That's right...I want to get from England to Australia via every transporation method EXCEPT flying...that means trains, buses, ferries and whatever else is necessary! Anything except an airplane!
Crazy? Perhaps, however this is largely possible due to the Trans-Siberian Railway - interested prospective companions should check out that link for TONS more information.
Now, as you can see, my desired journey is a little bit different than the one on the map. I'd like to start with a ferry from England to Scandinavia, then using trains and more ferries, eventually arriving at Helsinki, where the train goes to St. Petersburg, which leads to Moscow and the beginning of the Trans-Siberian railway.
Now, as for funds...well, it would definitely be expensive, although maybe not as expensive as you think. I've done some preliminary research, and the cost for the train is relatively cheap. Here's my rough estimate for TRAVEL costs alone, as well as links to my sources, when available (prices are in US dollars, as that's what most sites tended to quote in):
England -> Sweden (ferry): $35
Train across Sweden: $50
Stockholm -> Helsinki (ferry): $160
Helsinki -> St. Petersburg (train): $122
St. Petersburg -> Moscow (train): $66
Moscow -> Irkutsk (trans-sib): $272
Irkutsk -> Vladivostok (trans-sib): $100
Vladivostok -> Fushiki (ferry): $200
7 Day Japan Rail pass: $275
Osaka -> Shanghai (ferry): $200
Shanghai -> Hong Kong (train): $165
All right, I'm tired of looking things up...in theory the trip goes from Hong Kong into Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand/Laos/Malaysia/Indonesia/Australia/New Zealand and then flying back to Canada.
Ok, so just adding up those numbers, it comes to $1645 US dollars. Now, I may be naive, but I'm not stupid. I recognize that doesn't include all the extra costs like food and visa entry fees and hostels and sightseeing fees and all that. So likely, this trip would cost two or even three times that much. I also know that a flight home from New Zealand (or Australia or China or Japan) won't be cheap either. HOWEVER! Considering that a return airline ticket to Asia from Canada is about the same price ($1645 USD or more), it's not that bad a deal! A lot of nights would be spent on trains or ferries, so a lot of lodging is actually included in that original figure, something you can't do if you just fly directly. Plus, this way you get to say that you took the full trans-siberian express, and saw stuff along the way! How friggin' cool is that?!?!
The beautiful part about this trip is that it is SO huge that it could be customized according to available time and funds...can't afford to go to Japan? Fine! Take the trans-siberian to Beijing instead! Got some extra time & cash? Spend more at the beginning in Denmark/Sweden/Finland. Got nothing better to do? Spend a few weeks on the beach in Laos! Of course, all of this would have to be planned ahead of time, but it can be customized when the time comes...
Speaking of which, this may not happen soon...in fact, it likely won't be the next trip I take, but mark my words, it WILL happen! This is going to literally be the adventure of my lifetime, and I'm going to do it! I invite anyone (whom I know, that is) to come along! And even if no one else hops on board, I'll go it alone! This is too good to pass up! I've already taken the first step in crossing the Atlantic ocean...now I just have to make it across the land mass before me to get to the Pacific. I'd even be happy just taking the trans-siberian to Beijing...(then again, if you've gone all the way to beijing, you might as well take the ferry to japan...or the train to bangkok...or, or, or.....)
Well, that's enough dreaming from me. I'm going to go curl up in bed with my copy of Lonely Planet's Guide to the Trans-Siberian Railway that I bought downtown today. Some may think I'm foolish for spending £13 on a book when I don't even have a job yet, but believe me, it will provide all the incentive I need when I go out to look for work tomorrow. (If I could just save £200 each month for the rest of the time I'm hear, I'd have almost £4000 by the time I was ready to leave....)
Take care all...and don't forget to e-mail me to tell me that you're coming along ;)
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