Travelling trio: 3 mothers drove to 17 countries in 97 days!

In a more elaborate, realistic and feminine version of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, three women in their mid 30s drove from Delhi to London covering 17 countries in 97 days.

A travel bag full of memories and a life-time experience is what three women got after travelling to 17 countries in 97 days.

Rashmi Koppar, Dr. Soumya Goyal and Nidhi Tiwari decided to drive from Delhi to London and covered a distance of nearly 22 thousand kilometers.

With the aim of spreading awareness, questioning traditional gender roles for woman in India and encouraging others to do the same, the three woman started the “Woman Beyond Boundaries” initiative.

These three women in their mid 30s flagged off their expedition on July 23 without any back-up vehicle. Nidhi having specialized in outdoor education, off-the-road, long-distance and high-altitude driving was the one who came up with the idea and was the only driver on the vehicle.

After crossing India, Myanmar, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Finland, Czech Republic, Germany and the United Kingdom their journey finally came to an end in October. The car they drove in became the first Indian vehicle to cross the Arctic circle.

The three women covered a distance of 600km every day but still could not book accommodations in advance as their schedule kept changing. The first thing they did while entering a new country was to buy a local SIM card.

They survived by using sign language and Google translator mostly because it was only in India and England people knew English. They explored the cities in the evenings and avoided driving at night.

With this all-women trip they wanted to set an example for other women such tours are possible and there is nothing to be scared of. They took a long break from their jobs to fulfill this dream. They came across varied people, rocky terrains, ever-changing geography and finally lived their dreams.

Even a serious landslide in Myanmar could not deter them from completing this trip, it took over five days to cover a distance of 200 km from Imphal to Myanmar because of the uneven and broken roads there.

Apart from giving them the high of freedom and liberty, the trip reinforced their belief in human goodness as they encountered many hospitable and helpful people who offered them food and a haven.