60 TH ANNIVERSARY JOURNEY
Singapore to London by train * 19,500 KM | 60 DAYS | 16 COUNTRIES
60 YEARS OF SHARING ASIA OVERLAND. DIFFERENTLY.
Liz Anderson Managing Director
Why travel with Sundowners Overland?
Unparalleled destinations
Choosing the right travel partner for your
From golden empires to whispering
It’s not every day you get to unfurl the secrets
of early explorers along ancient trails of
overland journey is an important decision. along the ancient Silk Road or retrace the footsteps of the early pioneers of transcontinental travel .
For Sundowners Overland, that’s been our
wilderness, walk in the audacious footsteps trade and conquest. Enjoy a rare glimpse of endearing people living extraordinary lives
and soak up the cinematic scenery as you
traverse alluring lands by rail, road and sea.
reality for almost 60 years. We’re powered
by a passion for authentic overland travel -
journeys that immerse you in exotic cultures while carefully balancing exploration and relaxation.
Our extensive network of travel specialists will help you experience the journey of a lifetime
through captivating regions of the world. Our Tour Leaders and Local Guides are certified travel professionals with fantastic English, and share the kind of idiosyncratic insight only a local could.
Authentic encounters The true value of travel comes from the
people you meet along the way. Sundowners Overland journeys are crafted to maximise your opportunity to interact with local life, enriching your understanding of cultures and countries far from home.
Small things in great packages Small group tours ensure an intimate
experience. With in-depth sightseeing
included, you’ll forge lasting friendships as
you unlock the wonders of the world together.
2 | The Great Trans-Asia Railway Odyssey
.
Overland expertise that began with a pioneering expedition. Peace of mind Travellers have been enjoying our enriching journeys since 1964. Each journey is carefully planned and carried out by
passionate travel specialists, where 24/7 support is provided in the office and on the ground.
We didn’t start out as tour operators but
as fearless explorers. It was 1964, a time
when plane travel was still prohibitively pricey. A group of inquisitive Melburnians packed
their lives into a couple of minivans and set off on a great adventure.
Leaving from Australia, across Asia, all the way to Europe, their careening caravan traversed lands untouched by tourism, witnessing the beauty of vast deserts, dramatic mountains and sparkling waterways. As they travelled
through alluring and exotic communities, they felt nourished and warmed by the kindness of cultures far from home.
What began as a coming-of-age road trip
transformed into an edifying act of discovery. Single Supplements are optional
The group felt compelled to share their
There are no single supplements on group
hidden wonders of the world. Disembarking
tours if you are happy to share with fellow
travellers. If you’re a sole traveller and would prefer private accommodation, a single
supplement can be arranged at an additional
discoveries, and help others unlock the in London, it was time to start the next adventure: to share Asia overland with the world and to do it differently.
cost. See ‘The Details’ section on page 7.
For 60 years that passion for authentic travel
Responsible travel
transformation of a continent, Sundowners
Sundowners Overland is committed to positive
economic, social and environmental and social impacts through our Responsible Travel Policy.
has continued to burn brightly. Fuelled by the Overland has transcended revolutions to
craft captivating journeys for generations of travellers.
