Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Cycling the world - Asia: episode 23
Ahmed and I wake up in the house where we were hosted for the night, right next to the Euphrates River. We hit the road early and start riding south towards Basrah under another brutally hot day in southern Iraq. After crossing a village to buy some food for breakfast we continue riding, but progress is slow with headwind and heat working against us. Close to heat stroke we stop at an ice cream shop and down a couple of slurpees just to cool off. Before reaching Basrah we visit friends of Ahmed who invite us for lunch and a nap during the hottest hours of the day. In the same town we visit the Adam’s Tree and the exact point where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet. Late in the day we get back on the bikes and continue riding until sunset, when a local man stops us for tea and invites us to stay at his home. He shows us his farm and wants to hear about my journey. The next morning is emotional when he shows us a small shrine for his eldest son who died fighting ISIS. We finally reach Basrah, stop at Ahmed’s cousin for lunch and rest, meet a local cycling club in the evening and then ride to Ahmed’s village. After a few days together I cross the border into Kuwait. The crossing is far from smooth but by evening I reach a town where I am hosted for the night.
MY GEAR FULL LIST: kit.co/davidetravelli
SUPPORT my round the world bike expedition:
Donations: paypal.me/davidetravelli
Postcards' Club: alaska2patagonia.com/postcards-club
Follow me:
Blog: alaska2patagonia.com
Instagram: instagram.com/davidetravelli
Facebook: facebook.com/davidetravelli
Twitter: twitter.com/davidetravelli
#bikepacking #biketouring #bikelife
#bicycletouring #cycling
*Some links in this description are affiliate links and therefore when clicked, if you buy the service or product I may make a small commission off of that sale. My opinions on products and services remain unbiased.
Cycling the world - Asia: episode 23
Ahmed and I wake up in the house where we were hosted for the night, right next to the Euphrates River. We hit the road early and start riding south towards Basrah under another brutally hot day in southern Iraq. After crossing a village to buy some food for breakfast we continue riding, but progress is slow with headwind and heat working against us. Close to heat stroke we stop at an ice cream shop and down a couple of slurpees just to cool off. Before reaching Basrah we visit friends of Ahmed who invite us for lunch and a nap during the hottest hours of the day. In the same town we visit the Adam’s Tree and the exact point where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet. Late in the day we get back on the bikes and continue riding until sunset, when a local man stops us for tea and invites us to stay at his home. He shows us his farm and wants to hear about my journey. The next morning is emotional when he shows us a small shrine for his eldest son who died fighting ISIS. We finally reach Basrah, stop at Ahmed’s cousin for lunch and rest, meet a local cycling club in the evening and then ride to Ahmed’s village. After a few days together I cross the border into Kuwait. The crossing is far from smooth but by evening I reach a town where I am hosted for the night.
MY GEAR FULL LIST: kit.co/davidetravelli
SUPPORT my round the world bike expedition:
Donations: paypal.me/davidetravelli
Postcards' Club: alaska2patagonia.com/postcards-club
Follow me:
Blog: alaska2patagonia.com
Instagram: instagram.com/davidetravelli
Facebook: facebook.com/davidetravelli
Twitter: twitter.com/davidetravelli
#bikepacking #biketouring #bikelife
#bicycletouring #cycling
*Some links in this description are affiliate links and therefore when clicked, if you buy the service or product I may make a small commission off of that sale. My opinions on products and services remain unbiased.
