Where are you from?

We are both from The Netherlands.

When did you start your interest in exploration?

For Charelle, her dream has always been for as long as she can remember to travel the world. When she had a gap year after high school in 2011 she wanted to go backpacking in Australia, but she met Marcel instead. Together, we went on multiple adventurous holidays every year for as long as our work allowed. One of these holidays was to Kyrgyzstan in 2023. We rented a 4WD with a rooftop tent to explore the remote mountains of this breathtaking country. We felt completely free and fell in love with this way of traveling. So much so that we decided to buy our own 4WD when we got home, quit our jobs and go on an overland expedition from The Netherlands to Singapore. 

What is a brief understanding of your background story up until you started seeking adventure?

We met each other in 2011 and have been together for 13 years already. Charelle worked as a freelancer in online marketing and communication and Marcel ran an engineering department that designed airport buildings, before we left home. For years, we wanted to go on a world trip together. Even though our holidays were always amazing, it felt like they were never "enough". We wanted to break free from the grind and discover what life has to offer if you don't have to work every day. To explore the world on our own terms, at our own pace... and in our own vehicle! 

When we were traveling through Kyrgyzstan, we decided to finally go on that world trip we've been dreaming of. But instead of taking a plane, we wanted to do it by car. So as soon as we got back to The Netherlands we bought our own Toyota 4Runner and started the preparations for our first overlanding trip. A couple of months later, Marcel quit his job and Charelle quit all the projects she was working on and we were ready to go. We decided to drive to the furthest point over land that we could think of; from The Netherlands to Singapore.

What special skills do you have to help with your explorations?

Marcel is an amazing driver and very hands-on kind of person. If anything needs to be arranged, from car shipment to analyzing a mechanical issue, he's ON it! Charelle is better at staying calm when something 'bad' happens or when things don't go as expected. Before we left home we did some training in applying first aid.

Where have you explored so far?

We went to a lot of countries together, but always wanted to see more of the world. So this year we decided to go on our overland expedition from The Netherlands to Singapore. 

We've been on the road for 232 days, crossing 22 countries, and actually reached Singapore last week! We went through Europe, Türkiye, Iran, Central Asia, China and are currently in Southeast Asia.  

What is a brief understanding of your adventures so far?

A 4WD car, a rooftop tent and two people crazy enough to try their luck on the road. In March 2024 we embarked on an adventure of a lifetime. Driving from our hometown Utrecht in The Netherlands to Singapore. Approximately 35.000 kilometers, crossing the entire landmass of Eurasia. Overland, with our beloved Toyota 4Runner.

A question we often get is: ‘Why Singapore?’ Well, to be completely honest with you, that’s where the road ends. Or is it..?

Even though we made it to Singapore last week, we are far from done. We decided to extend our trip and ship our car to UAE to explore the Middle East next. Really looking forward to that.

What are the top three destinations you hope to explore next, and why?

We're shipping our car to the Middle East in the upcoming weeks to explore, among others, Oman and Saudi Arabia. From what we've seen from other travelers, both countries are great to explore with your own car and to do some  proper off-roading. It's also a completely different environment than the countries we've crossed so far, as we've mostly been in Europe and Asia. Can't wait!

Another country that we really want to visit is Mongolia. We fell completely in love with Kyrgyzstan and have been there twice already, but still want to go back as we love it so much. We think that Mongolia is a bit similar in terms of landscape and nomadic ways of living, so we would really like to go there as well. 

Where would you recommend others visit?

Kyrgyzstan!

How do you primarily travel on your adventures today?

We bought our 2003 Toyota 4Runner 4.7L V8 last year for its great engine, the 2UZ-FE. However, after we bought it we had to take the entire engine out to do big revisions on the car. It was a HUGE project but we're really happy that we did it, as it saved us a lot of trouble on the road. 

We also love the ARB Drawer System we have in the back and the two separate batteries we installed. One of the batteries is for electrical equipment in the car and one is for starting the engine, although we can link them if needed. 

What are five pieces of equipment that you always travel with?

Rooftop tent, kinetic tow strap, fridge, stove, chairs

What inspires you to explore more?

We love to see the world outside of our own comfort zone in The Netherlands. There's so much to see and to learn. One of the things we've learned is that places can be so different than portrayed online or in the media. You really have to go out and see places for yourself. 

How do you engage with others?

We love to stay in touch with other overland travelers on Instagram (@char.is.far) and meet up if possible. Other overlanders always know something you don't and vice versa, so it's super convenient to share information. And of course, it's just fun to share stories from the road. 

Why is it important to embrace global cultures?

A lot of places are misunderstood, and that's a shame. One of the countries that surprised us the most was Iran. People warned us about going there, including our own government and the last border official in Türkiye that we saw. People were scared. They said it was a dangerous place, that Iranians would kidnap us, that we would end up in prison. It ended up being one of our favorite countries on the trip. Iranians are incredibly hospitable, sweet and kind. If we would walk on the street, people would give us gifts, invite us for tea, something to eat or ask us to sleep in their house. It's definitely the most heartwarming place that we've been to. So it's a shame that a lot of people outside of Iran don't know this and are scared of people that are so kind. Traveling to these places helps to form an understanding of their culture, based on your own experiences rather than what the media or others tell you. And it's often very different than you'd expect - in a positive way. Embracing global culture is a natural consequence of traveling the world. Because you see the world for what it really is, rather than what others want you to believe. 

What are your goals when you explore?

We try to "go with the flow" and see where the day takes us. This allows us to seize the opportunities that come our way, rather than sticking to a predetermined plan. Often, the most amazing places are the ones that you encounter by accident without any preconceptions of how it's going to be or turn out. 

What are some challenges you have experienced?

Traveling through Turkmenistan was a very intense experience, as you have to travel with a guide 24/7 and the government watches your every move. We became very suspicious and paranoid in just a few days' time, even though we had nothing to hide. And getting all the paperwork in order for China was a long process, but definitely doable. Luckily we didn't have any serious car trouble so far!

What has been your most meaningful moment so far?

Experiencing the hospitality of the Iranians, without a doubt. At one occasion, we were invited for dinner by an Afghan-Iranian family while exploring the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad. Since it was our last night in Iran, we decided to go and had such a wonderful evening talking about cultural differences, geopolitics and what it means to live our lives in different ways. Very respectful, insightful and just heartwarming to be invited to someone's home. Oh and the Afghan food they served was also out of this world!

How has exploration changed you?

We learned so many things:

- To let go of things you can't influence

- That "no" is definitely not always a "no" and with enough persistence can turn into a "yes" if you try hard enough

- That getting angry if things don't turn out the way you want them to is useless

- To let go of plans and go with the flow

- That time is our most important commodity in life

- Truly breaking free from your old life takes months, if not years

And we can go on :)

What is the number one lesson that you have learnt through your exploration?

Life is way too short to do stuff that doesn't make you happy

How do you explore locally?

We sometimes go on shorter trips in The Netherlands or Europe. But if we can choose, we go far away for a longer time, as we always think that we can explore the places closer to home when we're older as well. Now is our time to make the most of it. 

What does the explmore mantra mean to you?

To see the world with your own eyes and learn from others along the way. 

What advice would you give to others who are seeking life changing adventure?

The most difficult part of going on an adventure is actually deciding to go. Once you make your decision and do everything you can to make it happen, pieces fall into place. In hindsight, you often don't understand why it was so difficult to leave everything behind and go on the adventure of a lifetime. Just go; it's worth it.