The ultimate overland experience

London to Australia

Pre-trip Planning Guide

Please take the following into consideration before joining an Odyssey Overland expedition. If you have any questions please email us at info@odysseyoverland.co.uk and we will be happy to give you any help we can.

Passport, visas, insurance & vaccinations

Passport

This is the most important item you will carry on your expedition. Please ensure it is valid for at least one year from our departure date, is undamaged and in good condition and that it has at least 18 clear pages. Without this number of clear pages you will not be able to complete the expedition without having to get another passport en route which is not always easy, wastes valuable time and is expensive. If you are considering getting a new passport you will need to have your new passport at least 12 weeks before departure as this is when you need to provide us with your passport information.

Note your passport will be required for visa applications in the last 6-8 weeks pre-departure, please take this into consideration before planning any pre-expedition travel.

While on the road we advise you to either keep the passport locked in the truck safe or in the hotel safe and not to keep it on your person. We recommend however that you carry a copy of your passport (a laminated copy works really well) on your person and leave one copy with a relative or friend.

If you have dual nationality, you will need to complete the trip on one passport, it is very difficult and at times not possible, to change passports during the expedition. Please check with us as to which passport is better to travel on for this expedition.

Please note that if you have an Israeli entry stamp in your passport it may be more difficult to obtain visas, therefore we recommend you obtain another passport before the expedition.

Visas AND LETTERS OF INVITATION

Most countries we will visit on our travels will require visas, some are best obtained before we leave and others we will pickup en-route. While the ultimate responsibility for obtaining visas is yours, we will assist you wherever possible and will give you guidance about how to fill in the application forms and when to submit your applications. The rules and regulations associated with obtaining visas change on a regular basis just to keep life interesting.

The most important things to note about the visas for this expedition are:

  • The majority of visas will be obtained enroute, for these there is nothing you need to do pre-departure

  • We will confirm which visas you need to apply for pre-departure at least 12 weeks prior to departure. We will also provide you with the information you need to fill in the application forms and confirm the earliest date on which you can make the application for the visas to be valid when the expedition is due to enter each of the countries.

  • Where a letter of invitation is required to support any of visa applications on the route, we will obtain such a letter on your behalf (and at your cost, this is part of our suggested visa budget).

A full list of visas we will be obtaining before departure will be provided at least 12 weeks prior to departure which gives you plenty of time to get everything organised. Please bear in mind that many visas have a limited validity so they can’t be applied for before a certain date, but we will let you know when you need to apply.

As you will need to submit your passport together with your applications, we recommend that you don't plan any travel in the 8 weeks before departure particularly as many visas require you to apply in your home country. However if you do need to travel in this period, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can help you work out the implications for your visa application process and costs. If you are flying to London for the start of the expedition, please talk to us about when you will be arriving as this also has implications for your visa process.

When submitting visa applications you may choose to submit the applications directly to the relevant embassy / consulate, or our recommendation is that you use a visa agent to assist you with your applications. While this does increase the cost it will make the process a bit easier for you. For UK / Ireland residents we recommend Travcour as a visa agent. For other nationalities / residents of other countries please contact us to see if we have any recommended agents.

For some countries you will require a letter of invitation before you can apply for a visa. We will organise these letters on your behalf at your cost.

Visa costs vary by nationality and are subject to change, however as a rough guide we suggest you budget approximately £650 for all the letters of invitation and visas (including those obtained prior to departure and those obtained en route).

Visa rules can, and do, frequently change. All visa information we provide is provided in good faith and is believed to be correct. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and current information before your trip and to obtain the necessary visas for either entry (ie to the UK / Europe) or transit (eg if flying to the UK via the USA).

Passport Photographs

Many visa applications require a passport photo, and we recommend you get 16 passport photos printed. Some of these will be required for the pre-departure visa applications, and you should bring the other photos along for the applications that we make en route.

Please make sure the photos are of passport quality, on a white background and are a true likeness and not of you on the way to a fancy dress party.

Personal Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a vital part of your pre-trip preparation and a pre-requisite for you to join us. We will require the following details of this insurance on or before the day of departure: insurer, policy number and insurer's emergency contact number.

We recommend you choose your policy carefully and make sure it is specifically designed for adventure / overland travel. The nature of our expedition is that we will be visiting off-the-beaten-track places, some of which lack western infrastructure, and we will also be going to altitudes as high as 5,300m so please ensure the insurance covers you for this style of activity. If you are adventure-activity minded it is also worth checking that you are covered for any activities you are planning to do. Many policies (especially those available on the internet) are great for a weekend in Spain but are totally unsuitable for an expedition like driving overland from London to Australia! Please pay attention to the small print and make sure your insurance company has heard of the countries we will be visiting.

