Organised overlanding trips

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stoney424

stoney424

Active Member
Posts
69
Location
Caithness
So I've finally reached that point in my life where getting to go overlanding is a real possibility.
I've the vehicle, mostly all the gear but naff all idea. Been camping plenty in the UK but never abroad.
So I've been trawling the tinternet and there are lots of companies that do organised trips albeit at a cost.
So has anyone ever used any of these companies?
There's a couple of nice looking trips on Atlas Overland but for a first timer is it worth the cash for that bit of a safety blanket? I'd like to think that once I've a bit of experience I'd be happy to strike out alone.
Thanks
 
I've never done overlanding before either, but if I was going to, I'd look at doing a couple of shortish trips in and around safe countries to get a feel for it. Europe, Scandinavia and some parts of Africa are all reasonably civilised. Google translator and a credit card solves most problems. I don't know how much organised trips cost but they will always be something of a compromise, you won't be able to wake up one day and think.. I'm gong to visit this place today cos the destinations and speed of travel are chosen for you.

Col
 
I like the idea of the Alps, Scandinavia or Iceland. To begin with at least. As you say, all civilised countries.
I think my biggest concern is where you can and can't go off the beaten track, I guess I'm to indoctrinated into the UK ethos of nowhere is accessible.
Cost wise for a 2 week trip to Iceland will set me back about £3k. That's for 2 adults, 2 kids and a trailer. From what i can make out, that covers everything except food n fuel.
 
Hicap phill said:
Have you factored in the time it takes to get the motor to Iceland?
Click to expand...

It's a 2 day ferry from Denmark plus whatever it takes to get to Denmark so from where I'll be living, I'll probably have to add another week onto the trip but that's something I'll have to factor in. It's no different to if I decide on Morocco. Still got to get there.
I'd just like to know if anyone has done one of these organised trips and whether they thought the package deal was worth while, considering this will be my first adventure with the family.
 
doriz said:
I looked at at trip to the Atlas Mts and the fuel alone brought a tear to my glass eye.
Click to expand...

Glad you mentioned that. It's something I'd have to seriously budget for as I can imagine it'll be a serious expense no matter where we go.
 
Trouble is you either have to container the car off West or further afield, or drive through Europe to get anywhere good, which is a bore on major roads. If you take the minor road, it's much nicer and a lovely trip, but you waste too much time before getting out past Europe.

For me, I would either Ship the car to the States / Canada. in both places you can have the car there for a year, and can leave the car locked up on an air conditioned garage surprisingly cheaply, while you fly home and continue the trip later.
or...
Ship the car East and then drive it home, gently getting into more and more built up areas and major roads. If you want truly free driving anywhere offshore, MONGOLIA.
 
Atlas Mts is easy.
Just get the ferry from Algeciras to Tanger Med.
Only an hour on the ferry, not expensive.
Tanger Med to Fes first day, is an easy 6 hours, in direction of Rabat
Overnight in Fes.
Fes to Oujda, is a simple 5 hour run.
(Or just do Tanger Med to Oujdi in one day, if you get the 6:00am ferry)
Oujda to Atlas,an leisurely 5 to 6 hours.
Calais to Tanger Med will soak up £250 fuel each way.
DSC00231.JPG
 
stoney424 said:
So I've finally reached that point in my life where getting to go overlanding is a real possibility.
I've the vehicle, mostly all the gear but naff all idea. Been camping plenty in the UK but never abroad.
So I've been trawling the tinternet and there are lots of companies that do organised trips albeit at a cost.
So has anyone ever used any of these companies?
There's a couple of nice looking trips on Atlas Overland but for a first timer is it worth the cash for that bit of a safety blanket? I'd like to think that once I've a bit of experience I'd be happy to strike out alone.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Hi Stoney424

I am the same mate. Got most of the gear just no idea! lol

I have longed at the photos of the adventure holidays in the back pages of the Landy magazines for years

Me and the girlfriend are planning to travel for a few years from June 2023.

My rough plan from now till the day we leave is this.

Weekend camping in the UK as often as i can so i can keep refining my gear

Go to all the Adventure Overland shows in stratford to talk to as many people as we can who have done overloading tips themselves

Book onto a organised trip most probably to the Pyrenees as i can imagine we will learn a lot on a trip with a professional guide.

