“I only understood how far I had driven when the flight home took seven hours.”
Bavaria → Dushanbe
Josef Sibein is an author and traveller, but this story would not exist without the Rally Captain. He carried most of the responsibility and repaired the rally car more than once. It began in a very unspectacular way: with an old Suzuki and a destination that was much too far away. What started as a spontaneous idea became a journey across borders, mountain passes, potholes, gravel tracks and customs posts. From a Bavarian brewery through Austria and the Balkan route into Turkey, onward to the Caucasus and across Russia, the road eventually led to Central Asia, to Tajikistan. To a place where roads sometimes became suggestions and the mountains set the pace.
The rally did not begin with a plan. It began with one sentence: “Come on, let’s drive.” An old car, too little time and a destination that was objectively much too far away. That was exactly why it became serious.
It started in Bavaria, at a brewery. Then came Austria and the Balkan route, onward into Turkey. Beyond Istanbul everything became rougher, slower and less predictable. The Caucasus brought mountains and borders. Russia brought distance and patience. Eventually Central Asia appeared. Tajikistan was no longer just a country on a map, and the Pamir Highway was the end of all excuses.
The journey from Bavaria to Dushanbe became a book. The German edition of “Die Rallye nach Tadschikistan” is complete and available as a travel story.
The book tells the story of an old Suzuki, 13,000 kilometres, 14 countries, border crossings, breakdowns, gravel tracks and the long road to Central Asia.
From Bavaria to Central Asia, without shortcuts but with plenty of detours. Europe was the warm up, followed by long days behind the wheel where borders became routine and roads became tests.
Bavaria → Austria → Balkans → Turkey → Georgia → Russia → Kazakhstan → Kyrgyzstan → Tajikistan → Dushanbe
The journey begins at a traditional Bavarian brewery near Munich, where the rally participants gather before setting off towards Central Asia. From the very beginning the author is driven not only by the adventure itself, but also by a long standing curiosity about Asia and cultures far beyond Europe.
The farther the route leads south east, the more familiar surroundings give way to unfamiliar impressions. Mountain roads, border crossings and new cultural experiences mark the psychological transition from Europe towards Asia.
With Greece, the journey moved further away from the familiar rhythm of Central Europe. Warm air, Mediterranean landscapes and a different way of life made it clear that we were moving east.
Entering Turkey made the transition from Europe towards Asia tangible. New landscapes, cultural contrasts and unexpected encounters strengthened the feeling of heading ever deeper into another world. At the same time, this was the last stage where very long distances in a single day were still possible, around 1,000 kilometres. Farther east, the roads became noticeably worse and the pace of the journey changed.
In a small town called Borjomi, the travellers experience remarkable hospitality when locals invite them to share a meal. These encounters deepen the author’s appreciation for cultural exchange across borders.
The journey through southern Russia brings great distances, physical exhaustion and the psychological demands of overland travel. The sheer scale of Eurasia becomes more tangible. The team drives alone for several days and only meets its new friends again in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan felt like an endless ribbon of steppe between Russia and the mountains of Central Asia. Within the first few kilometres after the border, the rally car suffered serious damage that hung over the entire week like a shadow. For two days the road ran straight through distance, dust and shimmering heat, while one question remained in the air: would the Red Lightning make it to Aktobe? When we finally reached the city, it was clear how narrowly we had escaped a total loss.
Kyrgyzstan began with the lively capital Bishkek, a surprisingly green starting point before the mountains. In the capital, a local spontaneously invited us and showed a kind of hospitality one does not forget. High in the mountains we met a Chinese travel group and eventually shared a meal with them in a simple mountain guesthouse. Between passes, dusty roads and high mountain landscapes, the country felt like a preview of the Pamir.
The final stage leads along the legendary Pamir Highway to Dushanbe. The rally ends with the handover of the transported aid supplies and the car itself. Emotionally, however, the journey does not end there. The experiences near China continue to resonate and later inspire several journeys to the country, turning an initially missed opportunity into a lasting personal connection.
The route from Bavaria to Dushanbe as an interactive view with satellite mode, standard satellite mode, standard map and markers.
An old Suzuki. Four weeks. 13,000 kilometres. 14 countries. A destination that was much too far away, until suddenly it was reachable.
Quick answers
Short answers for anyone wondering whether you can really drive to Tajikistan by car and what makes this journey to Central Asia special.
No. This rally really took place in 2014. The author and the Rally Captain are real people.
Yes, you can drive to Tajikistan by car, and that is exactly what this book is about. We drove an old Suzuki from Bavaria via the Balkans, Turkey, the Caucasus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to Dushanbe.
The rally took place in August and September 2014. That journey later became the travel story “Die Rallye nach Tadschikistan”.
In principle, yes. A journey by car to Tajikistan is still possible in 2026. Before departure, however, you should check the route, visas, insurance, transit countries, border crossings and current safety information.
The book tells the story of an overland journey from Bavaria to Tajikistan in an old Suzuki. It is about 13,000 kilometres, 14 countries, border crossings, breakdowns, gravel roads and the question of how far you can really get with a simple car.
No. This is not a classic travel guide with hotel tips and sightseeing lists. It is a personal travel story about the road to Central Asia, the Pamir Highway and the adventure of a rally all the way to Dushanbe.
No. Our journey shows that even an old small car can get very far. Preparation, tools, patience and strong nerves matter more than a perfect expedition vehicle.
What makes it special is the combination of a huge distance and a very small car. 14 countries, about 13,000 kilometres and a destination close to China turned the drive into a real adventure.
The book is for readers who like road trips, old cars, Central Asia and unusual travel stories. It is especially suited to anyone wondering whether you can really drive all the way to Tajikistan in an ordinary car.
The route led from Bavaria via Austria and the Balkans into Turkey, then on to Georgia and Russia, and afterwards through Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to Tajikistan. It was not a short drive, but a classic overland journey towards Central Asia.
The Pamir Highway is one of the best known high mountain roads in Central Asia. For overland travellers it means thin air, great altitude, rough tracks and the feeling of being truly far away.
Four wheel drive can help, but it does not replace preparation. Good tyres, tools, a robust car, careful driving, patience and the willingness to find solutions on the road are more important.
Yes. The book “Die Rallye nach Tadschikistan” tells the story of the journey from Bavaria to Dushanbe in an old Suzuki, with 13,000 kilometres, 14 countries, breakdowns, borders, gravel roads and the Pamir Highway.
The rally has already been covered by regional media.
For questions about the book, press requests, bookshops, readings, translation rights or possible cooperation, please use the contact form.
© The Rally to Tajikistan
From Bavaria to Dushanbe. No shortcut, no polished travel brochure, but a real adventure: 13,000 kilometres, 14 countries, an old Suzuki and the Pamir Highway.
