Couple Walks from Moscow to Vladivostok, Every Step a Victory

An unusual walking expedition across all of Russia started from Red Square in Moscow. The married couple — Pavel and Toma — set off on foot to Vladivostok, refusing any transport. Ahead of them are nearly 10,000 kilometers, about 13 million steps, and roughly a year of travel.

The couple announced the start of their journey on their Telegram channel Family_walk_rf. The start took place early in the morning on January 19 — at 06:35. Already on the first day, they covered over 27 kilometers, walking from Moscow to Balashikha.

On the sixth day of the route, January 24, they covered the section from Ozherelki to Pokrov — 21.49 kilometers, spending 2,200 rubles (about $24 at current rates) on accommodation and nothing on food.

According to the participants, their goal is not a sports record, but a test of themselves, family strength, and the ability to move forward every day, despite fatigue and weather conditions.

«We are not athletes. We are not going for a record just to tick a box. We believe in small steps, because that«s how big goals are achieved. Every step is a small victory. Every kilometer is our mission. We will share absolutely everything, as it is: kilometers, distance, thoughts on the road,» Toma noted.

The idea of a walking route from Moscow to Vladivostok was born in early January. Pavel said that he had long dreamed of the capital of the Far East, but found inspiration for the journey during the New Year holidays.

«It all started on January 7, when I was sitting, watching a video on YouTube and saw how one person walked a long distance through different cities of his country. At that moment, it dawned on me, why don«t we walk this path, but not just through cities, but from Moscow to Vladivostok?» the man explained in a video address.

According to Pavel, it«s not about a specific place on the map, but about broader aspects: testing one»s capabilities, stepping out of the comfort zone, striving to understand what one is capable of.

«And also in people. Because Russia is not just kilometers and cities, it«s people, open, kind, genuine,» the traveler stated.

The couple married on September 2, 2025, and have been together for three years. In recent years, the pair worked remotely, which, according to them, led to a feeling of routine and became a reason to ask themselves how they want to live further.

During the journey, Pavel and Toma plan to publish daily reports on the distance covered, number of steps, expenses, as well as share photos, videos, and personal impressions of the cities and people they meet.

The route runs through the entire country — from the European part of Russia to the Far East. According to the spouses, this path for them is «not about heroism, but about discipline and movement every day,» and they hope to make the main discovery not at the finish, but on the road.

«Happiness is often not in the destination, but in the process itself,» the walking expedition participants emphasized.