# The border’s behind us, Kuwait ahead — a new chapter begins

- Link: https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/blog/desert-horizons-2025-part-4-kuwait/
- Published: 2025-10-13T18:22:14+02:00
- Author: Filip Chochół

Ten wpis jest również dostępny w języku:  [⌊Switch to Polski⌉Polski](https://warsawtravelers.pl/blog/desert-horizons-2025-czesc-4-kuwejt/)

 Table of contents

## Hey there, fellow traveler!

This will be a shorter chapter of our Kuwait diary — a few days to catch our breath
after all those Iraqi kilometres, some city walks along the bay, and a birthday 
dinner. No epic storytelling here — just a snapshot of what our stopover looked 
like.

Remember, this is still a travel diary, not a guide. The specific places and [practical Kuwait tips](https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/asia/kuwait-travel-guide-tips-for-visitors/)
are in a separate post — that’s where you’ll find the full [“what to see”](https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/asia/what-to-see-in-kuwait-sightseeing-plan/)
list. Here, it’s all about the emotions and the road between those points on the
map.

If you’ve just joined us, it’s worth catching up on the earlier parts:

 * 👉 **Part 1 **– [From Poland to Turkey (first stage)](https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/blog/desert-horizons-2025-part-1-europe/)
 * 👉 **Part 2** – [Turkey: Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Şanlıurfa](https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/blog/desert-horizons-2025-part-2-turkey/)
 * 👉 **Part 3** – [Iraq: Erbil and Baghdad (plus entry into Kuwait)](https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/blog/desert-horizons-2025-part-3-iraq/)

This project is also about the people on our side. Our partners and sponsors helped
us sort out the gear, paperwork, and route — without their support, this journey
simply wouldn’t have happened. [Huge thanks — and here’s where you can find the full list of people and companies who contributed their part to make it happen.](https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/desert-horizons-2025/)

So — let’s dive into the vibe of Kuwait City and keep going.

## Day 19: September 16, 2025, Tuesday

🇰🇼 [Kuwait, Kuwait City](https://maps.app.goo.gl/ffMHioVHXnFrexFT9)

From the previous chapter, you already know we crossed into Kuwait on September 
14th. The 15th was our “cardio day” in the city — and a little birthday celebration
for me (woohoo!). Walking reminded us that we actually have legs, not just a seat
under our backsides.

While we were at it, we checked the odometer and realized we’d hit the service interval
long before our scheduled stop in Riyadh — about 1,500 km over the limit. Not ideal
when you’re still under warranty. So I messaged the official BMW Motorrad importer
in Kuwait, [Tristar](https://www.instagram.com/tristarkw/), on WhatsApp. We quickly
arranged a mini-service — oil and filter change at their workshop. By the end of
the day, I dropped the bike off for maintenance.

In the morning of September 16th, I went back to Tristar to pick up the bike. I 
met the owner, Mr. Jafar, who surprised me with something unexpected — a photo with
the motorcycle as part of the service deal 😁. A few small gifts, a quick chat about
bikes and our route — a super nice gesture that actually saved our budget a bit.

I picked up the machine, rode back to get Jadzia from the hotel, and we headed out
to explore the city again. What we managed to see that day is covered in a separate
post about Kuwait — if you’re planning a visit, that’s where you’ll find the practical
stuff, spots to check out, and a few tips for getting around smoothly.

 [ ⌊Desert Horizons Motorcycle Expedition, Kuwait: smiling couple poses in front of Kuwait’s globe-like mosque towers⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/desert-horizons-2025-road-036.jpeg)

 [ ⌊Desert Horizons Motorcycle Expedition, Kuwait: two men in a garage holding motorcycle registration papers in front of bikes⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/desert-horizons-2025-road-037-scaled.jpeg)

## Day 20: Wednesday, September 17, 2025

🇰🇼 [Kuwait, Kuwait City](https://maps.app.goo.gl/ffMHioVHXnFrexFT9) -> 🇸🇦 [Saudi Arabia, Burayadh](https://maps.app.goo.gl/PFRHQ4VDFas5ohkt7)

This time, we learned our lesson from the “oven” between Iraq and Kuwait and set
the alarm for 4:00 a.m. Hitting the road around 4:35 wasn’t exactly our favorite
kind of morning activity, but the cooler air made all the difference — the ride 
was so much more pleasant.

