Could you DRIVE from John 'o Groats to Singapore?!
Discussion
Don't ask why I've been thinking about this! (OK, it's a combination of beer and looking for Guam on Google Earth after reading about that Stealth bomber that crashed!)
Anyway, apart from having to get the Channel Tunnel (Which is still technically land travel and you could stay in the car), is it theoretically possible to drive all the way from the UK to Singapore?! (Without getting a boat!) If your being pedantic we can always say Calais to Singapore.....
Looking at Google Maps it appears possible, but Geography was never my strongest subject!
I do remember Peter Duncan (Blue Peter) doing something like trying to drive around the world, but all I really remember about that was he didn't manage it!
Cheers.
Anyway, apart from having to get the Channel Tunnel (Which is still technically land travel and you could stay in the car), is it theoretically possible to drive all the way from the UK to Singapore?! (Without getting a boat!) If your being pedantic we can always say Calais to Singapore.....
Looking at Google Maps it appears possible, but Geography was never my strongest subject!
I do remember Peter Duncan (Blue Peter) doing something like trying to drive around the world, but all I really remember about that was he didn't manage it!
Cheers.
Trucks from Ralph Davies in Cheltenham used to make regular runs to China by road so i dont see why not.
From day one, Ralph Davies International Transport Ltd has been transporting goods throughout Europe and beyond including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Malta, Beirut, in fact all Eastern Block Countries, Scandinavia, Asia and North Africa. However, you will also see many of it's vehicles on the roads in the UK where it has equally strong a presence.
From day one, Ralph Davies International Transport Ltd has been transporting goods throughout Europe and beyond including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Malta, Beirut, in fact all Eastern Block Countries, Scandinavia, Asia and North Africa. However, you will also see many of it's vehicles on the roads in the UK where it has equally strong a presence.
Edited by Nickyboy on Saturday 23 February 23:57
EDLT said:
Volte said:
I do remember Peter Duncan (Blue Peter) doing something like trying to drive around the world, but all I really remember about that was he didn't manage it!
Cheers.
His problem was down to him not being allowed into russia, iirc.Cheers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A388172
I think they failed cos the trucks/tanks/amphibious vehicles they used to go over the Bering Straits kept falling through the ice. Looks like they were allowed to drive through the Channel Tunnel as it wasn't completed.
Edited by Volte on Sunday 24th February 00:14
Volte said:
EDLT said:
Volte said:
I do remember Peter Duncan (Blue Peter) doing something like trying to drive around the world, but all I really remember about that was he didn't manage it!
Cheers.
His problem was down to him not being allowed into russia, iirc.Cheers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A388172
I think they failed cos the trucks/tanks/amphibious vehicles they used to go over the Bering Straits kept falling through the ice. Looks like they were allowed to drive through the Channel Tunnel as it wasn't completed.
Edited by Volte on Sunday 24th February 00:14
I tried to plan a road trip to Bangalore in India a few years back when we opened our office out there.
Gave up the idea because there weren't any reliable routemaps between, well... Moscow and the tip of India. The middle of Russia really does have sod-all in it.
Would be easier now with google maps, in fact...
Well, it'll do Land's End to Athens. Not to Singapore, Vladivostok or Beijing though.
Gave up the idea because there weren't any reliable routemaps between, well... Moscow and the tip of India. The middle of Russia really does have sod-all in it.
Would be easier now with google maps, in fact...
Well, it'll do Land's End to Athens. Not to Singapore, Vladivostok or Beijing though.
Volte said:
Anyway, apart from having to get the Channel Tunnel (Which is still technically land travel and you could stay in the car), is it theoretically possible to drive all the way from the UK to Singapore?! (Without getting a boat!) If your being pedantic we can always say Calais to Singapore.....
It is possible.There are a couple of girls who did Thailand to Brighton in a pink Tuk Tuk a couple of years ago.
They had an interesting route in fact, by going up into Laos from Thailand and then into China. They seemed to go into the interior of China by a good few miles and then head west. The reason I'm assuming was to avoid places like Pakistan, Afghanistan and the rest middle east. So instead I think they took in ex Soviet states and then into the relative safety of Russian (relative when compared to the Middle East and the Islamic nutters.)
Not sure what their website address is but you should be able to Google it quite easy.
I leave in late April to do Uk to Thailand on a motobike. The route is France, Belgium,Germany,Czech Rupublic,Poland,Ukraine,Russia,Khazaklstan,China,Loa,Cambodia,Thailand. Its not strictly neccessary to go into Cambodia since you can cross the Mekong into Thailand from Lao but Cambodia is a great place on a Bike and a chance to get to the ocean. Did Uk to Vladivostok 3 years ago, then a ferry to South Korea. I think it may be possible to drive Portugal to New York...if the sea freezes between Russia and Alaska (Baraint strait?). There's a web site, Horizons Unlimited for travellers wishing to exchange information etc. Must go now only 8 weeks till I'm off got to finish preping the bike.
Shelsley f2
Shelsley f2
Look on the Long Way Round website, they took their bikes across Russia to Magadan, possibly the coldest city in Russia's far east. Heading into Asia is not a problem, but visa's, paperwork and navigation / fuel or repairs (accidents) could make the trip tough. You either want a diesel or something that is simple to repair and reliable / economical.
