Overlanding is a type of tourism that has grown in popularity in recent years. Perfect for the adventurous tourist seeking an experiential travel experience who wants to embrace slow tourism, overlanding is a more ethical form of travel than many other tourism types. But what is overlanding and how does it work? This article explains all.
What is overlanding?
There are so many different types of travel and tourism – so many different ways to experience new places and new cultures. Overlanding is simply another type of travel. It is one where the journey is the most important part of it all, rather than the destination. Overlanding involves travelling over/on land, and being self-reliant while doing so.
Overlanding often involves the use of large group trucks (for group tours) or recreational vehicles, such as campervans. Overlanding is typically a form of slow tourism, meaning that travellers move slowly, taking in everything that the destination has to offer. This often has fewer negative environmental, economic and social impacts and can be more responsible than other forms of tourism.
Overlanding definition
Firstly, the Cambridge dictionary defines ‘overland’ as any form of travel or transportation that occurs on land rather than via air or sea. So ‘overlanding’ as a verb is literal movement across land, generally in a vehicle.
Outside Online have “defined it as “backpacking out of a vehicle.” That is to say: you’ll be going on an adventure through remote places and relying on the gear you carry with you. Only, with a truck, motorcycle, or car, you’ll be able to travel much farther, and it’ll be a lot easier to bring items like good food, quality booze, and a comfortable sleep system and shelter along.
What makes overlanding different from simply going off-road, or taking a car-camping trip, is the emphasis on travel over exploring the technical limits of your vehicle. An ideal overlanding trip should involve exploring new places.
Does the definition of overlanding seem a little vague and open-ended? That’s on purpose. What’s new and exciting for you will be different from what’s new and exciting, or even possible, for others. The key here is to get out of your comfort zone and test yourself within the realm of your other interests, your tolerance for risk or discomfort, your level of experience, and the capabilities of your vehicle and other gear.”
Who can go overlanding?
Anyone can go overlanding!
Someone in the travel party needs to have a licence for the vehicle being used, but it is an accessible and often quite affordable way to travel, and those who don’t want to drive can hire a driver or join a group tour with a driver included.
Travellers with a car and a tent (or a roof tent) can sometimes camp for free where wild camping is permitted, making this a real budget way of exploring somewhere new and eliminating the cost of hotels or apartments, which can often add up especially when covering a large area.
How much does overlanding cost?
When it comes to the costs of overlanding, these can be quite minimal, but they can also be quite expensive!
For someone who already owns a campervan, this kind of trip can be fairly cheap – especially in their own country – and a ferry to a nearby country can also be affordable. For someone based in the UK doing an overlanding holiday in Spain, for example, the main costs would be as follows (UK travellers should also remember that, since Brexit, they can stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period). This is based on someone who owns and is travelling in a campervan or caravan that they will be sleeping in.
- Petrol
- Insurance
- Ferry crossing
- Food/drink
- Site fees if you are using an official campsite
- Spending money
- Toll fees
There are relatively few costs involved in this type of trip. There may be entrance fees for tourist attractions, or the occasional night in a hotel, but generally it can be affordable. Added costs can come with having to hire a campervan or car, of course. Travelling by motorcycle is also likely to require paid accommodation.
On the other hand, for those who join a group tour, then the costs can add up quickly. There are many overlanding tours available, many of which are offered by mainstream tour operators as well as niche tourism operators. These organisations are usually for-profit businesses so whilst travellers benefit from a pre-planned itinerary and a group of like-minded people to travel with, they often pay a premium for this. This is particularly common with long overlanding tours, such as trips across Africa or Asia.
What gear do you need to travel overland?
Overlanding doesn’t require a lot of gear. The only essential is a vehicle – it is possible to simply drive cross-country and stay in hotels along the way, although this is more expensive. Other useful items for a typical overlanding trip include:
- Car/campervan/caravan/motorcycle
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Torch
- Portable cooker/BBQ
- First aid kit
- Breakdown contingency bag
- Warm clothes
- Fire extinguisher
- Cooler box
- Towels
- Hiking equipment
- Map/offline GPS system
- Fold-away table and chairs
- Long-lasting food items and spare fuel if you are planning to be in a more remote area such as the desert for an extended period of time
Why choose overlanding?
There are many reasons why people choose overlanding. One is that, as mentioned, it can be done on a budget especially if you can use a vehicle you already own. For long trips, it is usually more affordable than staying in hotels and apartments throughout.
