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Answered by Katy Detour Editor

Wow, reader, that must have been quite the adventure! And what a good question, too. Let’s dig into it, starting from the beginning.

What was the Hippie Trail?

In the foggy haze of the ‘60s and ‘70s, many young people found themselves looking East for adventure, new cultures, and spiritual enlightenment (and, by many accounts, marijuana). Commercial air travel was still young, and flights were much more expensive, so the most affordable way to reach Asia was overland.

In fact, there was already an established route between London and India, used over the years by intrepid travellers and automobile companies transporting cars across continents. This was known as The Overland.

A commercial bus service—the Indiaman—launched trips along the route from London to Calcutta in 1957. More companies followed soon after, as post-war economies grew and demand increased. Unsurprisingly, that’s when young visionaries and wayfarers joined the more intrepid travellers on the road east, and the “Hippie Trail” was born.

The route connected European cities such as London and Amsterdam with far-off places like Kathmandu, Goa, and even Bangkok. While some travellers grabbed a seat on the aforementioned buses or hopped on trains, many would pile into their cars or vans with friends, or even hitch-hike.

Istanbul was the first iconic destination, where all avid European adventurers came together. From there, it was onwards through Turkey, before moving into Iran and Afghanistan—destinations most of us are only likely to visit these days through virtual tours (I can highly recommend!). That said, both Untamed Borders and our friends over at Lupine Travel do offer very successful in-person tours to Afghanistan, too… just in case you were wondering.

The final aim for many travellers was Kathmandu, where the government-run hashish shops of Freak Street lured in smokers from around the world. With Tibet off-limits and roads through Myanmar blocked, a flight to Bangkok was the only option for those looking to continue on to Bali’s island paradise or a ship crossing to Australia.

What happened to the Hippie Trail?

The fun was all brought to a fairly abrupt end in the late 1970s by the Iranian revolution and Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The overland route east of Turkey became inaccessible to western travellers, and alternative paths through the Middle East faced tougher visa restrictions following the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the ongoing Lebanese Civil War.

On top of all the turmoil in the area, Richard Nixon’s war on drugs had already taken its toll on the availability of cannabis in destinations previously famed for their liberal usage. Once Nepal brought in laws prohibiting hashish farming and trading in 1976, it was all downhill…

Is it possible to take the Hippie Trail now?

In theory, it is possible for Westerners to travel along the Hippie Trail today. However, governments like the UK and the US currently advise against visiting Iran or Afghanistan due to the risk of terrorism and arbitrary arrest.

Road travel is especially dangerous, and the situation at border crossings can quickly become volatile. Earlier this year, Afghan and Iranian forces clashed along their borders in a dispute over access to water. The border has since re-opened, and both countries say they have no problem.

And just to add more hurdles, government advice also recommends avoiding northern regions of Pakistan, including Peshawar. Unfortunately, violence is not uncommon in the city, which has links to the Pakistani Taliban. On top of this, it recently overtook Lahore to become the world’s most polluted city, which doesn’t particularly add to the appeal.

In reality, though, without a load of research and risk-taking, following the Trail like you did back in 1973 isn’t really an option. Not to mention the fact that the atmosphere would undoubtedly be very different in those central regions, with much stricter rules in place for women in particular. While we’ve no doubt that locals along the way would be incredibly warm and welcoming, bureaucratic hurdles and potential border-crossing dramas would play on our minds.

There are companies that offer variations on the tour, which seems to us the best way to have a truly enjoyable experience, under the guidance of experts who know the region inside out.

For a true trip of a lifetime, Wild Frontiers offer a 48-day Istanbul to Xi’an Silk Road tour, which takes you through Iran, then north into the ‘Stans of Central Asia before continuing to China. Or if you like the idea of a self-drive trip, fly to India and join a 65-day journey to London through China, the Caucasus, and Europe. That one will currently pose its own challenges for many, however, as part of the route travels through Russia.

