I realise I haven't actually gone anywhere yet...BUT a lot of people have been asking for my itinerary so I thought this would be good practise for working out how this blogging thing works.
27/3/12 - fly from Heathrow to Bangkok, Thailand
27/4/12 (approx) Thailand to Laos
4/5/12 (approx) Laos to Cambodia
18/5/12 (approx) Cambodia to Vietnam
1/6/12 (approx) Vietnam to Indonesia
14/6/12 (approx) Indonesia to China
17/7/12 - Hong Kong to San Francisco, USA
25/7/12 - San Francisco, USA to Mexico City, Mexico
8/8/12 - Mexico City to Quito, Ecuador
10/8/12 - Start of 82 day tour around South America:
Day 1 Quito
Day 2-5 Quito/Amazon Jungle Homestay
Free day in Quito for an optional city tour or for individual exploration. On Day 3, travel by bus to the jungle city of Tena, then continue by truck and motorized canoe to a local community in the jungle. Three days of guided nature walks to spot wildlife and to learn about the traditions of life in the jungle while staying in a homestay.
Day 6-7 Baños
Continue by bus to Baños. Numerous outdoor optional activities available like hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking, or soak in the nearby hot springs.
Day 8-9 Cuenca
Bus ride south to colonial city of Cuenca.
Day 10-14 Mancora/Huanchaco/Night bus
Travel by bus and cross the border into Peru, arriving at Mancora. Continue by overnight bus to Huanchaco on Day 12. Continue by overnight bus to Lima on day 14.
Day 15-17 Lima
2 Free days to explore Lima.
Day 18-19 Pisco/Nazca/Night bus (D)
Travel by bus to Pisco before travelling to Nazca. Stop at a winery en route as well as at the Oasis of Huacachina. In the evening, take part in a traditional Pachamanca meal before the night bus to Arequipa.
Day 20-24 Arequipa/Colca Canyon/Night bus
Free day in Arequipa. Guided tour to Colca Canyon to spot condors. And drive back to Arequipa before taking the night bus to Cuzco.
Day 25-31 Cuzco / Ollantaytambo /Inca Trail (3B,3L,3D)
Free time to explore Cuzco. Travel to Ollantaytambo through the Sacred Valley. 4-day guided Inca Trail hike with visit to Machu Picchu. return to Cuzco.
Day 32-34 Puno/Lake Titicaca
Travel by bus to Puno. Visit the floating Islands of Uros and take a guided tour of Lake Titicaca with a homestay in a small village.
Day 35-37 La Paz
Travel by bus and cross the border into Bolivia, arriving to La Paz.
Day 38 La Paz/Night bus
Free day in La Paz before boarding an overnight bus to Sucre.
Day 39,40 Sucre
Day 41,42 Potosí
Travel by bus to Potosí.
Day 43-45 Uyuni/4x4 Desert Crossing Excursion (2B,2L,2D)
Travel to Uyuni by bus. Embark on a three day 4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni and surrounding desert altiplano with spectacular scenery.
Day 46-48 San Pedro de Atacama
Cross by 4x4 into Chile and descend by bus to San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 49-51 Night bus/La Serena
Travel by overnight bus to La Serena.
Day 52-54 Santiago
Continue by bus to Santiago.
Day 55-58 Night bus/Pucón
Overnight bus journey to Pucón.
Day 59-60 Puerto Montt/Puerto Varas
Travel by bus to Puerto Varas.
Day 61-63 Bariloche
Travel by bus across the Andes to Bariloche, Argentina.
Day 64 Night bus
Travel by overnight bus to Buenos Aires.
Day 65-67 Buenos Aires.
Day 68-72 Colonia/Montevideo/Salto
Cross the Rio de la Plata by ferry to Colonia, Uruguay. Free time to explore the area and relax at a streetside cafe. Continue by bus to Montevideo. Travel by bus to Salto.
Day 73-80 Iguassu Falls/Paraty/Ilha Grande
Arrive to the Iguassu area by overnight bus. Explore both the Argentine and Brazilian sides of the falls. Continue by overnight bus to colonial Paraty. Travel by bus and ferry to Ilha Grande.
Day 81 Rio de Janeiro
Travel to Rio de Janeiro by ferry and bus for free time to explore the city using our centrally-located hotel in Copacabana as a base.
Day 82 Rio de Janeiro
5/11/12 Rio to London (via Frankfurt)