The most interesting trip that you'd love to do someday
Feb 7, 2017, 8:00 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
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Posts: 31,010
Antarctica as a realistic option, space as a stretch/dream goal. Once the kids are away, this will be at the top of the list.
Feb 7, 2017, 10:32 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
Antarctica. I was poised to go a few years ago, but couldn't find a travel companion who could swing both the cost (five figures at minimum) and the time off (three weeks, give or take). It's not in the budget right now, but I hope to get there within the next few years.
That's my husband's dream.
Feb 8, 2017, 4:17 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Dubai
Programs: Bonvoy Gold, QRPC Gold
Posts: 144
Istanbul to Beijing overland passing thru Iran, Afghanistan and Khyber areas of Pakistan with a detour to Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan.
From Pakistan to Kashgar, China via the Khunjerab pass and then onward to Beijing.
From Beijing the return would be on the Trans-Mongolian, stopping off in Mongolia for a few days before heading toward Moscow then St Petergburg and the remaining legs on the domestic European trains concluding in Istanbul.
What's stopping me is mainly safety in several areas particularly in rural Pakistan (as an Indian passport holder). While it would require some financial outlay & a major time commitment, I can still justify all that if I could be assured of doing the trip completely & safely.
Ro
From Pakistan to Kashgar, China via the Khunjerab pass and then onward to Beijing.
From Beijing the return would be on the Trans-Mongolian, stopping off in Mongolia for a few days before heading toward Moscow then St Petergburg and the remaining legs on the domestic European trains concluding in Istanbul.
What's stopping me is mainly safety in several areas particularly in rural Pakistan (as an Indian passport holder). While it would require some financial outlay & a major time commitment, I can still justify all that if I could be assured of doing the trip completely & safely.
Ro
Feb 8, 2017, 7:39 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
I'd like to do something similar to Paul Theroux's trip in Ghost Train to the Eastern Star: On the Tracks of the Great Railway Bazaar.
By train across Europe to Istanbul, through the Caucasus into Iran and up into the ancient Silk Road sites of Central Asia. Either fly to India to continue by train into western China and go down through Tibet into Nepal. Hop to Southeast Asia down to Singapore, then turn around and head back north. Up through Thailand, across to Vietnam and back into China to Beijing, then across Russia by the Trans-Siberian Railway into Europe.
Similar to RohanDXB, but I'd simply fly over the hot spots like Afghanistan.
As a US passport holder the most difficult (impossible?) part would be Iran, but if that was unsolvable I could just fly from Armenia or Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan.
By train across Europe to Istanbul, through the Caucasus into Iran and up into the ancient Silk Road sites of Central Asia. Either fly to India to continue by train into western China and go down through Tibet into Nepal. Hop to Southeast Asia down to Singapore, then turn around and head back north. Up through Thailand, across to Vietnam and back into China to Beijing, then across Russia by the Trans-Siberian Railway into Europe.
Similar to RohanDXB, but I'd simply fly over the hot spots like Afghanistan.
As a US passport holder the most difficult (impossible?) part would be Iran, but if that was unsolvable I could just fly from Armenia or Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan.
Feb 9, 2017, 8:37 am
#24
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: On the road, 24/7/365
Posts: 3,467
I've had the good fortune to have satisfied almost all of my dreams. I would still like to land travel the Darien Gap.
I desperately want to get back to Yemen too. But now isn't the time. Somalia had its elections yesterday; maybe a near-term return trip there.
I desperately want to get back to Yemen too. But now isn't the time. Somalia had its elections yesterday; maybe a near-term return trip there.
Feb 9, 2017, 9:12 am
#26
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,468
Australia (Every time I mention to the Mrs., i get a link of all creatures waiting and ready to kill me on arrival.)
Africa
Korea-would really like to take day trip to the DMZ.
Africa
Korea-would really like to take day trip to the DMZ.
Feb 9, 2017, 3:46 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: TX/TN
Programs: AAEP, other airs, hotels, ccs
Posts: 26
Sooner the Better
Since I'm a 'generic' traveler, I loved this thread. I would go about anywhere, and I have. Have been to Arctic and Antarctic several times. It truly is expensive, and it may get increasingly so as the regulations limit, even more, how many ships and pax can go. Do the trips sooner rather than later. I've been on many different lines, but the Lindblad/NatGeo are the number one best for getting you there, getting you IN there, and out, keeping you informed, and giving you all sorts of help with photography. I've never traveled without a Nat Geo photographer and several Lindblad ones. They are there for you, not themselves. You can get down to the front of the ship for viewing and photographing, which you cannot do on most, and they stop for marine life, where ever you might see them. It's not a cruise, no pool, no room service, nice rooms though. and they have singles.
Hugely expensive when you're doing the poles, but so worth it. On the first (10 day trip) to the Antarctica, I thought my husband was going to cry when we had to start packing to leave the ship. I laugh now, because we thought if would be the only time we went. Veterans will say to do one that includes South Georgia; you'll have to do it to find out why.
I have taken the trip from Bergen to Greenland, ending back at Svalbard, by way of northern Scotland, Faroes, and Iceland. THAT was a great trip! Went up the east coast of Greenland (seldom done).
Every place is of interest to me, but I don't always want to go back to the same place over again. Several go back on my bucket list after I visit them. Whale watching in Baja, Ireland, Bora Bora.
Good luck to all who may travel for a living, yet still have the curiosity and will to SEE and DO. About myself, I say "I just had to to get old" to get the time. I'll hope to say healthy, though I always carry travel health insurance. It's a cheap investment by the year. Best. T&L gal
Hugely expensive when you're doing the poles, but so worth it. On the first (10 day trip) to the Antarctica, I thought my husband was going to cry when we had to start packing to leave the ship. I laugh now, because we thought if would be the only time we went. Veterans will say to do one that includes South Georgia; you'll have to do it to find out why.
I have taken the trip from Bergen to Greenland, ending back at Svalbard, by way of northern Scotland, Faroes, and Iceland. THAT was a great trip! Went up the east coast of Greenland (seldom done).
Every place is of interest to me, but I don't always want to go back to the same place over again. Several go back on my bucket list after I visit them. Whale watching in Baja, Ireland, Bora Bora.
Good luck to all who may travel for a living, yet still have the curiosity and will to SEE and DO. About myself, I say "I just had to to get old" to get the time. I'll hope to say healthy, though I always carry travel health insurance. It's a cheap investment by the year. Best. T&L gal