All the finer details
Where I went, how I got there and what I took with me
When I wasn’t exploring new towns, trekking or doing any of the countless activities over the past few months, I’d usually pick up my phone or tablet in the dead of night and write about my observations. Typing feverishly about the adventures wasn’t just a way of telling friends, family and colleagues that I was still alive and well, but a chance for me to document my memories and hopefully convince others to pick up a backpack too.
Below you’ll find all the particulars of my trip, including links to each of the corresponding blog posts. You can also play around with the map above which may help visualise the journey. Please feel free contact me if you wish to know more, I’m more than happy to share anything I’ve missed.
Trip summary
- Trip Length: 125 days (24th July 2016 – 2nd December 2016)
- Total distance: Appx. 19 600 KM
- Number of countries: 13
- Time zone changes: 11
- Number of intermediate destinations: 34
Route summary
- Tally of transport used:
- Train: 18 (1 spur)
- Coach: 18 (4 spur)
- Minivan: 8 (3 spur)
- Ferry: 3 (2 spur)
- Fishing boat: 2 (2 spur)
- Speed boat: 2
- Motorbike: 1
- Nights on trains: 15 (1 spur)
- Nights on buses: 3 (1 spur)
- Longest journey: Trans-Siberian railway from Moscow – Irkutsk, Russia ; 92 hours; 5192 KM
- Most economical journey: Thailand, Aranyaprathet to Bangkok for $1 covering 248 km = appx £0.003 per KM
- Least economical journey: St. Pancras, London to Gare du Nord, Paris for £120 covering 344km = appx £0.35 per KM (x116 times more expensive)
- Total combined time in transit only: 403 hours (appx. 17 days)
Full list of blog posts & destinations
|
Country |
Blog Post |
Place |
Nights |
Accommodation |
|
(Europe)
|
N/A (Transit) |
2 |
Paris-Moscow Express |
|
|
Russia |
Moscow |
3 |
Sputnik Hostel & Personal Space |
|
|
N/A (Transit) |
4 |
Trans-Siberian Railway |
||
|
Irkutsk |
1 |
Rolling Stones Hostel |
||
|
Listvyanka |
1 |
Baykalskiy Uyut |
||
|
Irkutsk |
1 |
Ushanka Hostel |
||
|
Mongolia |
N/A (Transit) |
1 |
Trans-Mongolian Railway |
|
|
Ulaan Baatar |
1 |
Sunpath Hostel |
||
|
Kharkorin |
1 |
Sunpath tours (Ger camp, city outskirts) |
||
|
Arkhangai |
1 |
Sunpath tours (Ger camp, hot springs) |
||
|
Bulgan |
1 |
Sunpath tours (Ger with nomadic family) |
||
|
Ulaan Baatar |
4 |
Sunpath Hostel |
||
|
China |
N/A (Transit) |
1 |
Trans-Mongolian Railway |
|
|
Beijing |
4 |
Leo Hostel |
||
|
Shanghai |
4 |
Le Tour Travellers Rest Youth Hostel |
||
|
N/A (Transit) |
1 |
Shanghai-Zhangjiajie railway |
||
|
Wulingyuan |
3 |
Wulingyuan Zhongtian International Youth Hostel |
||
|
N/A (Transit) |
1 |
Zhangjiajie – Guillin railway |
||
|
Guilin |
3 |
Wada Hostel |
||
|
Yangshou |
1 |
Wada Hostel |
||
|
Guilin |
1 |
Wada Hostel |
||
|
Vietnam |
N/A (Transit) |
1 |
Nanning-Hanoi railway |
|
|
Hanoi |
3 |
Vietnam Backpackers Hostel |
||
|
Cat Ba Island |
