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South Africa’s Namakwa 4×4 EcoTrail | Overland Routes

Photography by Expedition Overland and Expedition Rove Spanning over 600 kilometers through South Africa’s Northern Cape, the Namakwa EcoTrail is the country’s longest official 4×4 route. The title comes with a certain prestige, attracting those who seek bragging rights associated with completing the route in South Africa. To be fair, though, most trek to this…

Expedition Portal Staff’s Favorite Trips of 2023

With international tourism reaching over 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year, 2023 marked an enthusiastic and eager return to the travel scene for many of us, both domestically and internationally. Overland Journal publisher and co-founder Scott Brady began his much-anticipated long-axis Trans-Africa continental crossing in the capable Ineos Grenadier, while…

Spomeniks :: An Overland Quest Through the Balkans

Photography by Enrique Pacheco Western Europe is not exactly a paradise for overlanders due to restrictive laws regarding off-roading and free camping. In turn, countries on the continent’s Eastern side, especially those in the Balkans, abound in what their occidental counterparts lack: looser regulations and fewer off-pavement prohibitions, with vast areas of stunning nature still…

Overland Routes :: Chile’s Atacama Desert

Photography by Coen Wubbels Unless you fly in, you will have seen a fair share of the Atacama Desert by the time you reach Iquique, whether your Pan-American overland journey takes you southbound or northbound through Chile. No matter how smooth the asphalt that cuts straight through the driest non-polar desert in the world, 995…

BMW Motorrad Days Americas

BMW will host the first BMW Motorrad Days Americas during the Barber Vintage Festival in Leeds, Alabama, from October 6-8 this year. Join them to celebrate BMW’s first century of motorcycle manufacturing. BMW Centenary It’s been a 101 years since BMW chief designer Max Friz put the first full-scale BMW motorcycle on the drawing board….

South Dakota’s Black Hills: A Land of History and Heartache

Editor’s Note: This South Dakota article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. Small and isolated, South Dakota’s Black Hills seemed the ideal place for a self-imposed writing retreat. I’ve been working on a book for years and hadn’t so much as typed a single letter in the manuscript for over four months. I…

Five Things to Know About Overlanding the UK

The UK is an absolute riot to drive through. Twisty, narrow roads bordered by mossy stone walls lead to lush glens filled with bluebells, quaint towns whispering of a captivating past, and seaside coves that stretch for miles. Charmingly, it’s impossible to escape the bahs of baby sheep in the spring. Whether you’re passionate about…

Nat Geo’s Incredible “Wild Life” Documentary Premiers April 14th, 2023

Anyone who has had the great pleasure of exploring Patagonia and the terminus of the Andes mountain range in southern Chile will know that this is a land of unspeakable beauty and natural abundance, a simultaneously powerful and fragile diverse range of ecosystems. There are two ways to exploit this land’s natural resources – one…

Ceramic Gulf - Turkey

Destinations :: The Ceramic Gulf of Turkey

The Ceramic Gulf in Southwestern Turkey is a perfect year-round travel destination. In summer there is plenty of inviting water to go for a swim and cool off, while in winter the temperatures are pleasant enough to go for a hike. Locally known as the Gulf of Kerme or Gulf of Gökova, the bright blue…

Overlanding Europe? Here’s What You Need to Know About the Schengen Zone.

Whether you’re a history buff, espresso fanatic, art lover, off-road adventurer (or a combination of the above), there are many compelling reasons to tour the European continent by vehicle. For North Americans, shorter driving distances and a wide variety of foods, languages, and scenery make the region a particularly rewarding travel destination. Or, perhaps you’re…

Touratech-USA Presents: Riding Solo AZ to BC

Touratech-USA Announces a New Sterling Noren Film Grab some popcorn, get comfortable, and enjoy the ride. Sterling Noren is about to take you to Canada as no one else has. The noted filmmaker and adventure traveler has teamed with Touratech-USA on another off-pavement motorcycle travel film. Riding Solo AZ to BC follows the 2020 release…

Field Station Moab

Destinations :: Field Station Moab

Moab, Utah, is one of the true outdoor adventure meccas of North America. I have many happy memories from my trips there, both as a launching pad for exploring the seemingly endless trails and national parks in the surrounding area and for the town itself, which has an eclectic mix of Jeepers, climbers, mountain bikers,…

Destination of the Week :: Baxter State Park, Maine

All images by Baxter State Park Percival Proctor Baxter an American politician and philanthropist from Maine purchased 6,000 acres of land in 1930 and in 1931 donated the entire parcel to the State of Maine. Upon his death in 1969, had donated over 28 deeds amounting to over 200,00o acres of wilderness known as the…

Destinations :: The Storr, Skye, Scotland

Some destinations around the world come to represent an entire region or country. A great example is the Storr, which is often used for advertising the Isle of Skye or Scotland as a whole. It has subsequently become of the most famous destinations in the entire country, and for good reason. Tourist agencies use the…

Destination: Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada

Photographs courtesy of Travel Alberta. Lead photo: Amanda Dias. Located in the southwest corner of Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park is a hop, skip, and jump from the US/Canada border. In fact, in 1931, Waterton Lakes and Montana’s Glacier National Park formed the world’s first international peace park and World Heritage Site: the Waterton Glacier…

Georgia, the Road Leads Back to You

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2022 Issue. Georgia—not the American state Ray Charles and Martin Luther King hailed from, but the little-known country located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe—is a mountainous place of wild and astonishing beauty. Monasteries, watchtowers, and fortresses dating to the Middle Ages stand…

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