We recommend that your policy has the following minimum levels of cover:

  • Medical expenses (including repatriation) - £1,000,000

  • Personal liability - £2,000,000

  • Cancellation and Curtailment £3,000

Your insurance policy should be valid for the entire duration of the expedition and cover you for all the countries we visit.

For UK-based expedition members we recommend Campbell Irvine who are very experienced in providing travel insurance for the overland industry.

Vaccinations and other health issues

Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures (including malaria prophylactics) vary according to country and recent bulletins issued by health authorities. Please consult your doctor or a specialised immunisation clinic (such as Nomad Travel – www.nomadtravel.co.uk) for vaccination and other medical requirements for your trip.

Some vaccinations can involve multiple injections with a break between each, so please look into them well before the date of departure (about 6 weeks should be enough time depending on how many vaccinations you are obtaining).

Altitude

We will be spending extended time over 4,000m, so you will need to discuss the effects of altitude with your doctor if you are on any medication and/or if you have any heart, lung or other medical complications.

We also recommend that you discuss Diamox (Acetazolamide) with your doctor / health clinic. Diamox is a drug which we have found to be very useful in helping expedition members cope with altitude. It is taken twice daily and makes it far more enjoyable to be up at altitude.

prescription medication

If you are on any prescription medicine, please let the crew know and bring the doctor’s original prescription with you on the expedition as this may be required when entering some countries. Prescription medication may not be easy to obtain while on the road so make sure you bring enough.

Money & budget

Money

This is a major consideration and it is difficult to recommend what is best. There is no doubt that cash is king for ease of use, but you will have the usual security problem (note that there is an onboard safe in which you can store your cash).

Traveller’s cheques, while the safest option, are often difficult if not impossible (and expensive in terms of commissions and other charges) to cash and we do not recommend them.

Debit and credit cards will work in most major centres, but often one type will work and another will not. We would suggest that if you are considering bringing funds in this form you bring both a Visa and a MasterCard as these are the two which are most commonly accepted. Remember to inform your bank of your intended travel plan, as they tend to stop cards when used in unusual countries.

Another option is a prepaid currency card which work like debit cards and are worth investigating.

The most sensible suggestion would be to bring a Visa debit card, a Visa or MasterCard credit card and about a third of your intended spending money as cash (not forgetting there are still some visa costs to be incurred along the way which will need to be paid in cash) in a mix of predominantly US$ and some Euro cash.

When bringing cash please ensure all your US$ notes were issued after 2006 as notes prior to this may not be accepted due to problems with forgeries. You will often get a better exchange rate for larger denomination notes, so bring along mostly US$50 and US$100 and €20 & €50 notes, although it is useful to have some smaller notes as well.

Budget

This is entirely up to you as everyone spends their money differently and has different priorities! However, as a very rough guide we recommend you budget approx £12 / US$20 per day and this should be enough to cover general daily costs. You could possibly get by on less if you are prepared to eat modestly and not spend money on expensive goodies, but it is up to you. Some countries are more expensive than others, and some days you may spend a bit more and other days a lot less, but it all evens out over the duration of the trip.

This suggested budget per day does not include visas and letters of invitation, optional excursions, adventure activities or souvenirs. Everybody has different interests and budgets, some may want to enter every historical site along the way, buy expensive souvenirs or possibly do a diving course. Our recommendation is to budget £12 / US$20 per day and then come up with maximum amount you are prepared to spend on optional activities and stick to the budget.

tipping

Tipping is customary in most of the countries we visit. Local guides will expect a tip if they have done a good job, same goes for waiters in restaurants. Lastly the crew will be working flat out to make sure you have a good time. Tipping is a personal thing, but to give you a guideline, past expedition members have suggested a budget of $1 per day per crew member.

What to bring?

Luggage

You can bring with you:

  • 1 backpack (maximum capacity 70L and maximum weight 20kg)

  • 1 day pack (maximum 20L capacity) – one that doesn’t look too flash!

  • Sleeping bag & roll mat – these do not need to fit into your backpack, but please don’t put them in another bag as this makes packing the luggage locker more difficult

This might not seem like a lot of space, but it will be sufficient for you to carry everything you need, and most people find they bring too much stuff with them anyway and just end up sending some of it home!

