How to Travel Overland from Europe to Asia by car, bike and train – The 3 Best Travel Routes

How to travel from Europe to Asia without flying? What is the best direction to travel overland from Europe to Asia? This guide gives you a detailed overview of all the possible routes you can take if you want to hitchhike, cycle or drive from Europe to Asia by land or travel from Europe to Asia by train. You’ll find information on ferries, borders, visas, and how to deal with possible obstacles along the way.

Editor’s note: You’ll find many 2022 updates throughout this guide. I try to keep up as much as I can with these fast-changing global situations. In case you have new updates that haven’t been added to this post, let me know about them in the comments below so I can update accordingly.

Planning a big overland trip requires preparation. And flexibility.

I often had to change my initial plans and routes when I was hitchhiking and traveling from Europe to Asia without flying. The biggest challenge was dealing with closed borders and difficulties in getting visas.

Some countries like to change their visa regulations on a regular basis so you have to adjust your plans accordingly (yes China, I’m talking about you).

Others don’t allow you in their country unless you’re part of a tour group. Iran, for example, doesn’t like Canadians, Brits, and US citizens traveling independently and Turkmenistan is just suspicious of any other nation in the world.

A few countries (like Pakistan and Russia) only issue a visa when you apply for it in your home country and/or give you a very limited time to enter the country between the time the visa is issued and your arrival (e.g. you only have 3 months to enter China from the moment you’ve got your visa).

This isn’t really a problem if you’re taking airplanes but it becomes tricky when you’re hitchhiking, cycling or driving from Europe to Asia and you want to take the time to explore the countries you’re passing through instead of rushing towards your destination.

And let’s not forget about 2020… Land borders are now finally reopening but each country has its own set of extra entry requirements.

So what’s the best way to travel from Europe to China and/or Southeast Asia without too much hustle, bustle and fuzzle?

I’ll give you an overview of all the possible routes on how to hitchhike/cycle/drive/take the train from Europe to Asia, including border and visa obstacles and possible solutions.

Disclaimer: This posts might contain affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for helping to support this website!

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1. Traveling in Europe by land (and sea)

1.1 Visas and border crossings in Europe

As a European citizen, you can travel as much and as long as you want in all the countries of Europe. You have the privilege of not needing a visa, not even for the European countries that are not part of the European Union or the Schengen area.

This also means that, if you pass a border checkpoint, you just have to show your passport or national ID card and you’re free to go.

To travel to and in Europe as a non-European citizen, you’ll need a Schengen visa. This visa allows you to stay 90 days in countries that are part of the Schengen area.

The European countries that are not part of the Schengen area will allow travelers holding a Schengen visa to enter and stay in their country for 90 days. This means that you could actually stay for 6 months in Europe (or longer).

I’ll give you an example:

Let’s say you’re traveling from Spain to Turkey by land. You’ve already stayed for 60 days in the EU and are about to enter Croatia.

Croatia is part of the EU but a non-Schengen country, which means that you’ll receive a visa on arrival at the border (after showing you have a Schengen visa) that allows you to stay 90 days in Croatia.

Once you leave Croatia, you still have 30 days on your Schengen visa to travel in the Schengen countries.

Just be aware that the Schengen visa only allows you to stay 90 days in a period of 180 days.

If you decide for example to spend 90 days in Croatia and another 90 days in Albania (also a non-Schengen country) before entering Greece (which is a Schengen country), your Schengen visa will be expired by then and you’ll have to apply for a new one.

→ Make sure to apply for a multi-entry Schengen visa when traveling around Europe!

I tried to explain all of this as clearly as possible. Even as a European citizen I find this whole Schengen – non-Schengen stuff a bit confusing!

Here’s a website that gives you more detailed information about it and it also tells you how and where to apply.

So whatever travel route you take in Europe, as long as you have a multi-entry Schengen visa, you shouldn’t encounter any problems at the borders.

My whole hitchhiking journey from Ireland to Turkey went very smoothly, even for my hitchhiking partner who’s a Canadian citizen. We only had to hurry to enter Turkey once we were in Greece because his visa was running out.

1.2 Driving and cycling in Europe – travel routes

Resources for driving in Europe:

• Driving in Europe –  Requirements and Tips
• Driving in Europe – Checklist
• European Roadtrip Ideas by Wandering Bird
• 20 Best Road Trips in Europe by Skyscanner

Resources for cycling in Europe:

• EuroVelo: 15 long-distance cycling routes across the whole European continent
• Tom’s Bike Trip: How to prepare yourself for a long bike trip

1.3 Travel in Europe by train

Europe has a great international railway network, including international high-speed trains like Eurostar connecting the UK with mainland Europe.

