I Cycled Around The World - A 35.000 Kilometer World Tour by Bike

That guy, that guy is me. And I spent the past two years traveling around our planet on nothing but my humble bike. This bike has brought me to places I didn't even know existed. In an epic ride of almost 35,000 kilometers, crossing the full width of four continents. It's been a wild roller coaster with the highest highs and the lowest lows. But in the end, this experience has shaped me as the person who I've become today and shaped my values and beliefs. It all started in the winter of 2023. In Amsterdam, the bicycle capital city of the world, I set off on my quest. As I started this expedition in winter, the tough weather conditions were a challenge from the start and promised to last for the majority of the time throughout Europe. Every now and then I had to deal with extreme cold and snow, but fortunately I was welcomed by warm-hearted people on a regular basis. In Turkey, the beginning of Asia, I was often stunned by the incredible surroundings and the kindness of locals. However, facing real challenges has always been part of this journey as well. Such as passing the inaccessible mud baths on top of the mountains in Georgia. By the time I reached Iran in summer, I had to face incredible heat in the deserts of this beautiful country, sometimes reaching 50 degrees Celsius or even more, and adapting to my surroundings was key. The heavily armed police escorts in Pakistan protected me from terroristic threats, after which I got to experience the magnificent mountains in the north. Soon after, in India, I was indulged in the rich and colorful culture of this country. In Nepal, I explored the Himalayas by foot and hiked up to Mount Everest Base Camp. As I rode across the islands of Indonesia, the unbelievable diversity in landscapes, wildlife, people and religions has made a lasting impression on me. The solitude in the Alps in New Zealand was simply breathtaking and felt like the ultimate form of freedom while embracing the cold winter nights and mornings. The United States offered a wide range of natural wonders, but also some life-threatening challenges in the scorching heat in Death Valley. I even had to be rescued from the Nevada desert in summer. I continued across the Colorado mountains to New York before returning back to Europe. It's been an adventure beyond beliefs, crossing 32 countries with a million stories. And now, after all this time, it is time for one last ride. One ride back to the place where it all started. One ride left to complete my circumnavigation by bike. On the way, a bunch of friends are joining me on the ride back to Amsterdam, where a big group of family and friends are eagerly waiting for my return. It's been a very long time since I've seen most of them and reuniting with them will be an emotional moment. As well as crossing that finish line and therefore finishing up this extraordinary journey. I'm now proudly looking back at this journey and everything I've accomplished. It truly has been a life-changing experience. Two years of dedication, two years of joy and two years of freedom. It has been an opportunity and a privilege and I'm forever grateful for all the happy but also the difficult moments. For all the people I've met, for all the cultures I experienced, for all the landscapes I admired and all the challenges I have overcome. And with all these stories in mind, honestly, my life has felt like a movie over the past two years. This ride has shown me the world and everything it has to offer. A ride which has been a dream like no other and it turned out so much better than I ever had imagined. This ride was a leap of faith but this ride was the best decision of my life. I'll be forever grateful for and I will never forget. So now I can finally say I cycled around the world.