Iranian Cyclist Arezoo Eskandari Reaches Srinagar After 11,000-Km Journey Across Seven Countries
In an extraordinary test of endurance, courage and determination, Iranian solo cyclist Arezoo Eskandari has reached Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, after travelling around 11,000 kilometres across seven Asian countries. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The 36-year-old clinical psychologist, mountaineer and cultural ambassador from Isfahan began her journey on two wheels with a mission to challenge social boundaries, promote peace and encourage a broader understanding of freedom, particularly for women in the Middle East.
A Journey Born From Resilience
Eskandari’s cycling journey has its roots in the personal restrictions she faced years ago.
Eight years ago, she was not allowed by strict family and social expectations to ride a bicycle outside her home. Rather than giving up, she began building her physical strength through solo mountain climbing before gradually taking to local roads.
She later completed an 8,400-kilometre cycling journey across Iran, which helped her develop the confidence and experience needed for a much larger international expedition.
To finance her latest journey, Eskandari sold her personal vehicle and has been travelling on a limited budget of around $200 to $300 a month.
“I take the long way. I ride through villages, stop in towns, meet people, and try to understand the places I pass through. The best way to communicate across languages is through a smile,” she said.
11,000 Kilometres Across Asia
Eskandari began her international cycling expedition in Beijing, China.
Carrying around 60 kilograms of equipment, including a tent, portable stove, bicycle repair tools and essential personal belongings, she travelled through a wide range of landscapes and climates.
Her route included:
- China
- Vietnam
- Laos
- Thailand
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- India
After entering India, she travelled through northern parts of the country and visited Delhi, Agra and Jaipur before continuing towards Srinagar.
Living With Local Communities
Rather than travelling only through major tourist destinations, Eskandari chose a slower and more personal approach.
During the journey, she stayed with host families, camped outdoors and depended at times on the kindness and hospitality of people she met along the way.
The experience allowed her to interact directly with communities across different countries and cultures.
She believes that travelling slowly provides a better opportunity to understand people and places beyond their usual tourist image.
Challenges Along the Way
The journey has also brought significant physical and emotional challenges.
Eskandari has had to cope with extreme weather, difficult mountain routes, long distances and the physical demands of travelling alone by bicycle.
She also experienced periods of anxiety when internet disruptions in Iran made it difficult to communicate with her family.
Despite these challenges, she continued her expedition and used her travels to promote greater understanding of Iranian women and challenge stereotypes about their lives and aspirations.
Promoting a ‘Slow Life’
A central message of Eskandari’s journey is her philosophy of travelling slowly and experiencing places more deeply.
“Go slow, see more, and live deeper” has become a guiding principle of her expedition.
Her arrival in Srinagar marks an important stage of her Asian cycling journey. From Jammu and Kashmir, she plans to continue towards Central Asia before eventually returning home through Turkey.
Eskandari’s remarkable expedition is not only a long-distance cycling achievement but also a personal journey built around resilience, cultural exchange, freedom and human connection.
