the journey of a lifetime
The Alps to the Himalayas, Great Britain to the Great Wall.
25 countries, 7 time zones, 10000km, 6000 miles.
Inspired by Race Across the World (BBC), Sabbatical (YouTube), bald and bankrupt (YouTube).
the world today is more accessible than ever, but does that actually mean we end up missing out?
join me on a journey across the world, by land.
the route.
Planning a route this long is more about what is possible than anything else. What countries can you actually go to? What borders can be crossed as a tourist? Constantly changing political restrictions and transport options mean that it is unrealistic to look too far in advance; each step will have to be booked in the moment and may differ significantly from what was originally intended. With that said, the map shows a route that is possible with current political circumstances and visa availability as of the time of departure.
(Click on the map for an interactive view)
Europe.
Travelling through 14 countries, Europe should hopefully offer a warm up to some of the more intense and unpredictable legs that are to follow. The backpacking and inter-railing culture means that travel between cities and countries are frequent and hostels are widely available. However, comfort and accessibility come at a cost; London, Lucerne and Milan are likely to be the three most expensive stops of the entire journey.
(Click on the map for an interactive view)
turkey to uzbekistan.
Completing the transition from Europe to Asia, leaving Turkey signifies the beginning of a different and more difficult travel experience. Entering the first ex-Soviet Republics of the trip will be a complicated transition; unpredictable politics between Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan create the most challenging border crossing so far. Transport also becomes much more basic with a vital ferry crossing between Baku (Azerbaijan) and Aktau (Kazakhstan) that is immediately followed by a multi-day train ride into Uzbekistan.
(Click on the map for an interactive view)
central asia.
Rich in culture and history, Central Asia is a region rarely explored by Western tourists. From a train across the desert into Uzbekistan to the alpine lakes of the Pamir mountains, this stretch offers perhaps the most diverse landscape of the whole journey. Taking a significant detour south to Pakistan and India via the Khunjerab pass (the highest border crossing in the world - 4693m above sea level), this leg culminates within touching distance of the Himalayas.
(Click on the map for an interactive view)
china.
The longest and final stretch of the journey, navigating through a country roughly the same size as Europe (China approx. 3.7 million sq. miles vs Europe approx 3.8 million sq. miles). Long train rides, numerous stops, diverse scenery and rapidly changing culture and dialect; the journey from West to East China promises frequent challenge, but is undoubtably one of the most amazing countries in the world.
(Click on the map for an interactive view)
the finish line.
Hanoi, Vietnam is my favourite city in the world, which makes it a fitting end to this transcontinental journey. Great food, friendly people, cheap cost of living; it will serve as the perfect base for whatever the next adventure will be.
Follow the journey with regular blog posts and photo collections!