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Kylie Knott

Hongkonger Kaylie Lau was working at a “fairly ordinary” corporate job in fashion marketing when she made a lifestyle U-turn.
“I was lacking spark from my job and I thought, ‘I’m still young, so I’m going to explore something different, something challenging,’” she says.
Now the 24-year-old is on an adventure, one that has already seen her travel 10,000km (6,200 miles) overland – “no flights, one backpack” – from Hong Kong to Europe, which she is documenting on her Instagram page, @kaylielau.
She expects to cover 20,000km in total and visit more than 65 cities in over 20 countries by the journey’s end.
Her voyage has included parts of the ancient Silk Road, the name given to the network of trade routes established during China’s Han dynasty (206BC-AD220) that linked China, Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe.












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A post shared by Kaylie Lau (@kaylielau)



The seed for Lau’s adventure was planted in the summer of 2024 when she spent three months travelling through Europe, where she discovered the true meaning of the phrase “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey”.
“Every unfamiliar station reminded me that travel isn’t just about where you arrive, it’s about how you get there,” says Lau, who visited 30 countries in three months on that trip.
She began her 20,000km trek this summer.
“I’d been dreaming of this overland journey for years, but this year just felt right,” she says. “I wanted to witness how landscapes, languages and cultures flow into one another when crossing borders.”
She wanted to experience it at a slow pace, to see how borders connect rather than divide, while challenging herself physically and emotionally.
The stunning landscapes of China really opened her eyes.
She visited the karst mountains of Guilin in southern China, an area famous for its towering limestone peaks and intricate cave systems.
She fell under the spell of Langmusi, a small Tibetan town split between the provinces of Gansu and Sichuan; soaked in neon in the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing; and explored ancient villages and desert dunes in temperatures of up to 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) in Turpan, Xinjiang.

She also took in Zhangye Danxia National Geopark in Gansu province, known for its rainbow-like rock formations.
She is also shattering the traditional stereotype of what a backpacker looks like.
“I don’t have to be a stereotypical backpacker and look dirty and rough,” says Lau, who spent years saving for a long trip, with a previous plan scuppered by the Covid-19 pandemic. “Just balance out your comfort and challenges.”
While the good times far outweigh the bad, there have been some obstacles. The biggest bump was encountered in Turkmenistan, the central Asian nation that borders Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Kazakhstan.
“I only had a six-day visa and three options for my next country: Russia, Azerbaijan or Iran,” she says.
“Initially, I planned to go to Azerbaijan, since it seemed safest and easiest, and I could cross the Caspian Sea by cargo ship. But after Covid, the land border was still closed.”

For the first time on the trip, she felt stuck. “Time was running out, and I had no clear way forward.
“Both Iran and Russia were, or had recently been, involved in conflicts, which made the decision even more difficult. After researching and consulting several travel agencies, I chose Iran, as it felt like the safest and most exciting of the two.”
It was the right choice: “Iran was a completely different world full of culture and warmth.”
Another bump came in the form of a smiley-faced tour guide in Turkmenistan who caught her in an exchange-rate scam.
“I didn’t fact-check with my tour guide, so I ended up paying ‘New York prices’. I learned an expensive lesson.”
Travelling by land means constantly adapting. “There were long border crossings, last-minute changes, and days that tested my patience and energy.”
Some nights she didn’t even know where she would sleep next. “But every challenge, from missed connections and language barriers to moments of exhaustion, became part of the story.”
Lau, who has a travel buddy who helps with filming, hopes her adventures inspire others.
“In the beginning there were so many thoughts in my head – it seemed crazy for me to do this type of trip. I was worried about my safety, worried if I could make it all the way to Europe.
“But once you start, you just think about what country you’re going to next, and how you’re going to get there, so there is no time for doubt.”

While the trip took months to pre-plan, flexibility and adaptability are vital, she says.
“I map out countries, visa requirements and key border crossings, then research potential cities, sights I don’t want to miss and transport options,” she says.
“But I never book more than a few days ahead; trains, buses and hotels are usually arranged within three days of departure.”
Overplanning, she adds, kills the joy of discovery.
“On the road, weather shifts, borders close or plans simply change. That uncertainty makes the journey more dramatic and more alive. Flexibility becomes its own form of freedom.”
Whether your passport allows you into countries is important, she says, adding her Hong Kong passport was often mistaken for a mainland Chinese document.
“During a lot of land border crossings it got confusing because many officials thought my passport was a mainland China one – it’s challenging. Fun, but challenging.
“There are always uncertainties in life, so you need to learn how to deal with it and be flexible and able to adapt and change.”

As for what to pack, Lau says less is more.
“In the beginning, I definitely overpacked,” she says, adding that being on the road for weeks on end taught her that versatility matters more than variety.
“I pack clothing I can mix and match, minimal skincare and make-up, and essentials that are hard to replace on the road,” she says.
“In Muslim countries you need to wear headscarves, while in Europe, it’s getting cold, so you need to wear jackets, so it’s impossible to carry everything,” she says. She occasionally sends items home to lighten the load.
Apart from a phone, laptop and drone, sunscreen is an essential backpack item.
“I’m under the sun almost every day”, she says. She also has a power bank and a small camera to stay connected and capture her journey.

As for getting around, Lau says different regions are better suited to different types of transport. China is best for fast, efficient trains, while Central Asia is better for cabs and ride-hailing via mobile apps.
“Central Asia I found to be quite safe and the people so kind,” she says, although she had some hair-raising car rides through the mountains. “That was the most dangerous part because the road had collapsed in some parts, so it was super scary.”
While Lau is unsure of what lies after her trip, she thinks more travels are on the horizon.
“I love editing videos and sharing my stories online, and, you know, people are finding it inspiring, so I feel like I have accomplished something.”












