What is overlanding?

Overlanding with Dragoman is all about taking the road less travelled, seeing the real country as well as the highlights, and getting away from the tourist trail – our mantra is “it's the journey, not just the destination”. Whichever trip you choose we promise you the adventure of a lifetime. With the emerging trend of "slow travel", Dragoman helps you to have experiences on a deeper level taking the time to make genuine connections with local communities, enjoy the journey and to truly explore.

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 local villagers in the remote villages of West Africa - for many people 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 9 days through to 235 days! If you are after a short break away, try one of our many 2-week trips in areas such as Peru, East Africa or India. These trips are designed to fit into more restricted vacation allowances for those that still want to have an adventure.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a truly epic journey, you could travel overland with Dragoman for several months on one of our extended routes – you could go from Anchorage to Ushuaia, Istanbul to Beijing, Cape Town to Cairo, or a whole loop of India or South East Asia. 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 vehicles also allow us to get off the tarmac and take the road less-travelled. It may be a 3-day journey across the challenging high 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 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, nationalities, and a broad-minded attitude to the world around them. Life-long friendships are forged on these journeys and if you're travelling solo you can be alone as much or as little as you want.

As Active As You Want

These are not just sightseeing tours - there are many different activities that you could get involved with 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. There are often some long drives, but there is always plenty of time to get off the truck and to explore.

Involve Yourself

On an overland trip you're more than just a passenger - you're part of the 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 intrinsic to 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 at a school in Ghana. There will always be opportunities to freely meet the locals on all of our trips. To find out more about Dragoman Supports and our responsible travel policies click here.

Our Overland Crew

Our extensively-trained trip leaders are passionate about overland travel, and will ensure your journey is both safe and enjoyable.

In East and Southern Africa, we generally have 2 ‘western’ crew and 1 local crew. In most of Central or Southeast Asia, it's usually 2 ‘western’ crew and 1 local crew. In North, Central and South America, India, West Africa, and the Nile Route, we will have a 2-person crew aided by local guides along the way. Meet the Dragoman crew here.