Rolan Anatoly, a resident of Shymkent in southern Kazakhstan, cycled roughly 8,000 kilometers to reach the holy city of Medina. The journey took him 44 days — the time it took to travel from Central Asia to Islam’s second-holiest city.
His route passed through several countries, including Kazakhstan, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. He crossed the stretch between Iran and the UAE by ferry. From there, Rolan continued toward his final destination — the Kaaba in Mecca.
In one video, the young pilgrim said he was unable to enter Mecca by bicycle after police stopped him near the holy site. The moment, he said, was the most emotional of his entire journey: 45 days on the road, dozens of cities and border crossings, only to be halted on the final stretch.
After he shared the incident on social media, the story took an unexpected turn. A tour operator that organizes Umrah, a voluntary pilgrimage, contacted him. Representatives reached out to Saudi authorities and explained that Rolan was traveling as a pilgrim. Following negotiations, the company sent a car to pick him up and continue the trip to Medina. They also booked him a hotel so he could recover from the long journey.
In his videos, Rolan shows how strangers stopped to speak with him in various countries, asking about his route and where he was headed. Along the way, people offered him water, food, and support — from simple gestures to truly meaningful acts.
Photos and videos of his trip are now spreading widely on Instagram. Hundreds of users have left messages of support, calling his journey a display of determination and wishing him safe travels.
