The Kombi Trail: Across Three Continents in a VW Van

by Robert Cox, Roger Sherwin, Tony Thompson

Cambridge, 1961. A group of students set off on the trip of a lifetime. Against the backdrop of the Cold War they travel through the Soviet Union to the Middle East, South Asia and on to Africa. Their mode of transport? The iconic VW Kombi. This book tells the story of that trip, not just the people they met and the places they saw, but the many experiences - sometimes nerve-wracking, sometimes bizarre - that they encountered along the way. It provides a fascinating insight into a world on the brink of change - seen through the eyes of nine young men fresh from university. The two VW Kombis doggedly traversed treacherous mountain passes, near-impossible roads, jungle tracks and river crossings on their journey through Anatolia, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. This book is an affectionate and highly entertaining re-creation of the relationship between the nine young travellers and their companions, the two VW Kombis which functioned as transport, shelter, canteen and home. It is also a tribute to the determined and rugged determination of the VW Kombi whose descendants still tackle the highways and the more daunting roads of the world.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published November 26, 2012

Reviews

[Max Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than a travelogue, The Kombi Trail is an inspiring account of what’s possible when you commit to an idea and simply go.

It will appeal to travellers, dreamers, road-trip lovers, and anyone who has ever wanted to escape routine and see the world differently.