London to Calcutta by Bus
Embark on a nostalgic journey down the legendary Hippie Trail with Albert, the iconic double-decker bus that transported adventurous souls from London to Calcutta in the 1950s. Explore the spirit of overland travel, cultural exchange, and unforgettable adventures across Asia, Europe, and beyond.
Once upon a time in the swinging 1950s, a ticket from London to Calcutta cost less than one from Paris to Rome. The year was 1957, baby boomers were still teenagers roaming free, and flower power was just beginning to blossom. Enter the legendary Albert Travel double-decker bus—originally dubbed the “Indiaman”—which whisked passengers away on an extraordinary adventure, ferrying them from London to Belgium before hitting the open road. So here is a tale of a journey from London to Calcutta by bus.
For a mere £150 round trip, each brave soul was afforded a place to sleep, eat, read, and live (yes, all on one bus) for an astonishing 50 days and 20,000 kilometres. Think of it as a giant hippie van on wheels, rolling through the realms of exploration and adventure.
The Hippie Trail Beckons from London to Calcutta
This wasn’t just any old jaunt; we’re talking about the now-famous Hippie Trail that led into the Indian subcontinent via Turkey, Lebanon, Kashmir, Iran, and Afghanistan. Passengers were affectionately known as overlanders—primarily young Europeans, North Americans, and Australians in search of alternative tourism, keen to travel as cheaply as possible from the late 1950s to the 1970s. These wanderers networked with fellow adventurers and hippies as they thumbed their way along offbeat routes by bus, rail, or hitchhiking.
Along the way, the bus would stop at various tourist destinations, allowing passengers ample time to stretch their legs and indulge in the wonders (and the herbs) of the world.
A Fond Farewell to the bus from London to Calcutta
The original Indiaman service made numerous treks back and forth along this iconic route, but it all came to an end after a tragic accident led to its sale in 1968. One of its buses, a double-decker model, was purchased by Andy Stewart—a traveller on a mission to return to London from India. Having journeyed there from Sydney, Australia, Andy and his mates took a rather leisurely 132 days to make their way back westward.
Andy named the bus Albert after its former owner, and shortly thereafter, he established Albert Tours, keeping the spirit of the bus and its travels alive.
Albert’s Final Voyage
In 1976, Albert took its final voyage east as unrest in the Middle East and Asia became unavoidable, particularly due to the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and rising tensions in the region. Over the next 33 years, Albert changed hands several times, until Andy bought it back in 2009. He and his friends embarked on one last jaunt through East Asia, setting off from Glasgow, though the trip was sadly curtailed in France. Eventually, Andy sold the bus one final time.
Before the trip was set to begin, Andy told a reporter, “Anyone can jump on a jumbo jet and fly to Australia from Scotland, but where’s the adventure in that? During the 60s and 70s, Albert made more than 150 border crossings—from Afghanistan to Iran—and we were always welcomed wherever we went. The sight of this beautiful green and cream double-decker bus cruising through the packed streets of Calcutta, across the desert to Tehran, or along the Black Sea coast was nothing short of spectacular. People were so interested in Albert; he broke down barriers. The reaction we got was amazing. I can’t wait to get back on board and do it all again!”
And so, the tale of Albert, the intrepid double-decker, comes to a wistful close, a relic of an era when the journey itself was the destination. From London to Calcutta and beyond, Albert wasn’t just a bus; it was a bridge between cultures, a rolling haven of camaraderie, and a testament to the unyielding human spirit of adventure.
Here’s to Albert, the Indiaman, and the dreamers who dared to ride it—a symbol of a bygone age when the road to discovery was as thrilling as the destinations themselves
Cover Picture Sources Kolkatasutra.
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