Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ShaneM]

At the end of my contract I was considering going to Thailand for a few weeks, then China, then work my way via various forms of ground travel to Western Europe before taking a flight back to the US. This would be done over the course of around 4-6 months.

Has anyone ever done anything like this, and how feasible is it?

[dulouz]

Yes, its feasable. Take the train to Vietnam go to Thailand go to Laos and back into China. Take the train to Russia and then to Europe. Do watch the money however. Thats a long time. You'll hit Europe at the end and that where the cash will go much more quickly. Then back to the states and it'll go even quicker there.

[TheRecruiter]

Yes, south east asia will be the easy and relatively cheap part. Once you get to Russia things will start to get harder. The last I heard you could only get a 'transit' visa, which will last you 12 days max. That means that you'll have only 12 days to get from one end to the other.

Have a look on the net for Siberian Express. It leaves Beijing and will bring to Russia via Mongolia. You'll have enough time to get from the border to Moscow with a few days to spare.

Don't know about from Moscow down to Poland though. BTW, if you're going in winter, it's going to be seriously cold. Once you reach Poland though, you're sorted.

Check out ryanair.com, they'll fly you to anywhere in Europe for about $40. Flights in Europe are ridiculously cheap on budget airlines like ryanair nowadays.

Good Luck !

[soviet_man]

THE BASIC LAND ROUTE FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA TO EUROPE:
1. Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (train)
2. Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok (train + ferry)
3. Bangkok to Aranyaprathet (train)
4. Aranyaprathet to Poiphet (bus only)
5. Poiphet to Battambang (bus only)
6. Batambang to Phenom Penh (train or bus)
7. Phenom Penh to Ho Chi Minh (bus)
8. Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi (train)
9. Hanoi to Beijing (train)
10. Beijing to Moscow (train)
11. Moscow to Kiev/Riga/Helsinki/Minsk/ Europe.

The main stumbling block is that the rail link between Aranyaprathet and Batambang is currently closed plus another land section into Vietnam. It may re-open one day. If it weren't for that, you could travel the whole way from Singapore to London by train.

The rail route is getting continually better as well - especially within China with the upgrading to high-speed rail throughout the country and new rail links opening up to places like Tibet if you wanted to detour.

VISAS NEEDED:
Singapore: No
Malaysia: No
Thailand: No
Cambodia: Yes
Laos: Yes
Vietnam: Yes
China: Yes
Hong Kong/Macau: No
Mongolia: Yes
Russia: Yes
Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania: Possibly
Finland: No
Ukraine: Possibly
Belarus: Yes

[Tiger Beer]

[ShaneM]

What about India? Is that a possible waypoint on a route such as this?

[Imbroglio]

How to plan and book an overland journey from London to Mongolia, China, or Japan via the Trans-Siberian Railway, cheaply