Overland to China

[MariborKev]

Before anyone mentions the Trans Mongolian/Siberian railway, I've already done that.

Thinking about going overland to the Olympics this year, trying to work out any routes. Anyone done/know of any alternatives to the obvious?

[pineapple stu]

I know a lad who's currently cycling there.

Set off from Dublin, down to Rosslare, across and down France to the Danube (think he's in Germany now), along the Danube through Vienna, Bratislava and places like that, on to Greece, Turkey, across all the Stans and into China.

Roads in the ex-USSR are supposed to be decent enough. No hills, no bends - just blow up whatever's in the way and make 'em straight and flat.

[DaveyCakes]

Based on a 30-second scan of a world map and my own personal preferences, I would go across England, get a ferry to Hamburg and then go via Berlin, Warsaw, Brest, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Volgograd, boat down the Volga to Astrakhan, then through Kazakhstan, take a quick turnoff to Tashkent, then round by Alma Ata into China.

This may of course be completely impractical.

[slow2anger]

If you have never seen it - check out 'Long Way Round' for some ideas, Europe to Mongolia anyway.

http://www.longwayround.com/lwr.php

[MariborKev]

Was thinking of going via Turkey.

Some good advice there lads, much appreciated.

[Bluebeard]

Depending on how you go, you could check out the possibility of going along the old Silk Road from the middle ages. It's one I have been thinking about for quite a while and would hope one day to attempt. It goes from Italy via Turkey and so forth. This (http://www.travelchinaguide.com/silkroad/index.htm) website has some detail on the route, though heavily influenced by the thught of selling you something. And of course, there is always good old unreliable Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_Road), which as it always is a good spot to hunt for links.