While there is no direct train from Singapore to Europe, that did not stop adventurous Tom Woods from travelling north from Singapore through Thailand, Vietnam, China, Russia, Germany and finally, England.
Here’s how Tom Woods travelled from Singapore to London by train, bus and ferry. The trip cost him only US$2126 (SG$2726/€1617/£1360) across 14 countries.
Summary of the route he took, time of travel, cost of travel and where to purchase the tickets
+ Woodlands, Singapore to Butterworth, Malaysia – 2nd Class – BORDER CROSSING – 13.5 hours – SG$60 – On the day from the ticket office.
+ Butterworth, Malaysia to Bangkok, Thailand – Soft sleeper – BORDER CROSSING- 23 hours – MYR 104 – The day before at the ticket office.
+ Bangkok, Thailand to Aranyapratyet, Thailand – Open ticket – 6 hours – Thai baht 48 – On the day at the ticket office.
BORDER CROSSING
+ Poipet, Cambodia to Siem Reap, Cambodia – Private taxi – 2 hours – US$48 – On the day at the ticket office.
+ Siem Reap, Cambodia to Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Bus – 6 hours – US$10 – The day before through my hotel.
+ Phnom Penh, Cambodia to HCMC, Vietnam – Bus – 6 hours – BORDER CROSSING – $12 – The day before through my hotel.
+ HCMC, Vietnam to Hanio, Vietnam – 4 berth soft sleeper – 33 hours – US$115 – A week before through http://www.vietnamimpressive.com
+ Hanoi, Vietnam to Beijing, China – 4 berth soft sleeper – 38 hours – BORDER – CROSSING – US$403 – A month before travel through http://www.vietnamimpressive.com
+ Beijing, China via Mongolia and Lake Baikal to Moscow, Russia – 1st Class 4 berth – 130 hours – BORDER CROSSINGX2 – US$925 – A month before travel throughhttp://www.cits.net
+ Moscow, Russia to St Petersburg, Russia – 3rd Class sleeper – 8 hours – Roubles 1681 – The day before e-ticket through my hostel.
+ St Petersburg, Russia to Helsinki, Finland – 2nd class – 3.5 hours – BORDER CROSSING – €88 – The day before online, e-ticket bought at http://www.vr.fi
+ Helsinki, Finland to Turku Harbour, Finland – 2nd class – 2 hours – €33 – on the day at the ticket office
+ Turku Harbour, Finland to Stockholm, Sweden – 2 berth interior cabin – 10 hours – BORDER CROSSING – €49 – A month before travel e-ticket throughhttp://www.vikingline.com
+ Stockholm, Sweden to Cologne, Germany – 4 berth Soft sleeper – 17 hours – BORDER CROSSINGX2 – €112 – A month before online but posted ticket from http://www.bahn.de
+ Cologne, Germany to London, England – 2nd class – 5 hours – BORDER CROSSINGX2 – £79 – A month before travel online e-ticket from http://www.eurostar.com
+ London, England to Woking, England – 2nd class – 30 min’s £8 – On the day at the ticket office.
Came across all those articles on how everyone is backing their backpack on a soul searching “you only live once” trip around the world?
Well, here’s your chance to do it across 14 countries.
Read also: They have done something you probably won’t: travelled to all the countries in the world