For now, the easy part remains the London—Istanbul stretch, which even a bunch of the JFC team managed without much forward planning. From there on, you’re either looking at cheap flights, or tackling those ‘Stans via the Caspian Sea Ferry (some of you remember it from Race Across the World) before heading through China, then south into Nepal and India. Phew!

We hope that’s answered your question, reader. Thanks so much for letting us dig into such a fascinating topic! And rest assured we’ll be right there with you the moment travel through those regions becomes a little steadier. Of course, if you decide to join any of those tours, let us know!

Is there an article you'd like to see in the Detour? Do you have a burning travel question you need answered? Let me know!

I have an idea!

The Buckeye State can be split into three major regions: Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus. If you want to watch Ohioans go straight for each other’s throats, just ask them which one is best! Naturally, we’re invested in finding out the truth—so let’s take a tour, starting from the furthest south: Cincinnati!

Aside from their football rivalry with Cleveland, Cincy is best known for Skyline Chili. Other Ohioans will tell you that it’s overrated, but Cincinnatians will defend it to the death. Popular menu items include chilli dogs and spaghetti with chilli on top. Apologies to any Italians who had to read that last bit.

The food frenzy doesn’t end there, either. Findlay Market is an Ohio institution specialising in local produce and artisan goods, with everything from fancy sourdough loafs and handmade arepas to raclette nights and charcuterie boards to fill your bellies. And to polish it all off with retro flair, a visit to the art deco Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor is a must.

Zooming over a bit to the right, you’ll find yourself in southeast Ohio. About 30% of the state is covered in woodland, and most of it is in Wayne National Forest! Covering over a quarter of a million acres of Appalachia, the forest is home to wild turkeys, bobcats, and beavers.

Onwards and upwards to Columbus! Characterized by Ohio State University, the town’s student population brings a young, hipstery feel to the whole central region. And that means one thing’s for sure… breweries. While it’s already a way of life here, the beer scene here is young, with even the most recommended brewery in town only coming in at a decade old.

On a completely different note, the city is also bursting with art galleries and museums. The Columbus Museum of Art is the standard place to start, but you’ll get a better feel for the local scene in an old warehouse across town, or during the monthly Gallery Hop in the Short North Arts District.

Next up, we’re taking our second and final pit stop to refresh in the great outdoors. Just shy of the greater Cleveland area is Cuyahoga National Park, one of the few National Parks to have train access. It’s a place for getting lost in nature without getting too far off the map, and also for spotting the famous buckeye trees growing around the area. Oh, and more beavers!

Lastly, we’re heading into Cleveland. Our final C-town is proud of its Rust Belt history and maintains some industrial, blue-collar vibes. That gritty energy might be why it was such an early adopter of rock n’ roll — the first rock concert was held here in 1952!

Nowadays, it holds the honour of hosting the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame and its various induction ceremonies. The definitive list of who’s who in the world of rock, past inductees cover everyone from Elvis to ABBA to Eminem… so maybe not all rock, exactly. Their galleries hold various star-studded memorabilia, as well as artefacts like the first issue of Rolling Stone Magazine and the original awning from CBGB’s.

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.

• This week’s COP 28 Climate Change Conference in Dubai is causing an ironic side effect, becoming the event with the largest carbon footprint in history.
• We’ve all had to sit next to annoying people on planes, but have you ever woken up to find yourself being filmed for a travel vlog?
• Another season, another Airbnb giveaway. This time, you could win a festive stay at Santa’s home in Finnish Lapland!
• And finally, a group of tourists in Venice found themselves in deep water, so to speak, after failing to heed instructions from their gondolier.
  While making a tricky manoeuvre that required his guests to stay in their seats, the visitors decided to move around and take selfies, landing themselves and their gondolier in over their heads. Thankfully, with the help of the gondolier and a nearby theatre, the group made it safely to dry land. It’s water under the bridge, as they say…