Photography by Richard Giordano Meandering over a pathway embedded with mussel shells, I follow Mohamed along the coastal cliffs of the Atlantic. As we pass hand-carved caves hidden behind blue doors, fishermen stand atop the rocks, patiently waiting for the day’s catch. My guide, Mohamed Akhmisse, runs a Moroccan homestay experience from a fishing village…
Category Archives: Destinations
Lessons Learned from Global Expeditions with Clay Croft
In this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, host Scott Brady and his travel partner Clay Croft record from the field in the Central Republic of Congo. They discuss some of their most memorable adventures, including travels through South America and Alaska, and the unique lessons learned from their worldwide expeditions. Clay shares insights on vehicle…
Zenith Irfan on Being the First Pakistani Female Motorcyclist to Ride Across Pakistan
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as she sits down with Zenith Irfan to discuss the importance of being the first female Pakistani motorcyclist to ride across Pakistan, and how her father’s dream led her to embark on the journey on a 70cc Honda. Zenith also dives into her top tips for visiting the country, including…
Mapping the United States :: Sam Correro and the TransAmerica Trail
Editor’s Note: Sam Correro, the creator of the TransAmerica Trail, passed away this month. Marianne Todd’s interview with Sam appeared in the Spring 2023 issue of Overland Journal. You can read more about Sam’s life and legacy on Expedition Portal’s Celebration of Life archive. Sam Correro says he was in his forties when he started…
Roam Overlanding’s Adrian Abrahams on the Importance of Doing Your Overland Homework
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as she sits down with South African overlander Adrian Abrahams to discuss his love of traveling in Namibia, and how nearly a decade of overlanding has shaped a new 4×4 shop endeavor in Cape Town, South Africa. Adrian also provides practical advice about visiting the country, including destination…
Into the Valley of the Grizzlies
The graceful placement of enormous paws straddles the yellow line while small ones are clumsily dropped around on either side. It is a fragile relationship with the residents, who give them a wide berth, as Momma grizzly makes her way through the middle of town with her cubs in tow. Curious, they dart around while…
27th Annual Off-Road Expo : Exploring the San Jacinto Mountains, Idyllwild, and Pine Cove California with Hankook Dynapro Tire
Southern California provides a unique opportunity to experience a wide variety of environments within a short drive. As our Expedition Portal team was in Costa Mesa for the 27th Annual Off-Road Expo to learn more about the Hankook Dynapro XT rugged-terrain tire, we explored the San Jacinto Mountains, Idyllwild, and Pine Cove. From the Pacific…
Journey of a Young Overlander: Peter Van Stralen’s Epic Adventures with XOverland
In this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, host Scott Brady speaks with Peter van Stralen about their adventures together on the XOverland Apex series. They explore Peter’s background, early travels with his family, and his extensive journey through West Africa. Peter also shares insights on their creative process, the challenges of managing Type 1…
Roam Overlanding Launches 7-part Africa Overland Series
Following Bound for Nowhere’s 5-part video series, the “Applied Theory of International Overlanding,” Expedition Portal and Overland Journal’s next XOverland-produced series sees South African filmmaker Adrian Abrahams undertake an unforgettable journey spanning 40,000 kilometers across Southern Africa and beyond. Now available on the Expedition Portal YouTube channel, “Reasons to Roam” follows Adrian as he embarks…
Iconic Rebelle Rally Locations to Incorporate into Your Next Overland Trip
Lead photo by Nicole Dreon In one week’s time, over 60 teams will gather in Mammoth Lakes, California, to begin the 10th edition of the Rebelle Rally. The rally route—which leads competitors through eight days of off-road navigation using maps, compasses, and roadbooks to locate checkpoints throughout the deserts of Nevada and California—is completely confidential….
Overlanding Africa: Countries, Cultures, and Insights with Expedition Rove
In this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, hosts Scott Brady and Matt Scott are joined by Mary Hannah Hardcastle and Andy Ellis, from Expedition Rove. They share their incredible journey of overlanding across Africa, including their experiences with the new Land Rover Defender 2020. They discuss the challenges and highlights of navigating the West…
Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve | Overland Routes
We first discovered the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve (also known as the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004) in 2011 after returning home to South Africa from a journey to Kilimanjaro in our 2003 Land Rover Defender 130. We fell in love with the untamed beauty of the remote…
Throttle Therapy :: Why You Should Add “Big Sand” to Your Next Adventure
“I don’t like sand,” the young Padawan declared. “It’s coarse and rough and irritating… and it gets everywhere.” A true Jedi adventurer would not make such an uninitiated statement. After all, to properly experience sand, one does not fly over it with a speeder. Ripping through it with a 4WD is the civilized approach. So,…
Orchards, Vineyards, Fields, and Groves: Unique Overnight Parkups in Slovenia
There is a moment, from time to time, when I am led away from my husband under the guise of an impending surprise. In Colombia, it was donning a rancher outfit; in Morocco, a traditional Amazigh wedding dress, complete with shoes, a headdress, and a skirt. This time, Silvia led me out of a Slovenian…
The Big Thing :: An Ultimate Overland Event
As the overland community grows, it is more important than ever to provide opportunities for training, connection, and shared stories of adventure. At Expedition Portal, we could not be more excited for The Big Thing overland event coming to Bozeman, Montana, at the XOVERLAND Ranch. Now that Expedition Portal is part of the Overland Collective,…
Beyond the Human Context: Protecting the Invisible in Kyrgyzstan
In 2017, my girlfriend, Caroline, and I bought a 1990s ex-ambulance Mercedes-Benz 609D in Berlin. With only 40,000 kilometers on the clock, it was in great shape and ready for adventure. Despite our limited resources, we managed to convert it into our off-grid home under the sweltering southern Spain sun. Without a garage, we did…
The Big Thing is Here, and We Are Stoked!
The team at XOVERLAND has announced The Big Thing, and it stands to upend overland events as we know them. Scheduled for July 10-13 in “Yellowstone country” of Montana, the expo will focus on premium instruction, experienced presenters, and quality brands. The entire Expedition Portal and Overland Journal team plans to attend, provide training, and…
10 Things to Know About Overlanding Greece
Photography by Richard Giordano On the busy streets of Xanthi, I spot a tiny lobster. She’s swinging an air lasso to “Gangnam Style” as bass pumps through a gargantuan roadside speaker. Located in northern Greece, the city of Xanthi hosts some of the most popular Apokries events in the country, which celebrate the festive season…
Dean Poulopoulos of Overland N’Explore on Overlanding Greece
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as she sits down with Overland N’Explore owner and founder Dean Poulopoulos. In this episode, they discuss differences between the European and American overland markets, give tips on overlanding Greece, and discuss how Dean went from working in the maritime industry to starting his own overland outfitter business…
Vancouver Island: A Rover and a Reset in the Best Place on Earth
It was the end of summer, and the sun hung over the far end of Muchalat Lake a bit later than it would in a month from now, but not as late as it had the month before. I was sitting on a log on the beach overlooking the water about 15 kilometers from Gold…