Loco

In its own words, "Oz-Bus is an adventure travel company like no other"; organising a bus trip from London to Sydney is not exactly run of the mill. The 13 week journey goes via 20 countries and 3 continents. The trip involves at least one flight, when either sea or border instability hinders land-based progress. Despite this, Oz-Bus is one of the lowest carbon ways to get down under.

Like all low carbon adventures, embarking on an Oz-Bus trip will be a challenge. Spending so much time with the same people on the same bus should not be taken lightly, and nor should the price tag. However, organising a similar trip under your own steam would be no mean feat, and you could make friends of a lifetime along the way.

A busman's holiday?

After leaving London, the journey involves stopping off for two or three days at a time in various cities and places of interest. Accomodation usually takes the ultra low carbon form of camping, or hostels organised along the way. One of the downsides of travelling in the bus is that you're unable to take any extra time in places that tickle your fancy, but the flipside is that you'll be taken to places of interest that you may otherwise not have come across. You'll also have a bus-load of fellow travellers to share the experience with.

Cultural contrasts

The Oz-Bus itinerary goes through Europe and into Asia via the Middle East: Turkey, Iran and Pakistan. The fact that it's possible to pass through and enjoy regions seen as 'dodgy' shows how exagerrated our perception of the world is from the shelter of Western Europe. Travelling on Oz-Bus will allow you to appreciate the transition of culture from the West to the East, and back to the West again on arrival in Australia. In case of political instability alternative routes are planned from the outset. The most problematic but fascinating part of the overland route between the UK and Australia is getting into India. The main Oz-Bus itinerary goes through Iran and Pakistan, whilst the alternative route goes via Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan before entering China and heading south for Lhasa.

To find out more about Oz-Bus including departure dates, and how to book, visit the official Oz-Bus website.

OzBus have recently launched a new trip called the Hippie Trail, which runs from Turkey to Nepal, via Iran, Pakistan and India. Taking this option allows you to travel through Europe indpendently (by train, coach or boat) but join the bus for the more challenging border crossings on the way to India. For more on this option, go to the Hippie Trail website.

About Oz-Bus

Oz-Bus was set up by Mark Creasey, a passionate traveller keen to offer an alternative to the increasingly mundane gap years that are taken by the majority of travellers. Loco₂ is happy to endorse a trip that makes the adventure of overland travel a reality.