Any experienced world travellers here? Suggestions/advice?

[Mollygrubber]

My wife & I are in the throes of preliminary trip discussion, maybe a guided tour in Europe, maybe something bigger - like sell the house and disappear for a year or 3 to Africa, Asia, Australia, Amherst (just kidding about Amherst- no offence NY'ers).

Have any of you folks done a trip you really loved?

There's lots of info regarding gear, etc. I'm more interested in hearing about places that really resonated with you.

Thanks,

Peter

[Biff's R]

I went to school for a summer in Europe. My suggestion would be to mix your time between cities and smaller towns.

[tlwood28]

I've done most of the US, Western Europe, plus Russia, Ukraine, Morocco, India, Thailand, HK, India, and Egypt, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean countries. I loved them all, and the longer the trip the better.

I guess to answer your question as best I can, I think India (Rajasthan, Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, etc.) was spectacular. The cultural differences can be life changing. Crazy place. I would love to live there for awhile. It would be the place to park and watch the very busy, crowded world go by.

I drove through the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, driving from Marrakesh to Fez. You will think you are on a movie set, but these days I'm not sure its safe. It was a much more difficult trip, but lasting memories for sure.

Then I would say Egypt. If you haven't done any "exotic" trips and not sure about it, this may be the place to start. You see the country essentially starting in Cairo and taking a cruise down the Nile. Easy trip. Lot's and lots to see.

If you are new to travel and starting in Europe, I would argue against a guided tour. It's easy to get around, and the small difficulties you experience will add the adventure and make for memories in a fond way. Elsewhere it is more difficult to avoid, but there is an unfortunate aspect of tours--you really get isolated from the country and people you are trying to see. My two cents!

Feel free to PM me if I can be of any help.

I envy you!

Tom W.

[Mollygrubber]

I've done most of the US, Western Europe, plus Russia, Ukraine, Morocco, India, Thailand, HK, India, and Egypt, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean countries. I loved them all, and the longer the trip the better.

...and you envy me?!?

I guess to answer your question as best I can, I think India (Rajasthan, Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, etc.) was spectacular. The cultural differences can be life changing. Crazy place. I would love to live there for awhile. It would be the place to park and watch the very busy, crowded world go by.

I hear India has the scariest drivers in the world - maybe not a great place for a first adventure - but I bet it was exciting!

Then I would say Egypt. If you haven't done any "exotic" trips and not sure about it, this may be the place to start. You see the country essentially starting in Cairo and taking a cruise down the Nile. Easy trip. Lot's and lots to see.

Now that sounds really cool.

If you are new to travel and starting in Europe, I would argue against a guided tour. It's easy to get around, and the small difficulties you experience will add the adventure and make for memories in a fond way. Elsewhere it is more difficult to avoid, but there is an unfortunate aspect of tours--you really get isolated from the country and people you are trying to see. My two cents!

I agree with you there, but my wife is in love with the idea of a group tour, with local guides etc. I can't help but think it would be like riding in a bubble. Maybe I can sway her...

Thanks for the input, it was very helpful!

Peter

[Caroanbill]

Australia is very welcoming to North Americans, and particularly those from north of the 49th parallel.
Once you're out of the capital cities you'll find folk are very chatty to motocyclists on blue BMWs.

You can spend from a week to a year or two travelling and - two or three alpine roads aside - all roads are always open. best to avoid the north in summer (hot and it rains a LOT) and the south in the depths of winter (great days but cold mornings and evenings). More variety in one country than you might expect - even though this is a flat, old, dry continent. A very wide range of back road routes away from cities if you want to experience the outback or even the countryside (aka "the bush") and more populated parts along the coast, especially the SE corner (Melbourne to Brisbane)

Good camping options in national parks and other places (most require a little dirt rding to get in) and reasonably cheap accommodation in most towns. Pubs (hotels) ion many places specialise in cheap basic accommodation (but check first -there are some owful ones!)and the locals are always chatty! Like everywhere, the more isolated the town the more likely the food will be expenseive and not so great, and the more expensive the accommordation.

You can get to the Daintree (Cape Tribulation) wet tropic rainforest, Uluru (the massive rock in the middle of the desert), Kakadu (outback Northern Territory), the Barrier Reef, and a welath of other gerat spots on sealed roads wth good services - juts don't expect the plethora you'd find in that wee country just south of BC.

And better food - in most towns and definitely in Sydney and Melbourne - than most places, good local wines, a national obsession for decent espresso (except in the bush - too watery out there!) and good produce ...

And travellers are very welcome in BMW bike clubs, just like everywhere else!