We will the start out trip by going to the ABENTEUER & ALLRAD show in Germany in June 2023

Cheers
 
landy-lee said:
Hi Stoney424

I am the same mate. Got most of the gear just no idea! lol

I have longed at the photos of the adventure holidays in the back pages of the Landy magazines for years

Me and the girlfriend are planning to travel for a few years from June 2023.

My rough plan from now till the day we leave is this.

Weekend camping in the UK as often as i can so i can keep refining my gear

Go to all the Adventure Overland shows in stratford to talk to as many people as we can who have done overloading tips themselves

Book onto a organised trip most probably to the Pyrenees as i can imagine we will learn a lot on a trip with a professional guide.

We will the start out trip by going to the ABENTEUER & ALLRAD show in Germany in June 2023

Cheers
Click to expand...

Good plan mate, i have camped loads from a backpack in the mountains and to leading wilderness expeds in open canoes. To 7 days self supported in sea kayaks round french coast.
So my ten pence worth for what it is worth

Refining the gear takes time and trips. Also what one person carries need not necessarily work for others.
also enviroment and climate have a huge impact.

do a lot of research and then test on local trips for a couple of weekends gradually spread further from home in this country and longer duration, you speak the language and understand logistics and retail options for your needs when on the road. once you kind of have that pop to France or somewhere for 3-4 day break to drive and test as still not far from home and green flag would get you home if it all goes wrong.

You have the advantage in that a landy is a very big pack mule with lots of space

You have to decide on how much comfort and how much faff to setup camp you will tolerate.

Space is the key and use of it for good accessible storage. did an Overalnd Truck Trip in Africa in the 90's, these trucks were on the road months at a time self sufficient with spares and food etc. everything stored and refined over lots of years.

Also remember at lots of shows people are trying to sell you something, either goods or trips so take their advice carefully.

If you watch any of the aussie stuff, 4wd247 on utube They are really setup to camp wild in the bush, very good ideas for storage etc. just be careful you can soon lose a lot of hours watching them, bloody jealous of all their countryside and tracks.

Finally

You need a basics list of what you need when travelling

Shelter - maybe sleep options- roof tent or fold up beds inside, maybe hammocks in hot climates off the roof rack and trees etc.
Fluid storage loose or purpose built tank
Cooking - stove, open fire,
Cooking equipment storage
Food Storage
Clothes

Also with a vehicle you also need spares / tools etc.

Then all the electrical stuff for modern living and the means to charge it.

Sorry proper got on my outdoor leader lecture stand

Hope some of that helps, if you want any more thought just ask, have been pondering on if i should keep the 110 and turn it into a camper.. overland truck. fancy Morroco..
 
Cheers for the replies, they've given me something to go on.
Now there are 4 of us, I'm having a good rethink of my gear.

My 'borrowed' tent that my in-laws 'lent' us, whist decent is an absolute pain to put up and pack away. I'm looking at an airbeam yurt style tent. It'll be massive and heavy but i'm willing to sacrifice that for space and comfort. While not as quick as a roof top tent it should be up in under 5 minutes. An acceptable time after the 30 minutes for the old tent. We'll re-visit this in the future as our needs change. The tent will probably only be good for trips with campsites but thats not necessarily a bad thing with 2 young children.

For the sake of my sanity, I want an 'all in one' diesel air heater. That should keep the other 3 happy when I drag them up to Scandinavia or a weekend on the west coast of Scotland :p

The Fender is big and spacious but throw in the kit of 4, the big tent, water tank, food, beer, wine etc etc and it suddenly becomes a whole lot smaller. I want a Penman trailer to lug all the crap about in. For many reasons, I'm not a lover of roof racks. I hope I don't get that need to fill every bit of space with un-necessary crap. I may even build a box to sit on top of it and create one of those camp kitchens that look so nice. We do like to eat good food so the prep and cooking space will be really nice.

A portable power station is on the hit list. Something like a Goal Zero Yeti. I don't have, nor want a winch so I'm not tied into adding a second battery to the car. A portable power station will be good for moving between the car, house, trailer, tent or anywhere else that takes my fancy. Maybe even some Solar Panels to help charge it up.

