Overlanding with Dragoman is all about taking the road less travelled in a custom-built overland expedition vehicle with a group of up to 24 travellers of all ages and nationalities. Our overland tours move at a relaxed pace and visit the remote areas as well as the highlights of all the countries we travel through. Overland travel affords you the time to really immerse yourself in the culture of the local communities we visit and gives you the opportunity to truly explore off the beaten track destinations. Our overland expeditions may sometimes take you out of your comfort zone and usually involve an element of wild camping but we believe it is these experiences that make overlanding so rewarding. So if you are looking for a unique adventure shared with a group of like- minded travellers on a journey of a lifetime then an overland expedition may be the trip for you because with overlanding it’s all about the journey, not just the destination!
DRAGOMAN OVERLAND EXPEDITIONS
WHAT IS OVERLANDING?
INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEYS
On every overland journey with Dragoman you’ll visit all the must-see highlights in the region, be it the iconic Taj Mahal, the incredible ruins of Machu Picchu, the mighty Victoria Falls, or the phenomenal Great Wall of China! However, by travelling in one of our purpose-built overland trucks, we’ll also get you well off the beaten track and into the heart of every country we travel to, so you can really get under the skin of the places you’re visiting. You may stay as guests of local Kyrgyz families in their yurts, trek through dense Ugandan jungle in search of endangered mountain gorillas, or meet inquisitive tribes in the remote villages of West Africa. For many of our travellers these unique experiences are often the most memorable parts of their overland adventures and simply life-changing.
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT
We have a huge range of overland trips from 15 days through to 326 days! If you are looking for a short break away, maybe try one of our shorter overland tours in areas such as Iceland, East Africa, Arabia or South America. These trips are designed to fit into more restricted vacation allowances for those that still want to have an adventurous holiday.
If you’re looking for a truly epic journey you could travel overland with Dragoman for several months on one of our extended routes such as Istanbul to Beijing, Cape Town to Cairo or Cartagena to Rio de Janeiro. Whatever the trip, we take time to enjoy the journey and the destinations en-route. This is slow travel at its very best.
FREEDOM TO GET OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Our overland journeys are designed to offer freedom and many of our routes have a large degree of flexibility rather than a strict hour-by-hour or even day-by-day itinerary. As we have our own vehicle we are generally unrestricted in our ability to alter the schedule according to local circumstances.
Our custom-made overland vehicles also allow us to get off the tarmac and take the road less travelled. It may be a journey across the challenging high altitude dirt-roads of the Bolivian Altiplano, taking on the vast off-roading potential of Mongolia, or perhaps a side trip across the desert to a San village in Namibia. This ability to go beyond the standard tourist infrastructure is a major highlight of overland travel.
SHARED GROUP EXPERIENCES
Travelling overland is all about sharing a great experience with like-minded people and your companions are as much part of the adventure as the areas you are travelling through. Our groups often have people of many different ages and nationalities with a broad-minded attitude to the world around them. Many of our passengers are solo travellers who want to enjoy the benefits of group travel as well as have the freedom to be alone whenever they like. Lifelong friendships are forged on these journeys.
BE AS ACTIVE AS YOU WANT TO BE
These are not just sightseeing tours, there are many different activities for you to enjoy along the way. For instance, one day you may be trekking through the Andes, the next learning to cook in a Quechuan village, and the next white-water rafting in the Sacred Valley. Should you prefer not to take part in any activities that is absolutely fine, many of our travellers just enjoy the relaxation aspect to our tours. Our itineraries are designed for you to have the free time to be as active or inactive as you like.
INVOLVE YOURSELF
On an overland trip you’re more than just a passenger, you’re part of a team! Everyone on the journey will get involved to help with setting up camp, pitching tents, shopping for food and cooking. There are other group responsibilities that are part of the overlanding lifestyle, such as collecting water and firewood, loading luggage and helping to keep the truck clean and tidy.
This idea of pitching in as a group has always been an intrinsic part of overlanding. Generations of overlanders have revelled in the experience of being part of an adventure, rather than just a passenger on a tour.
LOCAL INTERACTION AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
We always try to involve the local communities on our trips. You might find yourself staying in a traditional Quechua village in Peru, learning to cook Indian food in Darjeeling, riding horses with Kyrgyz shepherds or helping out at a school in Ghana. Along with planned local community activities there will also always be opportunities for you to freely meet the locals on all of our trips.
OUR OVERLAND CREW
Our well trained tour leaders and drivers are passionate about overland travel and will ensure your journey is both safe and enjoyable.
You will have a crew of 1 tour leader and 1 driver on all our tours. In East Africa we sometimes also have a cook to make sure you can relax and enjoy the wildlife as much as possible. On some tours we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media.
Your tour leader will be in charge of routes, itineraries, food and accommodation and will ensure the smooth running of the tour.
Your driver will drive and maintain the vehicle to a high standard to ensure your safety at all times.
