest Day

163

6th Jan

Amritsar

Pathankot

111

Minor roads

Hotel U-Nite

Very easy day. Only took 4hrs! Lush green surroundings.

164

7th Jan

Pathankot

Dharmshala

85

Minor roads

Hotel Miami

Very tough today. Hilly all day, with a 20km slog at the end on a steep potholed minor road up to town from the main road. Stunning scenery of the Himalayas, the wildlife (baboons!) and the lush greenery.

165

8th Jan

Dharmshala

McLeod Ganj

4

Minor roads

Om Hotel

Disgraceful! Only 4km! Climbed 430m though! Climbed very steep road to the village.

166

9th Jan

McLeod Ganj

McLeod Ganj

0

-

Om Hotel

Rest Day

167

10th Jan

McLeod Ganj

McLeod Ganj

0

-

Om Hotel

Rest Day

168

11th Jan

McLeod Ganj

McLeod Ganj

0

-

Om Hotel

Rest Day

169

12th Jan

McLeod Ganj

McLeod Ganj

0

-

Om Hotel

Rest Day

170

13th Jan

McLeod Ganj

Palanpur

51

Minor road.

Hotel Sarwayan.

Visited the Norbulingka Institute trying to preserve Tibetan culture after leaving late.

171

14th Jan

Palanpur

Mandi

92

NH 20 - Palampur, Jogindarnagar, Mandi.

Hotel Mazad.

Very bad road - turns into a dirt track in some parts. A Long climb to 1800m then a 50km descent into Mandi.

172

15th Jan

Mandi

Bilaspur

69

NH 21 - Mandi, Sundarnagar, Bilaspur.

Dholra resort hotel.

Hilly all day and raining.

173

16th Jan

Bilaspur

Chandigarh

136

NH 21 - Bilaspur, Rupnagar, Chandigarh.

Hotel Amar.

First 40km hilly with a long climb then a 10km descent into the Punjab plain - the heat we entered into was so nice! Last 80km was flat.

174

17th Jan

Chandigarh

Kurukshetra

106

NH 22 - Chandigarh, Panchkula, Ambala - NH 1 - Kurukshetra.

Youth Hostel o GT road.

Left at midday after visiting the Rock garden in Chandigarh. Flat and fast all day.

175

18th Jan

Kurukshetra

Delhi

166

NH 1 - Kurukshetra, Panpat, Delhi.

The Ringo Guest House.

Very fast day - dual carriage way and flat. The ride into Delhi was surprisingly easy and quick.

176

19th Jan

Delhi

Delhi

0

-

The Ringo Guest House.

Rest Day

177

20th Jan

Delhi

Delhi

0

-

The Ringo Guest House.

Rest Day

178

21st Jan

Delhi

Delhi

0

-

The Ringo Guest House.

Rest Day

179

22nd Jan

Delhi

Delhi

0

-

The Ringo Guest House.

Rest Day

180

23rd Jan

Delhi

Delhi

0

-

The Ringo Guest House.

Rest Day

181

24th Jan

Delhi

Hapur

96

Delhi, Ghaziabad, the road to Bulandshahr, back then Hapur.

Hotel Palace.

Its only about 55km to Hapur from Delhi, but we went 20km down to wrong road in Ghaziabad! Cycling out of Delhi was easy - quite quiet.

182

25th Jan

Hapur

Bareilly

197

NH 24 - Hapur, Moradabad, Bareilly.

Hotel Sehgal.

Made up for yesterdays blunder and had a long day. Very fast, busy, noisy and flat.

183

26th Jan

Bareilly

Mahendra Nagar

121

Bareilly, Pilibhit, Banbassa, Mahendra Nagar.

Hotel Sweet Dream.

Minor roads to the Nepali border were quieter. Flat all day. No problems crossing.

184

27th Jan

Mahendra Nagar

Anbassa

137

Mahendra Hwy - Mahendra Nagar, Ataria, Royal Bardia National Park, Anbassa.

Camped in Tourist information building.

What a wonderful part of the world. Quiet - hardly anything on the road, clean and the people are really happy and friendly. Cycled through Royal Bardia NP with an escort because man eating tigers are at large!

185

28th Jan

Anbassa

Lamahi

173

Mahendra Hwy - Anbassa, Kohalpur, Kusum, Lamahi.

Guesthouse.

Nice day again. Got invited into the canteen of Nepal Ganj Medical College in Kohalpur for noodles. The fudge was also great! Last 20km rode in dark.

186

29th Jan

Lamahi

Butwal

125

Mahendra Hwy - Lamahi, Butwal.

Hotel Hillsun.

Slightly rolling in the middle of the day. Everyone is so friendly!

187

30th Jan

Butwal

Narayanghat

115

Mahendra Hwy - Butwal, Narayanghat.

Royal Guesthouse.

Bit if a climb 40km in then slightly rolling for the rest of the day. Cycled along the edge of Royal Chitwan NP. This is a great cycling country.

188

31st Jan

Narayanghat

Naubise

120

Narayanghat, Mugling, Naubise.

Naubise Hotel and Lodge.

Rolling road following gorges all day. Last 8km quite steep climb.

189

1st Feb

Naubise

Kathmandu

32

Naubise, Kathmandu.

Eden Hotel.

We've made it! arrived at 10am and took photos, met with the British Embassy. 1.5hr climb to valley rim then downhill and flat into town.