Wheelie bags, while great when you are shuffling through airports, are not suitable for our type of expedition. Some backpacks have both shoulder straps and wheels – it is worth considering that the wheel mechanism will add significantly to the weight of the empty bag and most of the time the wheels will be of no added benefit.

It seems obvious, but it is important to remember that you must be able to carry your own bag as there will be times when you will need to carry it through borders or into hotels and there won’t be porters there to help you! Also remember that your backpack will be loaded and offloaded by fellow expedition members so it must weigh no more than 20kg.

The crew on your expedition will be asked to enforce the restrictions on number, size and weight of backpacks to make it fair for all expedition members.

Sleeping equipment

We supply heavy duty canvas expedition tents that are spacious and quick to erect. The tents have inbuilt mosquito nets.

As we will be camping about 35% of the time it is well worth investing a bit of time and money in finding a good sleeping bag and roll mat. A good night's sleep allows you to appreciate the coming day's activity so it is well worth spending a little more to ensure your comfort.

Your sleeping bag will need to be a 4 season bag as we will encounter some cold conditions, possibly below zero when in Tibet and when running through Europe. The option of combining a sleeping bag and a silk inner sheet / liner is well worth considering as it keeps you warmer and the liner is great for those hot nights when your sleeping bag may be too hot. There is always the option of buying a blanket or two as we go along but it is best to come prepared. Sleeping bags should come in an easy-to-stuff bag, some tend to pack down really nice and small but require Houdini to get them in the bag every morning. Consider buying a slightly bigger bag to make packing away easier.

Roll mats – We suggest you look at the Thermarest (or similar) self-inflating mattresses – there are several thicknesses, we recommend the 5cm thick ones. Make sure it comes with a good strap or bag to keep it rolled up and a patching kit, as they are known to get the odd puncture.

A good pillow is also essential; the blow-up ones may seem to be the answer but a proper pillow (but not a full size one as they take up too much room) is far better.

If you particularly feel the cold, think about bringing along a small hot water bottle.

Clothes and footwear

When deciding what to bring along, the most important things to consider are comfort, ease of washing (dry quickly) and packability. The weather varies as we travel, so it is best to bring layers.

It is also worth remembering that we will be travelling through a number of countries where out of respect and to be admitted entry to temples or other cultural sites it is required to cover up your shoulders and knees (or more).

We suggest your old well-worn favourites, which you don’t mind getting a bit dirty, and possibly swapping or giving away as we go along. As we go, you will be able to buy most things anyway. Possibly not quite the style that you would buy back home, but it does help you to blend in.

Suggested items:

  • 4-5 t-shirts

  • 2 pairs of trousers, hard wearing and comfortable

  • 2-3 pairs of shorts

  • 2 warm tops or fleeces

  • Underwear as much as you think you need

  • 3 pairs of socks

  • Waterproof jacket, it is worth spending a bit of money and getting a good one

  • Cold weather hat and gloves

  • Sunhat / sunglasses

  • Bathers / Bikini

  • There are nights that if you wish you can dress-up and go out on the razz so if this is your thing, bring something along

  • Trekking boots or good walking shoes – this is up to you and will depend on how much walking you plan to do

  • Sandals for daily use, a good quality pair is worth investing in, though make sure they are well worn in and comfy

  • Flip-flops / Jandels / Thongs, great for the beach and the shower

  • Laundry bag

  • Sarong/wraps are great for all sorts of things including covering up when going into mosques and holy sites

  • 1 proper towel, travel towels work but not as well

Laundry can be done easily and cheaply as we go, bring a small washing line along if you plan to do some of your own. Washing powder is cheap and freely available.

Toiletries

You will be able to get most toiletries along the way so you only need to bring to get you started unless noted below.

Suggested items:

  • Shampoo and conditioner

  • Soap or shower gel (we find this works best)

  • Toothbrush and Toothpaste

  • Deodorant

  • Contact lenses and all required fluids (difficult to obtain before Nepal, so bring enough to last you)

  • Sunscreen

  • Insect repellent

  • Contraceptive pills/condoms

  • Tampons (bring as many as you will need as this is one thing that is difficult to find in a lot of the countries we will visit)

  • Razors and shaving cream

  • Wet wipes

  • Moisturisers

  • Hairbrush / comb

personal First Aid kit

We ask everybody to bring their own personal first aid kit. The truck will have a comprehensive first aid medical kit on board which the crew will make available to you when required, at your cost, but for day-to-day stuff we ask that you use your own.

