From a line on a map to a finished journey, Amsterdam to Sydney became one of our most complete crossings. It unfolded in four chapters and moved from European summer into Middle Eastern light, then from the Himalaya to tropical archipelago, and finally across Australia to the Opera House.
Routes were pre-scouted, hotels were chosen to match the rhythm of each day, and support stayed present in the background so the road could lead.
The opening chapter took us from the Netherlands through Central Europe and the Balkans to Türkiye, then on to the Eastern Mediterranean. We paused in Istanbul, shipped the cars from Mersin, and used the time to explore Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The road picked up again along the Dead Sea to Petra and Wadi Rum, then crossed Saudi Arabia via Al-Ula and Riyadh to the green edge of the Gulf, finishing in Muscat.
The second chapter began in Mumbai and ran east across India into Nepal, with a high approach to Tibet and a quiet pause in Lhasa. From Western China the route curved south through Yunnan toward Northern Thailand, then continued through Laos and Cambodia, with time for Luang Prabang, the Bolaven Plateau, Phnom Penh, and Angkor. We re-entered Thailand and finished in Kuala Lumpur.
The third chapter staged the cars in Medan and stepped island by island through Indonesia. We drove from Sumatra via Lake Toba to Java for Borobudur, then on to Bali for two unhurried days around Ubud, continued to Lombok and Sumbawa, and carried on across West and East Nusa Tenggara to Kupang and Dili. From there we arranged the sea leg to Australia.
The finale gathered pace from Darwin into Kakadu and the ranges of Queensland, then turned east for a coastal run toward New South Wales. The journey closed in Sydney, a clean finish after weeks of changing roads and skies. Distances were steady, logistics remained calm, and the landscapes did the talking.
Relive the full journey in images, from the Balkans to Al-Ula, from Lhasa to Lombok, and the final arrival in Sydney. Browse the book and then speak with our team if you would like advice on future long-form routes or tailored segments inspired by this crossing.