To RTW or not to RTW?

I had originally planned an ad-hoc type trip, buying tickets as I went along. Having researched this I now realise it aint the best idea - one way to NZ circa £800!

My orginal plan was: NZ, South Africa, cycle overland to Kenya, India overland to Nepal then Tibet, Beijing, Hong kong, Japan, Trans siberian then Europe. Thats approximately 6 flights, none of the agents I've spoken to can give me a ticket as it doubles back on itself. But this is my ideal trip...

So it would appear I really need to get a RTW ticket, maybe fly to San Fran first then NZ? I think this would meet with the requirements of a RTW. Are there any tickets which dont have a 12month limit? Or could i terminate my trip in Japan and make my own way from there? Any help would be greatly appreciated.


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Well thats a bit negative! Where in my post did I say im smuggling 10k of heroin into NZ?!

Cycling through Africa is dangerous, yes. So is cycling in the UK: on dual carrigeways, on country roads - many of my friends have been hurt. But I still go out. Cycling Africa is something I have always wanted to do, its been done before on here!

leflo

Whats life without a little risk anyway? 😊 Reply to this

Here is a thread which may interest you. There is a list of members of this site on there who have cycled long distances. Maybe they are available to help.

Cycling bloggers where are you?? Reply to this

Thanks mel, not looked at some of those - England to singapore! wow. Reply to this

not sure if this is helpful but the ticket I got was technically a one-way ticket to Australia - I had three flights on it - london-mumbai, delhi-singapore, bangkok-sydney and the rest was up to me - about 18 months ago it cost me only about £700, including all the taxes - I also didn't want a RTW ticket because I didn't want to plan too much and I didn't know where else I might like to go after Australia. that ticket was through Trailfinders, though they might do other similar one-way tickets which would incorporate more of the places you want to see, so it'd be worth asking them, maybe, there are probably lots of possibilities out there.... all I did was before I got to Oz, I had an onward ticket booked to New Zealand to comply with the visa rules - anyway they didn't even ask to see the ticket! Reply to this

Hey - I never implied that you were a drug smuggler.

Just being helpfull. One way tickets into "down under" immediately raise suspicion by immigration.
They are liable to swab you, your gear, your credit cards etc and even the makings for a single joint or having been in contact with any drugs in the last few days will show and could mean your entry declined.

Just a cauntionary comment mate considering you mentioned a single ticket .... I have some involvement in the process due to my line of work and a good few travellers are sent back on the next plane nearly every week having being denied entry.

As to cycling through Africa - you make a comparison to the dangers to cycling through UK??
Mate - if you think you can get on the highway and just cycle your way through Africa - good luck.

Sorry - maybe I was a bit negative in my first post, so I have edited out some comments from this post. Focus on the positve....

Leflow has an excellent blog and you should read through it. He took nearly two years I believe and I doubt you will be able to do it in the time you specify. You can do NZ in 1-2 months easily on a bike, so use the extra two months in Africa rather which is HUGE and so beautiful, but you won't be able to see the best of it on a bicycle without getting way of the beaten track..

Mark Reply to this

Mark, no, I'm not expecting to hop on my bike and cycle the main roads through Africa - I know what to expect. I am looking at 6-7months to travel SA, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya I would like to do a large portion of this on a bike but will also be hiking and using buses whenever possible. I think thats quite a lot of time.

I've read Leflow's blog from start to finish. Im reading Tom Griffith at the moment.

Phoned trailfinders today, it looks like my best option is a RTW ticket: London - San fran - LA - Auckland - J'berg - London, cost approx £1100 after tax. Obviously I would just miss the last flight and make my own way from there. As a bonus that gives me a rtn ticket to show the facist customs people in NZ (kidding!)

Im leaning towards that way now. It would mean more time in NZ and Africa. Plus, I really dont want a deadline travelling Africa. Reply to this

Immigration & Customs in both NZ & Aust are a sh**ty bunch to deal with sometimes - but it is their job.
They "need" to protect our beautiful countries form illegal immigrants and the ever increasing smuggling routes.
We also have strict bio-control laws so make sure you read up on the allowed products etc which you may bring into the country (Both NZ & Australia).

Paul, you are right, there is a timezone people are not aware of untill you hit it - Africa Time!
You really do not want to have any kind of limit on your intended trip in Africa as the stress of making deadlines will just spoil it.
"Africa time = today, tomorrow, next week - who cares coz all days are the same"

Have not read Tom Griffith yet, but you should bear in mind, only a very select few writers will give you a true account when writing travelogues.
The "negative" aspects are normally left out or just glossed over but they are important things to take note of when you do any kind of planning and you should try to contact them directly for these aspects of their travels.

I mean who wants to write about the dumb things they did, the bad planning, the dangerous situations they put themselves into, the hundreds of thousands of $$ cost to the local taxpayers in search & rescue missions etc? But it happens to us all and they are things that should be there to be read to provide some insight to the next guy coming along....

Some thoughts - what do you know about snakes and what would you do if you see or nearly step on one (given that you will not be able to outrun some of them)
Spiders & scorpions. Malaria, water bourne diseases & parasites, various ticks & their often fatal associated diseases...

Locals are largely immune to many of these diseases or just unknowingly live with them but to foreigners they can be extremely painfull if not fatal.

(not even going to mention the animals, the warring and political conflicts, guerilla fighters, millitia men, inter tribal wars etc.)

I only ask the above as I am assuming you will be living it up rough and sleeping in a tent?
If you will be part of a group or sleeping in hostels/backpackers etc I guess you could sort of ignore many of my comments.

Dude, I am not being negative here - just saying that please do your research into 'every' aspect of your intended trip.

Mark Reply to this

Mark, us Scotsmen have a novel approach to lifes little problems. Its called "The Glesgae kiss"

For example:

• Black Mamba - aboot face GLESGAE KISS!

• Tick - GLESGAE KISS!

• Spiders and scorpions?? Pffft.....GLESGAE KISS!

• Guerillas, Militias, Animals and inter-tribal conflict? Aye, u got it - GLESGAE KISSSSSSS!


In all seriousness though. Im well aware of the risks im taking, what Mell said made perfect sense.

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