Four weeks on the road. That’s how long it’s been since Saschi — better known as Saschi on Tour — fired up his motorcycle and set off on his overland journey across Eurasia. Now, he's reporting in from Shymkent, the third-largest city in Kazakhstan, tucked in the deep south of the country and just 200 kilometers shy of the Kyrgyzstan border.
But this is more than just a pit stop. It’s a checkpoint in every sense — physical, emotional, and logistical. Saschi is preparing for one of the most iconic and brutal stretches of his route: the Pamir Highway. High altitude, rugged terrain, unpredictable weather — and before any of that, a heap of paperwork. One particular set of documents, the so-called DBAO papers (exact name to be confirmed), is currently at the top of his to-do list.
A Journey That Refused to Go as Planned
Saschi’s trip was never supposed to be easy — but he didn’t expect to get sucker-punched at the border between Russia and Kazakhstan. Up until then, things had been running surprisingly smooth. He’d been welcomed warmly across the Russian stretch of his ride, especially by a Tajik family who took him in with open arms. “Totally heartwarming,” he said — the kind of genuine hospitality that sticks with you.
But then came the hit. At the Kazakh border, Russian customs told him flat-out: with the digital visa he had, they wouldn’t let him exit the country — at any land border. He could fly to Kazakhstan and ship his bike separately, but crossing overland? Not happening.
That left two options:
- Ride 900 km back to Georgia to re-apply for a new Russian visa.
- Pay a fortune and wait forever in Tbilisi for a three-day Russian transit visa — one that would expire almost immediately and require repeating the process on the return trip.
Neither sounded good. The second option was a bureaucratic loop from hell. So Saschi pulled the ripcord and called in support from home. Through a German agency, he managed to get an express visa: 90 days, double entry. Expensive, but solid. One week later, he was back on the same road heading north again, legally armed and ready.
Five Days Through Nowhere
Kazakhstan greeted him with exactly what it’s known for — space. Infinite space. “It feels like there are more camels and horses out here than people,” Saschi said. And with 2.7 million square kilometers of mostly empty land, it’s easy to believe him.
The first two days through the Kazakh steppe were surreal. Herds of animals crossing the road. A horizon so wide it barely felt real. The kind of raw, open solitude you rarely get to experience.
But by day three, the magic wore thin. The roads didn’t curve. The views didn’t change. It was just flat, windy, hot, and monotonous. The endless straight lines began to gnaw at his energy. And yet — this is the grind that makes the highlights shine even brighter.
Now, in Shymkent, Saschi can finally see mountains again. And that changes everything. "Just seeing elevation on the horizon lifts your spirits,” he says. The landscape is shifting — and so is the mood.
The Road Ahead: Pamir Highway or Bust
Next stop: Osh, the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan after Bishkek. But that’s just a waypoint. The real beast is beyond — the Pamir Highway, a route carved through one of the harshest, highest regions on Earth.
It’s remote. It's brutal. It’s beautiful. And it’s why Saschi started this journey in the first place.
“I’m hyped,” he admits. And why wouldn’t he be? After border chaos, backtracking, and days of nothing but steppe and sand, the mountains are calling.
And Saschi on Tour is about to answer.
We're Riding With Him
We at Rottweiler Motors are proud to be following Saschi’s journey every step of the way. He’s not just riding for the thrill — he’s riding in style with a custom Rottweiler Motors riding jersey, made specifically for this expedition.
His adventure reminds us why we ride — for the unknown, for the challenge, for the stories worth telling. Keep pushing, Saschi. We’re behind you all the way.