(Garrow-Fisher Tours)
PLEASE NOTE: This site is still 'under construction' and is therefore not complete nor do all the links work yet. Additions and amendments occur frequently so if it is a week or more since your last visit be sure to 'Refresh' each page you view (or 'Reload', depending which browser you use) to be certain of seeing the latest version.
In 1957 an eccentric Irishman called Paddy Garrow-Fisher drove a bus-load of intrepid travellers on an expedition from London to Bombay. They were the first fare-paying adventurers to set out on this tremendous 16,000 km journey. In many ways they were similar to passengers of the old Indiaman clippers of a few generations before except that they went by road instead of by sea. The romance of visiting exotic places full of strange sights, sounds and smells, however, was every bit as exciting as in days of old. It was truly their 'journey of a lifetime'.
Over the next few years the service grew and matured; many mistakes were made but many lessons learned. Paddy started Garrow-Fisher Tours, his retail travel agency, with Indiaman Tours incorporated as its Tour Operations arm. Competition saw many new start-ups (and many drop by the wayside) as well as an ever-increasing number of independent travellers, all following the same dream - to experience the mysterious East. Roads improved, some were built where none previously existed, and basic facilities for travellers sprang up to provide what would have been unimaginable luxuries to earlier overlanders. On the other side of the coin, there was rarely a trip that was not affected at some stage by war, religious zealotry or natural disaster. These always introduced fresh difficulties or hazards - and sometimes real danger.
The appeal of the 'Asia Overland' however, remained as strong as ever. New routes opened up all the time and new places to visit became accessible as quickly as some older ones became unavailable. Therefore this Website is dedicated to 'Asian Overlanders' both past and present and to travellers on other great overland journeys that carry paying passengers (details of which will be added from time to time). It should appeal to anyone who has an interest in adventure, especially overland travelling, whether as a past passenger, a prospective future traveller, or simply because they like to read about ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Mike (Alex) Alexander
Site Administrator
If you have any comments, suggestions or contributions
regarding the Indiaman Tour that you think are worth mentioning,
please
| NEXT |