Interview: Dordzji’s 3500 km solo bikepacking adventure from Los Angeles to Mexico City

For this edition of our Bikepacking Holland Rider Stories, we sit down with Dordzji, an adventurous cyclist from the Dutch province of Friesland, whose passion for exploring the unknown has taken him across Europe, the Balkans and recently all the way from Los Angeles to Mexico City. His solo journey (nearly 4 months and 3500 kilometers long) offers a beautiful insight into the world of long-distance cycling, human kindness and life on the road.

Who are you and where are you from?

"My name is Dordzji and I was born in a small village in Friesland. I’ve always loved being outdoors and exploring new places; preferably on two wheels".

What trip did you do exactly? And how far did you cycle?

Over the years, Dordzji completed several multi-week trips with friends:

• From the German–Austrian border to Rome

• A Balkan route from Dubrovnik → Montenegro → Kosovo → North Macedonia → Albania → Corfu

• From Chisinau (Moldova) to Istanbul (Turkey)

But after graduating, he felt it was time for something bigger: something solo.

“I decided to cycle from Los Angeles to Mexico City. It took me about 4 months with 50-something days on the bike, covering nearly 3500 km. And YES! Mexico is very mountainous!”

What inspired you to take on such a long solo journey?

" I've wanted to do a long bike trip since high school. I love being in the middle of nowhere by myself. Originally, I thought about cycling from the Netherlands to Singapore, but I realized I loved talking to locals too much. I wanted a journey where I could speak to everyone, so I picked Latin America and decided to learn Spanish.

I even planned to continue all the way to Argentina. But that's for another time".

What did a typical day on the road looked like?

" A typical day began when the tent became too hot to stay inside. No early alarms necessary. Breakfast was usually tortillas with peanut butter, then sunscreen and off I went. Especially in the dessert, I stopped anywhere that offered a cold drink or some taco's. I'd ride for 4-6 hours and start looking for a campsite about 90 minutes before sunset. I tried to stay hidden (down a dirt track, behind some rocks or plants), somewhere nobody would find me".

Which moments stayed with you the most?

Despite language barriers, the people Dordzji met made the deepest impression.

“Many locals offered me food, drinks, or even a place to stay and shower. I never met anyone who meant harm. Even a cartel spotter I chatted with in Sinaloa was kind and generous.”

Other unforgettable highlights included:

• Spectacular wild campsites

• Watching a rocket launch streak across the sky at sunset

• Standing on top of a 4,200-meter volcano

What was the hardest part? Physically or mentally?

“Humidity. Easily. The desert was 40+ degrees but dry and honestly more pleasant than the humid 30 degrees on the coast. On some days I was completely drained by 10:30 AM. I even took a bus for part of it! And that’s the beauty of solo travel: you can do whatever you want.”

What did you learn about the world and its people?

“The world is nothing like what you see on the news. People always ask whether it was dangerous, but I never felt any less safe than I do at home. If you use common sense and stay away from crime-related things, you’ll find the world is full of kind, curious, generous people. Especially in places few tourists go.”

Would you recommend this kind of adventure to others?

“Absolutely. If you like adventure, the outdoors, and pushing yourself, bikepacking is perfect. You don’t need a fancy bike or special gear. Just strap some bags on whatever bike you have and start pedaling.”

What's your number one piece of advice for new bikepackers?

“Don’t take things too seriously. Don’t box yourself in with expectations or rules. Be flexible, be open, and opportunities will come to you.”

Our final piece of advice!

Dordzji’s story reminds us of what bikepacking is really about: staying open, staying curious, and letting the road shape your journey. His experiences show that once you’re out there, you meet people who surprise you with kindness, generosity, and genuine interest. Proof that the world is far more welcoming than the news often makes it seem.

And remember: you don’t have to take it to the extremes that Djordzi did. Adventure doesn’t need to span continents. You can simply hop on your bike and explore the Netherlands. Its forests, dunes, villages and quiet backroads offer just as much space for discovery. What matters is starting.

So pack light, stay flexible, and embrace the unexpected. The best parts of the journey often find you.