Following successful trips by convoy of SUVs in 2017, 2018 and 2019, Indian professional travellers and entrepreneurs Tushar Agarwal and Sanjay Madan are preparing to run their inaugural Bus To London overland journey, passing through 18 countries and travelling 20,000km over 70 days.
Setting off in May 2021, the bus will loop down through Myanmar, Thailand and Laos before heading for China and then onwards through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan into Russia, entering Eastern Europe in Lithuania and travelling down towards the Czech Republic. The final leg will take it through Germany and Belgium and on to London.
Passengers will be able to travel the full journey in either direction, or join it for one or more of four individual legs. The first of these will be a 12-day journey through South-East Asia, followed by a 16-day journey across China. Leg three will cross Central Asia in 22 days, before closing with leg four, which will see the coach complete its trip with a 16-day journey through Europe.
The vehicle to be used has yet to be revealed, but the trip’s website promises that it will be of very high specification. It will be a day coach, with travellers staying overnight at hotels along the route.
Among the features will be: ‘business class’ seats with multiple seat adjustment options and ample legroom in a 2+1 configuration; individual entertainment system with AUX and USB ports and WiFi; folding tray tables plus bottle and cup holders; mobile phone charging points via plug and USB, and; privacy partitions between seats.
Adventures Overland says there will be room to carry two full-size suitcases for each participant as well as a private locker with each seat to store valuable items. A mini pantry with a cool box will provide storage for water, beverages, chocolates, and snacks.
The organisers told BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine Show in early September that there had already been over 50,000 expressions of interest following initial publicity. However, it is only possible to find out fuller details of the trips and cost by registering interest in order to download a brochure. The price for the full single journey in either direction is 15Lakh, approximately £15,000. Adventures Overland was founded in 2012 and is based in Haryana, India.