Another reason is that overlanding allows travellers to see much more of a place. On a typical holiday, tourists can be limited to their immediate location – for example, someone staying on the Costa Brava in Spain might only visit Barcelona on a day trip. On an overland trip, they could spend a few nights on the Costa Brava and then drive to the outskirts of Barcelona to explore the city for as long as they like.
Overlanding also allows travellers to head off the beaten track. Having their own transport means they are not constrained by public transport, giving them the freedom to choose exactly where to go and when.
The advantages of overlanding
As mentioned previously, overlanding is often viewed as a more sustainable form of tourism than other tourism types. This is because it doesn’t usually include flying (although there may be a flight to/from the destination), so it can cause fewer CO2 emissions than many other holidays. Because it is a form of slow travel, it encourages people to spend more time in smaller, local communities- this limits economic leakage and promotes cultural tourism.
Overlanding also allows tourists to travel off-the-beaten path and explore further and deeper. Tourists can have unique experiences away from the mass tourism crowds and local communities can reap the rewards economically and socially. Tourists can save money too, especially if they have their own campervan or recreational vehicle that they can sleep in.
The disadvantages of overlanding
Whilst this type of niche tourism is generally viewed as more positive than many tourism types, there are still some disadvantages that are worth noting. To begin, whichever vehicle is used will produce some emissions – even electric vehicles need to be charged, and that electricity may come from fossil fuels. Furthermore, if responsible tourism is not undertaken, there may be unsustainable tourism development that occurs and unethical tourism behaviour, Overlanders also need to respect local rules on wild camping and leave no trace.
Overlanding destinations
So, where can people go overlanding? Pretty much anywhere there is land. There are practical limitations – for example, someone based in the UK cannot drive their own vehicle to the Americas, although they can fly there and rent a vehicle. Overland routes such as the Silk Road through Central Asia and China are also popular with organised tours.
The perfect overlanding destination is a matter of preference – for example, Europe or South America, , a hot or cold climate, and how rural and remote the trip should be. Some popular overlanding destinations are outlined below.
Overlanding in The Pyrenees
Taking you from France through to Spain, you can do a 3-4 day route through the Pyrenees. This stunning mountain range will provide breathtaking scenery, and there are plenty of hiking trails along this route. Many overlanders park up, go for a hike and then stargaze from their campervan or tent – although it can get cold at night.
Overlanding in Africa
Africa is one of the world’s classic overlanding destinations. Whilst most people tend to book onto an organised trip when overlanding in Africa due to safety concerns, it is also possible to it yourself- you can see a great example of that here.
Overlanding from Cape Town to Victoria Falls
This is a much longer route. Covering around 5000km, this overlanding trip usually takes three to four weeks. You’ll drive through four countries (South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana) and see so much beautiful wildlife along the way! It is often done in a 4×4 with a roof tent, a campervan or on an organised overland truck tour.
Overlanding in India
India is a fascinating country to overland through, with huge diversity of nature, culture, colour, food and more. Many overlanders hire a car with a local driver, given India’s challenging road conditions.
Overlanding in Jordan
Jordan is a breathtaking location – and an excellent country to explore overland. A road trip from Amman to the Dead Sea, passing through Wadi Rum and Petra, is one of the region’s classic road trips. There are so many beautiful nature zones, alongside archaeological sites and historic monuments, clear open skies for watching the stars and so much more! This route can be done in around 7–10 days, with the flexibility to stay longer in favourite places or take detours.
Overlanding: FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about overlanding.
What is overlanding?
Overlanding is self-reliant travel over land to remote or new places, usually by 4×4, campervan, motorcycle or overland truck, where the journey itself is the main focus of the trip.
Is overlanding expensive?
Overlanding can be very affordable for people who already own a suitable vehicle and camp, but organised overland tours and vehicle hire can be expensive.
What do you need to go overlanding?
The only essential is a vehicle, but useful equipment includes a tent or roof tent, sleeping bags, a portable cooker, first aid kit, recovery gear, offline maps and plenty of water and food for remote areas.
Is overlanding a sustainable form of tourism?
Overlanding can be more sustainable than other forms of tourism because it usually avoids flying and spreads spending into local communities, but vehicles still produce emissions and overlanders need to travel responsibly.
Where are the best places to go overlanding?
Popular overlanding routes include Cape Town to Victoria Falls, the Pyrenees, Jordan, India, the Silk Road and the Pan-American Highway.
Overlanding: Further reading
If you found this article on overlanding useful, these itineraries and articles may also be of interest:
- Slow tourism explained: What, why and where
- What is flashpacking?
- Overlanding in China- Silk Road tour
- Overlanding in Inner Mongolia- Inner Mongolia itinerary
- What is experiential travel?
