The plan started simple: a rented 4x4, a rooftop tent, and four weeks of freedom in December 2023. That month—spent chasing endless dirt roads and sleeping under a sky so full of stars it didn’t seem real—changed everything. Somewhere between camping in the middle of a remote desert and waking up to wild elephants outside our tent, we realized: this is exactly how we wanted to travel the world.

Back in Zurich, the old life was cancelled. We quit our jobs, bought the perfect Land Rover Defender for the job, and prepared for the ultimate long-haul expedition. Our mission became clear: an audacious overlanding Europe to Asia journey. We left with no fixed route, no end date, and only one goal: to follow the sun East—a direction that has kept us moving for the last year.

We started by tracing the Swiss Alpine passes before dropping down to the Mediterranean, driving through the Balkans and over Greek mountain tracks. But the real adventure began as we plunged into the deserts of the Middle East and deep into Central Asia. We’ve checked off a mind-blowing 17 countries so far on our Overlanding Europe to Asia journey: from Switzerland to Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and the Emirates, all the way to Afghanistan—and now, we’re ready to dive into Pakistan. Every border crossing and backroad has delivered a story we can't wait to share.

It’s been dusty, sweaty, freezing, beautiful, challenging, and unforgettable all at once. There have been moments that genuinely tested us: a tense border crossing from Iran into Afghanistan during a time of war, a major breakdown in the Afghan mountains with 300km of off-road still ahead of us, and endless hours of desert driving under a sun that feels like it’s sitting right on your roof rack.

And then there have been the places that truly made our hearts stop: Fazayah Beach in Salalah, Oman, where cliffs drop into turquoise water. The vast, silent emptiness of Iran’s deserts. And some of the highest mountains in the World. We’ve also been met with endless kindness—cups of tea from strangers, invitations into homes, and smiles that didn’t need a shared language.

As we write this, we’re in Pakistan, getting ready for a stretch of high-altitude hikes and mountain passes. The next big milestone? Crossing China in 30 days with a guided convoy—the only way you’re allowed to drive your car there, including Chinese license plates. Then Laos, and finally Thailand, where, after 1.5 years on the road, we’ll see friends and family again.

After that? We don’t know yet. That’s the beauty of it.

Thanks for the read and see you on the road! 

Stéphanie & Florian

An open-ended adventure. Follow NoNormal Ambassadors Stéphanie & Florianas they cross continents, navigate unpredictable roads, and prove that the best journeys are the ones without a map.

Follow: (@sunsetanddust)