Highlights

• Sydney - Ayers Rock (Uluru) - Kakadu National park - Bali - Sumatra - Penang - Ko Samui - Bangkok - The Himalayas - Kathmandu - Chitwan National Park - Taj Mahal - Delhi - Lahore - Tehran - Esfahan - Cappadocia - Goreme - Istanbul - Budapest - Vienna - Prague - Bruges

ITINERARY

Australia

Kicking off in Sydney, we head west out of the city towards the New South Wales interior. Hugging the Murray river we pass through farming communities and goldfields as we visit traditional Australian country towns such as Cowra and Mildura as we venture in to Australia's rural heartland.

Reaching Adelaide, with its stunning beaches and the world famous Barossa Valley wine making region nearby, we enjoy a glass or two and refresh ourselves before heading north across the magnificent Flinders Range, an area steeped in aboriginal dreamtime. It is here we start to leave the genteel South Australian landscape behind us as we enter a more harsh desert environment.

Further north and we arrive at one of the state's most unusual places, Coober Pedy. This small opal mining town is known for its unique style of underground living where residents escaping the hot Outback sun reside in underground cave houses.

Travelling along the Stuart Highway we head towards Australia's heart, the forbidding Outback. The sheer vastness of the Outback makes for an incredible experience. At night we camp under clear starry skies, by day we enjoy endless sunbaked horizons.

Next to visit is the 180,000 hectare Katherine Gorge National park. The park features 13 interwoven river gorges and can be explored by boat or on foot. (Please remember this is crocodile country!)

Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory, is our last taste of western culture for some time. A modern, relaxed yet cosmopolitan town with a tropical atmosphere, Darwin serves as a great base to visit the nearby Kakadu National Park, known for its aboriginal rock art and incredible wildlife which includes the huge saltwater crocodile.

We are just a short flight away from our next continent to conquer!

Next stop - Bali.

Indonesia

Our first stop is the beautiful island of Bali. Here we spend a few days and relax in the sun. The name Bali evokes mystical images. With exquisite arts, stunning landscape, beautiful beaches and literally thousands of temples, Bali is a living cultural museum.

Indonesia is a fascinating country, comprising over 13000 islands, we start to the west of Timor where lie the volcanic islands of Flores, Komodo, Sumbawa and Lombok.

Indonesia is a fascinating country, comprising over 13,000 islands, and our first stop is the beautiful island of Bali. Here we spend a few days and relax in the sun. The name Bali evokes mystical images. With exquisite arts, stunning landscape, beautiful beaches and literally thousands of temples, Bali is a living cultural museum.

Across the short stretch of water the island of Java offers us a diverse experience. From ancient temples and bubbling mud pools to volcanoes and paddy fields, Java is truly an island of contrasts. In central Java we visit the world famous Borobudur temple. The Buddhist monument built around 788AD was "discovered"in 1814 buried in volcanic silt. Its restoration now complete it now holds world heritage status.

Striking east we hit the sprawling metropolis Jakarta, before crossing the short stretch of water to Sumatra.

One of the world's last frontiers, Sumatra is an island of lush tropical rainforests, extraordinary flora and fauna, and active volcanoes.

Home to the Sumatran tiger, the island is a haven for nature lovers.

Boarding the ferry for the short ride across the Selat Melaka. We sail across the border into Malaysia and the historic port of Melaka.

Malaysia & Thailand

Malaysia is a vibrant and ethnically complex nation. Our first stop is at the futuristic city of Kuala Lumpur. From colonial mansions and the bustle of Chinatown to the modern magnificence, Kuala Lumpur is one of the most lively and vibrant cities in Southeast Asia.

Heading north we cross tropical rain forest until reaching the cooler climates of the Cameron highlands. Refreshed we traverse the west coast passing yet more stunning coastal scenery and visiting the island of Penang, the first British settlement in Malaysia, before continuing north and crossing the border in to Thailand.

We follow the coastal road around the Gulf of Thailand. This is a simply stunning part of the country, palm fringed beaches and crystal clear lagoons abound. We make sure to spend time here relaxing and if we can time it correctly, take in a full moon beach party!

Not to be missed on this trip is our stop at Ko Samui. Beautiful beaches and tropical tranquility await us as we stop here for a few nights rest and relaxation.

