Hippie trail

The hippie trail is a term used to describe the journeys taken by hippies in the 1960s and 1970s from Europe, overland to and from eastern Asia. One of the key motivations was the desire to travel as cheaply as possible, mainly to extend the length of time away from home, and so journeys were carried out by thumbing (hitchhiking) or cheap, private buses that traveled the route. There were also trains which traveled part of the way, particularly across Eastern Europe, through Turkey and to Tehran or east to Mashhad, Iran, where public or private transportation could be obtained.

Typical route

Such journeys would typically start from countries in western Europe, often the cities of London or Amsterdam. Many from the US took Icelandic Airlines to Luxembourg, and passed through 'key' spots such as Istanbul, Tehran, Herat, Kabul, Peshawar, Lahore with Goa or Kathmandu being the usual destinations. Kathmandu still has a road nicknamed Freak Street in memory of the many thousands of hippies who pass through. An alternative route was from Turkey via Syria, Jordan, and Iraq to Iran and then east. Further travel to southern India, Sri Lanka, and points east to Australia was also undertaken.

The overland suffered from political changes at the end of the 1970s. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and the Shah was deposed by an Islamic revolution in Iran. Still, Sundowners and Top Deck pioneered a route through Baluchistan. Top Deck continued its trips throughout the Iran-Iraq war and later conflicts and took its last trip in 1998.

With a loosening of immigration in Iran the route has again become somewhat feasible, although conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and some parts of Pakistan make the route difficult to negotiate.

Guides

The BIT Guide, a stapled-together "A4 bundle" providing information for travellers and updated by those already on the road, warned of pitfalls and places to see and stay. The first BIT Guide was produced by the BIT Information & Help Service in London in 1970. The BIT guide reached its peak under the control of legendary traveller Geoff Crowther, who arrived at BIT in 1972.

The guidebook company Lonely Planet got its birth when its founders published writings from their overland trip, driving from the UK to Australia.

Motivation

Many on the hippie trail were driven by the ideals of 'finding yourself', 'seeking God' and 'communicating with other peoples', ideals fundamental to the hippie movement. The bulk of travelers comprised Western Europeans, North Americans, Australians, and Japanese. Ideas and experiences were exchanged in well known hostels and hotels along the way, such as the Pudding Shop in Istanbul, or the Amir Kabir in Tehran. Many carried a backpack and, while the majority were young, older people and families occasionally travelled the route. A number drove the entire distance.

In the mid-1970s a number of operators attempted to commercialise the route. Some of the more successful at taking paying passengers included Transit Travel, AutoTours, Sundowners and Top Deck.

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