Cycling from Sweden to Mt. Fuji – For His Father’s Dream

No flights, no shortcuts – just wheels, willpower, and one powerful promise – This is story about Anders Grandien, a 26-year-old adventurer from Stockholm, Sweden, currently on an extraordinary solo journey from Sweden’s northernmost tip to the iconic Mount Fuji in Japan. Traveling by bicycle and horseback, Anders is not only crossing continents – he is fulfilling a deeply personal dream sparked by a poem and fueled by memory, loss, and a passion for meaningful exploration.

A Father’s Dream, A Son’s Mission

“Once upon a time on horseback in the golden Asian morning light, in the presence of the gods.”

This is how one of the poems begins in Once Upon a Time on Horseback, a book written by Anders’ father, Bo Grandien, in 2005.

Anders grew up in Stockholm and studied at the Stockholm School of Economics. After graduating two years ago, he began working in cybersecurity. But behind the structured rhythm of professional life lay a profound family story that would ultimately steer him far beyond office walls.

“I have a mother, a sister, two brothers, and my father, who passed away 10 years ago from cancer,” Anders shares to us. His father, a published author and poet, often wrote about Asia. One of his illustrated books, The Dream of Asia, captured surreal visions of the East, but it was a particular poem, En Gång Till Häst (Once Upon a Time on Horseback), that changed Anders’ life.

“It describes a dream of his on horseback in Central Asia, surrounded by the gods. Later in the poem, he wakes up in Sweden, in the snow, never having fulfilled the dream. When I read that, I realized I had to do this script.”

And so, Anders set his sights on Mongolia – and beyond.

The Route: Sweden to Japan by Human Power

The journey began in March 2025, at Karesuando. Anders aims to reach Japan’s Mount Fuji by combining cycling and horseback riding. He plans to travel approximately 15,000 kilometers across 20+ countries, avoiding buses and cars whenever possible – except for ferries like the one from South Korea to Japan.

“I’ve always dreamed of doing something epic along the Silk Road,” he says. “When I read my father’s poem, I knew I had to do it before it’s too late.”

Before this expedition, Anders had already visited over 50 countries and embarked on various cycling trips, from Europe to a short-lived trans-American attempt cut short by the pandemic.

His thirst for adventure was first awakened during an exchange semester in China after high school.
By chance, he met a German traveler his age and joined him on a bike ride between two small towns in the countryside.
“It was an amazing adventure! We met lots of people who invited us into their homes, and some police officers let us stay overnight in a cell. Afterwards, I knew I wanted to experience more of it.”

After that, he made several solo bike trips through Europe, and then took on a bigger challenge: cycling across the United States.

“We started in Los Angeles, but when we got to Arizona, the pandemic broke out, so we had to cancel.”

Now, on his biggest journey yet, Anders continues to live by the same open and rugged spirit.

Anders Grandien, Photo: Anna Karin Lodin/Sveriges Radio

Mountains Along the Way: Ibn Sina and Fuji

As part of the journey, Anders plans to climb two symbolic peaks: Ibn Sina Peak (formerly Peak Lenin) on the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border, and Mount Fuji in Japan.

“Ibn Sina just happened to be on my route,” he explains. “It’s very high – 7,134 meters, but not the most technical mountain. I’ve climbed in Sweden and Montenegro but don’t have much mountaineering experience. With a guide and proper acclimatization, I think it’s possible.”

Mount Fuji holds a more poetic purpose. “It’s a legendary place, and a cool way to end the trip. My father once wrote a book called The Japanese Man Who Disappeared, about a runner in the 1912 Stockholm Marathon who vanished mid-race and later became a legend in Japan. My father was fascinated by him, so I thought it would be meaningful to pass through his hometown.”