Fire Truck Expedition - Berlin to Kathmandu

Experience one of the last great adventures: An overland expedition through Europe and Asia in a German firefighting vehicle. This 45-day journey spans over 7,500 miles (12,000 kilometers) and traverses Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India before reaching Nepal. Past expedition team members have termed this "the adventure of a lifetime".  

The Fire Truck Expedition will visit cultural heritage sites in Berlin and in the Bavarian alps, tour Salzburg and Budapest, explore well-preserved Roman ruins, enter an active excavation site of an 8,000-year-old temple structure, visit several UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Iran, see an an ancient fortress along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, sight-see the Red Fort of New Delhi and enter off-the beaten-path cultural and architectural gems in the former Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. 

Link:
Smithsonian Magazine: Gobekli Tepe - The World's First Temple?

Accommodations include some of the finest 5-star boutique hotels in Europe and Asia, a police cell in Pakistan (for security only; private accommodation guaranteed), as well as the majestic Hyatt Regency Kathmandu. The expedition consists of several firefighting vehicles as well as several support vehicles. Team members will have the opportunity to drive the firefighting vehicles (accompanied by a professional driver) and to rest in the support vehicles.

Individuals suffering from vertigo are welcome to join the expedition and can opt out of any high-altitude activities. In Turkey and Nepal, the expedition reaches heights between 4,000 and 13,000 feet (1,500 - 4,000 meters) and team members will have the opportunity to ride in a hot air balloon over Cappadocia, Turkey and in a helicopter into the Himalayas of Nepal. 

Link:
Nepali Times: German Fire Trucks For Nepal

The Fire Truck Expedition is the brainchild of Michael Kobold and the late actor James Gandolfini. Conceived in 2011, the expedition remained a dream for over a decade - beset by geopolitical instability, natural disasters, an economic blockade of Nepal (by India), a pandemic, as well as not least the passing of James Gandolfini himself. Yet in October 2022, the Fire Truck Expedition finally got underway for the first time, departing Berlin in October and arriving in Kathmandu with much fanfare in late November. 

This excursion includes all accommodations, meals, transport (including domestic private air travel) and permit fees. Visa fees and costs related to vaccinations are not included. Tours available in March, April, October and November. Limited to six participants. Price reflects six participants and increases with fewer participants.