"Aloisius" is 8.5 meters long, 3.75 meters high and weighs about 13 tons. He is gray, cozy and reliable. At least that's what the owners say, Jakob and Tina Haeusgen. Aloisius is a converted truck, or even more: an expedition vehicle that has already brought the Munich couple far and wide.

In March, the Haeusgens left their Bavarian homeland. About Southeastern Europe it went to Turkey. From there to Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, through Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan - always along the Silk Road, the former trade route in Central and East Asia.

The end of July is here: Aloisius rolls through the no-man's-land between the Russian and the Mongolian border. Mongolia was a long-awaited Haeusgens destination, and one of the reasons they chose this road trip.

"We are overjoyed, fascinated, enthusiastic and terribly annoyed," they write on their blog. Because when they arrive at the rusty gate of the Mongolian border post, it is closed. Lunch break. "It's always exciting at the border crossing," says Jakob Haeusgen. "Mostly you can plan a whole day, which is often organized differently - if at all - than we Europeans know from home."

The Haeusgens

Border with Mongolia

It always depends a bit on how the border officials are in a good mood. Of course our car often plays in the cards, "says the 44-year-old. "Most are excited and want to take selfies, in front of the car, in the car, behind the car - and forget that they actually wanted to control us." When things are going well.

"Sometimes they think we are a normal truck transporting goods, and then it's hard to tell that we're only traveling," says 43-year-old Tina Haeusgen. "Especially if nobody speaks a word of English." You have to learn to be friendly and relaxed, to keep calm - virtues that could help you at home.

Or when the border guards are taking their lunch break, even though a long line of cars has already formed in front of the gate. The Haeusgens have to wait two hours for the border to reopen. When they finally drive on Mongolian soil, they are surprised again: no holes, no waves, but a tar road awaits them. At least for a few kilometers they can hit the gas, Aloisius drives quietly there.

"Such a journey on the Silk Road wants to be well planned and planned," says Jakob Haeusgen. "Just start driving does not work."

The Haeusgens give tips for a Silk Road travel planning:

  • Note travel times: In Iran, it is very hot between June and September, the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan between October and April because of snow passable. Many countries along the Silk Road experience extremely hot summers and freezing cold winters with some snow.
  • Good route planning: The countries are sometimes huge and spacious, sights are often far away from the major roads.
  • Applying for visas in time : You must apply for some visas from home (eg Iran or Russia). This is easier and saves a lot of time and nerves on the go.
  • Special case Visa Turkmenistan : The typical route along the Silk Road leads from Iran through Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan and on. For this Turkmenistan offers only a five-day transit visa. To get this, is like a lottery - even the Haeusgens were unlucky. Therefore, you must plan alternative routes (either via Azerbaijan and by ferry across the Caspian Sea or Afghanistan).
  • Copy and laminate your passport: Often you have to deposit your passport somewhere; Here it helps to have laminated copies, so you do not have to give the original out of your hands.
  • Fuel supply : In some countries, the sale of diesel to private individuals is officially prohibited. In Iran, diesel is rationed because of the current sanctions. Normal gasoline is often only available with 80 octane, additives are helpful. The quality of diesel is rather poor in all Central Asian countries.
  • Enough cash : credit cards and debit cards often do not work.
  • Very good and lavish equipped first-aid kit : The medical care is often bad.
  • Customs documents for the car : For Iran you need a "Carnet des Passages", available at the ADAC.
  • Pay attention to dress code and religious practices : In Iran, for example, the headscarf is obligatory for women.
  • Cruising speed : In many countries the roads are so bad that 150 kilometers a day is already a lot.
  • Internet : In all countries (except Iran) you can easily get SIM cards for the phone. In some countries, VPN programs need to be installed in order to use it.

photo gallery


19 pictures

Along the Silk Road: Cozy, reliable, gray

The Haeusgens have a clue that this is not the first long road trip for the couple. For months, the Haeusgens already traveled with their predecessor truck "Knut" through North America and Australia. Even with Aloisius, they have been in Downunder for more than a year. The journey along the Silk Road, through Russia, Scandinavia and the Baltic took about seven months.

A post shared by @thehaeusgens on Oct 25, 2018 at 10:17 PDT

How can they afford that? "We are incredibly lucky," says Jakob Haeusgen. "I'm a partner in a medium-sized company, which is why we are financially and temporally independent."

And they could afford Aloisius, their little house on wheels - there is a kitchen and a dining area, a sleeping alcove and a small bathroom with toilet and shower. And he has also cost so much: "With the expansion and all the trimmings we have paid about as much as for a small family home," says Jakob Haeusgen. But this was worth the freedom to be able to go anywhere with their mobile and at the same time live in their own four walls.

The Haeusgens / Rampant Pictures

Aloisius from the inside

"Traveling through Central Asia was a real hassle as there were no real retreats," says Tina Haeusgen when the couple has just arrived in Murmansk. "Often whole families came, wanted to know where we came from, where we go and what we do here." Mostly that was out of curiosity.

Three times they would have scared the couple with the huge truck but also. "Most of the time people really wanted to invite us to their home because they could not understand that we wanted to sleep in the car," says Jakob Haeusgen.

That's why the couple decided on the route: The Silk Road is not that crowded yet, nor original and a real adventure, says Jakob Haeusgen. "In a few years, many things will be different there."