LONDON TO NEW YORK ITINERARY
13 COUNTRIES - 18 WEEKS - £4950
London to New York is a journey of true epic proportions. The new service from OzBus is one of the world’s ultimate expeditions, traversing 3 continents and 13 countries in 18 action packed weeks.
This is a trip of amazing diversity, from historical European cities to the bleak endless wastes of Kazakhstan, from bustling Chinese cities to the quiet of the Alaskan wilderness, this is a journey beyond compare.
Coming soon - New York to London!
So begins the ultimate expedition across the world; we depart the familiar sights of London and travel across the Kent countryside before boarding our cross channel ferry for Calais. Our first of many time changes, then it's on to Amsterdam, unique for its old world charm coupled with new world vices. Take a canal boat, marvel at the works of Van Gogh or just chill out in a cafe, this city never tires the eye! 
Berlin, Germany’s trendy capital, is steeped in history and conflict and is now finally managing to move on from a divided past. Visit Check Point Charlie and the Brandenberg Gate, maybe check out the city’s amazing night life. 
Mysterious Belarus awaits, persecuted and under Russian control for most of the 20th century, Belarussians are now welcoming visitors, with the capital, Minsk, a surprising mix of east and west.
Russia is where the real journey begins, a country so diverse it crosses 11 time zones from Europe to the Bering Straits. Our first stop is Smolensk, a city destroyed by both Napoleon and Hitler's armies, but still remaining one of Russia’s oldest towns. Red Square and the magnificent Kremlin await in the country’s capital, Moscow. The speed of change here is coupled with a more western frame of mind. Perhaps a shot of vodka, sample some Russian dumplings, or just sit back and watch the Muscovites' day to day struggle to keep up with life. 
Crossing the Ural Mountains we are now leaving Europe. Yekaterinburg has a bloody history which has grown with the astonishing mineral wealth of this region. Boris Yeltsin made his political mark here, and the city is dotted with reminders of its strict communist past.
The largest ‘landlocked’ country in the world, Kazakhstan has suffered over centuries of Russian rule. Today it is emerging as a diplomatic country with vast mineral resources, and is now open to visitors. We start by travelling south to the new capital Astana, which paints a picture of a clean modern Kazakhstan to entice foreign investment. In truth, this is a desolate place set in a semi-desert region, although its people are always generous and welcoming. 
Travelling south through this unforgiving land, we feel the nomadic existence of the locals before arriving at Karaganda, where an interesting contrast awaits in its new and old towns. Outside Karaganda we stay at Karkaralinsk National Park where we camp out at a pristine lake surrounded by black mountains. Perhaps a glimpse of a brown bear or fish for trout in this unspoilt wilderness.
Next stop is the culturally diverse former capital, Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan. It lies at the foot of the Tian-Shan mountains and neighbouring Krygystan. We will take advantage of the excellent diversity of restaurants encouraged by the expat community here, and stay in a nice hotel bed before our next adventure.
Entering China we visit the border town of Yining before heading onto Urumqi, a teeming city otherwise known as the furthest city in the world from an ocean (2250km). Islam is still the main religion amongst local Uighur tribesman, often practised in underground mosques away from prying Chinese eyes! Local Uighur food is often considered the most enjoyable in central Asia, with fresh fruit also available for the first time in a while. We are now travelling the northern Silk Route and trading markets are more apparent.
Further south-west we enter the Gansu province where we visit the Mogao Caves near Dunhuang which house the greatest repository of Buddhist Art in the world.
Xi’an houses understandably one of China’s major tourist attractions, the Army of Terracotta Warriors. In 1974, peasants uncovered an underground vault that yielded thousands of life size terracotta soldiers and their horses in battle formation. There are also numerous historic tombs in the area that stand as some of China’s most amazing archaeological sites.
We cross back into Russia, though this time we are entering a new world. Our first stop is Khabarovsk, a booming river town with an almost Mediterranean feel. There’s even a beach here which is welcome considering how long we have been in continental Asia. The Regional History museum is also worth a look, as this area has been the site of many a conflict.
Dangling across from Alaska, the 1000km long Kamchatka peninsula is one of the world’s most beautiful regions, known as the ‘land of fire and ice’. Creation is still happening here, with over 200 active volcanoes and extremely unpredictable weather conditions. We have time on our side as we wait for the right moment to hike into the wilderness and experience the moon-like scenery. Mt Avachinskaya, outside of Petropavlovsk is our best chance to hike a volcano in a day.
Arriving in Anchorage, the first thing that strikes you is the incredible hospitality of the Alaskans and the return to high quality facilities and infrastructure. A few days to relax here, then head south via the incredible Winner Creek Gorge to Seward situated on the Kenai Peninsula. Here we enjoy spectacular views over the Gulf of Alaska and discover the picturesque landscape on foot. At certain times of the year a cruise around the Harding Icefield offers excellent marine life viewing including humpback or killer whales, sea lions and puffins.
A ferry across Prince William Sound with stunning views of the Columbia Glacier en-route to the frontier town of Valdez, an adventure travellers dream with access to five different glaciers on brown bear trodden trails.
Crossing into the Yukon Territory, Northern Canada we arrive at the gold panning town of Whitehorse, before heading south into the heart of the Rocky Mountains, home of the Grizzly Bear. Feast on barbecued caribou washed down with local Chianti or Ice wine, then step outside to see the midnight sunset.
The unforgettable wilderness of British Columbia is highlighted at Dease Lake and later Telegraph Creek, the centre for paddlers taking on the impressive Stikine River. Even the campsites in this region are spectacular enough for a visit..
Our American and final leg begins in Seattle, the birthplace of grunge music and well known for its coffee consumption, Starbucks started here. It’s also referred to as ‘Jet City’ as the home of Boeing.
Climbing ‘Rocky Mountain High’ we cross into Wyoming, then Colorado. Denver is the ‘mile high city’ and cowboys are everywhere. National Rodeos are held here, and ski and mountain biking enthusiasts flock here for the trendy resort towns of Aspen and Vail.