Here are 2 in-depth guides on how to travel across Europe by train:

• A Complete Guide to Train Travel in Europe by the Savvy Backpacker
• A Beginner’s Guide to Train Travel in Europe by The Man in Seat 61

1.4 Ferry routes and crossings in Europe

When you’re cycling or driving from Europe to Asia, you might want to save some time by skipping a part of the overland journey and take a ferry instead.

Here are some ferry companies that offer different European ferry routes:

• OK-ferry: ferry routes to different destinations of the Mediterranean Sea
• Direct Ferries: numerous option for ferries in and around Europe

We took a ferry from Ireland to France and from the mainland of Greece to several Greek islands.

2. Europe – Asia Border Crossings

There are 3 different ways to travel across the European-Asian border and make your way towards the East.

2.1 Traveling from Europe to Russia

• Update 2022:
• Due to the current war, you can’t travel from Europe to Russia by land. I’ll leave this section be for now but I recommend skipping it and scrolling to 2.2 Travel from Europe to Turkey.

This is the road less taken if you’re traveling towards Asia as it’s not always that easy to obtain a tourist visa for Russia. You could also opt for a transit visa, which is easier to get but it will only allow you 10 days in Russia (not ideal if you’re cycling).

1) How and where to apply for a tourist visa for Russia

If you’re from Latin America, South Africa, Georgia, Central Asia or any of these 45 countries,  you’ll get a free visa on arrival that allows you to stay 30 to 90 days in Russia, depending on your citizenship.

Travelers from North America, Europe, Africa, South Asia, and Australia will have to apply for a Russian tourist visa in the Russian consulate or Russian embassy in their home country. 

To apply for a tourist visa for Russia, you’ll need:

• a Letter of Invitation (LOI),
• a visa application form that you’ll very likely have to fill in online
• passport with 2 empty pages valid for 6 months after arrival in Russia
• photocopy of your passport
• passport picture
• Travel Insurance for Russia (only for citizens of the EU)
• iVisa is a reputable online passport & visa service that offers Tourist Invitation Letters (LOI) for Russia. They can also help you with the whole visa application process to receive the Russian tourist visa.

What if you’re already on the road but you still want to apply for a tourist visa for Russia?

There are only a few countries, such as Canada and the US, of which the citizens can apply for a Russian visa outside their home country.

If you’re a citizen of Europe, Australia, etc, you could always send your passport home and aks a friend or a family member to do the application for you. However, this is risky and not something I’d recommend as your passport might get lost in the mail. It’s also illegal in most countries to travel without having your passport with you.

2) How and where to apply for a transit visa for Russia

You can easily apply for a Russian transit visa in any country that has a Russian consulate or embassy.

A transit visa allows you to stay up to 10 days in Russia. To apply for this visa, you need:

• proof of onward travel like transportation ticket from Russia to the next destination or, if you travel by car, car documents and a print-out of your planned route
• proof of valid visas for the countries from which you enter and exit Russia

Here’s more detailed information on how to apply for a transit visa for Russia.

3) Cycling or driving from Europe to Russia

The best way to travel from Europe to Russia is via the border with Latvia, Estonia or Finland as they all belong to the EU, which means less hassle.

Avoid going from Ukraine into Russia as they were at war with each other and there are still some rebel-held zones in Southeastern Ukraine and Crimea, which you shouldn’t cross at all!

You can also enter Russia via Belarus, but you’ll have to apply for a visa to enter Belarus by land as you can only obtain a free visa on arrival if you arrive by plane. Check the visa policy for Belarus here. 

The Way to Russia is a great resource for if you want to travel to Russia by car, motorcycle or hitchhiking.

Remember:

Plan your trip to Russia well in advance. It’s the largest country in the world and even if you get a 90-day tourist visa, you’ll have to drive a lot if you want to cross the country within a decent time frame.

Also, keep in mind that winter isn’t the best time to travel through Russia (especially if you’re cycling or hitchhiking!!). Prepare yourself well!

