Bus company offers a seriously fun way of getting to next year's Olympics

(Oz Bus)

Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on London for the 2012 Olympics, most through the labyrinthine monstrosity that is Heathrow Airport. But what about taking a bus to get to the games instead? And even better, how about boarding it in Sydney?

Oz-Bus, the company which has made its name offering epic bus journeys across Asia, South America and Africa (among others), reckons it's got a more enjoyable journey in store for travelers; an 81-day trip across three continents.

The "Sydney to London Olympic Special" will depart Sydney May 6, calling through five former Olympic cities on its way to London, where it is scheduled to arrive July 25 (three days ahead of the opening).

The route takes in Sydney (2000), Melbourne (1956), Beijing (2008), Moscow (1980) and London, as well as a host of other cities in Asia and Europe.

The trip - which Oz-Bus stresses isn't just for sports fans - includes stops at Ayers Rock, Australia, the Borobudur temple in Java, Indonesia, the Terracotta Warriors and Great Wall in China, Lake Baikal in Russia, as well as a portion of the journey on board the Trans-Siberian Railway.

It also includes visits to several major cities, including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Beijing, Ulan Bator (Mongolia), Moscow, St Petersburg, Tallinn, Vlinius, Riga, Warsaw, Krakow, Prague, Heidelberg and Bruges.

While the tour won't be for everybody (accommodation arrangements include hostels and camping) it certainly sounds like a journey worthy of the Olympic name - although at £5,499 (€6,250) per person, so does the price.

http://www.oz-bus.com/