The vague plans is to fly to Bali at the start of summer 2026, cycle south-east the wrong way! Island hoping with ferries all the way to Komodo. Fly to Java, and actually head north this time toward my actual destination.
From there make my way to Singapore, north through Malaysia, up into Thailand, across to Laos along the Mekong, and into Vietnam. Then either cut across into Yunnan for a month before Hong Kong, or fly direct to Taipei depending on visa timing.
In Taiwan Taroko Gorge, Alishan... just all the beautiful places I couldn't go on my previous trip. Hop to Seoul and the dreamy 4 Rivers cycle path to Busan, ferry to Fukuoka in Japan, and ride to Tokyo.
Roughly, I leave early July 2026 from Bali, arrive Tokyo summer 2027, pick up a few diseases on the way, crash out a few times, run out of money halfway and give up.
Fly into Bali's dry season. Cycle east island hopping, short ferries linking each one.
Lombok for Rinjani volcano and a remote south coast.
Sumbawa for empty roads and near-zero tourists,
then Flores for pretty hills, finally Komodo Island.
End at Maumere and fly to Java.
Alt A: from Jakarta cross the Sunda Strait and cycle north through Sumatra to Medan, ferry to Penang — adds ~6 weeks.
Comifuro — twice yearly, around Apr & Sep/Nov
ICE BSD Jakarta · anime fan convention · verify exact dates closer to time
Indonesian Independence Day — 17 August 2026
National holiday · parades, fireworks, big street party
P2 — Java · autumn 2026
Fly Maumere → Surabaya. Java is the most densely populated island so keeping to back roads or trains.
Bromo volcano plateau active craters, big caldera, then Yogyakarta/Borobudur.
KAI trains cover long stretches cheaply: bikes go in the luggage car.
P3 — Jakarta → Singapore · late 2026
From Jakarta, ferry to Batam Island, then a 45-minute high-speed ferry to Singapore's HarbourFront. ~£15 total.
AFA Singapore — 27–29 November 2026
Anime Festival Asia · anisong concerts · vtuber guests · Suntec Centre
Cycle north through Malaysia to Penang, then Bangkok, Chiang Mai and into Laos via the Mekong.
Cross into Vietnam for Hanoi and the Ha Giang Loop.
Alt B: skip China — fly Hanoi → Taipei directly.
Loy Krathong — usually November
Thailand · lantern festival on rivers and canals
Tết Lunar New Year — 29 January 2027
Vietnam · new year
P5 — Yunnan, China · early 2027
Enter from Vietnam at Lào Cai / Hekou border. Check French passport visa-free status before crossing.Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Tiger Leaping Gorge. Head east through Guilin toward Hong Kong.
P6 — Taiwan · spring 2027
Fly Hong Kong → Taipei (~1hr). Taroko Gorge — TRA train to Hualien, cycle into the canyon.
Alishan — leave bike in Chiayi and take the mountain train up.
Fancy Frontier — spring edition, date TBC
Taipei · anime fan convention · check official site for 2027 dates
P7 — South Korea · late spring 2027 (skippable)
Fly Taipei → Seoul. Cycle the 4 Rivers dedicated route Seoul → Busan.
Ferry Busan → Fukuoka (~3–6hrs).
Alt C: skip Korea — fly Taipei → Fukuoka directly.
P8 — Japan · summer 2027
Cycle Fukuoka → Kyoto / Osaka → Tokyo (~1,000km). Rinko bag for trains.
Golden Week — late April to early May
National holiday block · very busy
Wonder Festival — late July 2027, date TBC
Makuhari Messe, Chiba · figure and model event
Obon — mid-August
Japan-wide · ancestral festival · lanterns, fireworks, Bon Odori
Summer Comiket — 15–16 August 2027
Tokyo Big Sight
Stay in the loopWeekly photo dispatches from the road.
