Have you ever considered a long-distance journey entirely on land, crossing a large landmass from end to end? While you do it, you focus not only on the destinations on such a route but also on the line connecting them. You enjoy experiencing the changes of the landscapes and cultures on the way, like a long story with a beginning and an end. This type of travel is called cross-continental travel, and we will talk more about it below, including its segmented version.
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What is cross-continental travel
Basically, this is a journey that involves crossing a continent from end to end. It can be a route from the westernmost to the easternmost points, or from the northernmost to the southernmost points (or vice versa) of the continent. This is the perfect, geometrical version of such a trip.
Of course, you can start from the ocean coast, cross the continent, and reach the ocean coast at the other side, not necessarily from and to its extreme points. It can be just partial—not from the ocean coast but from a point in the continent’s interior—but still long enough to be called “cross-continent.”
An extended version of such a trip can be crossing a whole landmass of two or three continents: North and South America, or Africa and Asia. Another extended version can be if you travel not only on the land but also to the continental islands (some islands are part of a continent, others are just in the middle of the ocean, and physically don’t belong to any continent). An example can be crossing Europe and Asia to Singapore and proceeding further into the islands of Indonesia.
Challenges
Such a trip is a big challenge for everybody- not only for ordinary people who consider it extremely difficult or impossible but also for travelers who can do it. So, let’s focus on some details that can help you to figure out a possible plan for such an adventure.
Time, and “density”
Obviously, such type of travel requires time. A lot of time, because continents are really huge. Besides, it is rugged and difficult to traverse in some areas. Depending on various factors, such a journey could last at least a few months, sometimes a year, and even more.
Travel “Density”
With “density” we define how detailed a trip can be. For example, you can quickly cross the distance from London to Istanbul by bus, for only 3 days. Or, you can travel on the famous Trans-Siberian railway for 9 days. It still can be considered as a “crossing” but it has a very “low density”- you can see too little on the way, and approximately half part of the trip would be in the night when you normally would sleep, missing the lands that your bus or train crosses in the night.
So, for a better experience of crossing a continent, first, you have to travel only during the day. And second, there are too many points on the route that you shouldn’t just skip but better stop and explore them. If you travel in this way, the time for traveling would be much longer, but it is worth it.
Segmenting
We all know about some adventurous travelers who have crossed a whole continent from west to east, or from north to south, by bicycle, by SUV, by hitchhiking, etc., for many months or even years. Many of us “secretly” admire them and would like to do the same.
But such adventurous travelers are a minority. They are usually “career gapers”, or sponsored adventurers. However, most of us are simply unable to travel in this way.
For example, many people don’t have enough saved money to do it and can’t make a career gap. Other people have money but don’t have time and again can’t make a career gap. Some people have good online jobs that allow them to travel and work, earning enough money to sponsor their trip. But again, many of them have families with children or other close people that they have to care for.
So, many travelers (in spirit) dream about a such type of journey, but can’t do it. I am one of them too.
I wanted to cross the supercontinent of Eurasia- this is the landmass of Europe and Asia together, from the westernmost to the easternmost point. It is a long distance, and the last sections of such a route (in Siberia) are very difficult to travel- there are almost no roads.
I realized that it would be an enormously long trip, probably a year long, even more. I know that such a trip when done at once, would be very exciting. But I knew that I couldn’t do it, at least for now.
Then, I found a solution: route segmenting.
Route segmenting is as follows:
Let’s say that you have only 3 free weeks per year (a 3-week holiday).
You divide your long cross-continental trip into many small trips. You start from point A and reach a point B (for 3 weeks) but it is not the endpoint of the route. Then, you back home. A few months (or a year) later, you make the next trip- from point B- the last point of your first trip. Now point B is the first point of your second trip, and you travel to point C, then again back home. And so on, until you reach your final goal- the other end of the continent.
That’s what I did. I drew my route from Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Eurasia, to Cape Dezhnev (the easternmost point of Eurasia). And I planned the first segment of it- from Cabo da Roca to Nice (France). And I made it with a good density, to be able to taste the best of the geography and history along the route.
I reached Nice and back home, planning the next segment of the route.
And I discovered the following:
Cons: obviously, in such a traveling style, it would take years to reach the final goal- probably many years. And since you use your only free time for such a journey, it already fully occupies your holiday, and you don’t have time to travel to other places, or just to relax somewhere with your family.
Pros: on the other hand, such a style with detailed travel could lead to burnout. You see spectacular cathedrals, castles, fortresses, valleys, mountains. In the beginning, it is exciting and impressive. But if you do it too many times, again and again, you gradually get jaded and indifferent, which impacts the quality of your trip. So, a short trip, then staying at home to “digest” the trip would resolve this issue (yes, I know, waiting one year until the next trip is too long).
