Overland tours travel guide

Overland tours guide

The quintessential form of ‘road trip’, an overland tour offers you a chance to explore multiple countries across a continent or region in one epic itinerary. Overlanding can use rail, bike or public transport, but in many cases it involves traveling in a durable but very comfortable and well kitted out truck, one that has been purpose built to deal with all manner of road conditions and cover very long distances.

Routes, duration and modes of transport may differ but one thing all overland tours have in common is that adventure comes as standard.

With this guide to overland tours we’ll take a closer look at some of the iconic routes such as the Silk Road, the Trans Siberian Express and Cairo to Cape Town, as well as several others across Asia, South America and Africa that are growing in popularity among travelers with a pioneer spirit.

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What does an overland vacation entail?

Overland tours are popular for many reasons, not least they are the perfect way to explore very different, but equally remarkable countries that can be quite simple to combine. Organised travel by road or railway is a chance to cross borders and boundaries, and really get a thorough immersion in the landscapes and civilisations that most independent trips miss.

An overland tour will usually take in at least two countries, over at least two weeks and in some cases several months. Naturally the very long trips can be quite arduous, especially in regions where the terrain is challenging. With some you have the option to upgrade to more luxurious accommodations, or fly between destinations, which lets you cover more ground.

Some overland tours follow classic journeys, such as the Trans Siberian or Cape Town to Victoria Falls.There are also routes through continents such as Indochina or Central America that are not so established but can yield an even greater sense of discovery. Trip packages can feature a full roster of activities, or be stripped to the bone, with optional activities at each stop available for a supplement.

Group sizes

Group Sizes

While there are tailor made options, the great majority of overland tours are made up of small groups. Typical group sizes range from four to 20 people. Anyone that has taken this kind of vacation will know that people of all ages and backgrounds tend to form strong bonds very quickly, which greatly adds to your enjoyment. It’s worth noting that some longer overland tours can be broken up into stages, so the make-up of the group often fluctuates as people join and depart along the way.

Family trips

The barriers to taking an overland trip are very low. Pretty much anyone with a case of wanderlust and prepared to cope with life on the road for a while can find a tour right for them. Some operators offer trips that are specifically designed for families (Africa is very good for this) with a minimum age of seven – daily driving times are reduced, with regular stops and activities. It’s a great opportunity not only for quality family time, but for kids to make new friends and learn in a unique environment.

Family trips

Transport

Most overland tours use a spacious, self sufficient expedition truck, purpose built to carry everything you need and be really comfortable, too. Typical on board equipment will include water tanks, cooking equipment and fridge-freezers, with space to stow luggage. Reclining seats are set high to allow for great views, with plenty of leg room.

You won’t be on the move all day every day, but on travel days you will usually be in the vehicle for between four and ten hours. Other trips use public transport, including local buses or ferries, and even the odd flight to cut down on some of the longer driving stints. And of course there are some superb rail routes too which don’t use overland vehicles at all.

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Calling us from outside the US?

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Accommodation

Accommodations

Overland tours are all about getting into the thick of the action, so you may find yourself camping out in the wild across Africa or South America, or staying in a combination of locally owned hotels, wilderness lodges and dormitories. The Trans Siberian route usually involves disembarking from the train at various locations and staying with local people, sometimes in traditional yurts, as well as nights in your sleeper carriage.

Accommodation

Some trips are more participatory – with travelers taking it in turns to cook and shop for provisions – while others let you flop while the crew takes care of your meals and the washing up. A huge emphasis on any overland vacation is to do as the locals do, so the ingredients used and the dishes will vary from country to country, something which is particularly noticeable on trips which border-hop frequently.

Tour leaders & guides

Most trips are run by a minimum of two professional and passionate tour leaders, who ensure every aspect of the trip runs as smoothly as possible. In addition, local guides will join you at sites of interest en route. When you’re traveling Cape Town to Cairo, for instance, your itinerary is going to feature major highlights – national parks, the Great Pyramids and so on. But very often travelers find that the real magic is found in the gaps between these places, and that’s where local guides add so much value. By working with them, vacation companies also inject money directly into the economy, and help deter educated people from leaving rural communities.

Tour leaders & guides

Patience

On trips of three weeks and upwards, covering a lot of distance over varying terrain, the first thing on your packing list should be patience. Schedules can be unpredictable – the truck might need maintenance, or the train wheels may need to be adjusted at a border crossing – of course, it’s just as likely that nothing will happen and your itinerary will run like clockwork. But the nature of overland travel dictates that not everything can be planned and mapped out by the minute.

More about Overland

Our top 10 overland tour routes

Our exciting guide to the best overland tour routes is stuffed with useful info on what to expect, but don’t forget our helpdesk team can go into much more detail if you need it.

Overland truck tours

It’s easy to find useful information about the destinations you’ll be visiting, but more difficult to get a feel for one important aspect of overland travel – what it’s like to spend weeks on end in a truck.

The Silk Road overland tours

Beyond developing trade and the sharing of knowledge and culture between East and West, the Silk Road was responsible for what remain some of Asia’s most beautiful and well-preserved cities, including Samarkand and Kashgar.

Cairo to Cape Town overland tours

This Cairo to Cape Town overland guide introduces you to a bona fide classic, a trip that takes you the length of a vast continent, encompassing over 12,000km.

Cape Town to Victoria Falls

Southern Africa is an immensely popular region to explore not least because you’ve got several very different countries here that are all remarkable in their own way.

The Trans Siberian Railway

All aboard for a guide to the world’s longest train journey, the Trans Siberian Railway overland tour, connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East.

South America overland itineraries & highlights

At first glance, it might seem hard to differentiate between the 12 nations of South America, but an overland tour will highlight their many stunning contrasts.

Central America overland

Mountains, coasts, cloud forests and idyllic islands – the varied and beautiful landscapes of Central America might have been designed for an overland tour.

Indochina overland

Our guide to Indochina overland tours explains the intoxicating appeal of four key countries that make up the backbone of most itineraries: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Overland travel advice

Will my kids enjoy an overland vacation? What if I can only take a few weeks off work? Where are the best places to take an overland tour? All these questions and more are answered by the experts.

All our overland guides

All our overland guides. Find all of our overland guides in one place; includes all rail and self-drive vacations as well as trips using a combination of transport; or see our regional overland trips.

More relevant guides

Written by Rob Perkins

ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected

Photo credits: [Page banner: Phil Whitehouse] [What does it entail?: Dan Gold] [Group Sizes: Ryan Dunn] [Family trips: Tim Williamson] [Transport 1: bibliojojo] [Transport 2: Ryan Dunn] [Accommodations 1: Dragoman] [Accommodations 2: Ryan Dunn] [Tour leaders & guides: Phil Whitehouse] [Patience is a virtue: hans wakataitea]

Overland tours travel guide