The trains siberian railway has to be one of the most epic railway journeys on earth. Stretching from Moscow to Beijing, a total distance of 8,961 it covers an entire continent goes through the forests of Siberia, the Gobi desert and breaches the great wall of China. The Moscow to Beijing train is actually called the Trans-Mongolian line. There are two other routes, the Trans-Siberian proper which goes from Moscow to Vladivostok and the Trans-Machurian which terminates in Beijing missing out Mongolia. However, for variety nothing beats the Trans-Mongolian line, allowing you to take in three diverse countries; China, Russi and Mongolia.
Here’s how to do it on a budget.
Mon 23 Mar 2009
The fine folks at the adventurists, the people behind such madcap ideas as driving from London to Mongolia in a £200 banger and crossing the entire Indian sub-continent in a rickshaw, ahve just realeased their latest adventure. Signup starts on this saturday (14th March) so get in quick to avoid disapointment.
Here’s what they have to say about it
Take the smallest and least practical vehicle available in an entire continent and throw it at some of the most ridiculous and least hospitable terrain on our good earth. From the driest desert in the world, to the most dangerous road in the world, to the biggest rainforest in the world the Mototaxi Junket is rarefied adventure in a handy 2 week-so-you-won’t-get-fired punch in the guts.
The machine of choice is the humble Mototaxi. Invented in Peru and not really perfected anywhere. Built from a motorbike and a few bits of pipe these hardy little ferrets are designed for pootling around the back streets of cities. Which makes them perfect for dirt tracks, waist high mud, the Andes and sand dunes.
Thu 12 Mar 2009
Horizons Unlimited is a huge source for information on overland travel. It’s focus is on round the world motor bike trips but it has something for everyone. So if you’ve always dreamed of that round the world trip on check it out, be prepared to lose hours dreaming up your dream trip though!
In their own words:
Are you a Motorcycle Traveller? Does the smell of spices wafting through the air make you think of Zanzibar, a cacophony of honking horns is Cairo, or a swirl of brilliantly patterned clothing Guatemala?
Wed 04 Mar 2009
Toumani Diabaté - Festival au Desert 2007, flykr
Oumou Sangaré - Festival au Desert 2007, flykr
Terakaft - Festival au Desert 2007, flykr
Muhammad aga Kaina - Tehardent player of Tartit recording, flykr
Camel rides - Festival au Desert 2007, flykr
The Festival au Desert is an annual art and music festival held in Essakane, roughly two hours from Timbuktu in Mali. The 2009 festival runs from 8th to 10th January. The festival originated from the traditional Touareg festivals which were a chance for communities to to meet, exhange knowledge and make decisions. The festival is now open to the world and an increasing number of foreign tourists visit each year.
For more information visit the official website
Sun 01 Mar 2009