2 |
Cat Ba Guesthouse |
||
|
Ninh Binh |
3 |
Nguyen Shack |
||
|
N/A (Transit) |
1 |
Reunification Express railway |
||
|
Hue |
2 |
Vietnam Backpackers Hostel |
||
|
Hoi An |
3 |
Under the Coconut Tree |
||
|
N/A (Transit) |
1 |
Reunification Express railway |
||
|
Da lat |
3 |
Da Lat Friendly Fun |
||
|
N/A (Transit) |
1 |
Da lat – HCMC overnight bus |
||
|
Ho Chi Minh City |
4 |
Nguyen Shack |
||
|
Can Tho |
3 |
Nguyen Shack |
||
|
Ho Chi Minh City |
1 |
Nguyen Shack |
||
|
Cambodia |
Phnom Penh |
2 |
Sla Boutique Hostel |
|
|
Kampot |
4 |
Ganesha Kampot Eco Guesthouse |
||
|
Koh Rong Island |
3 |
Loney Beach |
||
|
Phnom Penh |
1 |
Sla Boutique Hostel |
||
|
Siem Reap |
6 |
The Siem Reap Hostel |
||
|
Thailand |
Bangkok |
4 |
Bed Station Hostel |
|
|
N/A (Transit) |
1 |
Bangkok – Chiang Mai Railway |
||
|
Chiang Mai |
5 |
Gren Tiger Vegetarian House |
||
|
N/A (Transit) |
1 |
Chiang Mai – Bangkok overnight bus |
||
|
N/A (Transit) |
1 |
Bangkok – Surat Thani Railway |
||
|
Koh Phangan |
4 |
Shiralea Backpackers resort |
||
|
Khao Sok |
2 |
Khao Sok Cabana resort |
||
|
Koh Lanta |
5 |
SabaiDee Lanta Hostel, |
||
|
Malaysia |
Penang |
2 |
Couchsurfing |
|
|
3 |
Magpie Residence |
|||
|
Cameron Highlands |
3 |
Park Inn Express |
||
|
Taman Negara |
2 |
Balai Serama |
||
|
Kuala Lumpur |
5 |
Back Home Hostel |
||
|
Malacca |
3 |
Ringos Foyer Guesthouse |
||
|
Singapore |
Singapore |
4 |
The Bohemian Chic Hostel |
|
|
Changi |
1 |
Terminal 2 departures |
Full route
All the trains, buses and other transportation I used.
Note: S = Spur
|
No. |
Start |
End |
Mode |
Operator |
Class |
Length (hrs) |
Nights |
Cost |
|
1 |
Milton Keynes Central Station |
London Euston |
Train |
Virgin Trains |
2 – Economy |
0.5 |
– |
£9 |
|
2 |
St. Pancras International |
Paris Gare du Nord |
Train |
Eurostar |
1 – Business |
2.5 (Late by 0.5) |
– |
£120 |
|
3 |
Paris Gare de L’Est |
Moscow Belorusskaya |
Train |
Russian Railways |
2 – Soft sleeper berth |
37 |
2 |
EUR 201 |
|
4 |
Moscow Yaroslavsky |
Irkutsk |
Train |
Russian Railways |
3 – Plazkart |
92 |
4 |
£110 |
|
5 |
Irkutsk |
Ulaan Baatar |
Train |
Chinese Railways |
2 – Soft sleeper berth |
23 |
1 |
£110 |
|
6 |
Ulaan Baatar |
Beijing |
Train |
Chinese Railways |
3 – Soft sleeper berth |
28 |
1 |
£176 |
|
7 |
Beijing |
Shanghai |
Train |
Chinese Railways |
2 – Economy |
5 |
– |
553 Yuan |
|
8 |
Shanghai |
Zhangjiajie |
Train |
Chinese Railways |
4 – Hard seat |
19 |
1 |
190 Yuan |
|
9 |
Zhangjiajie |
Liuzhou |
Train |
Chinese Railways |
3 – Hard sleeper berth |
12 |
1 |
179 Yuan |
|
10 |
Liuzhou |
Guilin |
Train |
Chinese Railways |
2 – Economy |
1 |
0 |
46 Yuan |
|
11 |
Guilin |
Nanning |
Train |
Chinese Railways |
5 – Standing |
3 |
0 |
TBC |
|
12 |
Nanning |
Hanoi |
Train |
Chinese Railways |
2 – Soft sleeper berth |
12 |
1 |
248 Yuan |
|
13 |
Hanoi |
Cat Ba Island |
Coach, Speedboat |
Hoang Long |
2 – Economy |
4.5 |
0 |
250k Dong |