I'd say physically it would be possible and legally it must be possible to enter and leave a country but I would hazard a guess it would not be all that safe to cross certain countries. On long way round they encounter some potential problems and they had back BBC back up teams and no doubt translators to assist. There is lots of trouble in Eastern European states at present and probably a lot of stuff going on it Russia we don't know about and I would also personally be vary of any country ending in -istan in the political climate.
Volte said:
It's amazing what old crap you can find on t'net!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A388172
I think they failed cos the trucks/tanks/amphibious vehicles they used to go over the Bering Straits kept falling through the ice. Looks like they were allowed to drive through the Channel Tunnel as it wasn't completed.
I remember watching this on the TV when they did it. I bet its on DVD (or VHS) somewhere.http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A388172
I think they failed cos the trucks/tanks/amphibious vehicles they used to go over the Bering Straits kept falling through the ice. Looks like they were allowed to drive through the Channel Tunnel as it wasn't completed.
-DeaDLocK- said:
<pedant> Singapore is an island, and is separated from Malaysia by a strip of ocean. You would have to cross a bridge. Does that count? </pedant>
Bridges are allowed!I was genuinely surprised that it was possible (if you're brave!) Like I'd said Geography wasn't my strongest subject!
Not sure I'd have the guts to do it though.
It wouldn't be that far to Australia from Singapore - wonder how many bridges that would take?!
http://www.dublintosydney.com/
V8 Amazon Landcruiser or the V6 Prado are the only cars I would consider, can't believe them three did it in a 316i.
V8 Amazon Landcruiser or the V6 Prado are the only cars I would consider, can't believe them three did it in a 316i.
Volte said:
Don't ask why I've been thinking about this! (OK, it's a combination of beer and looking for Guam on Google Earth after reading about that Stealth bomber that crashed!)
Anyway, apart from having to get the Channel Tunnel (Which is still technically land travel and you could stay in the car), is it theoretically possible to drive all the way from the UK to Singapore?! (Without getting a boat!) If your being pedantic we can always say Calais to Singapore.....
Looking at Google Maps it appears possible, but Geography was never my strongest subject!
I do remember Peter Duncan (Blue Peter) doing something like trying to drive around the world, but all I really remember about that was he didn't manage it!
Cheers.
Theoretically yes you can, but there is an issue getting from India / Bangladesh through to the peninsula as it is very very difficult to get through either Burma or China; in fact nearly impossible. When I did it getting to India was easy, used a ferry to get from Italy to Greece but didnt have to, but there was no land route out of bangladesh or India through to Thailand etc.Anyway, apart from having to get the Channel Tunnel (Which is still technically land travel and you could stay in the car), is it theoretically possible to drive all the way from the UK to Singapore?! (Without getting a boat!) If your being pedantic we can always say Calais to Singapore.....
Looking at Google Maps it appears possible, but Geography was never my strongest subject!
I do remember Peter Duncan (Blue Peter) doing something like trying to drive around the world, but all I really remember about that was he didn't manage it!
Cheers.
Shelsleyf2 said:
I leave in late April to do Uk to Thailand on a motobike. The route is France, Belgium,Germany,Czech Rupublic,Poland,Ukraine,Russia,Khazaklstan,China,Loa,Cambodia,Thailand. Its not strictly neccessary to go into Cambodia since you can cross the Mekong into Thailand from Lao but Cambodia is a great place on a Bike and a chance to get to the ocean. Did Uk to Vladivostok 3 years ago, then a ferry to South Korea. I think it may be possible to drive Portugal to New York...if the sea freezes between Russia and Alaska (Baraint strait?). There's a web site, Horizons Unlimited for travellers wishing to exchange information etc. Must go now only 8 weeks till I'm off got to finish preping the bike.
Shelsley f2
How are you doing the China bit?Shelsley f2
I know plenty of people who have been turned back at the Chinese border, it is doable but it is utter luck as to whether they let you in. On a bike your chances are significantly less... I even know some people who were let in and then followed for a day before the authorities said they had made a mistake and sent them back out the way they came in!
Horizons is the site of choice for such information etc.
jamoor said:
http://www.dublintosydney.com/
V8 Amazon Landcruiser or the V6 Prado are the only cars I would consider, can't believe them three did it in a 316i.
Mental, but Serious Respect! V8 Amazon Landcruiser or the V6 Prado are the only cars I would consider, can't believe them three did it in a 316i.
Shelsleyf2 said:
I leave in late April to do Uk to Thailand on a motobike. The route is France, Belgium,Germany,Czech Rupublic,Poland,Ukraine,Russia,Khazaklstan,China,Loa,Cambodia,Thailand. Its not strictly neccessary to go into Cambodia since you can cross the Mekong into Thailand from Lao but Cambodia is a great place on a Bike and a chance to get to the ocean. Did Uk to Vladivostok 3 years ago, then a ferry to South Korea.
How long are you planning on taking? Would love to do something like this in a couple of years.Good luck btw!
-DeaDLocK- said:
<pedant> Singapore is an island, and is separated from Malaysia by a strip of ocean. You would have to cross a bridge. Does that count? </pedant>
not a bridge to Singapore, its a Causeway ... a solid earth wall so perfectly admissable 
Also perfectly possible, in 2005 there was a Landrover Overland London - Singapore rally (book of teh trip here ... http://www.unireps.com.au/isbn/1904955142.htm)
Still see one of them landies driving around Changi, looks hard as nails it does
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