If you’re looking for something pretty badass to do this coming May, it doesn’t get any better than the Ultimate Train Challenge. I’m talking about a journey of epic proportions that covers 25,000 kilometers overland across two continents.
What’s the deal?
Get yourself from Lisbon to Saigon (or vice versa) in 31 days or less. You can choose any route you want, explore as many cities as you wish, but you must do it ALL BY RAIL.
Who came up with this?
The idea was conceived back in 2010 by Michael Hodson from Go, See, Write while he was travelling through South America. Having recently finished a sixteen-month travel challenge to circle the globe without flying, he began to wonder, “What is the world record for the longest continuous train journey?”
In the fall of 2011, he set out to answer that question by travelling from the edge of Europe to the edge of Asia – the furthest you can go entirely by rail – along with two of his friends.
Now he is giving you a chance to do the same while raising money for charity.
How much does it cost?
The sign-up fee to take part in the race is $295 US (approx. £183 / €223) if you register by February 15th, and $395 US (approx. £245 / €298) if you register from February 16th to April 30th.
What do you get for your entry fee?
The benefits are detailed more in full here. In short, you can blog your trip on their website to keep family and friends up to date with your journey; they have a live-mapping feature on the site, so you can keep up with everyone in real time; Intrepid Travel is offering two fabulous 15-day tours to the first ones to cross the finish line in each direction; they are going to throw an awesome pre-launch party where you can meet everyone in both locations; Eurail is offering up at least four of their Global Passes that they will be raffling off and giving away as prizes; HostelWorld is offering two free nights’ stay in each city beforehand and…more.
In order to keep up with the latest developments on new sponsors, prizes and other news, you can sign up for their free newsletter via this link also. As an extra bonus, they will be doing a drawing from all the newsletter subscribers in February and will be giving away a new Samsung Galaxy SIII to one lucky subscriber.
But the primary benefit is just you taking a chance to have the adventure of a lifetime, along with a couple dozen other fellow adventurists!
Doing this for Charity
In addition to doing the challenge for yourself and possibly for some of the great prizes that are being offered by the sponsors, the Ultimate Train Challenge has partnered up with Blue Dragon’s Children Foundation in Vietnam to help out some needy children.
They are asking each person to try to raise $500 for that charity. Intrepid Travel has agreed to match each contribution dollar for dollar, up to a $10,000 total. So, in addition to having an adventure of a lifetime, the entire group of participants is going to help make a small, but positive change in the world.
Any help on the planning?
First things first that everyone needs to understand – this is not a tour. You have to make your own plans, get your own visas, and make sure that you know what you are doing on the ground. The challenge of it all is that it is you versus the rails – all on your own.
That being said, the team at UTC have put together some resource pages here for you to start making your plans. You can also feel free to email them with any questions that you have about anything at: contact@yourworldnorules.com.
If you decide to take the challenge, you can use the following code to get $30 off your entry fee. You just need to enter it on “Referral” line:
Discount code: AB13UTC
This is doable, with friends or on your own. And if I didn’t already have plans of skipping around Asia, I’d be all over this!
Live your life with no regrets.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Many thanks for supporting it and I hope loads of your readers end up wanting to do it. If anyone has any questions, shoot me a note. Thanks!
Michael Hodson recently posted..Check out a Trailer from last year’s UTC
Wow, that would be quite a trip!
Zhu recently posted..[Special Feature – Part II] Working in Canada: the Good
Cool! I’m ankles deep preparing to do the Trans-Siberian. This is tempting, however… hehehe…
Colleen Brynn recently posted..I Could Totally Live In… Vernazza, Italy
Colleen, feel free to email me about this. If you want to do it, I might be able to provide you some more info to push you in favor of it.
Michael Hodson recently posted..Train routes through Kazakhstan??!!
All Aboard for a great adventure and charity. Wow! Can’t wait to read who goes and how they do. You and Sam should go for it.
Maria recently posted..Dinner with Bill
Sounds awesome! I’m going to look into it some more. I’ve never gone nearly that far by rail before.
(FYI, if you click on the banner at the end you go to the image, not the sign up–it confused me and may confuse others)
Chris McCarty recently posted..Photo Friday: The Acropolis
Thanks for the heads up! The link on the banner has been fixed.
Chris, feel free to shoot me an email if you have any particular questions. Would love to have you do this adventure.
Michael Hodson recently posted..Train routes through Kazakhstan??!!
How is it that I’m only now just hearing about this? This seems awesome – adding it to my adventure list along with the Mongol rally!
Katie (@WanderTooth) recently posted..Colombian Coffee Region: Around the World in 80 Drinks
This sounds awesome! What an adventure! If I knew for sure when exactly I graduate in May, I would be totally up for this!
Julika recently posted..Picturesque Monday: Capturing Croatia
Julika, graduation events are overrated. Finish exams, skip out on that boring graduation speech and do this as your graduation present to yourself
Michael Hodson recently posted..Train routes through Kazakhstan??!!
I love this challenge; I don’t love that I can’t attempt it this time around. Maybe next year..?
Flora recently posted..Monsters and Murders in the Highlands of Scotland
Yep, this truly does sound like it would be amazing.
John recently posted..The Clock is Ticking
Are you participating?? It would be freaking outstanding. Too bad I can’t just quit my job. Except I’d get so caught up in the race portion that I’d miss out on so many places I’d want to see, but still awesome.
Alex @ ifs ands & butts recently posted..the facts of me: linking up with i wore yoga pants.
I’m not doing it this time around. I need to stick around Asia a bit longer. But I know what you mean about getting caught up in the race aspect, I think I would probably end up skipping a few places in order to try being 1st.
I’d love to do this, but am still working at the moment. I’m looking into visa requirements so if my life plans change I will be on board.
Curious Nomad recently posted..Ciudad Perdida: Trek skill level
You and Sam should join!
Micamyx|Senyorita recently posted..One Morning in Siem Reap Wet Market
Audrey this sounds amazing! Are you by any chance going for this adventure? If I didn’t have medical mission commitments throughout the year, I so would have jumped on board already! Any other months/time of the year this is happening?
Antoinette | love.antoinette recently posted..Walking around the Recoleta Cemetery
Uhm, WOW! A journey of epic proportions indeed!
GayE @ Pinay Travel Junkie recently posted..Australia Day 2013