Sundowners Overland | 3
THE JOURNEY
London
Vienna
Paris
Budapest
Bucharest Tbilisi
Veliko Tarnovo Istanbul
Baku Ankara
Kars
Yerevan
TRIES N U O C 6 1 THE E SINGAPOR MALAYSIA THAILAND LAOS CHINA
AN K AZAKHST N AZERBAIJA GEORGIA
Aktau
Batumi
ARMENIA TURKEY
BULGARIA ROMANIA
HUNGARY AUSTRIA FRANCE UK
Cover photos: Singapore / Bangkok, Thailand / Luang Prabang, Laos / Chengdu, China / Xining, China / Lhasa, China / Almaty, Kazakstan / Turkistan, Kazakstan / Baku, Azerbaijan / Tbilisi, Georgia / Yerevan, Armenia / Istanbul, Turkey / Badapest, Hungary / London, UK
Aralsk
Almaty
Turkistan
Urumqi
Taraz
Xining
Lhasa
Lanzhou
Chengdu
Kunming
Luang Prabang Vientiene
Bangkok
KEY:
Travel by train
Kuala Lumpur Singapore
Travel by road Travel by ferry
Sundowners Overland | 5
THE DETAILS In celebration of 60 years ‘Sharing Asia Overland. Differently’, Sundowners Overland is very excited to announce the special departure of our 60th Anniversary overland journey: Singapore to London by train: The Great Trans-Asia Railway Odyssey. Embark on this truly momentous overland journey and traverse nearly half the globe from the tip of the Malay Peninsular to central London in 60 days – by train. For transcontinental travellers, overland adventurers and rail travel enthusiasts alike this will be a unique journey. Destination
The Journey Malay Peninsular to Yunnan Province Beginning in the modern city-state of Singapore we enjoy a welcome drink at the historic Raffles Hotel following our predeparture briefing. We board our first train across the Straits of Johor and onto the southern most tip of the Asian continent. Travelling up the Malaysian Peninsula to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok before continuing north to the Thai-Laos border where a short road transfer takes us to the Laos capital Vientiane. After an ‘express’ start we slow down to enjoy the sights and flavours of Vientiane and Laos’ beautiful ancient capital; Luang Prabang. Then it’s aboard the new railway to China’s exotic Yunnan Province and its capital, Kunming.
China’s far-flung frontiers: Qinghai, Tibet, Gansu & the Dzungarian Gate Home to China’s most diverse range of cultures and ethnic groups Yunnan is set in the southern foothills of the Tibetan Plateau. We skirt the mountains first to spectacular Sichuan and its capital Chengdu then by way of the incredible high-altitude QinghaiTibet railway, to Lhasa. At almost 2000 kilometres long and reaching an elevation of over 5000m this is one of the world’s greatest rail engineering feats. The Potala Palace dominates the city skyline and the sightseeing of our brief stay before we descend to Lanzhou and beyond to the Taklamakan Desert and Tien Shan mountains. We cross the Dzungarian Gate aboard the Trans-Kazakh railway to the oases and old city states of the Central Asian Silk Road.
The Silk Route: Turkistan to The Caspian Sea We follow the northern Silk Route across the Kazakh Steppe in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Marco Polo and Tamerlane. From Almaty and Taraz to Turkistan and Aralsk we will discover ancient Silk Road cities and architectural splendours – as well as the impact of more modern environmental impact in Alalsk; the once busy port and ship-building city now 20 kilometres from the receding Aral Sea. Finally on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea we await our ship for the next instalment of this incredible adventure. 6 | The Great Trans-Asia Railway Odyssey
Baku to the Bosphorus: Across the Caucasus to Istanbul Ancient at heart, the old Silk Road town of Baku showcases some remarkable modern architecture. Leaving the Caspian Sea we board the overnight train to Tbilisi, Georgia where we can enjoy the food & wine, grand avenues and cobbled back lanes of this charming city before continuing to Yerevan. With its pavement cafes along tree lined boulevards, prolific public sculpture and basement jazz clubs you will feel you have already reached Europe. Leaving landlocked Armenia we board the overnight train to the shores of the Black Sea and the resort town of Batumi, from where a short road section takes us across the border to Kars,Turkey where we re-join the railway. Aboard the Dogu Express to Ankara you will enjoy the spectacular scenery of eastern and central Anatolia, then on our final overnight express into Istanbul, our gateway to Europe.
