From Finland to Japan: The journey so far with your buddies, Mari & Pete
Mari and Pete set off from Finland in spring 2025 with their campervan and a dream of reaching Japan.
So far: 5 months, 21 countries, 2 continents, and well over 20,000 km have passed. From skiing powder in North Macedonia to the 44°C heat of Armenia, every week has brought new twists, new landscapes, and new friends.
Let’s hear about their journey so far!
Europe
Crossing Europe – on the road to the East
The adventure began with a night at sea. We rolled onto a Finnlines ship in Helsinki, crossed the Baltic Sea, and landed in Travemünde, Germany.
A familiar Germany was the perfect place to start: smooth roads, a true campervan heaven with all the infrastructure in place. Still, the country surprised us. There were lots of hidden gems we hadn’t yet discovered. One of them was the historic town of Dresden.
Quite quickly, we continued further east into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In Prague, March already felt like summer with warm evenings. Yet just a few days later, the road had us chasing snow again.
Snow was scarce in Slovakia, but the Eastern European peaks impressed. So when a snow dump appeared on the forecast, we detoured to Austria. Kitzsteinhorn Glacier delivered perfect powder. From there the real ski hunt began.
We quickly started heading towards North Macedonia where we had booked a catskiing tour – and the forecast had promised powder!
But the route there wasn’t the easiest. Or the route was, but the weather conditions got really bad (and snowy) when driving through Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Kosovo, we were hit by a real snow inferno. Snow chains saved us there and we made it to the mountains of Tetovo in North Macedonia.
The craziness didn’t end there. When skiing in Greece (yes, you heard it right, you can ski in Greece) our brakes literally caught fire when driving down the mountain road. These kinds of moments became reminders that when traveling, mishaps are part of the game – resilience and calm usually solve more than panic.
And just when we thought the season was done, we squeezed in turns in Bansko, Bulgaria too – one of the most unexpected spring skiing finales imaginable. Gotta admit that Eastern European mountains and skiing conditions rival the Alps in every way.
In Sofia, Bulgaria, we met up with friends, and it became clear that friends and acquaintances across Europe would play an important role. We’ve tried to meet up with familiar faces whenever we can, because the further we go, the fewer of these we’ll see.
By April, summer had rolled into Europe and the skis were stored away. The journey shifted into new rhythms – golf rounds and hiking.
Romania was especially memorable: we reunited with friends in Cluj-Napoca, ventured further east and spotted wild bears along the Transfăgărășan road, and ticked off must-see small towns like Sighișoara from the travel list.
Oh, and we also traveled to Europe’s least visited country, Moldova – which turned out to be a wine lover’s heaven. Soon after, we headed south into Bulgaria again and to the Black Sea coast. Soon, Turkey began calling to us – and we started heading further east.
Europe had given us so much – but the next chapter was already on the horizon.
ASIA
Turkey, the land of two continents
Then came a major milestone: crossing from Europe to Asia.
Crossing the Bosphorus from Istanbul’s European side to its Asian side felt like stepping into another world. Mosques, bazaars, and busy streets surrounded us – overwhelming at first, but unforgettable.
In Turkey, the journey truly started to feel like daily life on the road. Mountains, coastline, and big-city chaos kept each day different, and without familiar faces around, we leaned on travel tips from friends and fellow vanlifers.
Deciding whether to linger or move on quickly became part of the rhythm. At first, weighing every option felt draining, especially in places we knew nothing about. But over time, we learned to trust a mix of planning and gut feeling.
Soon, we headed for the coast and fell in love with it (even though a bit touristy, we still managed to find the non-touristy spots!). In Fethiye, we spotted wild turtles and even wild boars roaming the city. In Kalkan and Kaş, we swam in turquoise coves, and at Tuz Gölü, we walked barefoot across a glittering salt crust.
Cappadocia was on our list of must-sees – and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Parking overnight where hot-air balloons lifted off at sunrise was pure magic: one of those pinch-yourself moments you never forget.
Further south, Gaziantep – Turkey’s food capital and a UNESCO-recognized hub of gastronomy – pulled us close to the Syrian border. The Arabic influence was everywhere: in the food (beyran çorbası soup and baklava to die for), the markets, and the rhythm of the streets.
But Turkey tested us too. Pete spent a night in a hospital in Antalya, and soon after our beloved van began a painful saga of breakdowns. In Trabzon, a mechanic made things worse when we had only gone in to replace a broken solar panel, leaving us stuck for weeks. Frustrated and uncertain, we more than once questioned if the dream of reaching Japan might end right there.
After three weeks in the same garage, we finally decided to leave Turkey, hoping to find a new mechanic in Georgia. So off we went!
The Caucasus
The Caucasus – mountains, heat, and hospitality
Crossing into Georgia felt like a release. The landscape turned lush and green, almost rainforest-like, with towering peaks, mountain monasteries, and valleys filled with vines.
In Georgia, we realized the rhythm of the trip had shifted. At first everything felt so intense – but now this wasn’t just adventure, it was everyday life. Life on the road.
The most unforgettable moment in Georgia was riding horses in Mestia and Ushguli, tiny mountain towns high in the north. There we met local guides who quickly became friends: offering us food, horseback rides, and more beers and chacha than we could drink.
From there we continued to Tbilisi to explore the modern yet history-soaked city. One night we sat down at a tiny home restaurant run by two women, who served one of the best meals of the entire journey. Simple, home-cooked food – yet unforgettable in its warmth. A true never-forget moment.
Tbilisi was also where we finally got the relief we had been waiting for: the van was fixed, thanks to a Dutch guy who runs a camper rental. Our journey could continue.
Then came Armenia – country number 19. It greeted us with unbearable heat, jagged mountains, and Yerevan – a city that stunned us with its history, architecture, and culture.
But Armenia also left us with something heavier. Learning about its history and the genocide, and hearing how Armenians have been treated over the centuries, was heartbreaking. The resilience of the people, their ability to remain so open and welcoming despite such a painful past, was deeply humbling.
Before pausing the journey back home in Finland – to welcome a tiny new family member and celebrate love with friends – we left Pötsi safely at a campsite near Yerevan.
After our Finland visit, we flew back to Armenia, picked up the van, and rolled once more into Georgia. From there, our route carried us across Russia and onwards into Kazakhstan, to country number 21. Here in Kazakhstan, the road stretches to the east, and the journey towards Japan continues.
Let's Get Social
Follow their journey to see where they're headed and what they’re up to:
@muoniovaara & @pete_pattis