4) Traveling from Europe to Russia by train

Here are 2 fantastic resources if you want to travel by train from Europe to Russia:

• How to travel by train from London to Moscow & Russia by The Man in Seat 61
• The Best Train Routes to Russia by The Way to Russia

2.2 Traveling from Europe to Turkey

The most popular way to travel from Europe to China and Asia is by going through Turkey. 

Update 2022: The following land borders with Turkey are currently open:

• Greece to Turkey at Kastanies–Pazarkule and Kipi–İpsala
• Bulgaria to Turkey at Kapitan Andreevo–Kapıkule, Lesovo–Hamzabeyli and Malko Tǎrnovo–Aziziye
• Turkey to Georgia via Sarp, Türkgözü and Aktaş
• Turkey to Iran at Bazargan-Gürbulak and Sero-Esendere

1) Turkey Entry Requirements

Visa for Turkey

Citizens from Latin America, Central Asia, New Zealand and certain European countries (for the complete list, look here) receive a free visa on arrival that allows them to stay up to 90 days in Turkey.

If you’re a traveler from North America, Australia, South Africa, South Asia, and following European countries (for the complete list, look here) need to apply for an e-visa.

It’s super easy and straightforward to apply for the e-visa online and once you receive it, you’ll be allowed to travel for 30 up to 90 days in Turkey. This is plenty of time to cross the country (although, we overstayed our Turkish tourist visa with 6 months, but that’s a different story…)

Turkey Test and Vaccination requirements:

Passengers over the age of 12 must have a document showing a negative COVID-19 test result to enter Turkey. This must be a PCR test taken in the last 72 hours before entering the country or a rapid antigen test taken in the last 48 hours.

If you have a vaccination certificate showing the last dose was given at least 14 days before arrival, then you don’t need a negative COVID-19 test result.

2) Driving or cycling from Bulgaria or Greece to Istanbul

If you’re cycling or driving from Europe to Istanbul and beyond, the easiest and most straightforward way is crossing the land border with Greece in Ipsala or with Bulgaria in Edirne.

You might encounter a lot of security checks at both land borders as many refugees try to enter Europe from here.

3) Taking the train from Europe to Istanbul – the ‘Modern Orient Express’

Does ‘Murder on the Orient Express’, the famous detective novel by Agatha Christie,  ring a bell?

Throughout history, there are many referrals to train travel in Europe on the Orient Express route. The route started in Paris, went across Vienna and ended in Istanbul.

Nowadays, you can still travel by train along the Orient Express Route:

• Read how Naomi from Probe around the Globe followed this famous historical train route from the Netherlands to Istanbul.
• The Man in Seat 61 wrote a comprehensive guide on how to travel by train from London to Istanbul

4) Taking the ferry from Greece to Turkey

When we were hitchhiking from  Europe to Turkey, we took a ferry from Rhodes, one of the Greek islands,  to Marmaris, a port in Turkey. If you like traveling by boat, I’d definitely suggest you take this route.

Here’s a ferry connections route map between Athens, the Greek islands and the ports in Turkey. You can book tickets for the ferry online, in a travel agency in Athens or on one of the islands.

Read: The 13 Best Places to visit in Turkey

5) From Turkey to Georgia

2022 Update: You need to present either a vaccination certificate or a certificate with a negative PCR test result, no later than 72 before entering Georgia.

The easiest way to travel from Turkey to Georgia is by crossing the border at Sarpi on the Black Sea Coast.

Reading Tip: Georgia Travel Guide: 19 useful things you should know before you go

6) Taking the ferry from Bulgaria to Georgia

There’s also the possibility to skip Turkey and take the ferry from the port of Varna in Bulgaria to the port of Batumi in Georgia. Check the ferry schedule here.

3. Traveling from Europe to Central Asia

There are a few different routes to travel from Europe to Central Asia by land, some easier and more accessible than others.

I’ll focus on one main route as it’s currently the best possible direction from Europe to Asia as most land borders on this route have reopened.

1) From Georgia to Azerbaijan

2022 Update: You must have a vaccination certificate stating you are fully vaccinated or a recovery certificate with a QR code and a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours before arrival in Azerbaijan.

You can enter Azerbaijan with an e-visa (since 2017!) which allows you to stay for 30 days in the country. If you’re planning on staying longer than 10 days in Azerbaijan, you’ll have to get registered!

If you want to travel by train, there’s a daily train leaving from Tbilisi (Georgia) to Baku (Azerbaijan). 