An Orient Express: Istanbul to Paris and London Following the route of the original international sleeper service ‘Orient Express’ we cross Europe East to West with overnight stays in Bulgaria’s ancient capital; Veliko Tarnovo, Bucharest, Budapest, Vienna & Paris before embarking on the Eurostar train to Kings Cross-St Pancras Station, London. Our epic rail adventure across two continents, through 16 countries, travelling over 19,000 kilometres in 60 days is at last complete.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
No. of nights
Singapore Kuala Lumpur Bangkok Vientiene Luang Prabang Kunming Chengdu Lhasa Lanzhou Urumqi Almaty Taraz Aralsk Aktau Baku Tbilisi Yerevan Batumi Kars Ankara Istanbul Veliko Tarnovo Bucharest Budapest Vienna Paris London
1 1 1 2 2 2 1 3 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 -
Total Hotel nights Nights on Trains Nights on Ferry
38 19 2
Total nights
59
Singapore to London: via Tibet & Kazakhstan
London to Singapore: via Kazakhstan and Tibet
Fully Escorted with Sundowners Overland Tour Leader
Fully Escorted with Sundowners Overland Tour Leader
Opt Single Supp
Countries: 16 Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, France, UK
P R I C E S (FROM)
Group size: 15 maximum
$2,830 £1,485
DAT E S
2024 09 Aug - 07 Oct
Deposit is $5,000 AUD per person. Full booking conditions available from your Travel Advisor.
$34,700 £18,250
AUD GBP
2024 02 Sep - 31 Oct
ESSENTIALS
P R I C E S (FROM) DAT E S
$2,830 £1,485
ESSENTIALS
$34,700 £18,250
AUD GBP
Opt Single Supp
Group size: 15 maximum
Deposit is $5,000 AUD per person. Full booking conditions available from your Travel Advisor.
Countries: 16 UK, France, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore
Days: 60
Days: 60
Distance: 19,500km
Distance: 19,500km
Accommodation nights:
Accommodation nights:
38 hotel / Trains 19 / Ferry 2
42 hotel / 16 Train / Ferry 2
Where possible all trains will be provided on a twin-berth basis.
Where possible all trains will be provided on a twin-berth basis.
Activity Level:
Activity Level:
CODE: SASL
CODE: SALS
* 95%+ of distance by train with some short connecting sections by road.
Your Tour Leader: Kara Cheshire Meet Kara Cheshire, your Tour Leader from Singapore to London. Kara’s passion for travel and sharing destinations with her clients comes naturally. Previously a Tour Leader in the Middle East exploring Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Egypt, Kara joined Sundowners Overland in 2018 and has since led journeys along the Trans Mongolian Railway, through Iran, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Kara enjoys the journey as much as the destinations, particularly extended journeys through remote regions where fleeting glimpses of village life and stunning vistas weave the journey together. An avid long distance hiker, Kara has traversed two sections of the Jordan Trail and the first section of Sinai Trail - all when they were in their early development stages. Kara can also claim conquering Kilimanjaro as one of her greatest achievements. More adventures lie ahead with hikes planned to the Altai region of Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan. In her words “The best part of being a tour leader is seeing people’s reactions when they get to experience or see something amazing that maybe they have always dreamed about or is a total surprise. Also, those random moments of magic that happen when you travel and stumble across something totally unexpected or unplanned”. You are guaranteed an adventure full of insights, observations and delight with Kara and we know you will enjoy your time travelling together. Sundowners Overland | 7
KEY W EVEN ORLD THE LTS OVER YEAR AST 60 S.