Fridge - now this is where I'm really un-decided. Until now I have used a couple of plug in cool boxes but do I upgrade to a full on fridge? They are big, expensive and potentially only get used a few times a year.

I'm looking forward to lots of weekends exploring the UK to figure things out, then hopefully that trip to Scandinavia and beyond:D
 
stoney424 said:
Cheers for the replies, they've given me something to go on.
Now there are 4 of us, I'm having a good rethink of my gear.

My 'borrowed' tent that my in-laws 'lent' us, whist decent is an absolute pain to put up and pack away. I'm looking at an airbeam yurt style tent. It'll be massive and heavy but i'm willing to sacrifice that for space and comfort. While not as quick as a roof top tent it should be up in under 5 minutes. An acceptable time after the 30 minutes for the old tent. We'll re-visit this in the future as our needs change. The tent will probably only be good for trips with campsites but thats not necessarily a bad thing with 2 young children.

For the sake of my sanity, I want an 'all in one' diesel air heater. That should keep the other 3 happy when I drag them up to Scandinavia or a weekend on the west coast of Scotland :p

The Fender is big and spacious but throw in the kit of 4, the big tent, water tank, food, beer, wine etc etc and it suddenly becomes a whole lot smaller. I want a Penman trailer to lug all the crap about in. For many reasons, I'm not a lover of roof racks. I hope I don't get that need to fill every bit of space with un-necessary crap. I may even build a box to sit on top of it and create one of those camp kitchens that look so nice. We do like to eat good food so the prep and cooking space will be really nice.

A portable power station is on the hit list. Something like a Goal Zero Yeti. I don't have, nor want a winch so I'm not tied into adding a second battery to the car. A portable power station will be good for moving between the car, house, trailer, tent or anywhere else that takes my fancy. Maybe even some Solar Panels to help charge it up.

Fridge - now this is where I'm really un-decided. Until now I have used a couple of plug in cool boxes but do I upgrade to a full on fridge? They are big, expensive and potentially only get used a few times a year.

I'm looking forward to lots of weekends exploring the UK to figure things out, then hopefully that trip to Scandinavia and beyond:D
Click to expand...

yep as above post check out "If you watch any of the aussie stuff, 4wd247 on utube They are really setup to camp wild in the bush, very good ideas for storage etc." lots of very nice fridges but at a about a grand a pop but does do freezer in that as well.

it is about comfort verses amount of storage and the weight and size factor

speed versus faff 30 mins in the rain to put your tent up ....or 5 mins with the compressor or roof tent..

lots to think about..

start big and reduce is best option, have i used this bit of kit in last 3 trips ... no then dont need it..etc.
 
Morocco!

I would really love to go on a organised trip there but i just can't get that length of time off work at the moment.
 
i think i would go independantly (rather than organised trip) with a couple of other vehicles mutual support, winching anchor or help if it all goes wrong.

I have worked on a couple of treks in the High Atlas mountains in the last decade so have a bit of experience of the country.

have had loads of info off @dag019 who has been twice got his intinery etc. what he took and all that. If he is happy for me to share it and your interested will PM it

With the Govt new plan for a ferry direct to Tangiers to bypass the EU could save plenty of miles through France & Germany.

want to do some local trips first etc. also got to decide on the 110 to keep or sell.....
 
Cavey_P38 said:
i think i would go independantly (rather than organised trip) with a couple of other vehicles mutual support, winching anchor or help if it all goes wrong.

I have worked on a couple of treks in the High Atlas mountains in the last decade so have a bit of experience of the country.

have had loads of info off @dag019 who has been twice got his intinery etc. what he took and all that. If he is happy for me to share it and your interested will PM it

With the Govt new plan for a ferry direct to Tangiers to bypass the EU could save plenty of miles through France & Germany.

want to do some local trips first etc. also got to decide on the 110 to keep or sell.....
Click to expand...

