In the 1960s and 70s, a well-worn overland route ran from Europe through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to India — the so-called "hippie trail." That exact route is not realistic today: parts of it cross countries with serious, current safety concerns that did not exist in the same way fifty years ago. But a version of the Europe-to-Asia overland journey is still very much alive, rerouted around the sections that are no longer sensible, and it remains one of the most ambitious slow-travel undertakings available.
Why the original route isn't realistic today
The classic path — overland through Turkey, into Iran, across Afghanistan, through Pakistan and into India — passed through a very different geopolitical landscape in the 1960s and 70s. Afghanistan in particular has carried a near-universal travel advisory against all travel for years, and Iran and Pakistan both carry advisories that vary by region and change over time. This isn't a matter of adventurous travellers being over-cautious — it reflects a genuinely different risk picture from the era the original trail is remembered for, and it's the primary reason the route as it existed then is not something responsible modern travel guidance can recommend unmodified.
What a modern rerouted version looks like
Travellers still making an overland Europe-to-Asia journey today typically choose one of a few reworked routes that avoid the highest-risk sections:
The Central Asia route
Turkey → Georgia and/or Azerbaijan → across the Caspian (or around it via Kazakhstan) → the Central Asian "Stans" (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) → China or onward toward South Asia via alternative routings. This corridor has opened up considerably to independent travellers over the past decade, with improved visa access in several Central Asian countries and a growing backpacker infrastructure along the old Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. See our guides to Central Asia overland and the Silk Road overland for more detail on this corridor.
The Caucasus and around
Turkey → Georgia → Armenia and Azerbaijan (note that the Armenia–Azerbaijan border itself is closed, so this leg requires routing through Georgia) offers a rich, comparatively accessible slice of the wider route, popular as a standalone trip or as the first leg of a longer one. Our Caucasus overland guide covers this in detail.
Reaching South Asia
Reaching India itself overland from Central Asia or the Caucasus generally means routing via China and then into Nepal or onward, or flying the final, currently most difficult sector rather than crossing it by land. Very few contemporary overlanders complete a fully unbroken land route all the way from Europe to India; most piece together long overland sections and accept one or two flown legs where the alternative is not advisable.
Visas: the other major planning challenge
Beyond safety, visas are the practical obstacle that shapes most modern versions of this route. Several Central Asian countries have simplified visa access in recent years — some offering e-visas or visa-on-arrival for many nationalities — but requirements shift, and a route that was straightforward for a previous traveller's passport may not be for yours. China's visa process requires advance planning and, depending on the itinerary, sometimes a registered tour element. Build visa research into your route planning from the start, not as an afterthought, since visa validity windows and processing times can end up dictating your entire pace through the region.
Realistic timeframes
The historical hippie trail was typically done over two to six months by overland bus, occasional train and hitchhiking. A modern rerouted version through Central Asia and the Caucasus is broadly similar in scale — most travellers who attempt a serious chunk of it budget six weeks to several months, depending how many countries and side trips are included, and how much time is spent in each rather than just passing through. Trying to rush a route through this many border crossings and visa windows tends to create more stress than it saves in time.
Transport on the ground
Long-distance shared taxis, regional buses (often older and slower than Western European equivalents), and a patchy but improving rail network (particularly in Kazakhstan and parts of Uzbekistan) form the backbone of overland travel through this region. Border crossings by land can be slow and occasionally unpredictable, especially at smaller posts, so building slack into your schedule around each crossing is wise rather than optimistic scheduling that assumes everything runs on time.
Practical safety and planning principles
- Check government travel advice for every country on your route, individually and close to departure — not just once at the planning stage, since situations can change over the course of a long trip.
- Register your trip with your government's traveller registration service where one exists, particularly for less-visited countries on the route.
- Buy comprehensive travel insurance that explicitly covers all the countries on your intended route — some standard policies exclude countries under certain advisory levels, so check the small print rather than assuming default cover applies.
- Build a flexible itinerary rather than a fixed one, since border and visa situations in this region can change with little notice.
- Talk to recent travellers, via online overlanding communities and forums, for current on-the-ground conditions — trip reports even a year or two old can be out of date on visa rules and safety specifics.
Frequently asked questions
Can you still travel the original hippie trail today?
Not the exact historical route — sections through Afghanistan in particular carry serious travel advisories in most countries. Modern travellers reroute through Central Asia and the Caucasus instead, capturing much of the spirit of the original journey while avoiding the highest-risk sections.
Is it safe to travel overland through Central Asia?
Much of Central Asia has become considerably more accessible to independent travellers over the past decade, though conditions and advisories vary by country and can change. Always check your own government's current, country-specific travel advice before finalising plans.
How long does a modern Europe-to-Asia overland trip take?
Most travellers doing a substantial version budget six weeks to several months, depending on the countries included and the pace. It is not a trip that rewards rushing, given the number of border crossings and visa windows involved.
Do I need visas for the whole route?
Very likely yes for most nationalities, though specific requirements vary considerably by country and by your passport. Several Central Asian countries have simplified visa processes in recent years; check each country's current rules individually well before departure.
Sources and further reading:
- Your own government's foreign travel advice, checked country by country and close to your departure date.
- The Man in Seat 61 for rail and overland route detail in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
- Individual country embassy websites for current visa requirements along the route.
- World Health Organization for regional health and vaccination guidance.