Then, I found another good point: I can “branch” my trip. For example, when I reach “point C”, next time I can go “from C to D1”, then again “from C to D2 (different direction)”, and so on. I already chose a good point for branching- Tehran, the capital of Iran, due to its location. And I drew three branches- a northeast branch to Cape Dezhnev, a middle branch to East China and Japan, and a southeast branch- to Singapore and Indonesia (and probably further- to Oceania).
Transportation and logistics for a segmented cross-continental travel
Transportation is a very important element of such a trip. This is a “from A to B” type of trip, not a circle trip “from A to A”. So, what are your options?
Traveling by public transport- buses, trains, ferries
Pros:
This is usually a cheap option if you are alone.
Public transportation is a “from A to B” type of transport and this is convenient.
Cons:
You are dependent on schedules, and starting points (bus stations, railway stations, etc.).
If you travel with your family, the price is multiplied by the number of your family members.
Many points of interest on the way are not on the routes of the public transport. You have to go to a certain point, then look for a taxi or hitchhiking to the point you want to visit. And many routes are completely far from any public transport.
Research for public transport!
Traveling by shared taxis, hitchhiking
Pros:
Shared taxis and random cars for hitchhiking on the way usually go much further beyond the routes of public transport.
Normally, there aren’t fixed schedules, so you can always expect a passing car.
Cons:
Lack of clear schedules means that it can be difficult to plan your own schedule.
Shared taxis can be expensive, especially if there aren’t other passengers and you are alone.
Passing cars follow their own route and don’t necessarily go to your desired point of interest. If you want to go to a place where the car driver doesn’t plan to go, usually you have to pay (and often- pay a lot).
Traveling by rental car
Pros:
Finally, you are free to design your own route and schedule.
If you are more adventurous and prepare well, you can sleep in the car, resolving the accommodation problem.
If you are more people together, you can save money.
Or, if your starting point is too far from home, you can go there by plane and start driving from there.
Cons:
Rental cars suppose a circle trip “from A to A”. Usually, you have an option to make it “from A to B” (different points of pick up and drop off) but it is much more expensive.
Traveling by your own car
Pros:
Again, you are free to design your own route and schedule.
Again, you can sleep in the car.
Once again, more people together, save money.
You have only personal responsibilities to your car.
Cons:
Again, traveling by your own car means a circle trip “from A to A”.
If “point A” is too far from your home, you have to drive a lot until you reach it. Then, when you reach “point B”, you have to back home from there. There are some options to resolve it but they are very expensive (sea cargo), very unsafe (leave the car in point B and come there the next year to proceed further), or very complicated (sell the car).
Traveling by your own motorcycle or bicycle
Pros and cons are quite similar to your own car. But there are still some additional pros and cons:
- Traveling by bicycle is too slow, you can’t go too far in a short time.
- Traveling by motorcycle is almost as fast as traveling by car but it is more dangerous.
Finally, some areas like Siberia and the Arctic in Russia are much more difficult to travel. There are almost no roads. Often the only way to travel there is by skiing (in winter) by canoeing or kayaking on rivers and lakes (in summer), or only on foot (avoiding snow melting, mosquitos, or deep winter seasons).
If your trip is segmented, the transportation problem is easier to resolve. But again, it requires a careful planning, what type of transportation, or a combination of types you will use.
Exploring the Earth is fantastic! However, there are various hidden dangers that may ruin your journeys. Don’t allow that to happen, or at least reduce the consequences as much as possible!
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My experience
I chose a rental car. I found a cheap rental car in Madrid. When I picked it, I quickly moved to Cabo da Roca within one day and started the essential part of my trip from there. I spent the nights mostly in the car or in campsites on the way. When I reached Nice at the end of the third week, I quickly back to Madrid, dropped off the car, and returned home (on the way back visited Andorra, one of the smallest countries in the world).
Other elements of a cross-continental trip
Of course, such a cross-continental travel plan should include many other important elements. Let’s look at them briefly.
Accommodation
How you will arrange your accommodation, depends on several factors.
It depends on the transportation you use. If you travel by public transport that usually travels from city to city, you should look for hotels, hostels, guesthouses, resorts, etc. But if you travel by your own transportation or rental car, you can sleep everywhere.
And if you have enough money and prefer comfort and luxury, you can always sleep in hotels, every night of your trip. However, if you just want to spend the night sleeping anywhere, your own transportation allows you to save the money and sleep wherever you want- in your car, or camping beside your car (where it is allowed and safe).
Packing list
Part of your packing list depends on the climate and seasons on your route, as well as the activities you plan (hiking, snorkeling, climbing, etc.- you have to bring the necessary gear for these activities). If you plan to travel with your own transport, you can bring your camping gear too.
The problem is that bringing your heavy luggage while traveling by public transport, taxis or hitchhiking is inconvenient. So, if you plan various activities, camping, traveling through places with various types of climate and weather, better think about your own transportation.
On my route, I traveled along the seacoast at the beginning of June- almost summer. At the same time, I visited Sierra de Gredos, more than 2000 m tall, and still partly covered in snow. But since I traveled by rental car, bringing all the necessary packing list was convenient enough.