There are two routes leading to the border, and we chose the one that made the most
sense time-wise toward Buraydah. The only catch? We didn’t refuel right after leaving
the hotel — and on that stretch out of the city, there was just one gas station.
Naturally, at the only station, the card terminal didn’t want to cooperate.

A short back-and-forth with the staff later, we spotted a small shop set up in the
back of a delivery truck — and somehow, our card worked there. How they settled 
it between themselves afterward, we’ll never know; the important thing is, we could
keep going. The guy mumbled something to Jadzia about “problems if the card doesn’t
go through”, but whatever — the tank was full, and that’s what mattered.

Leaving Kuwait was a breeze. Nobody brought up the earlier mix-up with our Carnet(
the customs officer had stamped the wrong section during import — we’d noticed it
before, but luckily it didn’t cause any issues on the way out).

Entry into Saudi Arabia was just as smooth: Jadzia had her fingerprints scanned 
again since she was traveling with a new passport, a few stamps later and we were
done. In total, the whole border process — both sides combined — took maybe 30 minutes.
If only every border crossing were that easy.

Then things started getting… sleepy. The early start kept the temperature manageable,
but our bodies were begging for a nap. We tried everything — pouring water on our
necks, switching up the music (from techno to disco polo — desperation level “just
don’t fall asleep”), and making short stops along the way.

The final stretch to Buraydah felt endless, and once we arrived — déjà vu. The hotel’s
card terminal didn’t work again, so it was back to the ATM and cash payment. The
bike parked right at the entrance under the camera, and a minute later we weren’t
thinking about it anymore. Shower, food, bed 🛌.

Tomorrow’s destination: Al-Ula. A completely different landscape and atmosphere —
but that’s a story for the next part of the diary.

 * ⌚️ **Travel time**: 9 hours 28 minutes;
 * 🛣️ **Distance:** 660 km;
 * 🏍️ **Average speed:** 91.5 km/h

 [ ⌊View from a motorcycle dashboard on the Desert Horizons Motorcycle Expedition route in Kuwait, with highway lights ahead⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/desert-horizons-2025-road-038-scaled.jpeg)

 [ ⌊Motorcycle adventure in Saudi Arabia at the HAFAF AL BATIN sign with a rider cheering on the roadside⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/desert-horizons-2025-road-040.jpeg)

 [ ⌊Desert Horizons Motorcycle Expedition in Saudi Arabia, beige Nissan Patrol parked at a checkpoint beside “NAJM” buildings⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/desert-horizons-2025-road-039-scaled.jpeg)

 [ ⌊Desert Horizons Motorcycle Expedition in Saudi Arabia: two adventure motorcycles parked on a desert road with riders adjusting gear⌉ ](https://warsawtravelers.pl/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/desert-horizons-2025-road-041-scaled.jpeg)

## Salam alejkum

The border’s behind us, stamps in the passports, and a new chapter ahead. We’ll 
keep this part short — in the next post, we’re heading straight to Al-Ula, then 
a bit of remote work in Riyadh, and a well-deserved service stop for Stefan at BMW
Motorrad. Thanks for riding along with us — see you in the next chapter!

Keep reading: [Part 5 of our travel diary – Saudi Arabia](https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/blog/desert-horizons-2025-part-5-arabia/)

And if you’re looking for practical info for your own trip: [Al-Ula — what to see and how to plan it](https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/asia/al-ula-hegra-old-town-and-top-places/).

Want the full money side of Desert Horizons? [Here’s our finance breakdown](https://warsawtravelers.pl/en/blog/trip-cost-desert-horizons-2025-finances/)(
plan vs reality, biggest costs, and the totals) 💸📊