* Note: If you also want to visit Armenia, know that they aren’t the best buddies with Azerbaijan. Definitely avoid going through the disputed region of Nagorno – Karabakh because you can be sure that you won’t be allowed into Azerbaijan at all! If you decide to go through that region, make sure that you have your stamp on a separate piece of paper.

There are also no open borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan so you’ll have to return to Georgia first before entering Azerbaijan or you can go through Iran (see route A).

You can expect annoying questions from the Azerbaijani border controls concerning your visit to Armenia (they will ask if you visited Nagorno – Karabakh) but they will allow you in.

Read: Everything you need to know about traveling in Azerbaijan

2) From Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan by boat

2022 Update: You need to present either a vaccination certificate or a certificate with a negative PCR test result, no later than 72 before entering Kazakhstan.

You can cross the Caspian Sea from Baku in Azerbaijan to Aktau in Kazakhstan by ferry, which costs around $80. It’s more expensive if you travel by car. 

This ferry doesn’t have a fixed schedule but it leaves at least once every 3 to 7 days.

Read my Comprehensive Guide with everything you need to know about taking the boat from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan. 

3) From Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan by boat

2022 Update: Turkmenistan remains closed for foreign travelers.

Turkmenistan is a pain concerning visas and independent traveling. You can only enter the country on a tourist visa if you’re part of a tour group. If you just want to apply for a transit visa, there’s no guarantee you’ll get it. The rejection rate is 50% and they love to play games.

Applying for a transit visa is like playing the lottery. I also heard stories of couples that applied for the transit visa and while one of them got the visa, the other person got his application rejected.

I’m super curious about this country but it’s not worth the hustle. Oh, and you can’t get any visa during the month of September, due to an important festival in Turkmenistan.

4) Traveling overland in Kazakhstan

2022 Update: You need to present either a vaccination certificate or a certificate with a negative PCR test result, no later than 72 before entering Kazakhstan.

Citizens from the European Union, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Mongolia are eligible for a free tourist visa upon arrival.

Citizens from non-visa-exempt countries need to apply for an e-Visa 

Find more information about traveling and driving in Kazakhstan in my Travel guide to Kazakhstan.

If you want to travel around Kazakhstan by train, read the following guide on How to travel by train in Kazakhstan.

Reading Tip: The 26 most beautiful places in Kazakhstan

You have 30 days to cross Kazakhstan into the following countries:

5) Traveling overland in Uzbekistan

2022 Update: You must present either a negative PCR test result no later than 72 before entering Uzbekistan or proof of vaccination.

Uzbekistan is now issuing free visas on arrival to citizens of more than 30 countries, including citizens of the European Union. With this free visa, you can stay up to 30 days in the country.

Travelers of countries who still need a visa for Uzbekistan can now easily apply for an e-visa. You can read all the details in my Travel Guide to Uzbekistan. 

The easiest way to get around Uzbekistan is by train. Here’s a guide on how to take the train in Uzbekistan.

Reading Tip:  Visit the best places in Uzbekistan with these 3 travel itineraries.

6) Traveling overland in Kyrgyzstan

2022 Update: You need to present either a vaccination certificate or a certificate with a negative PCR test result, no later than 72 before entering Kazakhstan.

You can easily enter Kyrgyzstan from Uzbekistan and/or Kazakhstan by bus. Kyrgyzstan doesn’t have a proper railway so the best way to get to and around Kyrgyzstan is by (mini)bus or shared taxi.

Here are some guides that can help you:

• How to get from Tashkent (Uzbekistan) to Kyrgyzstan by bus
• How to get from Almaty (Kazakhstan) to Kyrgyzstan by bus

Kyrgyzstan has the most liberal visa regime in Central Asia and offers a free visa on arrival to these nationalities. 

I have many comprehensive guides and useful travel information about Kyrgyzstan:

Find everything you need to know about traveling in Kyrgyzstan (best places to visit, itineraries, practical info,…) in Traveling in Kyrgyzstan – The Ultimate Travel Guide

7) Traveling overland in Tajikistan

2022 Update: There’s still no clear news about whether or not the land borders of Tajikistan have reopened.

You can enter Tajikistan via Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan. More info about the border crossings here.

Tajikistan offers now a free visa on arrival for most nationalities, except when you’re from one of these countries.

Tajikistan is a mountainous country so there are no trains or big buses here. You’ll have to travel around by shared taxi, a public minivan, or your own vehicle.