Food
You can find food almost everywhere, as long as humans live there. You can eat food from supermarkets, local restaurants, or the food that accommodation properties offer. But if your route crosses uninhabited areas, you have to prepare food in advance, which adds to the weight of your luggage. At least, you don’t need to bring all the food from home but can buy it on the way.
Water
Always bring enough water, no matter in what climate conditions you travel. Bring a bottle, fill it regularly, and again, if you have to cross uninhabited areas with some waters (rivers, ponds, etc.), bring the necessary cleaning equipment.
Toilet, toiletry, body washing, clothes washing
These things look like something little but they aren’t, especially if you sleep in your car or your tent. If you stay in hotels, you can easily do all of these in the evening and in the morning. Toiletry and washing is not something urgent.
But I can assure you that going to the toilet can be unpredictable (especially in places where your stomach deals with new food or worse- with unclean food!). So, when I planned my everyday section of the route, I always kept in mind to predict possible places for going to the toilet.
Besides toilet, I always had with me a big bottle of water and I kept it in the car’s luggage carrier. I used it for body and teeth washing, in some cases even for clothes washing, although clothes require more water (I found a good laundry in Barcelona). At least, with my rental car, I could find enough hidden places to wash, besides the washrooms in the campsites.
The problem is if the weather is cold- then you most probably have to reduce your body washing and look for a guesthouse or other place to stay at least once in a few days.
Documents (red-tape)
It is a very crucial element. If you miss a permit, a visa, or if your passport is only a few days before expiration, it can ruin your whole trip! You reach a border, they don’t allow you to cross it, and the whole route further is gone!
So, research, plan, and prepare every necessary document for everything ahead- ID card, passport, permits, driving license, international driving permit, etc. Also, check if crossing a certain border and area behind it is possible only with local travel company. And of course, check if a border is open for you at all, to alter your route in advance!
Money
You will always need money for your trip. So, prepare both money in cash and money in your debit or credit card. Sometimes, there are unpredictable situations- you can’t find a working ATM that can accept your card. Your cash or your money in the card is about to finish. Or, you have enough cash but can’t find a money changer or a bank. So, analyze the countries and areas where you plan to travel and prepare your money in advance.
Internet, navigation
Until recently, travelers were real adventurers, using only paper maps to navigate. Today, we have the convenience of using GPS with various types of maps- online and offline. So, prepare everything for navigation- download offline maps, and bring enough electricity- at least one power bank, cables, etc.
Research everything about the best SIM card and internet coverage, because you would need it not only for navigation but also for every information that you may need. Otherwise, you have to adapt to old style traveling like 30-40 years ago.
I was on roaming and used internet and navigation freely until the day before the last day. Then, my roaming internet finished and I was suddenly like a “blind man” in a foreign land. Fortunately, I found a good WiFi in one of the highway service areas and used it to download all the maps and information that I needed.
Safety
Our world is not perfect. No matter how you prepare, you can’t predict every possible danger.
There are various types of danger- natural dangers (natural disasters, dangerous animals, diseases), human dangers (crime, wars, unrest), and personal dangers (sickness, injuries, car crash, and more). Again, you can’t predict everything but at least you can reduce the risks and prepare better.
Research everything about nature on your route, including the season that you travel. If you drive your own car (or rental car), research proper and safer parking lots, especially in big cities where criminals can break your car and steal something from inside. Beware of pickpocketing in crowded places. Avoid places with wars, unrest, and high crime rates.
I read a lot of reviews about various parking lots along my route. Many of them have negative reviews about car robberies and lack of surveillance, especially in Southern France. That’s why, I usually chose paid garage-type parking lots- yes, I had to pay some money but safety was more important.
And for my own personal safety, I bought a travel insurance. It can’t protect me from dangers but it could help me after an accident. Fortunately, everything was perfect and I didn’t have any accidents.
Geographical and historical information
Finally, something nice- if you have prepared for everything described above, it is time to prepare about how to get the best from your trip.
During such a cross-continental trip, especially if you do it with “high density”, you will see a lot of places, landscapes, cultural and historical sites, and more. I educated myself in advance about the geography, history, and culture of the regions around my route. First, it helped me to choose better which points of interest are worth visiting and which can be skipped (yes, you don’t need to step on every possible place of interest to get a rich and full of meaning journey).
Then, I can confirm again that if you know history and geography better, your visits to the points of interest will be very useful. For example, if you visit the ruins of an ancient city, if you don’t know the history of the city and the region, it would be only just “scattered stones” and nothing more. But if you know the history, your visit can turn into a travel back in time.
And of course, prepare for photos and videos! It is great to see and touch various places but after you leave, you can visualize your memory from your cross-continental journey for the future.
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Hi, we are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from China. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best way to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, not in a school, and not virtually.
So, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration.
And we wish you a happy journey, not just virtually, but most of all- in reality.
Enjoy!
