Roof of the World Rally
Launching July 2008
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The Route
Or, How do I get There?
The short answer is any way you want! Read on to find out more...
The Launches
Launch 1: London
The launch from Lisbon takes place on Saturday 6th July 2008, and from here we merrily wind our way through some of Europe’s great party cities (enjoying them as we go) headed for Budapest to meet up with our London chums.
Launch 2: Verona
Launch two takes place a week after launch one, as Team Verona begin their adventure from….. Verona of course! Taking a tour up to the Czech Rep, they then head for the wilds.
Budapest Party
Once in Budapest we are having an afternoon tea party at the British embassy. As the last place with good, reliable road systems on our trip, this is a perfect opportunity to toast to the unknown. We will be joined by a variety of guests, from diplomats to press. An interesting shindig it will be!
The Routes
Teams can take any direction they like between the start and finish. Go forth and find some adventure! Below are some very rough route guides
Extreme North
Starting from either London or Lisbon head north into the icy lands of Scandinavia and the Arctic Circle. Treat the occupants of Murmansk to a hot cuppa before dropping down through Siberia headed for Tajikistan and warmer climes.
North
After the good old Budapest knees up head for the Baltic. St. Petersburg and Moscow are in short supply of afternoon tea stops so treat the Russians to a bru’ and a hobnob before heading into the wilds of Siberia and Kazakhstan.
Central
Keep heading east. Chase the sun in the morning and run away from it in the afternoon as you take on Ukraine and the Black Sea before heading for Volgograd (Stalingrad) and take on the bandits in Eastern Kazakhstan.
South
Teams headed south can deliver their fine beverages all the way through Turkey before blagging their way across the Caspian on a cargo ship and exploring the strange desert state of Turkmenistan.
The Pamir Highway
Whilst there are many ways of entering Tajikistan – from the death defying Anzob pass to coming in from Afghanistan, there is only one that interests us. The Russian M-41 is the daddy as far as adventures go. The second highest highway in the world, you approach the level of K2 base camp and serious altitude sickness risks as you pass through hundreds of miles of beautiful scenery with not a person in sight. Watch out for the super rare Marco Polo sheep or Snow Leopard as you haul your banger across high altitude desert and mountain passes, within spitting distance (literally) of Afghanistan. Untouched even by the fabled Mongol Rally and according to some the origin of tea itself. Perfect.
Click on the map below for a larger view of the Pamir Highway
