London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 29 – 25 September 2016
Farewell Kazakhstan, Next Stop China
Today marked the end of a memorable chapter of our journey through Kazakhstan.
We were up a little earlier than usual, packing our belongings and preparing Kontiki for the next stage of the adventure. Over the past few days, Almaty had become much more than just a stopover on our route. Thanks to the kindness and hospitality of the people we had met, it had begun to feel like a second home.
Before our departure, our good friend Zhan came to see us one final time.
As we stood beside the motorhome saying our goodbyes, there was a genuine sense of emotion. What had started as a chance meeting had developed into a wonderful friendship. Throughout our stay, Zhan, Bella, and Latifa had gone out of their way to make us feel welcome, showing us the best of Kazakh hospitality and generosity.
We thanked Zhan sincerely for everything he and his friends had done for us.
Travelling teaches you that some friendships can be formed in a matter of days yet leave memories that last a lifetime.
With handshakes, hugs, and promises to stay in touch, Team Kontiki finally left Almaty and headed east towards Zharkent, our final stop in Kazakhstan before crossing into China.
The drive itself was relatively straightforward. The roads were generally good, and the weather remained pleasant. The vast landscapes of Kazakhstan, which had accompanied us for so many days, slowly rolled by as we covered just over 250 miles.
As we drove, there was a growing sense of anticipation inside the motorhome.
China had always been one of the major highlights of this expedition. It was also one of the most complicated countries to enter by private vehicle. Months of preparation, paperwork, permits, and planning had gone into making this section of the journey possible.
By late afternoon, we arrived in Zharkent, a quiet border town located close to the Chinese frontier.
There was not a great deal to see in the town itself, but that didn’t really matter. For us, Zharkent represented a gateway to the next great adventure.
The good news was that our Chinese tour guide, Abbey, had already arrived on the Chinese side of the border. She was busy processing the various permits and documents required for our vehicles and ensuring that our crossing would go as smoothly as possible in the coming days.
Knowing that everything was being organised gave us a great deal of confidence.
This would not be an ordinary border crossing. Entering China with foreign vehicles involves extensive paperwork, inspections, temporary driving permits, vehicle registration procedures, and the accompaniment of an official guide. Having Abbey handling these arrangements was a huge relief.
For the next couple of days, however, there would be very little to do.
We found a small, clean hotel where we planned to stay both tonight and tomorrow. It was comfortable, affordable, and perfectly suited to our needs.
With no sightseeing planned and no long drives ahead for a day or two, Team Kontiki intended to do what we do best when given the opportunity:
Relax.
There would be time for cooking, eating, chatting, enjoying a few drinks, and mentally preparing ourselves for one of the most exciting sections of the journey.
Tomorrow, Team USA—Kunal, Devanshi, and Stephen—were expected to arrive. Once reunited, both teams would begin preparing for the Chinese leg of the expedition together.
As we settled into our hotel that evening, we reflected on everything Kazakhstan had given us.
From the endless steppes and wild camels to the modern city of Astana, the stunning mountains of Almaty, the kindness of strangers, and friendships that would last long after the journey ended, Kazakhstan had exceeded every expectation.
Now a new chapter was about to begin.
China was only a few miles away.
Distance travelled: Approximately 250 miles (400 km)
Route: Almaty to Zharkent, Kazakhstan
Accommodation: Small hotel in Zharkent
Highlight of the day: Saying farewell to Zhan and beginning the final approach to China
Looking ahead: Meeting Team USA and crossing into China in the coming days
Mood of the day: Emotional, grateful, and excited for the next stage of the adventure
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki relaxes in Zharkent, prepares for the Chinese border crossing, and reunites with Team USA before embarking on one of the most challenging and fascinating sections of our London-to-Mumbai road trip.