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A post shared by Kaylie Lau (@kaylielau)



And for those contemplating a long trip, Lau’s message is to not overthink it.
“If you feel that spark to explore, just go. Start where you are and let the journey unfold,” she says.
“Do enough research to stay safe, and don’t hesitate to reach out to local agencies when needed. Be open-minded; people are often kinder than you imagine.”
Problems will inevitably arise, but Lau believes every solution also becomes part of the story: travelling not only challenges, it also strengthens a person.
“Even when things feel impossible, you’ll always find a way, and when you do, you’ll realise how much you’ve grown,” she says.
“Take it one train, bus or car ride at a time, and before you know it, you’ll have crossed half the world.”
Kaylie Lau’s Silk Road highlights
While each country revealed a different kind of beauty, from dreamlike hills to remote high-altitude plains and grand architecture steeped in history, Lau says a few places stayed with her.
Yangshuo, China

“Watching the sunrise over the Li River feels like you’re stepping into a living ink painting, surrounded by soft mist and sculpted karst peaks.”
Song-Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan
“I stayed in a traditional yurt beside the lake, 3,000 metres [9,840ft] above sea level. The air was thin and crisp, the mountains endless, and the water mirrored the sky so perfectly it felt like floating between worlds.”

Samarkand, Uzbekistan
“Once a vital Silk Road city, Samarkand is a masterpiece of blue-tiled mosques and grand mausoleums. I stayed in a charming historic boutique hotel that made it feel as though time had paused centuries ago.”


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Tourism

‘No flights, one backpack’: 20,000km travel odyssey of young Hongkonger

Hongkonger Kaylie Lau stands outside Kalan Mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Photo: Kaylie Lau

A monastery in Langmusi, a Buddhist monastery town on the border of China’s Sichuan and Gansu provinces. Photo: Kaylie Lau

Lau poses at Charyn Canyon in Kazakhstan. “The red cliffs were stacked like Lego blocks under the blazing sun.” Photo: Kaylie Lau

In Jiuzhaigou, a national park in the north of Sichuan province in southwestern China, Lau saw stunning turquoise water “that doesn’t even look real”. Photo: Kaylie Lau

Lau stands outside the Saparmurat Hajji Mosque in Turkmenistan. Photo: Kaylie Lau  

Lau captures the ceiling of the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo: Kaylie Lau

The sunrise over the Li River and peaks of Xianggong Mountain in Yangshuo, China, was one of the best Lau has seen. Photo: Kaylie Lau

Song-Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan is a high-altitude mirror of the sky, around 3,000 metres above sea level. Photo: Kaylie Lau  

For a unique Arctic cruise experience, spend a night in a glass igloo atop a cruise ship

Travel blogger Gastronomictraveler from Taiwan describes his experience on the National Geographic Endurance as “unreal”

Travel blogger The Gastronomic Traveler from Taiwan enjoys a cup of coffee while looking out across Arctic waters from the glass igloo aboard the National Geographic Endurance cruise ship, operated by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. Photo: Instagram/gastronomictraveler

The National Geographic Endurance (pictured) and its sister ship the National Geographic Resolution offer guests a night under the stars in a glass igloo. Photo: TNS

An igloo aboard the National Geographic Endurance. Photo: TNS

The igloo is surprisingly warm and the frosted glass offers privacy, while the side of the igloo facing away from the ship has clear glass. Photo: Instagram/solindblad

The National Geographic Endurance cruise ship is purpose-built for the Arctic. Photo: TNS

This sacred shrine in Japan has been destroyed and rebuilt every 20 years for 1,300 years

Shinto officials in the priesthood pull a sacred timber on a wheeled platform into a position before unloading and moving it under a roof during the rebuilding of the Ise Jingu shrine complex, in Ise, Japan, in June 2025. The shrine is rebuilt every 20 years. Photo: AP

Woodcutters chop down a cypress tree during the rebuilding of the Ise Jingu shrine in the Akasawa Natural Recreational Forest in Agematsu, Japan, in June 2025. Photo: AP

Handmade shrine altars are seen at the Miyachu factory, which crafts miniature replicas of the Ise Jingu shrine, in Tamaki, Japan. Photo: AP

Priests march into the main palace of Toyouke Daijingu, also known as Geku, or the outer sanctuary, of the Ise Jingu shrine complex in Ise, Japan, in May 2025. Photo: AP

Priests and officials in the Shinto priesthood take part in a ceremony at the Ise Jingu shrine complex. Photo: AP

Priests take part in a night ceremony at the Ise Jingu shrine complex. Photo: AP

Members of the Shinto priesthood try to push down a sacred timber from a wheeled platform during the rebuilding of the Ise Jingu shrine. Photo: AP

Like ‘Elon Musk’s first colony on Mars’: US hotel is pure desert luxury

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Rooms at the hotel look like they are built from containers. Photo: TNS

The hotel features a spacious pool area. Photo: TNS

The Reset hotel has spare, earthy interiors that blend with the landscape. Photo: TNS

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The yacht harbour in Brighton. Photo: Alexandra Stahl/dpa

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Lifestyle

Travel & Leisure

Kaylie Lau, 24, is travelling to more than 65 cities while shattering the stereotype of what a traditional backpacker looks like


Kaylie Lau, 24, is travelling to more than 65 cities while shattering the stereotype of what a traditional backpacker looks like.


‘No flights, one backpack’: 20,000km travel odyssey of young Hongkonger

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Kaylie Lau, 24, is travelling to more than 65 cities while shattering the stereotype of what a traditional backpacker looks like

Kaylie Lau, 24, is travelling to more than 65 cities while shattering the stereotype of what a traditional backpacker looks like