Our proposed itinerary is here to give you a rough idea of where we will be going and what we will be doing during this expedition. This itinerary is the ideal route we would like to take providing all political situations are acceptable during the time of our travels. Obviously things can change so we have provided you with an alternative route which we would follow in the event of any problems. Either way it is always an adventure!

Day 1 – 9, UK, FRANCE, GERMANY, AUSTRIA, HUNGARY, ROMANIA & BULGARIA

Our tour begins in Hammersmith, London, and after a short ferry crossing over the English Channel we are on the European continent. In Germany we visit the WWII concentration camp of Dachau before continuing on to Salzburg in Austria, birthplace of Mozart. In Hungary we start to notice a change as Western Europe begins to fade and a goulash in Budapest is a tasty treat before following the Danube River through to Romania where we visit Dracula's Castle, perched high in the Transylvanian mountains. In Bulgaria we visit the stunning town of Veliko Turnovo and camp with the monks at Bacho Kiro caves. Crossing over the rolling green foothills of the Balkans we now head for Turkey.

Day 10 – 20, TURKEY

Istanbul, the city that separates Europe from Asia has it all, and you will revel in the history and culture it offers. Take a boat trip up the Bosphorous, marvel at the Aya Sofya and explore the opulent Topkapi Palace. At the end of the day soak your aches away in the Turkish baths and tantalise your taste buds with Turkish delights!
The battlefields of Gallipoli are our next stop where we pay tribute to the thousands of Aussies, Kiwis, Brits and Turks who lost their lives here in 1915. A truly moving experience.
Historic Troy, the great ruins of Ephesus and the Roman Baths at Pammukale are real highlights on our journey to the fairy-tale wonderland of Cappadocia where spectacular canyons, ancient caves and underground cities are carved into the geologically diverse land. Belly dancing is a big affair up here and so is the local drink 'Raki', be warned!
We continue east through the Turkish heartland before reaching the border town of Dogubeyazit (more affectionately known as 'Doggy Biscuit'). Here in the shadow of Mt Ararat we camp beneath the fabulous Ishak Pasha Palace and have a good excuse to have a party as alcohol is prohibited for the next week.

Day 21 – 27, IRAN

It is unlikely we will encounter a friendlier, more welcoming race of people on our entire journey so enjoy the Iranian hospitality!
We head straight for Tabriz, a lively city with a rich history with the fabulous Blue Mosque as it’s centerpiece.
Following the Iranian plateau we continue on to Esfahan, Iran's masterpiece. The impressive city square is full of intricately decorated mosaic Mosques, leisurely tea shops and lavish carpet emporiums. Plenty of bargains can be found in the myriad of bazaars that lead off from the square and the city's gorgeous bridges deserve all the time you can spare.
The Zagros mountains provide a stunning backdrop on our trip to the intriguing ruins of Persepolis. Once the summer capital of the Persian Empire, this is the site where Alexander the Great famously conquered the Persian army's stronghold.
We now head east desert camping our way towards the Pakistan border.

Day 28 – 33, PAKISTAN

We now enter the fabulous land of Pakistan! Our first two days will be enjoyed passing through the Balochistan desert and its barren magnificence. Two lane highways are a thing of the past and the main roads are now ever deteriorating single track corrugations.
The first town we reach is Quetta, a splendid melting pot of different cultures, a frontier town with vibrant markets and fantastic restaurants! A good place to re-charge as cold beer is again available.
A series of winding dirt tracks and hairpin bends now take us east towards Lahore, a dazzling city where you have a chance to explore some incredible museums, mosques, restaurants and nightclubs before leaving this amazing country.

Day 34 – 42, INDIA

Every day at the close of the India Pakistan border the guards from both sides put on an amazing show as they parade up and down kicking their legs unbelievably high into the air and face off against each other in a mark of independence and honour. This will be our first taste of India!
Close by is Amritsar, home of the Sikh religion with their spectacular Golden Temple as the centerpiece.
We continue onto the capital, Delhi, a city that you have to see for yourself in order to believe that such a place exists. The streets are a slow moving mass of every conceivable mode of transport, with the sacred cows having right of way over everyone! Delhi is the ultimate in hustle and bustle and facing the unrelenting throng of people is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry! Braving this city does have its rewards with great textile markets, wonderful monuments and amazing temples.
Our next stop is a definite highlight, Agra and the Taj Mahal. This monument to love is spectacular and will keep your camera clicking all day.
Heading east we reach Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges River where an early morning boat trip will definitely open your eyes. Dead bodies float by as the multitudes flock down to this Holy river to wash away their sins each morning. On shore the funeral pyres known as 'Ghats' burn away as stray dogs fight over any scrap of food that comes their way. An unbelievable sight!

Day 43 – 47, NEPAL

Nepal is a breath of fresh air with a lot less people and a lot more open spaces. Our first stop here is Pokhara at the foothills of the Himalayas. This mellow little town is situated around a beautiful sheltered lake and surrounded by the beautiful snow capped Annapurna mountains.
The tourist mecca of Kathmandu is our next stop. Travellers swap stories in the lively bars and the Everest Steak House serves up delicious fillets of beef which are a welcome change from the buffalo steaks we have endured throughout India! The old town is steeped in history and the smell of incense wafts through the air as you marvel at the Pagodas and Temples adorning the squares.
A rough road now leads us to Tibet.