First Aid Kit should contain:

  • Band-aids / sticking plasters

  • Antiseptic cream

  • Aspirin / paracetamol / ibuprofen

  • Rehydration salts (diarolyte)

  • Antihistamines

  • Any other medical supplies you use on a regular basis

Please speak to your doctor about getting a course of Ciprofloxacin which is a prescription antibiotic used to treat stomach upsets.

Other essential stuff

Here again it is up to you to decide what best suits you but don’t blow the bank trying to get all the latest gadgets. If you bring the basics you can buy what you need as you go, that way you don't end up carrying around items that you rarely if ever use.

Camping and general travel equipment

  • Torch – head torches are generally the best and it is worth spending the money on a quality one. A torch is essential for when we are camping and an additional mini torch that you can keep in your pocket is also a good idea. Wind-up torches sounds like a great idea, but they don't really work, stick to the conventional type.

  • Pocket Knife – very useful be it a Swiss Army Knife or a Leatherman

  • Travel adaptor – try to get one that is a multi-adaptor

  • Pacsafe – we recommend you bring along a Pacsafe Personal Safe which is useful for securing your money and passport when we are in hotels, particularly for our time in South-East Asia

  • Binoculars – always great to have along, the truck will have a couple of pairs, but to have your own small pair is an advantage

  • Water bottle – we find it easier (and less likely to cause illness) to reuse a water / soft drink bottle. The truck has a large water tank which we use for drinking and cooking – we treat the water to ensure it is safe for consumption

  • Large sock - it may sound strange, but putting a damp sock over your waterbottle will help to keep it the water cool thanks to evaporative cooling, making it much easier to keep hydrated in the hotter countries along the route

  • Zip lock bags – great for keeping electrics and other stuff dry and dust free

Technology & staying in touch

 

In today's day and age it is inevitable that technology will travel along with us. Before deciding what you are going to bring along it is worth remembering that altitude, dust and vibrations are not great for electrical equipment, all of which feature on this expedition, and size and weight are also worth considering as you will be carrying all your belongings when we are travelling through south-east Asia.

In terms of charging your equipment, the truck has two 240v UK-style plugs and several 12v charging sockets which are available when the motor is running, and in addition, when you are in hotels you will have access to charging points. Please do not bring your own 12v/240v inverter as having these plugged in in addition to the existing electricals on the truck overloads the truck's electrical systems.

Suggested items:

  • Camera – A good small digital with a couple of memory cards is a good starting point. You can backup your photos to the truck laptop and hard drive as we go. We also suggest a spare battery for your camera so you can change on the run if need be

  • iPods or mp3 players – ideal ways to bring your music to listen to on headphones, or share with your fellow expedition members through the truck’s sound system. We suggest a 12 volt car charger (cigarette lighter style plug) so you can keep it charged whilst on the road as the truck has several 12 volt charging points

  • Mobile phone - we will have mobile phone coverage almost everywhere we travel. Local SIM cards are cheap and usually easy to get and allow you to phone or text home without breaking the bank. You need to make sure that your phone is unlocked in order to be able to use local SIM cards.

  • Netbook – if you are considering bringing a computer with you, look at bringing a small, cheap notebook which will give you access to the internet and storage for your photos, but not take up your whole daypack or be a huge cost to replace if it was damaged along the way. Also worth remembering that the truck carries a laptop which is available for expedition members to use for photos / internet.

Books & maps

  • Books – the truck library will have a selection of books in but we ask everybody to bring a couple of additional books to add to our collection. A selection of guidebooks for the countries we will visit will be available on board. If you do want to bring your own, maybe consider bringing Rough Guides or Footprint guides as most of the guidebooks on the truck are Lonely Planets. It is also worth noting that guidebooks are readily available in south-east Asia so you can buy some of them there rather than carrying them with you from London!

  • Some great books to consider either to read before we leave or for as we travel (we have copies of most of these on the truck as well as many other travel and non-travel books):

  • Silk Dreams, Troubled Road by Jonny Bealby;

  • The Great Game, On Secret Service in High Asia by Peter Hopkirk;

  • Trespassers on the Roof of the World by Peter Hopkirk;

  • Extremes Along the Silk Road by Nick Middleton;

  • A Dragon Apparent: Travels in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam by Norman Lewis;

  • 1421 The Year that China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies;

  • Kim by Rudyard Kipling;

  • Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang.

  • Maps will be available for you to see where we are headed but it is a good idea to bring your own if you plan to keep a record of our route

Useful Links

Blog Sites

  • www.blogger.com Great for showing the folks back home what you are doing!  Also for the top blog run by an expedition member we have a prize.

General travel information

 

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