Rick Steves, On the Hippie Trail with Rainy Day Books

This event takes place in Unity Temple's Sanctuary and includes a talk and presentation from Rick.

Doors Open - Event doors open at 5:00 p.m. While you may queue outside the venue, no access to the event space will be granted ahead of this time. If you have any accessibility concerns and would like to arrive early, please reach out to [email protected] to arrange an early entry.

Book Signatures - Books will be pre-signed, and there will be no personalization line following the event. Please note: Changes to our signing plans may be necessary pending author or publisher needs.

KCUR Donation - $5 of each ticket sale will be donated to our local NPR affiliate, KCUR.

On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer

Stow away with Rick Steves for a glimpse into the unforgettable moments, misadventures, and memories of his 1978 journey on the legendary Hippie Trail. Now with a new preface and postscript!

In the 1970s, the ultimate trip for any backpacker was the storied “Hippie Trail” from Istanbul to Kathmandu. A 23-year-old Rick Steves made the trek, and like a travel writer in training, he documented everything along the way: jumping off a moving train, making friends in Tehran, getting lost in Lahore, getting high for the first time in Herat, battling leeches in Pokhara, and much more. The experience ignited his love of travel and forever broadened his perspective on the world.

This book contains edited selections from Rick’s journal and travel photos with a 45-years-later preface and postscript reflecting on how the journey through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal changed his life.

You know Rick Steves. Now discover the adventure of a lifetime that made him the travel writer he is today.

Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about 100 days a year exploring Europe. His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. ANew York Times-bestselling author, Rick produces a guidebook series, a public television series, and a public radio show, and he organizes small-group tours that take over 30,000 travelers to Europe annually. He does all of this with the help of more than 100 well-traveled staff members at Rick Steves’ Europe in Edmonds, WA (near Seattle). When not on the road, Rick is active in his church and with advocacy groups focused on economic and social justice, drug policy reform, and ending hunger. What’s the ideal vacation for a professional traveler? For Rick, it’s to play his piano, relax at his family cabin in the Cascade Mountains, and spend time with family and friends at home in Edmonds. Find out more about Rick at RickSteves.com and on Facebook.

Please Note: There are no refunds for this event. If you are unable to attend, your book will be available for pickup at the shop the following day. If you are not local, we'll be happy to mail it to you (with an additional shipping charge). Thank you for your support!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 West 47th Street, Kansas City, United States

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