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From Sweden to Nepal – on two wheels

The reasons people ride motorcycles may vary, but the feeling of freedom is something all bikers can agree on. That freedom can take many forms. Let yourself be inspired by Kristina "Krikko" Lundström, who made her dream of freedom come true by riding her motorbike all the way from Boden – to Nepal.

A true journey isn’t just about discovering new places, but about seeing the world through new eyes and forming your own perspective. The media often paints a one-sided picture that the world is worse than it actually is – a view that’s far from representative.

This is something Krikko experienced time and time again on her way to Nepal:

“When I crossed the border from Turkey into Iraq, a border guard said, ‘You’ll die here, going into Iraq.’

What I discovered instead was just how many misconceptions there are about Iraq, Kurdistan and those areas—places people think are full of bombs and bullets. It’s so beautiful there, and the love I received from people with barely a penny to their name—I’ll carry that with me forever.”

Name: Kristina Lindström
Nickname: Krikko – a childhood nickname given by a best friend when she was seven, and it’s stuck ever since.
Age: 34
Lives in: Boden, Sweden
Education: Human Geography
Got motorcycle licence: 2020
First bike: Honda CB500S
Current bike: Honda Transalp, 2005 model
Dream bike: Still a Honda Transalp – it would be fun to try a brand-new one!

India, Uttarakhand – Among the Leopards
I stayed with a friend deep in the hills. At night leopards prowled around the house. There I met Durghanda—an elderly widow with two buffaloes and a laugh that filled the valley. She’d never met a foreigner before; one of the strongest women I’ve known
Najaf, Iraq – Treated Like a Daughter
A family opened their home to me and treated me as their own. Najaf is a holy city, so I wore a headscarf out of respect. Emotionally, it was one of the warmest places I visited.
Iraq, Mosul – Laughter in the Ruins
Behind us lay the wreckage of war. This girl and her family survived the 2017 bombings by hiding in a cellar for six months, living on rice and water. Outside, they’d have been shot. Yet she still laughed. I’ll never forget her eyes.
Saudi Arabia – Guides of the Desert
A travel agency got in touch and offered to show me around. We drove out in 54-degree heat, laughing, talking, recording an interview about my journey. An unexpected encounter that stayed with me. The photo shows me with all the guides who came to listen.

That’s one of the most amazing things about travelling, Krikko explains. You never really have to feel alone—kind people are everywhere, especially in the Middle East, where everyone wants to help.

Krikko is still processing the impressions of a journey that lasted almost two years. And understandably so—we met just a few days after she landed in Stockholm. She’s currently waiting for her motorcycle, nicknamed “Sarek”, which is delayed in transit. After that, she’ll head home to Boden. One thing Krikko already knows is that she’s opened herself up to love in a new way—and that the world, in fact, is quite alright. When I ask if she had any fears before setting off, she replies:

“I wish I’d relaxed more and trusted that everything works out—because it does, one way or another. Sure, there were disastrous moments I hadn’t prepared for, like lying in a desert sandstorm, holding down my tent and gear. Getting through those times has really built my confidence,”
Krikko admits, adding that there were tough days when she just wanted to go home. But, as she says, there are hard days even if you’re just sitting at home in Boden.

Krikko and Sarek – her trusted travel partner, a 2005 Honda Transalp.

Step 1: Decide, and live accordingly

The idea of going on a long-distance motorbike trip struck Krikko ten years ago while riding a moped through Southeast Asia. Practically speaking, this meant thorough research and living on a strict budget to save money for five years. At the time, she wasn’t even sure where the journey would end—but Nepal had been a dream destination ever since she first heard about it at school when she was twelve.

Nepal – The Mustang Mountains
After a tough ascent into Mustang the feeling crept in: I’d ridden all the way from Sweden to Nepal. For the first time I felt it in every fibre—that I’d made it despite all the doubts.

To truly embrace freedom, Krikko made bold choices: ending her rental contract rather than subletting, quitting her HR job at LKAB instead of taking a leave of absence, and declining sponsorships so she wouldn’t be dependent on anyone. Without that, she wouldn’t have felt relaxed or open to the unexpected that’s bound to happen on a journey like this.

“Plant a seed and stick to it. Visualise the path to your goal and work towards it. Even if it means doing things that aren’t fun in the moment—it’s necessary if you want to live your dream. The most important thing is taking that first step,” Krikko says.

While Nepal was the ultimate dream, even going to bed in Cappadocia looked like something out of one.

Before the trip, Krikko was already active on social media, aiming to inspire others to leave their comfort zone, try new things and take up motorcycling. She had built a following of 10,000 by sharing her preparations and motivating her viewers. Just one day before departure, her account was hacked and everything she’d built was gone. But being the determined person she is, Krikko started again from scratch. Today, her YouTube channel Krikko’s Adventure has nearly 150,000 subscribers and has been one of the sources of income during the journey. Many followers have also supported her through donations.

