On any vacation, getting from A to B is usually fairly time-consuming and often one of your biggest expenses. But, magical things can happen once you make the journey the focus of your experience. All of a sudden it becomes an exciting opportunity to see more of the world.
Coach tours are a great way to get your fix of the open road and see the scenery while someone else takes care of the stressful part – driving and navigation. Plus there is a tour guide on board who will share their wisdom with you, and your journey won’t cost as much as a flight, taxi, or luxury rail trip.
There are some beautiful routes to consider, and the journey is as much a part of the adventure as the destination. Check out our list below of the world’s most beautiful coach tours to find your next bit of travel inspiration.
Beautiful Coach Tours Across The World
Argentina – Rio Gallegos to Ushuaia
Distance: 580km (360 miles)
Approximate duration: 11 hours
You may as well go big or go to the end of the world when you find yourself in the port town of Rio Gallegos. There are a number of bus operators which run the route, and your destination is a resort town located on the Tierra Del Fuego Archipelago, aka the southernmost tip of South America.
The route starts and ends in Argentina, crosses the border into Chile, and includes a ferry ride across the turbulent Strait of Magellan. The breathtaking scenery makes up for the blowing wind, and you can expect to see glacial landscapes and snow-topped mountain ranges from your window seat.
Luckily the adventure doesn’t have to stop once you reach the end of the world as Ushuaia is the gateway to Antarctica cruises and the nearby Penguin Island.
Australia – Geelong to Apollo Bay
Distance: 112km (70 miles)
Approximate duration: 2.5 hours
If you are looking for sunnier landscapes more closely acquainted to endless summers than the end of the world, then the Great Ocean Road coach tours might be more your style.
Although this stretch of Melbourne’s Bus route 101 takes just two and a half hours from start to end, you will only get a fraction of the enjoyment when travelling it in one go. Rather take your time and hop off along the way to take a dip or watch the surfers from the stunning beaches that have made the route famous.
In addition to white beaches and blue seas, you can expect to see forested hills peering over the coastline. Koalas are just a short detour from the coast, and Apollo Bay is an ideal base from where you can explore more of the surrounding scenic area.
South Africa – Cape Town to Port Elizabeth
Distance: 750km (465 miles)
Approximate duration: 15 hrs
While fifteen hours in a bus may sound like a long time, the reality is no one does it this way. When exploring the famous Garden Route which extends 300km of this from the Western to Eastern Cape in South Africa, see some of what the country has to offer and stay over in any of the towns the bus stops in at along the way.
The coach tour company makes scheduled layovers in the various towns dotted along the route. Just as you would enjoy a hop on hop off experience in a city, the same concept applies to this cross-country tour.
On your journey you can expect to see some of South Africa’s world-famous landscapes, including the university town of Stellenbosch, whale capital Hermanus, pristine beaches of Wilderness, beautiful Knysna, and surfers paradise Jeffrey’s Bay.
US – Chicago to Los Angeles
Distance: 3,940km (2,450 miles)
It would be amiss not to include at least one really long multi-day tour, and why not the iconic Route 66. We have included some wiggle room in the distance and duration as really, this varies across different coach tours. The extra kilometres will come in handy to fit in sites such as the Grand Canyon and perhaps a bit of Las Vegas along your route.
Aside from the journey through history which is brought to life through countless museums, monuments, and art exhibits, you will experience first-hand, many iconic landmarks of the US along the way.
After moving on from the shores of Lake Michigan, expect to get up close and personal to the Gateway Arch on the banks of the Mississippi, Devil’s Elbow Bridge, Old Town of Albuquerque, Acoma Sky City, Meteor City, and the Mojave desert among others before your trip ends at the Santa Monica pier in Los Angeles.
France – Paris
Although this is not what you would typically classify as a tour, we do feel that Bus 69 which crosses Paris on an east-west route, warrants a mention.
The bus will transport you through the city of love, where you will see famous landmarks such as Pere-Lachaise Cemetery, Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, Musee d’Orsay, Les Invalides, the Eiffel Tower, Place des Vosges, Palais-Royal, Place de la Bastille, and Tuileries Gardens en route.
You can hop on and off as you please, and will really get to experience the beautiful city like a local.
And on that note, Bon Voyage!
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