1970’S
1980’S
1970
1980
New adventures beyond the ‘Iron
Smallpox declared eradicated
Soviet Russia
1981
Curtain’ into Eastern Europe and
1960’S 1964 The ‘Asia Overland’ adventure
begins from Australia to London in a couple of ‘Combies’
1971 First email sent by Ray Tomlinson 1972 First rolling suitcase made 1973
AIDS discovered 1982 Internet is born (academic use) 1983 Australia II wins America’s Cup
Sydney Opera House opened 1974 Terracotta Warriors discovered 1965 Winston Churchill dies 1966 Start of Mao’s Cultural Revolution in China 1967
1975 Fall of Saigon - the end of the Vietnam War
1984
1976
First mobile phone launched
First Trans-Siberian Railway journey
1985
from Nakhodka in Russia’s Far East, Vladivostok remains closed
The Beatles release Sgt. Pepper’s
Titanic wreck discovered 1986
Lonely Hearts Club Band
Crocodile Dundee released in Australia
1968
1987
Assassination of Martin Luther King
Soviet Central Asia opens up and
1969
our travellers first experience the ‘stan Soviet Republics
Apollo 11 Landing -
One giant leap for mankind
1988 Inflight smoking banned by most airlines 1989 1977 Original Star Wars film released 1978 UNESCO announces first world heritage sites 1979 Iranian Revolution – Fall of the Shah and start of the Islamic Republic
Fall of the Berlin Wall
1990’S
2000 - 2013
2014 - 2024
1990
2000
2014
Nelson Mandela released
Y2K fears do not materialise
We celebrated 50 years of Asia
2001
overland from Singapore to London
from prison 1991
Our journeys start exploring the
First Transpacific hot air balloon
Caucasus and new routes around
1992
2002
Cold War Ends - USSR ends
Euro currency launched
independent states
2003
flight by Richard Branson
11 Soviet Republics declared
1993 Maastricht Treaty and founding of the European Union 1994 The Trans Kazakhstan Railway opens
allowing travel from Beijing to Moscow via Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
the Caspian Sea
Rose Revolution in Georgia
at 2,080m 2005
Angela Merkel elected first female
iPhone released 2008 Nepal becomes a republic after 240 years of monarchy 2009 Barack Obama elected as first
Dolly the Sheep cloned
African-American President
1997
2010
Kasparov at chess 1998
The Torugart Pass opens road access through the Tien Shan
mountains from China to Kyrgyzstan along the fabled Silk Road 1999 TV allowed in Bhutan for the first time
2016 UK vote for Brexit 2017 World Expo held in Astana,
2018
2007
Deep Blue (a machine) beats
relations after 54 years
Bottom of world’s deepest cave,
Krubera Cave, reached by explorers
Twitter launched
1996
Cuba and USA restore diplomatic
Kazakhstan
2006
Barings Bank collapse
2015
2004
Chancellor of Germany
1995
Overland with our first journey
World’s first electrified road in
Sweden recharging cars as they drive 2019 Japan’s Emperor Akihito abdicates 2020 Covid 19 declared a global pandemic 2021 The COVID pandemic halts touring in a way that the challenging
geopolitics of the region have never achieved in over 50 years of continuous operations 2022 Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance found
Start of Arab Spring 2011 135th and final mission of the Space Shuttle program 2012 Higgs boson discovered 2013 First 3D printed artificial ear created
2023 AI Era begins in earnest 2024 We will see Sundowners Overland
celebrate 60 years of Sharing Asia Overland. Differently
JOURNEYS THAT CELEBRATE OUR HERITAGE
BAKU TO THE BOSPHORUS
FIVE GOLDEN STANS
Countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey
Countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan
Days: 30 Distance: 3,720 km Activity Level: Journey from the shores of the Caspian Sea to Constantinople; explore the mountains, monasteries and unique cultures and cuisine of the Caucasus. You will follow the routes of trade and conquest in the footsteps of Mongol, Persian and Ottoman armies to the borders of Byzantium. Discover ancient underground cities and Silk Road caravanserai and the contemporary tea fields and silk manufacture on this Silk Road to Istanbul. Find Out More >
HIGH PAMIR ADVENTURE WITH SIMON MADDISON
Days: 29 Distance: 6,457 km Activity Level: This incredible journey will take you through the five “Stans” of Central Asia, across mountains and steppes, treading in the footsteps of those who travelled the ancient Silk Road with their caravans winding trails through deserts, exchanging their wares, ideas and people which has led to the extraordinary melting pot of cultures that exists in the region today. Find Out More >
START YOUR JOURNEY For more information and to speak with one of our Travel Advisors please contact us: 60years@sundownersoverland.com
Countries: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan Days: 15 Distance: 6,457 km Activity Level: Few winding roads hold the fascination as much as the remote Pamir Highway. Join Simon for a truly remarkable journey deep into the mountains at the very heart of Central Asia. The sweeping history of the cities mirror the magnificence of the expansive mountains along our journey.
Find Out More >
+61 3 9672 5386 www.sundownersoverland.com
