3 Things to Know About “Overland” Trips

If you’ve been researching vacations and tour groups, you’ve probably come across the term “overland trip.” But what does it mean? What kind of experience does it offer?

Here are just a few things to know about overland journeys.

1. They have a loose definition.

Like the name suggests, overland vacations are ones that are taken over the land. You don’t fly on a plane or sail on a boat; you take ground transportation of some kind, and you travel across fields, plains, mountains, rivers, beaches, deserts and forest trails with an eye-level view. Other than this, however, the definition of “overland” is pretty varied. It’s up to you whether you drive a car, take a train or ride around in a jeep. Any kind of ground transportation is considered overland.

2. You can have many different experiences on an overland trip.

Some people like to take overland holidays with nothing more than their vehicles and some basic camping gear. They enjoy the freedom of driving at their own pace and in whatever direction that they’d like. Other people prefer a more structured experience; they’ll take an “overland tour” with other people that lasts anywhere from days to weeks, and they might sleep in hotels or cook at campfires together when they’re not on the road.

3. You can take an overland trip just about anywhere.

Do you love the beauty and history of Asian temples? Enjoy an overland trip across the Silk Road. Have you always dreamed of taking a good old-fashioned road trip with paper maps and open car windows that toss your hair around? Consider the TransAmerica Trail, a trail that stretches thousands of miles across several major cities in the US. You can find overland experiences everywhere from Africa to Australia, so it’s just a matter of choosing a destination that calls to you.

There’s more to overland trips than simply packing up a jeep and hitting the open road. If you’re serious about having a fun, fulfilling overland experience, use this article as a starting point for further research.