Follow Krikko on social media:

Instagram: krikkosadventures
YouTube: krikkosadventures
TikTok: krikkosadventures

Step 2: Research, planning and preparation

Preparation is everything. Once you’re out on the road, you won’t always have internet access. Do you have a Carnet de Passages en Douane—a sort of passport for your motorbike? How do visa and border rules work? While visas can often be obtained on arrival, rules differ between countries. Diplomatic relations also matter—something Krikko discovered when trying to cross from Pakistan into India, who aren’t exactly the best of friends.

Pakistan – Stuck in No-Man’s-Land
A strike erupted just as I entered Pakistan. I spent nearly a week at a police station. When we were finally released, the roads were lined with soldiers—chaos and reassurance in equal measure.
Pakistan – A night ride to Quetta
We left Taftan at 13:00 and reached Quetta at 10:00 the next morning, riding non-stop through the night. Soldiers everywhere—protection and tense calm. One of the longest days of the trip
.

You can find useful information in Facebook groups, or even better—get in touch with people who’ve done a similar journey. How did they go about it? Those with real-world experience often have contacts they’re happy to share—and those can be incredibly useful.

“We all travel differently. I love camping and off-roading, so about 60% of my route was gravel. Think about what you don’t want to do, too. And don’t feel like you need the latest gear—second-hand motorbike clothing works brilliantly, and when it comes to the bike, it’s better to have an older, reliable model. That way, parts are easier to find, and local mechanics are more likely to know how to fix it,” Krikko advises.

That makes it more likely you’ll actually pull the journey off. Krikko estimates she saved around 200,000 SEK (approx. £15,000), meant to cover food, fuel, etc. for one year. When I ask whether the timeline held up, she laughs—her journey ended up taking 21 months.

“I’d originally estimated about a month per country. The goal wasn’t to see specific sights, but simply to travel through different nations. In the end, I took a totally different route and spent six months in Iraq, the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.”

Saudi Arabia – camels in the desert
A camel-herder waved me over. He proudly showed off his herd; we shared a few words, a smile—an instant of human connection in the middle of the desert.
Iraq – Ur, Cradle of Civilisation
Standing in Ur—one of humanity’s earliest cities—was overwhelming. The stillness, the history, the sense of being a tiny part of something vastly greater.

As for bikes, Krikko recommends one with as little digital tech as possible—something you can fix yourself. Her research pointed to the Honda Transalp as the ultimate overlanding bike, which led her to a 2005 model. It had 19,000 km on the clock when she bought it. She later fitted crash bars, off-road tyres with inner tubes, a taller windscreen, charging ports and a mobile phone mount.

“I’d have rather had a cooling vest in Saudi than heated grips,” Krikko laughs. Sarek now has 58,000 km under its belt and has run like a dream the whole way. Although the weight has been a challenge at times—especially when travelling solo—Krikko is very happy with her choice.

Nepal – heading for Manang
One of the most dangerous roads I’ve ever ridden: steep, rocky and narrow—but the views were the stuff of dreams. Climbing a mountain, I hit a rock and toppled over. At that very moment—by chance or miracle—the Nepalese military appeared and came to my aid.

Packing

Camping gear took up a lot of space—and if Krikko hadn’t camped, her luggage would’ve been significantly lighter. In total, she carried nearly 70 kg, split across two panniers, a top box and a duffel bag.

“After backpacking, I find packing relatively easy—but it’s always tempting to bring too much. Ideally, you want your load to be as light as possible. I brought too many clothes, for instance, but I pared down on spare parts, figuring I could find what I needed on the road. And that worked great!”

She keeps returning to the point that you’ll find what you need along the way. In Pakistan, for example, much is made locally—so things could be fixed on site. The parts might not last forever, but they’ll get you moving again. She rode in one all-weather suit and an adventure helmet, using a rain cover when needed.

Iraq – in the hands of angels
Two men in a tiny Iraqi workshop saw me and my bike and, without hesitation, looked after us. They fixed the bike, fed me, took me home to their families—and refused any payment. I’ll carry their warmth with me for ever.

Just do it!

“My number one tip is to dare—just throw yourself out there! When you tackle challenges head-on, you grow. It gives life a real kick!” Krikko says softly, yet with presence. She truly embodies her own motto: “Don’t be afraid of the unknown.”

“Sure, there are loads of things I could’ve done differently—but hey, I’m alive,” Krikko laughs, before going on to describe daily near-death experiences in traffic, which only increased the further east she travelled. Pakistan and India tied for first place when it came to the trip’s most chaotic roads.

India, Assam – the unexpected ferry adventure
I could have taken the bridge, but a ferry on the map looked more adventurous. Watching my 250-kilo bike hoisted on and off the boat by bare-handed deckhands filled me with both dread and admiration. Heroes.

When one journey ends, another is likely just around the corner

Krikko plans to take it easy in Boden for a while, continuing to share inspirational content—but not for long if her next adventure has anything to say about it. With a twinkle in her eye, she hints at a new journey after summer, though she’s keeping the destination to herself for now.

There’s no doubt that Krikko is someone who inspires you to translate your own idea of freedom into action. Who knows? Maybe next time it’s your story someone’s writing—if you just take that first step.

Robin Pecillo

Robin Pecillo