Beibitshilik Jane Birlik — Cycling from London to Astana
In 2019, the Kazakh Geographic Society organised “Beibitshilik jane Birlik — Peace and Unity,” an international cycling journey dedicated to Kazakhstan’s Year of Youth. Six participants set out from London and covered approximately 6,000 kilometres before reaching Kazakhstan’s capital on 6 July. The project brought together sport, travel and encounters between people from different countries.
An initiative for the Year of Youth
The journey began in London on 29 April 2019, ahead of Kazakhstan’s People’s Unity Day. Supported by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, the project aimed to raise awareness of the country abroad, encourage tourism and grassroots sport, and inspire young people to lead active lives.
The destination was Astana, known as Nur-Sultan at the time. The team completed its journey on Capital City Day, connecting the expedition’s departure and arrival with two significant occasions in Kazakhstan’s national calendar.
Six participants sharing one ambition
The team comprised Daulet Omarov, Mikhail Lim, Marina Varibrus, Dilmurat Rakhmatulaev, Azamat Atantai and Balzhan Baltasheva. They were amateur cyclists who chose to take on a demanding international journey.
Bringing together people with different backgrounds expressed the project’s central idea. A long journey gives particular meaning to shared responsibility, cooperation and mutual encouragement. For younger audiences, the story offered a relatable progression: an ambitious undertaking begins with a decision, develops through preparation and advances through daily effort.
A route connecting countries
Before arriving in Kazakhstan, the team travelled through the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Belarus and Russia. The completed journey included visits to more than 55 cities.
Meetings along the way became an important part of the experience. In Brussels, diplomats, fellow Kazakhstanis and members of the local cycling community welcomed the riders. Encounters with sporting figures also took place in The Hague and Minsk. A shared interest in cycling created opportunities to exchange experiences and introduce Kazakhstan to new audiences.
Cultural exchange extended beyond organised events. During their stops, the travellers spoke with local residents, introduced Kazakh traditions and offered national souvenirs. These personal encounters allowed people to discover the country through the openness and hospitality of its citizens.
The project’s significance
For “Beibitshilik jane Birlik,” the bicycle served both as transport and as a starting point for conversation. The distance travelled connected a sporting ambition with an opportunity to represent Kazakhstan through people eager to explore the world and share their own culture.
For the Kazakh Geographic Society, the project put the values of the Year of Youth into practice: initiative, cooperation and personal development. The London-to-Astana journey became a story of persistence and teamwork, demonstrating how travel can build friendships and bring a distant country closer through direct human contact.