A little more info about where I'm going!

For those of you who don't really know what I'm doing I'm going to travel from London to Sydney overland before travelling around NZ and will be away for roughly 12 months in total. Full details of what and where I'll roughly be are below. I'm really starting to get excited now! Can't wait! Nicole x

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WEEK 1 & 2: GERMANY, CZECH REPUBLIC, AUSTRIA, HUNGARY, ROMANIA & BULGARIA
Usually everyone heading east just transits through Europe in a mad rush to reach Istanbul and enter Asia. We however think there are quite a few worthwhile stops along the way and in order to really soak up the changes each new country offers us we take it easy and stop off in a few of the more interesting European locations.

Germany offers us a chance to familiarise ourselves with our truck before we reach Prague in the Czech Republic and lose ourselves amongst the stone palaces and cobbled streets.

Austria's capital Vienna is a great day out before we reach Hungary and start to notice a change as Western Europe begins to fade.

A goulash in Budapest is a tasty treat before following the Danube River through to Romania where we visit Dracula's Castle, perched high in the Transylvanian mountains. Brasov and Bucharest are also worthwhile stops before we enter Bulgaria and visit the stunning town of Veliko Turnovo and camp with the monks at Bacho Kiro caves. Crossing over the rolling green foothills of the Balkans we now head for Turkey.

WEEK 3, 4 & 5: TURKEY
Istanbul, the city that separates Europe from Asia has it all, and you will revel in the history and culture it offers. Turkish baths and Turkish delights are the order of the day!

The battlefields of Gallipoli are the setting for Dawn Service on ANZAC Day and along with thousands of other Aussies, Kiwis, Brits and Turks, we pay our respects to those who died here in 1915. A truly moving experience.

Historic Troy, the great ruins of Ephesus and the Roman Baths at Pammukale are real highlights on the journey down to the magnificent Turquoise coast. Here we camp on the beautiful lagoon of Oludeniz where Greek ghost towns and overgrown Roman amphitheatres hide in the surrounding forests which are best explored on foot. Saklikent gorge is only a moped ride away and skydiving and mountain biking are popular activities here for those who enjoy adrenalin!

Further down the coast we find Olympos with its eternal flames glowing amidst the pine clad mountainsides that sweep down to its fine beaches. Inland on the plateau we reach the fairy-tale wonderland of Cappadocia with spectacular canyons, ancient caves and underground cities carved into the geologically diverse land. Belly dancing is a big affair up here and so is the local drink 'Raki', be warned!

Further South we visit Roman bridges and climb up mount Nemrut Dagi to marvel at the huge stone heads that have lain there motionless for thousands of years.

Skirting Lake Van we head for the border town of Dogubeyazit (more affectionately known as 'Doggy Biscuit'). Here in the shadow of Mt Ararat we camp beneath the fabulous Ishak Pasha Palace. We have a good excuse to have a party as alcohol is prohibited for the next two weeks.

WEEK 6 & 7: IRAN
It is unlikely we will encounter a friendlier, more welcoming race of people on our entire journey so enjoy the Iranian hospitality!

Skirting the Azerbaijan border we drive through the wonderful Aras River valley and pop out at Babak Castle where it is possible to hike up to the impressive ancient fortress.

Our journey now takes us on to the largest body of fresh water in the world, the Caspian Sea, famous for its sought after caviar and (unbelievably) its long grain rice growing in the surrounding paddy fields. Further south we climb into verdant green mountains and spend a couple of days in the quaint town of Masuleh, from where it is possible to explore the areas natural beauty on foot.

Back on the Iranian plateau we head for Esfahan, Iran's masterpiece. The impressive city square is full of intricately decorated mosaic Mosques, leisurely tea shops and lavish carpet emporiums. Plenty of bargains can be found in the myriad of bazaars that lead off from the square and the city's gorgeous bridges deserve all the time you can spare.

The Zagros mountains provide a stunning backdrop on our trip to the intriguing ruins of Persepolis. Once the summer capital of the Persian Empire, this is the site where Alexander the Great famously conquered the Persian army's stronghold.

We continue on to the small town of Yazd with its famous wind towers before heading east and desert camping our way towards the Pakistan border.

