Epic Journey Begins at World Trade Centre
How does a journey begin? What is the journey truly about? And who do you choose to travel with?
When the journey is a major expedition spanning 69 days, covering 18,951 kilometres across six countries — Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, China, Mongolia, and Russia — while traversing some of the remotest places on Earth, every detail must be carefully considered and aligned. The Trans Siberia 5 Expedition is one such journey.
For starters, why was the flag-off held at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur on May 23? In the inner sanctums of WTC Kuala Lumpur stands a poignant message on a signboard: “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”
That sentiment perfectly captures the spirit of the Trans Siberia 5 Expedition.
“Not many people realise that World Trade Centre exist in more than 90 countries,” said Trans Siberia 5 expedition leader Thomas Foo, better known as Tango, as he explained his choice of venue for the flag-off.
“The World Trade Centre concept has existed for more than 50 years. Its purpose is to promote global commerce and cooperation. World Trade Centre serves as hubs for international business and trade.
“That is one of the reasons we chose to hold the flag-off of the Trans Siberia 5 Expedition at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. “And it is also why we are organising the first-ever Asia Overland Expo and Convention 2026 (AOX 2026) here at WTC later this year from Oct 23 to 25.”
Malaysia: A Regional Hub for Adventure Tourism
WTC Kuala Lumpur director of sales and events, Encik Rizan Salleh, who stood in for Group CEO of the World Trade Centre, Encik Fauzy Wahab, said WTCKL strongly believes Malaysia can become a regional hub for international exhibitions, conventions, tourism, offroad and adventure industries.
“We welcome the world to Malaysia with open arms. We want to live up to our tagline — Connecting the World,” said Rizan. “Like all World Trade Centres around the world, our objectives in Kuala Lumpur are to help local companies expand internationally, assist foreign companies entering local markets, connect governments and businesses, and grow international trade.”
Diplomatic Support for the Expedition
The Trans Siberia 5 flag-off also received support from Mr Alexey Salnikov, counsellor at the Embassy of the Russian Federation; Mr Thepthavone Sengmany, ambassador of the Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic; and Mr Teh Li King, First Secretary at the Consulate of Mongolia.
Graciously and sportingly, they waved their national flags to send off the convoy of 14 vehicles, 40 participants, and 11 crew members.
The expedition is divided into four sectors: Sector 1: Kuala Lumpur → Lhasa, Tibet (23 May – 10 June 2026) Sector 2: Lhasa → Urumqi, Xinjiang (11 June – 24 June 2026) Sector 3: Urumqi → Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (25 June – 13 July 2026) Sector 4: Ulaanbaatar → Vladivostok, Russia (14 July – 30 July 2026)
Mountain Passes, Endless Grasslands, Lonely Highways
The convoy is expected to face rapidly changing climates — from the tropical heat of Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Laos, to the freezing temperatures and vast emptiness of Siberia.
Participants will encounter rugged mountain passes in China, endless grasslands in Mongolia, remote border crossings, and the lonely highways that have made the Trans-Siberian route legendary among overland explorers.
“This expedition feels like standing before a vast unwritten chapter — hearts filled with equal parts eagerness, reverence, curiosity, and delight,” said Frank Teh who went on this expedition with his wife.
“We are not merely traveling across countries, but traveling deeper into life itself. Simply put - We are filled with a restless joy - a thrilling mixture of excitement, wonder, curiosity, and respectful anticipation.
“The thought of crossing wild frontiers, ancient lands, and endless horizons by 4x4 stirs something deep within us: a craving for adventure, discovery, freedom, and unforgettable moments together. It feels as though the road is already calling our names.”
The route crosses vast Siberian territories where roads can stretch hundreds of kilometres without services, representing true overland adventure conditions.
Epic Expeditions Help Create Real Branding
But beyond the physical challenge lies another purpose — showcasing real-world automotive performance and adventure mobility.
In his flag-off speech, Thomas, who has led 46 major continental expeditions over the past 35 years, highlighted how modern expeditions have become powerful platforms for experiential branding.
“Real branding is not created via advertising in a studio,” Thomas said passionately.
“It is created in real conditions — in the freezing cold of Siberia, in the dust storms of Mongolia, in the vast landscapes of China and across thousands of kilometres of unpredictable roads.
“Every river crossing, every campsite, every mountain pass, and every border crossing become a story shared across social media, news platforms, YouTube, photography, and the global overlanding community.
“This is branding with authenticity. This is marketing with credibility.
“When a vehicle successfully completes 20,000 kilometres across some of the toughest terrains on Earth, people do not just see a logo.
“They see reliability. They see durability. They see capability. And most importantly — they see confidence.
“That confidence cannot be bought through advertising alone. It must be earned.”
At a time when adventure tourism and outdoor lifestyles are rapidly expanding across Asia, Thomas has called on automotive makers, tyre manufacturers, component suppliers, outdoor gear companies, and technology partners to leverage such platforms to build their brands and market their products.
Ambassadors of Adventure
For participants, the expedition promises not only unforgettable experiences but also reassurance that they are in capable hands.
Besides Thomas, the deputy expedition leader is Haji Mohamed Assir, better known as One Dollar, who has travelled with him across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America on numerous expeditions — sometimes on BMW GS1100 motorcycles.
"We had a wonderful experience participating in the 10th Trans South America Expedition in April 2025," said participant Mr Chan, who will be joining Trans Siberia 5 with his wife. “This time, we will participate in Sectors 3 and 4 of the expedition. Even so, we are eagerly looking forward to the expedition team surprising us again this time with another great adventure.”
Thomas reminded: “To our expedition participants, you are not just drivers. You are ambassadors of adventure. You carry the flags of friendship, resilience, and exploration across continents.
“You will face long roads, changing weather, fatigue, uncertainty, and challenges. But years from now, you will not remember the discomfort.
“You will remember the sunrise over Mongolia. The silence of Siberia. The campfires. The laughter. The friendships.
“And the unforgettable feeling of standing at the edge of the world, knowing you made it there together.”
Having effectively circled the globe probably 20 times through his travels - including 46 continental expeditions, Tango summed up the Trans Siberia 5 simply: “Travel broadens your mind, opens your heart, and purifies your soul.”
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