We then arrive at a major highlight in Thailand - the country's capital city - Bangkok. Thailand's sprawling metropolis is often referred to as sin city! It may be hot, crowded and polluted but it's still not to be missed.

Whilst in Bangkok we make a couple of excursions visiting the 'Bridge over the River Kwai' and also the famous floating markets where the locals still conduct their daily business afloat!

Due to the unpredictability of this next region there may be a short flight involved in this section to Kathamndu from Bangkok.

Nepal - India

Arriving in Calcutta we then travel back into India and up towards the heavenly mountainous arena which is the Himalayas. In Kathmandhu you are at the roof of the world and in Backpackers heaven. Time to chill out with a Sherpa or why not try some Yak stew?

The more adventurous amongst us might take a light plane and feast upon the wondrous views of Mount Everest and the surrounding mountains... or how about some White Water Rafting if the occasion takes you. We are truly in Nepal, a medieval mini kingdom, is a mountainous wilderness offering tremendous diversity for such a small country. Its vast forests, rich in wildlife include the Bengal tiger, leopards and even a few Asiatic rhinoceroses!

From Kathmandhu we travel to the Chitwan National Park where it is possible to take an Elephant Back Safari to go in search of the magnificent but secretive Bengal Tiger!

India & Pakistan

After a short drive north we visit one of the new wonders of the world and certainly a highlight in any journey - the magnificent Taj Mahal.

From here we journey north to Delhi. The capital of India. Home to over 10 million inhabitants there is nowhere else on earth like Delhi and it is here that this chaotic city offers a glimpse of the entire country's diversity.

From the bustling city of Lahore, Pakistan's second city, we pass along the old silk road and climb over the Bolan Pass through a mountainous route towards Quetta. From Quetta, when conditions allow safe travel by road then we pass through the lonely Baluchistan Desert (Link) and on to Iran where almost immediately a distinct change takes effect as we leave the Indian sub continent and enter the Middle East.

Depending upon advice from our local operators and the British Foreign office, we may take a short flight to Tehran from Karachi to avoid this area which can be politically fragile.

Iran & Turkey

Entering Iran, a country where alcohol is strictly forbidden, when able to do so by road our first major port of call after traversing the Zagros mountains is the former capital of Persia - Esfahan. A city known for its abundance of historical buildings and life giving river - the Zayandeh-Rood. Flush with lavish bazaars we continue north towards Tehran.

After the hustle and bustle of Tehran we head north towards the town of Qom and its holy shrines.The journey north becomes a mixture of mountains and salt desert as we head towards Tabriz, a town alive with stunning blue mosques and lively bazaars.

From here we cross the Iranian border in the North West of the country into Turkey.

Entering Turkey - here alcohol is not forbidden and with our first port of call being the lively border town of Dogubeyazit (also affectionately known as Doggy Biscuit!) we are ready to let our hair down a little and enjoy the sites and wonders of this part of Turkey. Leaving Dogubeyazit and skirting Lake Van we then take a morning hike and head past a beautiful sunrise over the mountains. Now heading West, we pass Mt Nemrut, famous for its giant statues built before Christ and then we move past Erciyas Volcano.

The spectacular lunar landscape that is Cappadocia. Set in the heart of Turkey's mountainous region this is wild country... off the tourist trail.

Our next stop is Istanbul, gateway from Asia to Europe and a city that has everything. In Istanbul we spend a couple of days exploring the markets and tasting the local cuisine.

Europe

Travelling through the Balken mountains is spectacular, peaceful and reminds us that we are now on the final leg.

A night in the medieval city of Brasov, followed by a journey through Bulgaria offers more cultural experiences before we head towards Hungary and enjoy a delicious goulash in Badapest (actually two cities, Buda & pest) separated by the River Danube.

After Hungary we travel through lush vineyards and medieval villages and head towards the sophistication of  Vienna in Austria. The European "feel" is now fully upon us. A night in Austria allows us to move onto another highlight of the trip - the beautiful city of Prague. Known for its famous beers, castles and stunning chateau we are now fully enchanted by all around us and are ready for the final leg through Germany, through medieval Bruges and then 91 days after commencing this epic journey we reach our final destination - London.