WEEK 8, 9 & 10: PAKISTAN
Well worth exploring and richly rewarding we enter the fabulous land of Pakistan! This is a country of huge contrasts and our first two days will be enjoyed passing through the Balochistan desert and its barren magnificence. Two lane highways are a thing of the past and the main roads are now ever deteriorating single track corrugations.

The first town we reach is Quetta, a splendid melting pot of different cultures, a frontier town with vibrant markets and fantastic restaurants! A good place to re-charge as cold beer is again available.

A couple of days north we find the 'wild west' town of Peshawar where the unique public markets offer a vast selection of guns and hash! This is also the place we undertake a journey up to the Afghan border via the Khyber Pass.

From here we now undertake a journey that few travellers ever manage. We head north to the Karakoram Highway and the beginning of an epic journey you will never forget!

This road is truly a great feat of engineering and as we drive up we have a chance to marvel at the villages clinging to the sheer mountain sides as the Indus river snakes its way along the valley floor.

In the famed Hunza Valley we base ourselves in the small town of Karimabad. Famous for its succulent apricots and stunning hiking trails we are now amongst some of the highest peaks in the world.

A trip up to the Chinese border is an interesting excursion before continuing back down the KKH. The return route offers us an amazing view of snow-capped Nanga Parbat (8125m) and the villages of Besham and Chilas are welcome stops as we descend. The bustling metropoles of Islamabad and Lahore offer us a peek into Pakistani big city life and you have a chance to explore the museums, mosques, restaurants and nightclubs before leaving this amazing country.

WEEK 11 & 12: INDIA
Every day at the close of the India Pakistan border the guards from both sides put on an amazing show as they parade up and down kicking their legs unbelievably high into the air and face off against each other in a mark of independence and honour. This will be our first taste of India!

Close by is Amritsar, home of the Sikh religion with their spectacular Golden Temple as the centerpiece.

A day's drive away we reach Dharamsala, exile home of the Dalai Lama. Amongst the cobbled streets filled with the chants of Buddhist monks are wonderful art galleries and a sobering museum dedicated to the plight of the Tibetans after the invasion by China.

Delhi is a city that you have to see for yourself in order to believe that such a place can exist. The streets are a slow moving mass of every conceivable mode of transport, with the sacred cows having right of way over everyone! Delhi is the ultimate in hustle and bustle and facing the unrelenting throng of people is an experience you wont forget in a hurry! Braving this city does have its rewards with great textile markets, wonderful monuments and amazing temples.

Moving south we reach the 'Pink City', Jaipur. With a magnificent red castle as its focal point this beautiful town exudes an energy all its own. Camels and rickshaws weave their way through the narrow streets of the old city and an array of spicy smells attack your senses as you wander the back streets in search of that perfect curry.

Our next stop is a definite highlight, Agra and the Taj Mahal. This monument to love is spectacular and will keep your camera clicking all day.

Heading east we reach Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges River where an early morning boat trip will definitely open your eyes. Dead bodies float by as the multitudes flock down to this Holy river to wash away their sins each morning. On shore the funeral pyres known as 'Ghats' burn away as stray dogs fight over the charred body parts that fall out of the fire. An unbelievable sight!

WEEK 13 & 14: NEPAL
Nepal is a breath of fresh air with a lot less people and a lot more open spaces. Royal Chitwan National Park is best explored on elephant back allowing you to get up close to the rhinos, sloth bears and tigers that inhabit the park.

Heading north we reach Pokhara at the foothills of the Himalayas. This mellow little town is situated around a beautiful sheltered lake and surrounded by snow capped mountains. A great place to relax and/or gear up for a trek into the stunning Annapurna range.

The tourist mecca of Kathmandu is our next stop. Travellers swap stories in the lively bars and the Everest Steak House serves up delicious fillets of beef which are a welcome change from the buffalo steaks we have endured throughout India! The old town is steeped in history and the smell of incense wafts through the air as you marvel at the Pagodas and Temples adorning the squares. A rough road now leads on to Tibet.

WEEK 15, 16, 17 & 18: TIBET AND CHINA
After a laborious permit war with Chinese customs & immigration we now enter the fabulous land of Tibet. Our first stop is definitely our 'biggest' reason to stop, Mt Everest! A snaking rough track makes it possible for us to drive up to base camp and the Tibetan side offers us a stunning view of the north face. You can also send a letter from the world's highest post box and visit the world's highest Buddhist monastery, Rongphu.

