Adventurers’ epic world tour brings them to Kazakhstan: Bobby and Marie’s story
Almaty, Tengrinews.kz — Imagine setting out on a year-long road trip around the world in your own RV. For most of us, this sounds like a pipe dream due to the immense courage, planning, and funds required. But for Bobby Bolton from England and Marie Delaval from France, this dream is a reality. Accompanied by their two dogs, they’ve been traversing the globe in a converted MAN truck for the past ten months. Recently, they arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and we had the opportunity to chat with them about their incredible journey.
A journey of a lifetime
Bobby originally conceived his journey last year, motivated by a breakup with his girlfriend.
"About two years ago, the girl I had been with for 10-11 years decided to leave me, and I lost my sense of purpose. We had a shared home, and I had a small construction business. I quickly realized that life was too short, and I decided to start over. One evening, a crazy idea came to me – to go on a road trip from England to Australia! The goal of the trip was to answer three questions: who I want to be with, what I want to do, and where I want to be. The entire journey was about finding myself and seeing the world at the same time. I bought the truck in May 2023 and converted it in three months," Bobby shared.
©TengriAuto / Vladimir Prokopenko
Bobby Bolton’s adventure began on October 1, 2023, when he departed from Manchester with his dog, Red. After crossing into France through the Channel Tunnel, Bobby drove south to Nice, where he met Marie Delaval.
"At first, I thought I’d only drive a few hours each day to really soak up the experience. But once we reached Central Asia, the distances grew, and we started driving full days to reach our next destination. Meeting Marie in France was a fantastic twist of fate. She and her dog joined me for the ride, making the journey even better," said traveler.
Their Global Route
Bobby and Marie’s impressive route has taken them through a host of countries: from England and France to Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece. They continued their journey through Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Russia, and along the Caspian Sea coast to Western Kazakhstan. They then drove south to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, before re-entering Kazakhstan and making their way to Almaty.
Looking ahead, they plan to travel through Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and eventually Australia, where they will ship their truck across the ocean.
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Home on Wheels
Their ride is a 2009 MAN truck, originally designed for water transport in the UK. Bobby purchased it for £20,000 ($24,500) and invested an additional £25,000 ($30,600) for a complete conversion. The truck is outfitted with solar panels, a fully-equipped kitchen, a king-size bed, and even a barbecue on the roof.
©TengriAuto / Vladimir Prokopenko
"We spent three months converting the truck into our mobile home. It has a large fuel tank, a full kitchen, and a cozy living space. We even faced challenges like a broken subframe and extreme heat in Uzbekistan, but we managed to overcome them," Bobby explained.
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Exploring Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan, the travellers spent a total of about three weeks exploring many places. They are now considering a trip to the East Kazakhstan region to experience more of the country.
©TengriAuto / Vladimir Prokopenko
"We managed to see several sides of Kazakhstan: the west, with its very flat landscape, lots of dust, extreme heat, and camels, and the south, which is cooler, greener, and has stunningly beautiful mountains. The locals here are very friendly and interested in our journey, which is inspiring. They always offered to help, shared their food, and often invited us to relax and have a drink together. After Kazakhstan, we plan to go to Kyrgyzstan, but we might return to visit East Kazakhstan. I've heard a lot about the beauty of that region and the Altai Mountains," remarked adventurer.
Road Conditions and Police Encounters
Bobby had mixed experiences with road conditions and interactions with local authorities.
©TengriAuto / Vladimir Prokopenko
"I think the roads in Uzbekistan were some of the worst, similar to those in Eastern Europe, like in Moldova. But every country is different. In Kazakhstan, we encountered a mix of good and bad roads, many of which were under repair, but overall, we had a positive experience.
As for the police, we had a range of experiences. In Russia, we had a problematic encounter where police scrutinized our documents because the truck’s registration still showed its original white color, despite us having repainted it. We had to scrub the paint off the cabin right on the road. In Kazakhstan, the police have been quite friendly, stopping us mostly out of curiosity to ask where we were heading," said Bobby.
Advice for Future Adventurers
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For those dreaming of a similar adventure, Bobby’s advice is straightforward:
"Just start! Have a positive attitude and stay inspired. Plan well, but be ready for the unexpected. A financial plan helps, but don’t let it stop you. I started a blog and found some sponsors to support us. Embrace the unknown, believe in yourself, and enjoy the journey. The world is a beautiful place," assured Bobby.
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Bobby and Marie aim to complete their epic trip in Australia and are even considering a return to England on motorcycles through Indonesia.