Day 48 – 64, TIBET AND CHINA

After a laborious permit war with Chinese customs & immigration we now enter the fabulous land of Tibet. Our first stop is definitely our 'biggest' reason to stop, Mt Everest! A snaking rough track makes it possible for us to drive up to base camp and the Tibetan side offers us a stunning view of the north face. You can also send a letter from the world's highest post box and visit the world's highest Buddhist monastery, Rongphu.
Joining back up with the Friendship Highway we travel along one of the world's most spectacular roads littered with beautiful lakes and monasteries.
As we enter the spiritual home of Tibet, Lhasa, we are filled with a sense of awe as this Holy city rises out of a barren wilderness of stone and sand to be crowned by the Potala, home of the Dalai Lamas.
As the road descends off the plateau the alpine scenery becomes particularly stunning with some fantastic bush camps to be found. This region of Eastern Tibet is rarely visited by tourists and the last of the Himalayan mountain passes take us over into China's Yunnan Province.
The varied terrain of Tibetan peaks and tropical rainforests makes this area an alluring destination. The 12km long Mingyong glacier is an attractive stop and close by we can hike through the Tiger Leaping Gorge, a two day walk through one of the world’s deepest gorges.
Further south the town of Lijiang lies in a beautiful valley, luring us in with its cobbled streets and Chinese lanterns. The nearby villages and temples can be explored by bicycle.
The laid back town of Dali is situated on the lovely Lake Erhai Hu, and is a good place to relax with good restaurants and cheap chinese beer.
Vast tracts of jungle, tropical vegetation and thickly forested mountains - home to elephants, bears, snakes, cats, rare birds and even tigers - now lead us south as we explore this last stretch of China.

Day 65 – 68, LAOS

We now enter an enchanted land where you have the option of boarding a boat at Nong Khiaw which takes you through spectacular mountain scenery down to our first stop, Luang Prabang. This architectural wonder is a must see, full of temples and tradition as well as wonderful markets.
Vang Vieng is our next stop and is a vibey little town set amongst awesome natural beauty. Outdoor activities abound with caving, climbing, kayaking and tubing being popular outings.
The Capital Ventianne is a real surprise with a relaxed atmosphere and a good insight into Laos’ city life. We now cross over into Thailand.

Day 69 – 78, THAILAND

We head straight for Bangkok, a modern metropolis with a deservedly infamous reputation. Noisy, polluted, hot and humid with a booming sex industry that puts Amsterdam to shame. This city is a must see!
Close by we can visit the actual site of the 'Bridge on the river Kwai' and get a good insight into what really happened here during the war.
Heading south we hug the coast on the sliver of land called the Isthmus of Kra where we take a ferry over to the island of Ko Samui. We will spend 3 days here giving you the chance to explore the nearby islands of Ko Tao and Ko Pha Ngan or just relax on the pristine Thai beaches.

Day 79 – 84, MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE

Sticking to the western part of the Malaysian peninsula we head to the futuristic city of Kuala Lumpur, offering us an amazing skyline with the Islamic-style Petronas Towers dominating the view. The city's Chinatown market is a remnant of the past and contrasts the initial feel of the place. You will even find a British colonial atmosphere lingering amongst some of the architecture and some interesting museums hold the city's history within their doors.
We continue south and reach Singapore, a distinctly clean and modern island and our last stop on the Asian continent. With an abundance of fine dining options and shopping malls this is the place to treat yourself before heading over to Indonesia.

Day 85 – 94, INDONESIA

Please Note. The Indonesia section will be conducted on local transport.
We take a ferry straight over to Jakarta on the Indonesian island of Java where you have some time to explore this distinctly Muslim city.
We now work our way through some incredible scenery to reach Yogyakarta, a vibrant city with the ancient monument of Borobudur close by. From here we head to Surubaya where a ferry will now take us over to the island of Bali. We base ourselves in the town of Kuta where you will have time to take in a dive or two and enjoy the party atmosphere before boarding a flight to take you over to Darwin, Australia.

Day 95 – 112, AUSTRALIA

Our first day is spent at the port town of Darwin in the Northern Territory. This surprisingly modern town has some good pubs and the area offers good wreck diving and superb fishing trips.
Kakadu National Park is close by and is a marvel of wildlife and aboriginal rock art. The park is great for trekking with a variety of landscapes and is probably here that we get to see our first kangaroo and a boat trip down the Yellow River will get you up close to the infamous saltwater crocodiles.
Katherine gorge is also a beautiful sight where 13 gorges are separated by raging rapids offering great canoeing through fantastic scenery.
On our route south we have a chance to wet our whistles at NT's oldest bar, the Daly Waters Pub. This is a real Aussie outback hangout where you are bound to bump into a character or two.
Joining up with the Stuart highway again we now head south into a barren red desert, the real outback, where camping is fantastic.
Our desert journey is broken up by the Devil's Marbles, huge boulders in piles out in the middle of nowhere, and Alice Springs, bang in the centre of Oz, is a good place to replenish stocks and visit some of the town's sights which give us a much better understanding of the remoteness of this outpost. There is actually a radio station that broadcasts school lessons so children in remote areas can learn!
We now continue on to Australia’s icon, Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park, better known as Ayers Rock and the Olgas. The world's biggest monolith, Ayers Rock is an awesome spectacle, as are the smaller collection of red rocks known as the Olgas.
On the south coast we visit Adelaide from where you can choose to visit Oz's premier wine making area, the Barossa Valley.
Next we visit Oz's cultural capital, Melbourne. This vibrant city is obsessed with the arts, sport and good food.
New South Wales brings us to the Sapphire coast where we drive through wonderful forests and past undeveloped coastline to reach our final destination, Sydney. The Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach make this a great end to an unforgettable journey, LONDON TO SYDNEY!