If you have the time, don’t skip the Fann Mountains and the Pamir Highway!

Read all my guides about Tajikistan in Traveling in Tajikistan – The Ultimate Travel Guide

4. From Turkey or Central Asia to South-East Asia

1) How to travel overland from Central Asia to China

2022 Update: China closed its borders again to foreign travelers

Oh, dear China, how moody art thou!  

While it used to be possible to apply for a visa for China in different countries in Central Asia, they’ve recently changed their visa regulations. It’s currently extremely difficult to obtain a Chinese tourist visa in Central Asia.

Remember that the rules change all the time so you better check the Caravanistan forum for recent updates.

I had a sparkle of hope that I could apply for a Chinese visa in Tbilisi (Georgia) but they are now only issuing visas for residents of Georgia.

The only solution is to send your passport home (there we go again) and ask someone to apply in the Chinese embassy in your home country (unless you’re from Germany, then you have to be physically present to apply for the visa).

Here’s what you need to apply for a Chinese visa.

If you managed to get a visa for China, you can enter China from Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan.

If you want to travel from Kyrgyzstan to China, you can cross the borders at the Irkeshtam Pass or the Torugart Pass.

You can travel from Tajikistan to China across the Qolma Pass.

If you want to drive in China, know that you can’t do this independently. You can only drive with your own car or motorbike in China if you’re part of a tour group or have a personal guide, which is very expensive.

The best solution is to find a group of travelers who also want to cross China by car or motorbike and split the costs. You’ll also need to apply for a Chinese driving license.

Click here for more information.

2) From Europe to India by land (Myanmar – Thailand)

A lot of people dream of traveling overland from Europe to India. This is also the route we first had in mind. We wanted to travel overland from Europe to Thailand across Iran, Pakistan, and India.

It looks like an easy road on the map but it doesn’t come without any obstacles. This route is also not possible to travel by train.

1) From Turkey to Iran

2022 Update: Iran has reopened its land borders. Aside from a visa, all travelers over the age of 12 are required to provide proof of full vaccination. You also need a negative PCR test taken within the last 72 hours before arrival in Iran, unless it has been at least 14 days since the second dose of a two-shot vaccine (or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine).

The shortest way to travel from Turkey to Iran is by crossing the Gurbulak – Bazargan border or the Esendere – Siro border. Find all the information about the Turkey-Iran border crossing here. 

Iran issues visas on arrival but only if you arrive by plane. If you travel overland, you still have to apply for a tourist visa at an Iranian embassy.

However, the whole visa situation changes constantly so for the most recent updates concerning the Iranian visa, check out the updates on Caravanistan.

The best place in Turkey to apply for a tourist visa for Iran is at the Iranian embassy in Ankara.

You could also travel from Turkey to Iran across Georgia and Armenia. Both countries offer free visas on arrival to many nationalities (check the visa policy for Georgia and Armenia visa policy) and are definitely worth a visit!

2022 Update: The borders between Georgia and Armenia are open. For both countries, you need to present either a vaccination certificate or a certificate with a negative PCR test result, no later than 72 before entering the country.

Read: 15 Amazing Places to Visit in Georgia

If you travel across Georgia and Armenia, apply for an Iranian tourist visa at the consulate of Iran in Batumi (Georgia).

Only citizens of the UK, US, and Canada can’t travel independently to Iran. They need to be accompanied by a tour guide at all times. But… there’s a way around it.

You could enter Iran via the Armenian border where the border controls are known to be less strict. Alex from Lost with Purpose wrote how she entered Iran independently as a UK citizen.

2) From Iran to Pakistan

Update 2022: The land borders between Iran and Pakistan are currently closed. Updates concerning these borders are very welcome in the comments below!

Crossing the Pakistan – Iran border is possible but a bit tricky.

This border crossing is very long and known to be a dangerous area. That’s why you can only cross with an armed escort. Read the border crossing report by Lost with Purpose and check for updates on Caravanistan.

Pakistan was our second obstacle. You can only apply for a Pakistan visa in your home country or country of residence. Europeans and Canadians can get a visa on arrival if they arrive by plane and are part of a tour.

Just like with the Russian visa you can try to send your passport to someone in your home country and ask him/her to apply for the visa in the Pakistan embassy of your country.

Know that you’ll be without a passport for a while and you should check the regulations of the country you’re in whether or not it’s illegal to travel there without a passport.