Absolutely happy for you to share, the routes I took are "public" on wikiloc anyway. I would completely agree with the doing it yourself rather than an organised trip as long as you have another vehicle with you. The organized trips are so very expensive and from the wrtie ups they get the only advantage is that you have a guide vehicle in front rather than using a trail guide app like a sat nav. Morocco is also not as remote as it used to be, even in the two years between my two trips there had been a lot of infrastructure development (wifi, card payment (not available on my first trip), tarmac roads, etc). I am sure it used to be very much wilderness and require a lot more preparation, but I feel those days have disappeared and with technology and economic progress you have to go further afield than morocco for that sort of adventure these days. That does not mean there is not adventure to be had, and is by no means meant to be off putting, just don't expect it to be like the adventure articles from 10/15 years ago. A lot of the research I had done proved to be hugely outdated when I actually arrived.
 
dag019 said:
Absolutely happy for you to share, the routes I took are "public" on wikiloc anyway. I would completely agree with the doing it yourself rather than an organised trip as long as you have another vehicle with you. The organized trips are so very expensive and from the wrtie ups they get the only advantage is that you have a guide vehicle in front rather than using a trail guide app like a sat nav. Morocco is also not as remote as it used to be, even in the two years between my two trips there had been a lot of infrastructure development (wifi, card payment (not available on my first trip), tarmac roads, etc). I am sure it used to be very much wilderness and require a lot more preparation, but I feel those days have disappeared and with technology and economic progress you have to go further afield than morocco for that sort of adventure these days. That does not mean there is not adventure to be had, and is by no means meant to be off putting, just don't expect it to be like the adventure articles from 10/15 years ago. A lot of the research I had done proved to be hugely outdated when I actually arrived.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info! i often look on wikiloc. What is you user name on there?
 
My tip for working out what you need on trips - stick a red sticker on everything you pack. Do a good few trial trips around the UK, France what ever. When ever you use something take the red sticker off. Anything that still has a sticker on after a few trips you should think twice about bringing. I'm always amazed at what I pack that i never use.
 
payydg said:
My tip for working out what you need on trips - stick a red sticker on everything you pack. Do a good few trial trips around the UK, France what ever. When ever you use something take the red sticker off. Anything that still has a sticker on after a few trips you should think twice about bringing. I'm always amazed at what I pack that i never use.
Click to expand...

That's a really good idea and so simple too.
 
Cavey_P38 said:
Good plan mate, i have camped loads from a backpack in the mountains and to leading wilderness expeds in open canoes. To 7 days self supported in sea kayaks round french coast.
So my ten pence worth for what it is worth

Refining the gear takes time and trips. Also what one person carries need not necessarily work for others.
also enviroment and climate have a huge impact.

do a lot of research and then test on local trips for a couple of weekends gradually spread further from home in this country and longer duration, you speak the language and understand logistics and retail options for your needs when on the road. once you kind of have that pop to France or somewhere for 3-4 day break to drive and test as still not far from home and green flag would get you home if it all goes wrong.

You have the advantage in that a landy is a very big pack mule with lots of space

You have to decide on how much comfort and how much faff to setup camp you will tolerate.

Space is the key and use of it for good accessible storage. did an Overalnd Truck Trip in Africa in the 90's, these trucks were on the road months at a time self sufficient with spares and food etc. everything stored and refined over lots of years.

Also remember at lots of shows people are trying to sell you something, either goods or trips so take their advice carefully.

If you watch any of the aussie stuff, 4wd247 on utube They are really setup to camp wild in the bush, very good ideas for storage etc. just be careful you can soon lose a lot of hours watching them, bloody jealous of all their countryside and tracks.

Finally

You need a basics list of what you need when travelling

Shelter - maybe sleep options- roof tent or fold up beds inside, maybe hammocks in hot climates off the roof rack and trees etc.
Fluid storage loose or purpose built tank
Cooking - stove, open fire,
Cooking equipment storage
Food Storage
Clothes

Also with a vehicle you also need spares / tools etc.

Then all the electrical stuff for modern living and the means to charge it.

Sorry proper got on my outdoor leader lecture stand

Hope some of that helps, if you want any more thought just ask, have been pondering on if i should keep the 110 and turn it into a camper.. overland truck. fancy Morroco..
Click to expand...
Great info, and never too much, I've got the bug now 🙄🙄😁😁👍
 
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