Overland Before the Hippie Trail: Kathmandu and Beyond with a Van a Man and No Plan

by Patricia Noble Sullivan

As they drove through the hot flat Iraqi desert, Patricia looked over at her husband. He was guzzling water; sweat was running down his neck; the outside temperature was way over 100; and their 1963 VW camper van had no air conditioning. “Yikes,” she thought. “This is not how I pictured our honeymoon.” It was August of 1966. They had gone to Europe the previous summer after their wedding, and that trip had stretched into a two-year adventure that took them around the world on a bare-bones budget.

In those days with no mobile phones, no Internet, and limited maps, they were out of contact with family for months at a time while dodging a cholera epidemic in Iraq, staying in a palace in Pakistan, meeting with a maharaja in India, and floating on a barge down the Mekong River in Laos. The journey had become a way of life as they found themselves drawn into a culture of international overland travelers while exploring a world that was large, varied, and filled with people who were curious, welcoming, and generous.

Genres: Travel, Memoir, Nonfiction, Adventure, Asia, History

342 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 27, 2022

Reviews

[Fiona Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like listening to a story on a long bus ride or in a hostel kitchen. In 1965, newlyweds Mike and Patricia Sullivan set off on what would become the journey of a lifetime. Without Lonely Planet or TripAdvisor to guide them, they depended on luck and the kindness of strangers. Some things have changed hugely since their journey (in 1965, Afghanistan was open to travelers and Vietnam at war; today Afghanistan has shut down while Vietnam has a thriving tourist industry), while others haven't (there still is adventure and friendship and serendipity in the world, if you chose to look for it).

[Susan Birrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much. A young couple newly married, a VW van, wandering the world during a better time in our world!!!

[Heep · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Overland" is a charming journal of the author's world travels with her husband during the mid-1960s - from Europe along the Silk Road to Japan and Taiwan. The times that formed the Woodstock generation are set as backdrop. That generation is passing now along with its fervent idealism and drive to explore. The world has shrunk and it is apparent that 1960s idealism was fueled in part by ethnocentrism. The author tries as a young woman to appreciate the diversity on display, but can't help using a Western lens when confronted with poverty, different cultural practices and alternative political systems. The book does not editoiralize - trying instead to recreate the enthusiasm and awe of that time in her life. And it succeeds in doing so. The audiobook is a bit stilted in presentation but the tone seems correct. In conclusion, the author provides a brief memoir from the time after this first great feat of personal discovery and it is so heartening to see how that journey laid a foundation for such a rich life.

[Dirk Ebener · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Journey Filled with Nostalgia and Immersion

Reading Overland before the Hippie Trail felt like stepping back in time. After traveling for forty years across more than sixty countries and five continents, I saw my own adventurous spirit reflected in the author's lively stories. Each chapter brought back memories of hitchhiking through Asia, riding old buses in Tunisia and Morocco, relaxing on Corfu’s beaches, and driving across Europe in my red Honda Civic in 1983.

The book stands out because the author skillfully blends travel stories with personal journal entries. Rather than feeling like a distant history lesson, these honest, firsthand moments make you feel like you are right there on the journey. You can almost feel the dust, the uncertainty, and the excitement of adventure before the world was so connected. Whether you have traveled widely or just dream of it, this book is a heartfelt tribute to the golden age of overlanding and is perfect for anyone who loves real adventure.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this fascinating book in a day and a half. I’ve followed the hippie trail myself in the 90s, but Ms. Sullivan’s pioneering journey in the 60s provides a compelling look at a much more authentic experience. No banana pancakes or elephant pants here! Afghanistan in 1966? She had adventures that sadly are no longer possible.

Ms. Sullivan condenses what must be a lengthy series of journals into a delightful, eminently readable collection of adventures, misadventures and reflections.

This is easily the best travel book I have ever read. I was left wanting to learn more. I highly recommend it.

[Brian Rudert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I too am a WT (World Traveler) and have only resided in the U.S. for 6 years since 1973. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer (73 to 75) and served with the State Department for 28 years afterwards. The book highlights how much things have changed since the 1960s. Worldwide and instant communications today are a breeze with WhatsApp and no need for snail mail. Back then, the reliance on American Express and Thomas Cook offices around the World to receive mail was the reality of the moment. Also, calling home was prohibitive. Ms. Sullivan's book is an easy and enjoyable read. The trek she did is not possible today given the security situations in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Her interaction with other WTs and the locals is the most interesting part of the book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It gave me a chance to recall some of my own travels and then went farther and gave me insight into more exotic places I haven't experienced (and maybe never will). Given that the world has changed since the time of the author's travels, it gives us a bit of history. It's a time we won't be able to reclaim. I kept turning the pages, curious to know what happened next. It's a thoroughly fun read.

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I feel so inspired and a sense of longing after reading this memoir. Sullivan is a badass for completing this trip and everything she did after. Only removing 1/2 star because I want to know MORE. Gotta go look up how I can teach abroad in SE Asia!!

[Nancy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patricia offers a rich verbal and visual retelling of her very unique "honeymoon" travels around the world in the mid 1960s. I've never read anything quite like this story. One is left with a deep admiration for her adventurous, self-confident nature. Incredible photos.

[Esther Dushinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook