Big Plan - lots of help needed!

timbooth

Right, things have got suitably cr*p at my job (non-banking job in the City :oops: ) that I have decided to stop talking about going travelling and actually do it.

My thoughts were start in South Africa, head up the continent (via Khartoum and the Nile); head over to Israel, Jordan, Syria; up into Turkey, down through Asia, stop in Aus/NZ with friends, then back via America and Canada.

A big trip, I know, but I'm 33 and the time is definitely right. I just need some inspiration/advice from those who might have done some of these routes.

I have started looking at visas and innoculations and was thinking about May 2009 for going.

Does anyone know any websites or have any help they can give me!

I can't let this plan sit idle any longer - I need this to happen, so any help appreciated!

synchronicity

You're going to cycle all that?! :shock:

I'm a traveller at heart, so all I can say is: DO IT!
(with or without the bike)

timbooth

LOL! Thanks for your reply! Let me clarify - I can take as much time as I like and have spent my life, thus far, saving/thinking/planning so that I can do it (I've had a life as well, though!).

My thought was to buy a touring bike and cycle when I feel like it. If the middle of Africa gets to be a chore, I intend to put the bike on a train and do that for a bit. Maybe some short flights (they'll certainly be needed for some bits - Asia to Australia?!?!!).

Without tight timescales or a hard plan, I can stop (and work?) in some places if I need/choose to, or skip them altogether.

I could do with some help on: insurance; country-sepcific issues (Israel vs Syria/Jordan/etc on passport); hard-learnt experiences of others; relevant reading material.


Cheers!

synchronicity

I have never been fortunate enough to travel with my bike, but I have seen all the major continents minus Africa... my one major piece of advice is:

"travel light"

Check visa requirements for each country you intend to visit. You may actually have to get visas in neighbouring countries as they are normally issued for 3-6 months & then expire.

You'll also need to get vaccinated for yellowfever, etc & see about getting malaria tablets.

Personally, when I went on my big 4 month world trip, after about 3 months I was feeling pretty worn out. Getting up early each day, having to pack and move on can take its toll.

Know that adventure travel is not the same as a vacation. Hence if money isn't a problem you might also consider several shorter journies and/or stopping and chilling out for 1-3 weeks in one place if you're not used to travelling that much. I mean doing the African/Middle East section & flying back to the UK. Then consider an Asia-Australia-NZ-Pacific/USA tour...

But by doing that, you might just miss out on the most interesting part(s). That brings me to another thing. Culture shock is a very real phenomenon. For me it happened soon after I landed in Japan... I was walking about dazed and confused. I simply couldn't function & felt like abandoning the whole thing before I even started (and I had travelled before that point). You never know when its going to strike but it usually happens when you go to a place unprepared.

I normally don't allow myself to make any rash decisions until after I've eaten something. That's like my own rule I made up...

Have a look at oneworld explorer tickets; they tend to be quite good valule for money (or they were when I used them).

zonc

do it...but take your time and and always have a get out option - Less is More travel real light.

What an opportunity... if you need any more travel advice as to kit/ethos let me know by
I make my living as a wilderness guide and will be happy to help. knowledge is free to fellow cyclists!

Zonc

TiBoy

The only advise I would offer would be to do a dummy run/tour before going, I spend 2 weeks in France a couple of years ago and took far too much stuff. I can't offer any other specific advice other than just do it and enjoy every minute of it. If you don't do it now you proberbly never will. Good luck.

El Gordo

Sounds great. It's sad to think that I've done my big tour and won't get another chance until the kids leave home (but since one is one year old and the other isn't quite born yet that could take a while).

My advice would be to not plan too much. Have a rough idea of where you're going so you know what visas and stuff you'll need but try not to commit to a schedule or a definite route. That way you can be more flexible and relaxed about the whole thing and enjoy the good bits slowly but rush through the rubbish bits.

Only pack the stuff you really need, then take out the stuff you could do without. I promise you that you'll start thinking you've got too much before you even get to Heathrow.

Special K

I have to agree with the posters on here, some great advise for you already.

I would add you might like to read a couple of books, perhaps for inspiration, perhaps to help you realise that nobody's tour goes 100% according to plan etc etc.

There's lots to choose from, but one I devoured and got excited by was "Why Don't you Just Fly?" (search Amazon)

I'll PM you my other suggestion.

Al Downie

I'm not sure about reading books before you go - this kind of trip you have to do for your own reasons, with your own goals, not because someone else did it and had a good time. I think that if you become 'too inspired' by someone else's trip you'll just end up feeling like you're following their footsteps (even if not their actual route).

I met some Dutch cyclists recently who have been on the road now for three years. They'd planned to tour for a year using their savings, but just decided to keep going - stopping in any town they liked for long enough to work for a bit and top-up their funds. I met them in India, and in the course of our chat I asked where they were off to next. They looked at each other and shrugged, and said: "We were thinking about Spain for the winter? We've never been". Just like they were choosing where to eat that night! I wish I had that mindset, but I'm too worried about my pension. Somebody shoot me now...

Very best of luck to you! It's a great, amazing, brilliant thing to do. Most folk just watch it on TV.

Brains

8 years ago I was in exactly the same place as you.

I had a vision of driving a landrover from North to South America or Europe to Africa.
I went along to a load of the travel show (big one in London in January).
Eventually after looking at all the options I did travel from New York to LA to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile.

The S.American section I did with Dragoman - take a long look at the site, as I suspect you will find what you are looking for

http://www.dragoman.com/

synchronicity

El Gordo wrote:

My advice would be to not plan too much. Have a rough idea of where you're going so you know what visas and stuff you'll need but try not to commit to a schedule or a definite route. That way you can be more flexible and relaxed about the whole thing and enjoy the good bits slowly but rush through the rubbish bits.

I agree with that 100%. For long trips, flexibility is the key.
Oh and if you still end up packing too much stuff, consider posting it home! :idea:

amaferanga

TimBooth wrote:

.... If the middle of Africa gets to be a chore, I intend to put the bike on a train and do that for a bit

Huh? Middle of Africa a chore!? Why would you think that? The main asphalt road may be a bit tedious, but if you've got all the time in the world then you could take a pretty amazing route up through Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda then on up to Kenya and Ethiopia. So you get beautiful dirt roads, probably going days without seeing any vehicles (people a plenty though), stunning lakes, deserts (Kalahari, Skeleton coast), mountains like you'll never have seen before (Uganda (Rwenzoris), Tanzania, and especially Ethiopia), beautiful, beautiful people (almost) everywhere,.....

I've cycled for over a year in Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, DRC (briefly) and Ethiopia and have met many cyclists there. Not one found it a chore.

My advice for the Africa leg is to take a loooooooooooooong time and avoid the main roads as much as possible.

Cycling Dave

Chapeau mate.

Life is short and in it you must experience everything you can.

I just came back my second bike tour and am seriously thinking about a long one (especially after looking at this site). They're life changing.

Travel light (ish). Bike touring makes you adjust your priorities. What you need every day is water, shelter and food. That's it.

When you get back (or when you get to a place with a computer) get back on here and tell us how it's going.

P.S Things will go wrong sometimes, but it just makes the good days more wonderful.

timbooth

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for your advice and help - it really is appreciated. It seems like the best way is to have a starting point, then a very loose plan and to travel really light.

Insurance and visas are necessary admin that I will start looking into.

I have travelled quite a lot (I too got massive culture shock in Tokyo!) but never for a period this long (usually 1 week to 2 months) so I am quite excited and a little daunted.

Perhaps knowing that I can break it up and come back whenever I like will make it more manageable.

Cheers

timbooth

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for your advice and help - it really is appreciated. It seems like the best way is to have a starting point, then a very loose plan and to travel really light.

Insurance and visas are necessary admin that I will start looking into.

I have travelled quite a lot (I too got massive culture shock in Tokyo!) but never for a period this long (usually 1 week to 2 months) so I am quite excited and a little daunted.

Perhaps knowing that I can break it up and come back whenever I like will make it more manageable.

Cheers

timbooth

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for your advice and help - it really is appreciated. It seems like the best way is to have a starting point, then a very loose plan and to travel really light.

Insurance and visas are necessary admin that I will start looking into.

I have travelled quite a lot (I too got massive culture shock in Tokyo!) but never for a period this long (usually 1 week to 2 months) so I am quite excited and a little daunted.

Perhaps knowing that I can break it up and come back whenever I like will make it more manageable.

Cheers

takeonafrica

Just thought I'd mention that I'm planning a big trip to leave next summer (cycling through Africa from the UK to Cape Town).
I've spent quite a long time researching the trip and may be able to help you re. resources for the Africa section.
Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions and I'll help if I can.

In any case, hope you have a great time!
Helen

jibi

did someone mention crazyguyonabike site, or trentobike.org
lots of people who have done similar tours

loads of info

just do it!!!!
Tailwinds

george

andyrock

G'day Tim,
In 2004 I cycled from London to India via North africa and some tips from me would be to take your time and smell the roses. There were times when I should have stayed another day and rested etc but succumed to my inbuilt mantra that 'I must keep going'

I always kept a bag of boiled sweets in my h/bar bag which was useful as way of making kids disperse by throwing a handful , away from the road of course, and then making a quick getaway.

Remember that clothes and most spare parts can be bought/repaired enroute, you really need to think about each item and ask yourself do I really need this? saving weight should be at the top of your 'to do' list.

A luxury for me was listening to audiobooks on my iPod, on those stinking hot days with a headwind BBCs Lord of the Rings was a great distraction.

Lonely Planets forums are good place to get upto date and accurate intel on a specific area especially getting visas, I got a good tip that to get an Iranian visa at the Turkish border you should take a blond lady with you..... hahaha as good a tip as that was it didnt actually work but i did get to flirt fruitlessly with a Swedish backpacker.

Good luck with the trip, I was 34 when I left.

wayo_peru

Go with www.inkasadventures.com in Peru. They have the best mountain biking tours on earth and they also make "normal" tourism to machu Picchu, Cusco, historical sites, etc.