United Kingdom to Australia by Bus.

The bus can accommodate 36 passengers. The route takes it from the Embankment in London to Dover into Europe and then Asia via Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and East Timor - 20 countries in all

Ali

Ali Watters
Post Count: 3867

Msg: #1 806 days ago, September 15th 2007

The Herald UK

Would you take a bus to/from Australia/Europe?

I really like the idea - but if you have the time could it be done for about the same price independently? with all the added freedom!

It would be really good if they could do a hop on hop off version!

The company website is Oz-bus.com

[Edited: 03:04 - Ali - website + route]

travellingmum

Bobbie
Post Count: 108

Msg: #2 806 days ago, September 15th 2007

this sounds awesome for the less adventurous travelers such as myself. Always dream of going these places, but a little intimidated. Could be good for people like me! Plus I am assuming all the visas are taken care of by them... would take out the headaches for some

Hop on off, would be awesome, but as they said, this is only possible at certain times of the year, so that might be difficult.

wonder what is included in the price... this would be very cheap if it included accomodation... which i suspect it doesn't.

now all we need is a bridge (a ferry would do to start :) from timor or bali to australia then everyone will be here!

Occasionally Bob

Bob & Vik
Post Count: 159

Msg: #3 805 days ago, September 16th 2007

If you ask me, it sounds like hell. Packed into a bus/train with the same 36 people for 12 weeks...
I agree a hop on and off version would be better - at least then you'd have the opportunity to explore some of the countries you were passing through.
Four grand to travel from the UK to Australia seems fairly reasonable - for a package tour - but it would definitely be cheaper to do it independently. The costly bits of doing it independently are getting to Asia through Europe and then the boat trip from Singapore to Australia (as far as I understand it there are no longer shipping options from Indonesia or Timor to Australia) - taking a flight from Timor having got all that way overland would be so disappointing - I hope for the sake of all overland travellers they are able to arrange a new ferry crossing.
If it's anything like bus services in the UK, you'll spend an eternity waiting at the local Tibetan Plateau's of Northern China stop without seeing a single bus only for two of the damn things to arrive at once. Also, will over 65's still be allowed to use their bus pass? - I can already see Grandad with his shopping trolley, picking up the bus 220 outside Waitrose only to be dropped off two weeks later at a small market town outside Tehran.

travellingmum

Bobbie
Post Count: 108

Msg: #4 804 days ago, September 17th 2007

If anyone is interested in seeing what might happen on the OZ bus follow this blog: The Smiths They are about to leave on the second Oz bus in 6 days.

I do agree it could be interesting/terrible being stuck in a bus for that long. I want to know how often they get off and for how long? Maybe you might bet a bit of a sore back or butt!

[Edited: 01:44 - travellingmum ]

The Nomad

Camo
Post Count: 71

Msg: #5 803 days ago, September 18th 2007

I've read about this.. I found the problem was that the people organising it were making it about the journey, not the locations.. Thats fine if you want bragging rights but I would want to see stuff along the way.. Besides imagine spending all that time on a bus with people you don't like??? That's why I like to travel independently to avoid idiots if I choose to..

ConMel

Irish Traveller
Post Count: 96

Msg: #6 803 days ago, September 18th 2007

I wouldn't be into it......travelling with a bunch of potnetially annoying strangers, flying through places that are worth a whole lot more time. The whole thing sounds exhausting.

CanadianViking

Josh N
Post Count: 41

Msg: #7 800 days ago, September 21st 2007

Most of it sounds decent... except for the part about Iran. Has everyone already forgotten that whole hulabaloo, what with the British sailors being taken as POWs and the general war(s) in that vicinity? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is still in charge over there, and in my opinon he's a certified nutcase. I'd say Iran is generally not safe for most westerners right now, especially British.

Now I know many of you who have been there will be quick to defend the reputation of the region, but remember this:
1. If you've been to Iran recently, I'm guessing you're probably a hardened road warrior with a long track record of backpacking.
AND
2. As TravellingMum and The Nomad have already pointed out, most people who go on this trip will NOT be of the type described above, and may not know how to deal with a potentially bad situation. (I include myself in the second group.)

Just think about it is all I'm saying.

ConMel

Irish Traveller
Post Count: 96

Msg: #8 800 days ago, September 21st 2007

Iran is one of the safest countries in the world for travellers. Fact. The Iranian people (some of the friendliest on the planet) are not the Iranian government.

Iran really isn't the country you imagine it to be, trust me.

the wilderness years

hollie
Post Count: 67

Msg: #9 800 days ago, September 21st 2007

Hmm I thought I was in two minds about this the first time I read the post, but now I think this is something I definitely could NOT cope with. The claustrophobia, the excessiveness of the entire trip - TRIP is exactly the word, I don't think it would be an adventure. The idea of rules and regulations you would get taking part in something like this, for such a long period of time, over so many countries, with the same people...not for me! Nice idea in theory, perhaps not in practice. Great for those who can't/won't fly however..

Ali

Ali Watters
Post Count: 3867

Msg: #10 798 days ago, September 23rd 2007

theSmiths - they leave on the bus today :) - hopefully we'll get some inside stories!

Ginger nuts

Andy & Josie
Post Count: 10

Msg: #11 791 days ago, September 30th 2007

20 countries in 12 weeks is far too short if you ask me. That is about 4!!! days per country! I guess a lot of the days you will be simply sitting on the bus and looking out of the window. Not sure if you will actually get the flavour of a country this way. Sounds more like a strenuous exercise to collect the most passport stamps to me. But I can see the "green way" to Australia aspect.

[Edited: 08:26 - Ginger nuts ]

Vinovat Sudarynya

Jonathan Campion
Post Count: 701

Msg: #12 787 days ago, October 4th 2007

The United Kingdom to the United Kingdom by bus is uncomfortable enough :-)

Mell

Mell
Post Count: 13894

Msg: #13 781 days ago, October 10th 2007

Wow!!!!!
That is one cool bus journey. :)

Occasionally Bob

Bob & Vik
Post Count: 159

Msg: #14 760 days ago, October 31st 2007

Did a little digging to see how the OZbus tour was doing.

Unfortunately they seem a bit miffed about the fact that the itinerary has been changed and they have to fly from India to Bangkok - other than that and some very long days on the bus it sounds like they're having fun.

Sorry Ali, but I've got to stick in a link to a rival blogging site..Ozbus - London to Sydney

[Edited: 13:08 - Ali - fixed link - links are fine even to other blogs - spam is the problem ;)]

Mell

Mell
Post Count: 13894

Msg: #15 140 days ago, July 12th 2009

Turkishdelight is currently on this trip. I think she is in India now. Great blogs!

She was in Iran during the riots of last month too. Luckily she does not seem to have come too close to the current problems in Pakistan. There were a lot of armed guards provided for them though. I am really looking forward to reading what she says about India.

kev44

kevin john eddy
Post Count: 7

Msg: #16 1 day ago, November 28th 2009

fully loaded , the bus will average about 3-5 miles per gallon!
hmmm, dosn't sound very environmentally friendly, or cheap, to me!!

Number of Users: 11
Number of Posts: 16

Post New Topic

Forums » Over Land and Sea & Oceania