London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 1 – 28 August 2016
The Adventure Begins
Over the past few weeks, we have been overwhelmed by the hundreds of messages, comments, and good wishes received from members of travel groups around the world. Before we begin, we would like to clarify that this remarkable journey actually took place in 2016. Now, on the tenth anniversary of our adventure, we are reliving the experience day by day and sharing it with a new audience.
We hope you enjoy following our travels as much as we enjoyed living them.
Thank you from Team Kontiki.
Team Kontiki
Every great adventure needs a brave team, and ours consisted of three enthusiastic travellers determined to turn a dream into reality:
- Raj Karadia – 65 years young
- Dayal Patel – 74 years young
- Ramesh Chauhan – 62 years young
Age, as we would soon discover, is merely a number when the spirit of adventure is alive.
Our Home on Wheels
For the next three months, our faithful companion would be a well-travelled motorhome:
Swift Kontiki Motorhome
Based on a Peugeot Boxer chassis
- Age: 22 years old
- Length: 6.97 metres
- Width: 2.22 metres
- Height: 2.87 metres
- Weight: 3,200 kg
Many people questioned whether a 22-year-old motorhome could successfully complete such an ambitious expedition. We believed it could, and over the coming months our old Kontiki would prove itself time and time again.
The Journey Ahead
Our objective was both simple and extraordinary: to drive from London to Mumbai, covering approximately 22,000 kilometres through 12 countries over a period of 90 days.
The route would take us across Europe, through Russia, into China, across Myanmar, and finally into India. We would encounter different cultures, languages, landscapes, climates, and countless challenges along the way.
To allow family, friends, and supporters to follow our progress, the motorhome had been fitted with a tracking device that would record our movements throughout the journey.
Visas and Preparations
As British citizens, we required visas only for:
- Russia
- China
- India
All visas had been secured before departure, allowing us to focus on the road ahead.
The planning for this expedition had taken months. Routes had been researched, border crossings studied, paperwork completed, insurance arranged, and the motorhome carefully prepared. Now the moment had finally arrived.
The Cost of a Dream
Many readers have asked what such a journey cost.
Including:
- Purchase of the motorhome
- Fuel
- Ferry crossings
- Visas
- Food
- Campsites
- Sightseeing
- Compulsory tour guides in China and Myanmar
- Various permits and travel expenses
the total cost came to approximately £48,000, or around £16,000 per person.
It was not a cheap adventure, but some dreams are priceless.
A Traditional Send-Off
The departure point was the cricket ground on Davenport Road in Leicester, where a large gathering of family and friends had assembled to bid us farewell.
The atmosphere was both emotional and festive. There were smiles, laughter, photographs, and plenty of last-minute advice from well-wishers.
As is customary in many Gujarati families, a traditional blessing ceremony was performed before departure. We were given yogurt for good fortune, and chanlas were applied using kanku and rice. A sacred Swastika symbol, representing prosperity and good luck in Hindu culture, was drawn on the motorhome.
Fresh flowers adorned the bonnet, and finally a coconut was placed beneath the wheel and ceremonially crushed—a traditional prayer for a safe and successful journey.
At that moment, our adventure became real.
Crossing the English Channel
After saying our final goodbyes, we left Leicester later in the afternoon and headed south towards Dover.
The first stage of our journey was a familiar one, yet it felt completely different knowing that we would not be returning home for three months.
As evening approached, we boarded the ferry at Dover and crossed the famous 22-mile English Channel, the narrow stretch of water that has connected and separated Britain from mainland Europe for centuries.
Standing on deck, watching the White Cliffs of Dover slowly disappear into the distance, we felt a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and perhaps a little nervousness. Ahead lay thousands of miles of unknown roads and unforgettable experiences.
First Night in Europe
After arriving in Calais, France, we drove north-east towards the coastal city of Dunkirk.
Our destination was Camping de la Licorne, where we would spend the first night of the expedition.
As darkness fell, we settled into our motorhome, now truly our home for the next 90 days. The excitement of the day gradually gave way to tiredness. Tomorrow we would begin our journey across continental Europe, and the real adventure would start.
Little did we know that over the coming weeks we would experience breathtaking scenery, remarkable friendships, unexpected challenges, border crossings, mechanical worries, and memories that would last a lifetime.
But for now, our first night on the road had come to an end.
Distance travelled today: Leicester to Dunkirk via Dover and Calais
Countries visited: United Kingdom, France
Night halt: Camping de la Licorne, Dunkirk, France
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki continues its epic London-to-Mumbai road adventure…
