| Ian | Driver, becoming more mechanical everyday, conscientious, wavy blond hair. English gentleman of sometime means coming down to the realities of earning. |
| Peter | Passenger who became co-driver, half of Tepe and Peter, bell bottomed leather trousered blond Yank of considerable intelligence, more often than not stoned. |
| Tepe | Other half of Peter and Tepe, buxom blond Yank, who also had opinions when you could get past the voice. |
| John | Author of this travelogue, joined bus in Mashhad, honorary bus engineer. |
| Inta | Born in Latvia, returning to Australia to teach English, John and Inta formed a partnership. |
| Brian | My travelling companion. |
| Lynette | Blond Aussie from outback who's been to Moscow. Sat with Brian. |
| Leon | Tamed (even pet) Canadian in school football jerkin, buying everything. Affected English accent with some success. |
| Win | Delightful, smartly turned-out New Zealander with tall, noble bearing, very English appearance and lively intelligence. |
| Christine | Unapproachable English art graduate with some radical views. First trip east at 18 terminated at Istanbul. Unpredictable, sock it to me! |
| Mary | Slim dark attractive New Zealander with mean streak. |
| Helmut | "Ve shall come all over" - brunt of innumerable hilarious Ian remarks, often returned twofold. Pointed face with beard and German steel rimmed glasses. Quiet and dry. |
| Robyn | Later coupled with Ian, art student, seeking second year off. |
| Dallas (baby) | Loveable round, bouncy Aussie bird. Friend of Robyn, also art student. |
| Sandy | Frizzy Yank bird, with matching unkempt dresses. |
| Kevin | School master! Red hair and crew cut red beard of great density. Great organisation and NZ shorts. |
| Graeme | Of Perth (sh! salesman) |
| Jan | Strong New Zealand bird. |
| Bwendz | Ghastly wench from Perth with no 'r's and cockney accent, tall and stooping, "I awdud two fwied eggs 20 minutes ugo". |
| Little John | Sideboards and droopy moustache. Low on intelligence but loveable. Passion for biscuits "Give me another rupee's worth". |
| Judy | Classical English bird of extremely pleasant demeanour. |
| David | Vague graduate in some obscure art, from the city of Intellectual Darkness. Long straight black hair and thin face. Reminiscent of Peter. |
| Heavenly Graham | Ethereal Canadian with lengthy hair and moustache, seeking spiritual guidance. |
| Irma | Solid unobtrusive Aussie blonde with glasses. |
| Beth and Betty | Indistinguishable Australians of beyond prime marrying age, one tall and gaunt (acceptable figure) one short. |
| Dawn | One half of the drawl which could sometimes be distinguished as Dawn and Wayne. Pleasant Brisbaner. |
| Wayne | Other half of drawl. Balding New Zealander fighting off first wife. Owner of Afghan gun of huge proportions, exchanged for $1.50 watch. |
| Tom | Goatee clad Yank with hair and sideboards. Made of money with Stateside hash farm. Exponent of Indian flutes. Took my camera apart to no avail. |
| Terry | Cockney waif found at Indian border. Protested about expense and came to Srinagar. With Sandy slept outside airlines hotel Amritsar. |
| Mike | Tall fast talking smoothy, to be taken in small doses. |
| Little Brian | Wonderful Cockney. Diminutive, fair-haired, moustachioed friend of Mike's who spied a little Indian boy's pinkle and drew an out of bounds line. Irrepressible. |
| Peter | Melbourne Aussie, another moustache and brown hair. |
| Neil | Rediscovered Canadian with hair, beard and National Health glasses. Vast man, experience of hash, LSD and Shirlee. Actuarial student. |
| Shirlee | Married to Neil. Small blonde Canadian. Two of the best people we met. |
| Total 35 | 18 Male, 17 Female |