Greater Manchester travel specialist organises Trans-European Race from London to Istanbul - how to enter

If you think you could make your way across Europe from London to Istanbul in a week only using public transport, then a Greater Manchester travel organisation’s latest challenge is the one for you.

Lupine Travel, which is based in Wigan and specialises in organising trips to unusual destinations across the globe, is putting on a Trans-European Race from the UK capital city to the Turkish city on the Bosphorous which is often described as the place where Europe and Asia meet.

Contestants, whether they are groups or solo travellers, will have seven days and seven hours to head across the continent, visiting a number of checkpoints along the route.

While there is a cash prize on offer for the first traveller to the final checkpoint, Lupine has also suggested that there is no need to race if you just want to spend a week exploring Europe in a different way.

What is the Trans-European Race being organised by Lupine Travel?

The Trans-European Race is a journey from London to Istanbul which must be done overland via public transport, with the use of flights, private vehicles, taxis and hitchhiking all banned from the contest.

The race begins in central London at 10am on 5 August and the finish line in Turkey somewhere in central Istanbul will close at 7pm on 12 August. That means travellers have seven days and seven hours to complete the challenge.

Participants can take any route they wish through the Schengen zone and then into the central and eastern Balkans before getting to Turkey - but they will need to be flexible as there will be a number of checkpoints to visit en route which will only be revealed at the start and during the race itself. These could involve taking a selfie at a well-known landmark or visiting Lupine staff stationed at particular locations.

On Lupine Travel’s website page which is dedicated to the race it does say the first checkpoint will be in Paris and participants are advised to book their journey across the English Channel to the French capital city ahead of time, particularly if they are aiming for the budget prize which will be awarded to the most frugal traveller.

There will be three prizes handed out in Istanbul: the overall race victory for the fastest entrant which has a prize of £2,000, the Savvy award for the person who spends least (and keeps their receipts to prove it) and the Collectors prize for the person or team visiting the most countries during the challenge.

The Trans-European Race has some similarities with the BBC series Race Across the World which has once again captured TV viewers’ imaginations as they watch pairs make their way overland across huge distances for the price of a flight from the start to the end. However, Lupine says it was influenced by events such as the Mongol Rally and the Transcontinental Race, a self-supported cycling race across Europe.

How do I enter the Trans-European Race and why is it taking place?

Bookings for the Trans-European Race are £99 per person and need to be placed directly with Lupine Travel. For more information, go to the race page on Lupine Travel’s website or email [email protected]

The price includes the entry fee, access to the starting event, a race pack which will be handed out in London, entry to the finishing awards event and party in Istanbul and any awards entrants may qualify for. There will also be an emergency number to provide assistance should anyone get into difficulties during the race.

Lupine Travel has teamed up with Jack’s Flight Club to put the event on and the organising team says they want to promote sustainable travel and encourage people to take memorable and meaningful trips.