August 7, 2023, will mark the start of this adventurous journey when “Bus to London” will depart from Istanbul.
An Indian tour company, Adventures Overland, came up with a bus trip termed “the world’s longest.” It will take exactly 56 days to complete from its departure date. The travel bus, dubbed Bus to London, will leave from Istanbul, Turkey, and eventually, reach the United Kingdom’s iconic capital.
The journey is well worth the time, even though the destination is appealing in itself. Passengers will visit 22 countries along the way, including the Balkan cities of Sofia, Belgrade, Zagreb, and Ljubljana. Moreover, the eastern European cities of Vienna, Bratislava, Prague, and Warsaw are also a part of the trip.
The bus will also travel through the Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia before crossing the Gulf of Finland and arriving in Scandinavia. Passengers will be able to marvel at the scenic beauty of Finland and Norway’s breathtaking fjords. They will also observe the real northern lights and explore Santa Village (if the weather permits).
However, before arriving in London, the van will make a brief stop in Western Europe. Bus to London will pass through Tromso, Bergen, Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen before continuing to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France via EV Ferries. The expedition will culminate in the UK capital after covering various countries over 12,000 kilometres.
After a three-year pandemic-led halt, Adventure Overland brings back long-distance bus travel with this ambitious itinerary. The tour operator originally provided an annual “Road to London” route that allowed passengers to travel through Myanmar, China, Russia, and other countries. However, some of these locations are now closed to international travellers. That’s why Adventure Overland had to rethink its routes and came up with an alternative “Bus to London.”
The cost of this trip begins at $24,300. It includes breakfast, 30 lunches and dinners, and hotel stays. For the trip, passengers will be taken aboard a special luxury bus, featuring adequate leg room, AUX and USB ports, trays, cup holders, and other amenities. In addition, each visitor can carry two full-size luggage pieces.
The itinerary assures that passengers won’t have to think about anything else except enjoying the trip.
In a statement, Adventure Overland co-founder, Tushar Agarwal said “Every single route in each country has been vetted to ensure that the journey is seamless so that participants on Bus to London can get on board with the knowledge and confidence that they are in safe hands. Providing a niche and classy experience in a secure environment is our top priority. We take charge of documentation, paperwork, visas and permits to ensure that the entire focus of participants is on experiencing the journey.”
According to the schedule, the Bus to London journey will commence on August 7 in Istanbul and will arrive in London on October 1.