On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer

Stow away with Rick Steves for a glimpse into the unforgettable moments, misadventures, and memories of his 1978 journey on the legendary Hippie Trail. In the 1970s, the ultimate trip for any backpacker was the storied “Hippie Trail” from Istanbul to Kathmandu. A 23-year-old Rick Steves made the trek, and like a travel writer in training, he documented everything along the way. From taking wild bus rides through Turkey to enduring monsoons in India, the experience ignited his love of travel and forever broadened his perspective on the world. On the Hippie Trail contains Rick's journals from 1978 — the last year the trip was possible — and full-color travel photos from this trek of a lifetime through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal, plus a brand-new preface and afterword reflecting on the historic context of the moment and how the journey changed his life. You know Rick Steves. Now discover the adventure that made him the travel writer he is today.