Joining back up with the Friendship Highway we travel along one of the world's most spectacular roads littered with beautiful lakes and monasteries.

As we enter the spiritual home of Tibet, Lhasa, we are filled with a sense of awe as this Holy city rises out of a barren wilderness of stone and sand to be crowned by the Potala, home of the Dalai Lamas.

As the road descends off the plateau the alpine scenery becomes particularly stunning with some fantastic bush camps to be found. This region of Eastern Tibet is rarely visited by tourists and the last of the Himalayan mountain passes take us over into China's Yunnan Province.

The varied terrain of Tibetan peaks and tropical rainforests makes this area an alluring destination. The 12km long Mingyong glacier is an attractive stop and close by we can hike through the Tiger Leaping Gorge, a two day walk through one of the worlds deepest gorges.

Further south the town of Lijiang lies in a beautiful valley, luring us in with its cobbled streets and Chinese lanterns. The nearby villages and temples can be explored by bicycle.

The laid back town of Dali is situated on the lovely Lake Erhai Hu, and is a good place to relax with good restaurants and cheap chinese beer.

Vast tracts of jungle, tropical vegetation and thickly forested mountains - home to elephants, bears, snakes, cats, rare birds and even tigers - now lead us south as we explore this last stretch of China.

WEEK 19: LAOS
We now enter an enchanted land where you have the option of boarding a boat at Nong Khiaw which takes you through spectacular mountain scenery down to our first stop, Luang Prabang. This architectural wonder is a must see, full of temples and tradition as well as wonderful markets.

Vang Vieng is our next stop and is a vibey little town set amongst awesome natural beauty. Outdoor activities abound with caving, climbing, kayaking and tubing being popular outings. We continue into central Laos and visit the enigmatic Plain of Jars. This area is home to huge jars of unknown origin carved out of stone and weighing up to 1 tonne.

The large market at Tha Khaek is an interesting stop on our journey south where you can buy everything from live frogs to dried beetles! We now head east and cross into Vietnam.

WEEK 20 & 21: VIETNAM
Shortly after entering we arrive at the American war in Vietnam's most famous siege site, Khe Sanh, where it is hard to believe that the verdant green hills were once the site of a miserable 4 month long battle.

We continue south to Hue, home to the splendid tombs of the Nguyen emporers as well as beautiful pagodas and the remains of the old citadel. The picturesque river town of Hoi An is also worth a couple of days exploration with its amazing architecture and nearby villages specialising in pottery and wood-carvings.

Further south we encounter the emerald waters and unspoiled beaches around Nha Trang and Mui Ne before delving into the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City. Before leaving we have the chance to hop aboard a boat in the Mekong Delta and explore the floating markets and stilted villages that occupy the region.

WEEK 22: CAMBODIA
Having only recently opened its borders to tourism, Cambodia is fresh and exciting. Our first stop is Phnom Penh, a compact little town spectacularly located on the confluence of three rivers. Riverside restaurants serve up steamy dishes and the Royal Palaces and silver pagoda are great day outings. The sobering 'Killing Fields' and Tuol Sleng Museum are a stark reminder of this country's recent history under the brutal regime of Pol Pot.

Leaving the capital we travel through lush jungle vegetation to reach one of the most inspiring sites in the world, Angkor Wat. These temples are monumental constructions with Angkor Wat being the largest religious building in the world. The intricacy of the carvings is incredible and the site is well worth two day's exploration. Truly amazing!

WEEK 23 & 24: THAILAND
Bangkok, a modern metropolis with a deservedly infamous reputation. Noisy, polluted, hot and humid with a booming sex industry that puts Amsterdam to shame. This city is a must see!

Close by we can visit the actual site of the 'Bridge on the river Kwai' and get a good insight into what really happened here during the war.

Heading south we hug the coast on the sliver of land called the Isthmus of Kra before catching a ferry across to the stunning island of Ko Samui. Here you can either put your feet up for a few days or easily visit the smaller islands of Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Tao. The islands have some of the world's finest beaches and the numerous great dive spots will take you into a technicoloured underwater world filled with exotic fish and coral gardens.