If you are able to obtain a visa for both Iran and Pakistan, it means that you can enter India without too much hustle.

3) From Pakistan to India

Update 2022: There was only one Pakistan – India border where foreigners could cross but this one still seems to be closed now. Updates concerning this border are very welcome in the comments below!

There is one Pakistan – India border that is open only for foreigners.

You can obtain an e-visa for India but only if you arrive by plane. If you want to enter India by land, you’ll have to apply for a regular tourist visa in an Indian embassy.

You can apply for a 6-month tourist visa on your way to India. I’ve heard that the embassy in Pakistan is quite a hassle but you can try to apply for one in Tehran (Iran).

Other options are applying for an Indian visa in Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan,…) but that means you’ll have to make a huge detour and you need to be aware that the visa starts from the date of issue, not from the date of entrance!

4) From India to Myanmar and Thailand 

2022 Update: Myanmar will reopen its borders to international tourists on 17 April. Find the current Myanmar entry requirements here.

If you’ve finally managed to travel from Europe to India (congrats, let me know if you’ve done it in the comments!!), you might want to continue your journey toward Southeast Asia.

The only way to reach Thailand or Laos is to cross Myanmar (aka Burma).

This is also tricky! You can enter Myanmar from Thailand on an e-visa but there are some mixed reports on whether or not it is possible to enter Myanmar from India. You’ll also need a special permit to travel overland in Myanmar.

Nobody said that traveling by land would be easy, eh?

Alright, one last route:

3) from Central Asia to South East Asia without traveling to China

2022 Update: This route is currently not possible as a) it’s not possible to travel to Russia at the moment due to the war and b) most countries on this route are closed to foreign travelers.

This route is the longest way to travel overland from Europe to China and South East Asia but it’s the best chance to get a visa for China while you’re traveling and make it to Southeast Asia.

1) From Kazakhstan to Mongolia

There is no direct border between Kazakhstan and Mongolia so you’ll first have to travel across a small part of Russia. 

You’ll need to apply for a 2-day Russian transit visa in Almaty or Nur Sultan. 

If you’re not cycling or driving your own vehicle, you can take the train to cross the distance between Kazakhstan and Mongolia but you have to buy these tickets in advance as proof for your transit visa.

You’ll also need to apply for a Mongolian visa (30 days) at the embassy of Mongolia in Almaty or Nur Sultan. 

2) From Mongolia to Russia 

After visiting Mongolia, you’ll have to apply for a new Russian transit visa (try to get 10 days) in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) to enter Russia.

To travel from Russia to Asia without taking any flight, you’ll first have to go all the way to Vladivostok in Russia. 

The best way to get there from Mongolia is by train. You can book the train tickets for the Trans-Siberian train from Ulan Ude to Vladivostok (Russia) online.

3) From Russia to South Korea by ferry

There’s weekly one ferry that goes from Russia to South Korea, operated by DBS Ferry company. 

The ferry leaves in Vladivostok (Russia) and arrives about 22 hours later in Donghae (South Korea). You can book online tickets for this ferry here. 

South Korea offers a free visa on arrival for many countries. Check here to see if you need to apply for a visa in advance or if you can get a free visa on arrival. 

You should be able to apply for a Chinese visa at the Chinese embassy in Seoul. Find out here what you need to apply for a Chinese tourist visa. 

4) From South Korea to Japan by ferry

There are a few ferry lines connecting South Korea to Japan.

Here is a fantastic and very comprehensive guide about taking the ferry from South Korea to Japan, including the various ferry routes, costs and practical travel information. 

Japan offers a free visa on arrival to many countries.  You can also try to apply for a Chinese visa at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo. 

5) From Japan to China by ferry

There is currently one ferry route running between Japan and China. The ferry leaves from Osaka and arrives 46 hours later in Shanghai. You can check the schedule here. 

Once you’ve made it to China, you can easily continue your journey toward Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.

If you’re going on a long journey like this, you should get good travel insurance! Here are the 3 best and most affordable travel insurance companies for long-term travelers!

I hope this post has been very useful to you!

If you’re planning to embark on this long overland journey or you’ve traveled this route or parts of it and you have extra information, useful guides, or stories, please share them in the comments below! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

More Useful Resources:

• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Turkey
• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Georgia
• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Azerbaijan
• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Kazakhstan
• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Kyrgyzstan
• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Uzbekistan
• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Tajikistan

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