|
14 |
Cat Ba Island |
Ninh Binh |
Coach |
TBC |
2 – Economy |
7 |
0 |
250k Dong |
|
15 |
Ninh Binh |
Hue |
Train |
Reunification Express |
2 – Soft sleeper berth |
8 |
1 |
$43 |
|
16 |
Hue |
Hoi An |
Motorbike |
N/A |
N/A |
8 |
0 |
$40 |
|
17 |
Da Nang |
Nha Trang |
Train |
Reunification Express |
4 – Hard seat |
7 |
1 |
TBC |
|
18 |
Nha Trang |
Da Lat |
Coach |
TBC |
2 – Economy |
4 |
0 |
TBC |
|
19 |
Da Lat |
Ho Chi Minh City |
Night Coach |
Futa Bus Lines |
2 – Economy |
6 |
1 |
210k Dong |
|
20S |
Ho Chi Minh City |
Can Tho |
Coach |
Futa Bus Lines |
2 – Economy |
4 |
0 |
100k Dong |
|
21S |
Can Tho |
Ho Chi Minh City |
Coach |
Futa Bus Lines |
2 – Economy |
4 |
0 |
100k Dong |
|
22 |
Ho Chi Minh City |
Phnom Penh |
Coach |
Giant Ibis |
2 – Economy |
6.5 |
0 |
US$ 19 |
|
23S |
Phnom Penh |
Kampot |
Coach |
Giant Ibis |
2 – Economy |
2.5 |
0 |
US$ 11 |
|
24S |
Kampot |
Sihanouksville |
Minivan |
Giant Ibis |
N/A |
2.5 |
0 |
US$ 8 |
|
25S |
Sihanouksville |
Koh Rong Island |
Fishing boat |
Lonely Beach resort |
N/A |
4 |
0 |
US$ 10 |
|
25S |
Koh Rong Island |
Sihanouksville |
Fishing boat |
Lonely Beach resort |
N/A |
4 |
0 |
US$ 10 |
|
26S |
Sihanouksville |
Phnom Penh |
Coach |
Giant Ibis |
2 – Economy |
4.5 |
0 |
US$ 12 |
|
27 |
Phnom Penh |
Siem Reap |
Night Coach |
Giant Ibis |
2 – Economy |
5 |
0(1)* |
US$ 16 |
|
28 |
Siem Reap |
Poi Pet (Thai border) |
Coach |
TBC |
2 – Economy |
2.5 |
0 |
US$ 8 |
|
29 |
Aranyaprathet |
Bangkok |
Train |
Thailand Railways |
3 – Economy |
6 |
0 |
US$ 1 |
|
30S |
Bangkok |
Chiang Mai |
Train |
Thailand Railways |
2 – Soft sleeper berth |
14 |
1 |
821 baht |
|
31S |
Chiang Mai |
Bangkok |
Night Coach |
Nakhonchai Air |
1 – Reclining seat |
9 |
1 |
721 baht |
|
32 |
Bangkok |
Surat Thani |
Train |
Thailand Railways |
2 – Soft sleeper berth |
9.5 |
1 |
768 baht |
|
33S |
Surat Thani |
Donsak Port |
Coach |
TBC |
2 – Economy |
1 |
0 |
0 baht |
| 34S |
Donsak Port |
Koh Phangan |
Ferry |
Seatran Discovery |
N/A |
2.5 |
0 |
400 baht |
| 35 |
Koh Phangan |
Khao Sok |
Coach, Minivan |
Private operator |
2 – Economy |
4 |
0 |
700 baht |
|
36 |
Khao Sok |
Krabi |
Minivan |
Private operator |
N/A |
2.5 |
0 |
|
|
37S |
Krabi |
Koh Lanta |
Minivan |
Private operator |
N/A |
2.5 |
0 |
700 baht |
|
38S |
Koh Lanta |
Krabi |
Minivan |
Private operator |
N/A |
2.5 |
0 |
0 |
|
39 |
Krabi |
Hat Yai |
Coach |
TBC |
2 – Economy |
6 |
0 |
600 baht |
|
40 |
Hat Yai |
Padang Besar |
Minivan |
Private operator |
N/A |
1 |
0 |
40 baht |
|
41 |
Padang Besar |
Butterworth |
Train |
KTM ETS |
2 – Economy |
1.5 |
0 |
RM 13 |
|
42 |
Butterworth |
George Town |
Ferry |
Penang Ferry |
N/A |
0.5 |
0 |
RM 1.2 |
|
43 |
Penang |
Cameron Highlands |
Coach |
Perak Transit Express |
2 – Economy |
3 |
0 |
RM 35 |
|
44 |
Cameron Highlands |
Sungai Pahang |
Minivan |
Eco Cameron Tours |
N/A |
2 |
0 |
RM 65 |
|
45 |
Sungai Pahang |
Kuala Tahan |
Speedboat |
Eco Cameron Tours |
