Coach trips can be a great way to see more on holiday with new scenery unfolding outside your window.
But what if the journey covers thousands of miles… still tempted?
Here we reveal some of the world’s most arduous bus services that might leave you scratching your head as to who would be.
From a two-and-a-half-day journey crossing eight countries in Europe to a five-day drive that passes through the Amazon Rainforest, each one is a fixed direct service devoid of layovers. Scroll down to discover the routes with the longest itinerary at the bottom.
Europe
Lagos, Portugal – Sofia, Bulgaria: 2d 15h
The Union Ivkoni service runs from the coastal city of Lagos (left), in Portugal’s Algarve, to the Bulgarian capital Sofia. Pictured right is the city’s St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
A one-way ticket in May costs £122.57 ($156) and Union Ivkoni operates several buses per week, similar to the one pictured here
The bus drives approximately 2,480 miles (3,991km) through eight countries – Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria
Perhaps no bus journey takes advantage of the EU’s open border policy more than the Union Ivkoni service from the coastal city of Lagos, in Portugal’s Algarve, to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.
The bus drives approximately 2,480 miles (3,991km) through eight countries – Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria. Stops are made in every country except Serbia on the two-and-a-half-day journey, the company said.
Each bus has a toilet onboard and has several planned breaks each day.
A one-way ticket in May costs £122.57 ($156) and several buses run each week.
Visit en.union-ivkoni.com
Bordeaux, France – Bucharest, Romania: 2d 2h
FlixBus runs a service from Bordeaux (left), in France, to the Romanian capital of Bucharest. Pictured right: The Palace of the Deposits and Consignments in Bucharest
FlixBus ticket prices start at £94.99 ($121) for routes from Bordeaux to Bucharest
Facilities onboard the FlixBus (left) include free Wi-Fi and USB charging points for every passenger. Each bus has an onboard toilet, like the one pictured right
Covering a total of 1,972 miles (3,173km), the bus travels through parts of France, Italy, Slovenia, and Hungary on the journey from western to eastern Europe
Another contender for Europe’s longest bus journey is the FlixBus service from Bordeaux, France, to the Romanian capital of Bucharest.
Covering a total of 1,972 miles (3,173km), the bus travels through parts of France, Italy, Slovenia, and Hungary on a two-day, two-hour journey from western to eastern Europe and has three planned breaks each day, the company said.
Ticket prices in May start at £94.99 one-way.
Onboard facilities include a toilet, free Wi-Fi and USB charging points for every passenger.
Visit shop.flixbus.co.uk
North America
Los Angeles, U.S – San Salvador, El Salvador: 4d 3h
USA Tours runs a fixed service from Los Angeles (left) in sunny California to San Salvador (right). The four-day journey covers an epic 3,112 miles (5,008km)
The incredible journey will take in four countries – U.S, Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador
USA Tours runs a fixed service from Los Angeles, in sunny California, to San Salvador in El Salvador.
The four-day journey covers an epic 3,112 miles (5,008km) over four countries – U.S, Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador.
A one-way ticket costs £230 ($294).
Los Angeles, California – Houston, Texas, U.S: 1d 9h
This 1,475-mile (2,374km) journey passes through four U.S states – California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas
Greyhound’s longest continuous bus service in North America is the US1001 service from Los Angeles (left) to Houston (right). There are five planned breaks on the journey
A Greyhound bus, like the one pictured above in Colorado, is used for the journey
Greyhound‘s longest continuous bus service in North America is the US1001 service from Los Angeles to Houston, Texas, the company revealed.
The route covers 1,475 miles (2,374km) in one day and nine hours and passes through four states – California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Onboard the bus, passengers have use of a toilet, free Wi-Fi and USB charging points.
Passengers can stretch their legs and stock up on food and drink during five planned breaks throughout the journey.
A one-way ticket in May costs £105 ($135). Several buses run each day from Los Angeles Union Station.
Visit shop.greyhound.com
South America
Lima, Peru – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 5d 1h
Trans Acreana runs a 3,989-mile (6,420km) route from Lima, Peru, to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil
The bus journey from Lima (left) to Rio de Janeiro takes five days from start to finish. RIGHT: Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain
Pictured: Examples of the buses operated by Trans Acreana
This service, offered by Trans Acreana, covers 3,989 miles (6,420km) in five days and one hour, and involves one border crossing between Peru and Brazil.
It passes through Cusco, the former capital of the Inca empire set in the Peruvian Andes, and part of the Amazon Rainforest en route.
The bus makes three stops per day ‘for personal hygiene and meals’, according to the company’s website.
A one-way ticket costs £163 ($207) and includes filtered water and Wi-Fi onboard.
Visit www.transacreana.com.br/en.
San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela – Buenos Aires, Argentina: 5d 5h
This Lineas de los Andes bus service covers 5,072 miles (8,162km) in five days and five hours and passes through six countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina
Behold the longest bus journey on our list – the Lineas de los Andes bus service from San Antonio del Tachira to Buenos Aires. Pictured: An image showing one of the company’s buses
Behold the longest bus journey on our list – the Lineas de los Andes bus service from San Antonio del Tachira to Buenos Aires.
The journey covers 5,072 miles (8,162km) in five days, five hours and passes through six countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina.
A one-way ticket in May will cost £368 ($465).
Visit lineasdelosandes.com
Fees may vary depending on the date of travel and the date of booking.