WEEK 25 & 26: MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE
Sticking to the western part of the Malaysian peninsula our first visit is to Pulau Langkawi, a group of 104 islands, where we can once again soak up the sun on the pristine beaches.

Next, the futuristic city of Kuala Lumpur offers us an amazing skyline with the Islamic-style Petronas Towers dominating the view. The city's Chinatown market is a remnant of the past and contrasts the initial feel of the place. You will even find a British colonial atmosphere lingering amongst some of the architecture and some interesting museums hold the city's history within their doors.

Our last stop in Malaysia is at Johor Bahru where a distinct 'border town' vibrancy is ever present. Singaporeans flock here to enjoy the cheap beer and festive atmosphere before returning to their squeaky clean island across the waterway.

Singapore is our last stop on the Asian continent and is a distinctly clean and modern island. With an abundance of fine dining options and shopping malls this is the place to treat yourself before taking a break from truck life while we ship our vehicle to Australia.

WEEK 27 & 28: BREAK FROM TRUCK WHILE SHIPPING
While our truck is being shipped from Singapore to Australia you have some free time away from the group to do as you please. Popular options would be to visit the orang-utans on Malaysian Borneo and Brunei or work your way across the Indonesian island chain. Others may choose to find a quiet beach and just put their feet up for a while.

You will find that a break from the truck will be much appreciated and give you some time to recharge before joining us on the last, and possibly best, part of the expedition - Australia.

WEEK 29, 30, 31 & 32: AUSTRALIA
We meet our truck at the port of Darwin in the Northern Territory. This surprisingly modern town has some good pubs and the area offers good wreck diving and superb fishing trips.

Kakadu National Park is close by and is a marvel of wildlife and aboriginal rock art. The park is great for trekking with a variety of landscapes and is probably here that we get to see our first kangaroo and a boat trip down the Yellow River will get you up close to the infamous saltwater crocodiles.

Katherine gorge is also a beautiful sight where 13 gorges are separated by raging rapids offering great canoeing through fantastic scenery.

On our route south we have a chance to wet our whistles at NT's oldest bar, the Daly Waters Pub. This is a real Aussie outback hangout where you are bound to bump into a character or two.

Joining up with the Stuart highway again we now head south into a barren red desert, the real outback, where camping is fantastic.

Our desert journey is broken up by the Devil's Marbles, huge boulders in piles out in the middle of nowhere, and Alice Springs, bang in the centre of Oz, is a good place to replenish stocks and visit some of the town's sights which give us a much better understanding of the remoteness of this outpost. There is actually a radio station that broadcasts school lessons so children in remote areas can learn!

After obtaining a permit to travel through Aboriginal lands we now take to some desert tracks and head west following the MacDonnell mountain ranges. The land is teeming with wild camels, donkeys, horses, dingos and of course kangaroos. A series of remote valleys, canyons and swimming holes ultimately leads us to the amazing Kings Canyon which offers spectacular walks.

We now continue on to Australia's icon, Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park, better known as Ayers Rock and the Olgas. The world's biggest monolith, Ayers Rock is an awesome spectacle, as are the smaller collection of red rocks known as the Olgas.

Moving on we enter South Australia and take to the Oodnadatta Track, passing through opal mining towns and also Oz's smallest town, William Creek, a pub and a store. Ultimately the track brings us to the magnificent Flinders Ranges, the most spectacular sight in this region.

On the south coast we visit Adelaide from where you can choose to visit Oz's premier wine making area, the Barossa Valley.

Further east we visit the turquoise crater lakes at Mt Gambier before entering Victoria and joining the Great Ocean Road, one of the world's best coastal drives.

The road takes us to Oz's cultural capital, Melbourne. This vibrant city is obsessed with the arts, sport and good food.

Heading east we enter Gippsland with some of Oz's most remote and spectacular National Parks. Wilson's promontory is one of these offering abundant wildlife, great treks and stunning beaches.

New South Wales brings us to the Sapphire coast where we drive through wonderful forests and past undeveloped coastline to reach our final destination, Sydney. The Opera House, harbour, bridge and Bondi beach make this a great end to an unforgettable expedition, LONDON TO SYDNEY!