Doha: In an extraordinary display of endurance, courage, and purpose, Nepali cyclist Niranjan Aryal has embarked on a solo bicycle journey spanning continents - from the summit of Mount Everest in Nepal to the icy expanse of Antarctica - carrying a powerful message on global warming and climate change.

Aryal, who arrived in Qatar two weeks ago, is now on the 10th leg of his world tour, which began 13 months ago in the Solukhumbu district, home to Mount Everest. His mission is simple but profound: to promote the use of eco-friendly transport and raise awareness about the urgent need for environmental conservation.

“Every pedal I push is a small step towards saving our planet,” Aryal told The Peninsula.“I want to show that one person can make a difference, even with something as simple as a bicycle.”

His journey began at the“top of the world” - Mount Everest - symbolizing the purity of nature, and will end in Antarctica, the“coldest place on Earth,” representing the fragile balance of the planet's climate system.

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“From the highest mountain to the coldest continent, my journey connects the two extremes of nature,” Aryal said.

So far, Aryal has cycled through 10 countries, including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Saudi Arabia, and now Qatar.

After completing his Gulf leg - which will include stops in the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and back to Saudi Arabia - he plans to continue across Africa before heading to South America and, ultimately, Antarctica.

The entire expedition is expected to take eight to ten years, with Aryal targeting completion by 2034, at the most.

He travels alone, navigating borders, harsh climates, and long stretches of highway guided only by Google Maps.

Despite the enormity of his mission, Aryal has so far received no corporate or government sponsorship. He funds his travels from his savings as a former accountant for the Asian Development Bank's irrigation project in Nepal and occasional contributions from well-wishers - many of them Nepali expatriates he meets along the way.

“People are kind,” he said.“My Nepali brothers and sisters in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other countries help me with food and accommodation. I don't ask for much - only small help to keep the wheels moving.”

The cyclist uses a Giant mountain bike, although he has already replaced his bicycle three times due to mechanical breakdowns and terrain challenges. He typically covers around 140 kilometers a day, sometimes sleeping in temples, forests, beaches, or roadside tents.

His travels have not been without obstacles. From visa restrictions and border rejections to financial hardships, Aryal has faced multiple challenges.

“The Nepalese passport is among the world's lowest-ranked, so crossing land borders is difficult,” he noted, recounting a tense incident at the Laos-Cambodia border, where he was initially denied entry and forced to cycle 176 kilometers back to a city to arrange more documentation and cash.

Still, Aryal's determination remains unwavering. His campaign, titled“Save the Himalayas, Save the Planet,” calls on individuals to take small but meaningful actions - planting trees, reducing plastic waste, and adopting greener transportation habits.“We are too focused on our financial status, our gadgets, our cars,” he said.“But if the planet cannot survive, our homes and our families cannot survive either.”

Aryal hopes his journey will inspire a new generation to embrace sustainability and responsibility.“We are human beings - we must do something different and good for the next generation,” he said.“Even walking or cycling instead of driving short distances is a contribution.”

As he continues his journey from Qatar toward the UAE, Aryal remains optimistic about the impact of his message.“If one person in every country I visit chooses to act for the environment, that's already a victory,” he said, smiling.“I may be alone on the road, but this journey belongs to everyone who believes in saving our planet.”

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