Epic ExpeditionsExplore our Earth - London to SydneyHighlightsForming Stage 1, 2 and 3 of the Round the World Ride, Explore our Earth, this ride is another epic, taking in legendary routes such as the Silk Road and modern classics like the Road of 1,000 Bends, seeing UNESCO listed sites such as the Great Wall, Terracotta Army, Angkor Wat and Uluru, crossing over half the planet and three continents. The contrast of culture and the changes to your riding environment is extreme; high altitudes, great deserts, vast plains and towering mountain peaks through freezing temperatures and searing heat, set this ride out as one of the greatest Asian adventures possible by motorcycle. Route Map
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Riding ConditionsThis is primarily a paved route, to Bangkok. The long desert roads in Central Asia can be subject to sand storms and watch out for roaming camels! There will be many narrow small roads in Xinjiang Province and in China there will be plenty of crazy traffic and hazards to deal with. We cover many miles on small back roads in Yunnan around the tea plantations, many of which are poorly maintained, so watch out for potholes! Thai infrastructure is good and has some of the best mountain roads on this Stage. Bangkok is chaotic so watch out for tuk-tuks! Australia is vast and there are immense distances to cover so be prepared for long riding days. Scorching temperatures across the deserts of the Red Centre – maybe even sandstorms! Beware of the wildlife - kangaroos and camels - and the massive road trains over 70 metres long! Depending on weather conditions, we will try to ride the Gibb River Road Loop – dirt road riding across The Kimberleys What's Included?Pre-Expedition:
On the Road:
* Excludes your personal visas and letters of invitation costs. **For a price including bespoke freight requirements please contact us. Detailed ItineraryWeek 1 – EuropeA grand send off from the Ace Café in London sees the riders start the greatest and longest motorcycle tour ever attempted. We take the Euro Tunnel to France and sweep through the Ardennes. Crossing the Rhine, we’ll head through the Black Forest and onto the Austrian Tyrol. In Slovenia, we’ll overnight in Bled and then head through Northern Croatia for a night on the Danube. We head south-east through Serbia and Bulgaria and then over the Rhodope Mountains into Greek Macedonia and the coastal town of Alexandroupolis. Week 2 & 3 – Turkey, Georgia & AzerbaijanLeave Europe behind as we enter Turkey and ride into Istanbul across the Bosphorus and into Asia. We are at the western terminus of the Silk Road and will follow this ancient trade route east to Central Asia and China. Hot air balloon flights among the weird volcanic rock formations of Cappadocia. The back roads of Central Turkey, heading east. Kars and the ruined medieval Armenian capital, Ani. Onto Georgia, the birthplace of Stalin and a place of old churches and castles. Time to explore the capital Tbilisi and enjoy the local wines and cuisine. Azerbaijan awaits and is our staging post for crossing the Caspian Sea, but not before overnighting in an old Silk Road caravanserai. In Baku, we locate our overnight ferry and complete documentation for our entry into Central Asia. Week 4 – Turkmenistan & UzbekistanDesert roads in Turkmenistan to the marble white capital city of Ashgabat. North through the Karakum Desert. Stopover in a teahouse and head for a night viewing of the Darvaza Gas Crater. Follow in the tracks of Genghis Khan, as we head into Uzbekistan along the Silk Road. Our first stop is the ancient walled city of Khiva where you can wander through the narrow alleys to see the mosques, minarets and madrasahs. The great Silk Road cities of Bhukara and Samarkand, with the breath-taking Registan. Break bread with the locals and enjoy fresh kebabs and tea. Tashkent, with its odd mix of Muslim and ex-Soviet architecture, is the capital of Uzbekistan and home to the areas “plov” centre, Uzbek`s national food. Week 5 – KazakhstanThe ninth largest country on the planet, with vast open lands known as the Kazak Steppe. The south of the country is where traders travelled the ancient Silk Road between Asia and China. Turkistan is home to the turquoisedomed mausoleum of Khodja Ahmed Yassaui. Continue to Taraz and onto Almaty, the most populated city in Kazakhstan, surrounded by 4,000m peaks on the edge of the Tian Shan mountain range. Week 6 - China, Xinjiang ProvinceThe frontier town of Horgas is our first stop in China. It rarely sees Westerners, so you’ll be of the object of curiousity, especially on motorcycles! We receive our Chinese driving licences and number plates. Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, based in the foothills of the Tian Shan. Turpan and riding at 30m below sea level, the Emin Minaret and the Flaming Mountains. A stopover in the town of Hami, famous for its melons! Week 7 - China, Hexi Corridor & Qinghai ProvinceThe Hexi Corridor was once the only western passage to and from Eastern China. Follow the Silk Road from here to the remote town of Dunhuang, nestled near the Mingsha Sand Dunes. Visit the UNESCO site of the Mogao Caves. Jiayugan with its impressive Ming dynasty fort marks the symbolic end of the Great Wall. We take a ride out to the Great Wall for that picture! We continue our Silk Road journey to Zhangye, where Marco Polo spent over a year. Qinghai Province will give you a flavour of Tibet. Xining is close to the birth place of the current Dalai Lama and a visit the Tibetan KumBum Monastery. Week 8 - China, Gansu & Shaanxi ProvinceHeading south east to Lanzhou, the site of the first permanent bridge over the Yellow River. It’s onward to Xi’an, the start (or end!) of the Silk Road. Walk around the Ancient City Walls and visit the Bell and Drum Tower. There is time off the bike to visit one of the most famous archaeological finds in the world, The Terracotta Army. Week 9 - China, Sichuan ProvinceLeaving Xi’an we head to Chengdu where you can visit the Giant Panda Breeding Centre and feast on a dumpling banquet, whilst watching traditional Chinese acrobatics. Take a boat trip down the river to see the huge Buddha in Leshan.Then we spend a day at Mount Emie, a sacred site and UNESCO listed, famous for its temples and monkeys. Week 10 – China, Yunnan ProvinceStroll around Green Park in Yunnan's capital, Kunming. The ancient town of Jianshui is our next stop, rarely visited by foreigners, it has the second largest Confuscious Temple, reserved city walls and traditional buildings. We’ll take the twisty mountain roads on the traditional “Tea & Horses” route to the border town of Mengla. Week 11 - LaosCross the border into Laos and relax in peaceful Luang Nam Tha. Enjoy the tranquility of the beautiful colonial city and UNESCO World Listed Site, Luang Prabang. Discover the mix of Southeast Asian and French culture in the capital, Vientiane. Kick back with a cold Beerlao - the Lao national beer - and watch the sun set over the Mekong. Weeks 12 & 13 – ThailandInto Thailand and some of the best motorcycling roads in the world! Breath-taking scenery to the Golden Triangle. Ride the road of 1,864 bends. If you’re bored of your bike, ride an elephant! Travel through the rainforest and tiny mountain villages, close to the Burmese border. UNESCO listed Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam. South to Bangkok. It’s freight time to the southern hemisphere, but there is time to experience the wonders of the cities, wats and palaces or take a Tuk-tuk to one of the many markets. Week 14 – Western AustraliaWe are flying into Perth. With your bike out of its crate, we’ll be doing a full service ready for our circuit of Australia. You (and it!) will be itching to blast north up to Monkey Mia, where you can meet the dolphins and then to Coral Bay, where you can snorkel with manta rays in the Ningaloo Reef. Week 15 & 16 – Northern TerritoryCross the Tropic of Capricorn to Karijini National Park, famous for its gorges and waterfalls. Australia’s roads stretch endlessly into the horizons – but beware the road trains and kangaroos. Onto the Kimberley Plateau and depending on conditions, we may attempt the Gibb River Road. Explore the magnificent UNESCO listed Kakadu National Park, with its aboriginal archaeological sites and astonishing biodiversity. Watch out for crocs! Australia’s red centre and the famous sandstone rock formation, Uluru. Visit Coober Pedy, the opal capital of the world and stay overnight in an underground hotel. Week 17 – South Australia & VictoriaAfter the dryness of the desert, let’s quench our thirst in Barossa Valley, one of Australia’s major wine producing regions and enjoy a glass or two of Shiraz. A couple of days here gives us time for plenty of tasting and exploring the vineyards. It’s onto Melbourne before riding a stunning highlight – the Great Ocean Road and stopping off to view the iconic Twelve Apostles. Week 18 – New South Wales & SydneyRiding between the foothills of the Great Divide - the roads through here are scenic and twisty. Then it’s into Australia’s largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city – Sydney! It’s a fitting climax to our Australian adventure. We head to Sydney Harbour, where our last hotel is located. Congratulations – you’ve ridden to the opposite side of the planet! There’s time here to explore this vibrant city. From here your bike gets freighted back home. Expedition Preview
Dates & Prices
Useful InformationCountry/Region InformationCheck out country information on the websites below Weather InformationThe weather will be extremely variable through the trip and altitude will also impact on the temperature. The trip is timed to enjoy the best climates in each region Visas InformationTravel Health InformationYou must visit your GP or a specialised travel clinic to get advice on the recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures needed for the countries on this trip. As background, the websites listed below may prove useful.
Foreign Exchange InformationWe advise the use of US dollar as the base currency for this trip which can then be exchanged in each country through which we travel.
Frequently Asked QuestionsTerms and Conditions of Booking |
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