N/A |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
46 |
Kuala Tahan |
Kuala Lumpur |
Minivan |
HAN Resorts |
N/A |
5.5 |
0 |
RM 85 |
|
47 |
Kuala Lumpur |
Malacca |
Coach |
Metrobus |
2 – Economy |
2 |
0 |
RM 10 |
|
48 |
Malacca |
Singapore Woodlands |
Coach |
Delima |
2 – Economy |
3.5 |
0 |
RM 25 |
Packing list
Documents
|
Item |
Link |
Note |
|
Passport with enough spare pages |
||
|
5x Copies of passport |
||
|
Travel insurance document |
||
|
10x passport sized photos |
||
|
Copies of all Visas |
||
|
Copies of all train tickets |
||
|
Medical history document |
||
|
2x Bills |
||
|
Wallet |
||
|
Spare wallet |
Not used |
|
|
Spare $150 USD |
||
|
Vegan passport |
||
|
Pen/Notepad |
Storage
|
Item |
Link |
Note |
|
Backpack with detachable daypack – Osprey Farpoint 55 |
||
|
Backpack wire lock |
||
|
2x Padlock |
||
|
4x Packing cubes |
Clothing
|
Item |
Link |
Note |
|
Buff for sun protection |
||
|
2x Craghoppers Long sleeve t-shirts – insect repellent |
||
|
Craghoppers insect repellent hoodie |
||
|
3x Craghoppers long sleeve Shirts – insect repellent |
1 lost in Malacca | |
|
6x Underwear |
||
|
6x SmartWool socks |
||
|
2x Craghoppers convertible shorts/trousers – – insect repellent |
||
|
Pyjama bottoms |
||
|
T-shirt |
||
|
Fleece |
||
|
Cap |
||
|
Swimming trunks & goggles |
||
|
Micro fibre towel |
||
|
Water resistant trekking sandals |
||
|
Flip flops |
||
|
Sketchers walking shoes |
||
|
Poncho |
||
|
2x Waterproof bags for laundry |
Here |
Sanitary
|
Item |
Link |
Note |
|
Mosquio repellent – high Deet |
Here |
|
|
USB shaver |
||
|
USB toothbrush |
Broken – avoid |
|
|
LifeStraw Filtered water bottle |
Lost in Cameron Highlands |
|
|
Mug |
||
|
Bowl with fork/spoon |
||
|
Spare glasses |
Not used |
|
|
Hand sanitiser |
||
|
Toiletary bag |
||
|
2x factor 30 suncream |
||
|
Tissues |
||
|
Nail clipper |
||
|
Deodorant |
||
|
Wet wipes |
||
|
Braces retainer |
Lost on fishing boat from Koh Rong island |
|
|
4x All-in-one cleaning soap/laundry detergent |
||
|
Blindfold |
Not used |
|
|
Comb |
Not used |
|
|
Toothpaste x2 |
||
|
Spare toothbrush head |
Not used |
|
|
Earplugs |
Not used |
Medicine
|
Item |
Link |
Note |
|
Paracetamol |
||
|
Doxycycline malaria tablets |
Not used |
|
|
Plasters |
||
|
Anti-septic wipes |
Not used |
|
|
First aid kit |
Not used |
|
|
Scissors |
Not used |
|
|
Swiss army knife |
Not used |
Electronics
|
Item |
Link |
Note |
|
Phone |
||
|
iPad |
||
|
2x Lightning cables |
Both broken |
|
|
Sony A6000 Mirorrless Camera with 19mm Sigma lens |
||
|
Additional 35mm prime Sigma lens |
||
|
2x high capacity USB battery packs |
||
|
World travel adapter |
Lost in Hanoi |
|
|
Spare phone |
Not used |
|
|
SIM removal tool |
Not used |
|
|
iPad keyboard |
Broken, replaced |
|
|
Earphones |
||
|
2x Micro USB cables |
Both broken |
|
|
Spare earphones |
||
|
Tripod |
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