Hi all, I'm 29 and have sort of very recently come to the conclusion that I should definitely travel. I love in Ireland and I want to do it before I get too old.
Have any of you attempted a journey from western Europe all the way to Japan or so? I'd be utilising trains and buses as much as possible and hostels to keep costs down.
I've also just discovered that guy smallbrained American who is doing the exact same trip, I haven't watched his series but that'll be helpful too.
My question is at pic related eastern Europe which way do you go? Through Moscow where you can get a train to Mongolia then via China? Or go through turkey, middle east SEA?
I really, really want to quit my job and just fricking do this. I want to grow and learn, I've done a little solo travelling before so I know it can be scary but its always with find memories do I look back. I loved in Taiwan for 1 year, best year of my life.
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Pros of going through Russia:
>less consulates to go to for visa, less paperwork madness
>might be cheaper overall cause you can run through it faster by train
(not that the Southern route is that expensive in comparison, but still)
Cons of going through Russia:
>more boring landscape
>definitely more boring food in comparison with the Southern route
>you'll just hear Russian most of your trip
I've met a few people who have done this, and also planning to do something like this myself. Maybe with lot of hiking in between. If I had infinite time and money I would do the Southern route on the way there, and the Russian route on the way back with some Kazakhstan sprinked in there. Btw Kazakhstan also has trains/buses going to the Chinese border. Manifesting enough money so that I can just take a year off and bum around in Eurasia.
>the Russian route on the way back with some Kazakhstan sprinked in there
That's the worst of the two combined.
There's no sense in passing through Northern Kazakhstan from and to Russia, it just adds needless complications visa-wise.
If you want to see Kazakhstan, you should commit to it, either coming in from China via Almaty and then heading up to the North and Russia or from Russia via Astana to the Caspian Sea.
>There's no sense in passing through Northern Kazakhstan from and to Russia, it just adds needless complications visa-wise.
I'm also interested in doing this route in the near future and funnily enough my plans invlude passing through Kazakhstan from and to Russia, exactly to avoid visa complications. One of my passports has 90 days visa-free entry into Russia though (and I've been before, albeit briefly) while travelling in that region of China can be seriously complicated from what I've read. It really depends on OP's specific circumstances.
Also sorry for saying 'love/d' instead of 'live/d' in a moronic phone poster.
I do actually find Russia in general to be a fascinating country. They're are crazy bastards and I know a russian guy from my uni days, once you get to know them their cold veneer melts away and they are some.of the soundest most genuine people. On the contrary I'm acutely aware they are at war currently... I don't know how much that would impact things. Does visiting Russia prevent you from gaining access to other countries?
The southern route does seem richer in terms of general history, culture, food and so on, though I accept it's a bit more expensive. I'll have probably €50k to my name if I quit and just go. I also can drive so I could potentially rent cars in certain spots. Hiking sounds amazing too as I love nature. I'd probably go for short runs around each new city to get a feel for it and to keep somewhat fit.
This, now I wasn't alone but I was with just 1 friend and since we both worked we spent a lot of time separated too.
>How about flying to Turkey and exploring, then next year you fly to Iran and explore, and the year after you can go to Thailand and Vietnam etc. Easier on your wallet, can be combined with a job, less risk of getting tired along the way.
This isn't a bad shout either, my concern is though that doing those short stints I'll probably end up staying somewhere a little nicer, eat a little better and then feel somewhat fulfilled when I'm back. I like the idea of this invisible hand slowly pushing me to the next destination, and never go 'backwards' from wherever I am at the time with the end goal being Japan. I'd quit my job and that would mean I'm not bound by time. Yes it's scary quitting my job and I'll be broke at 31 or so, BUT my mind will hopefully be enriched and full of amazing memories. Your suggestion isn't bad though and worth weighing up. A friend of mine is doing a mini eastern European interrail around April
Which I'd love to go with, though I'd I really do commit to this I'd probably skip if. I know the first and latter half of this trip would be the most expensive. I have friends in the UK, Germany, and Dubai which could act as mini markers and destinations.
Interesting and I've heard Kazakhstan is amazing. The thing is I don't know if I'll travel back from Japan, most likely I'd get a flight back to Ireland so whatever I do on the way there is likely going to be the choice I go with for a long time. I'll also probably vlog my journey, I am an editor and filmmaker so I know they would be decent, and tbh it would be more of a mental health side project than expecting any actual views, and to document it for myself.
He literally says he did solo travel before and lived on a different fricking continent for a year before, you idiot.
Russia is the cheapoest, easiest and also the most boring unless you have a serious boner for tsarist or soviet history. Also you wont be able to travel from Urine into Russia or get a visa for one if you've been in the other, so you'll have to choose a different route.
Southern Route is a trip of a lifetime, but you'll need serious funds, serious planning and serious time. How about flying to Turkey and exploring, then next year you fly to Iran and explore, and the year after you can go to Thailand and Vietnam etc. Easier on your wallet, can be combined with a job, less risk of getting tired along the way.
I used to dream about doing this route; my plan was to take a boat from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan in order to avoid Russian and Iranian visa difficulties. Good fricking luck getting I to western China though.
Check out the website Carivanistan for good logistics info.
>Good fricking luck getting to western China though.
I assume that doing the route from China will be much easier.
>Good fricking luck getting to western China though.
i did from Kirgizstan. I was sort of a hassle at the boarder. They make you take a transport to Kashgar for I think 50usd. They searched everything and took my phone to check if I am not a spy/reporter. But it's completely open for westerners unlike Tibet. Just better not mention it on your visa application. I gave the chinese embassy in Iran a fake itinerary complete with flight and hotel bookings which I all cancelled afterwards.
i did it in 2018. I went through Iran and the stans from Kirgizstan into China. then in China i took the train to Lhasa Tibet and did a tour from there to Kathmandu. From Nepal to India then Myanmar. Then Thailand Malaysia and a ferry from Singapore to Jakarta and made my way to Bali. Did all this without a single Flight. In Bali I managed to find a guy with a sailboat who was willing to take us to Australia in return for some work and money. Sadly I didn't have any more funds at that time
Northern route is just the transsiberian railway, which while I'm sure is exciting, is pretty easy mode. The southern route is way more of an adventure, while still being doable by a normal person. It's hardly Africa overland. Back in the day you had to apply for a Pakistani visa from your home country, I don't know if that's still the case. If so, either fly over it or go via Central Asia to Urumqi. Go for it bro, make it an adventure. You only live once, unironically.