Located in Western Norway, Geiranger heads the truly magical UNESCO World Heritage Site Geirangerfjorden, one of the most iconic fjords in the world. This quaint Norwegian village has been awarded the best travel destination in Scandinavia by Lonely Planet and attracts over 500,000 tourists every year. As you approach Geiranger on Route 63, there are several…
Destination: Whitehorse, Yukon
Photos courtesy of the Government of Yukon Located a 15-minute drive from the fork of the Alaska and Klondike Highways, Whitehorse is a must-stop for those continuing north toward Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, or west to Alaska. While the city is a convenient place to stock up on fuel, groceries, or indulge in a hot shower,…
Destinations: The Faroe Islands
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2021 Issue. Photography by Jason Spafford At the tail end of Hurricane Dorian, a fierce wind battered our ferry as we pitched and rolled through the chop, blown into a white-capped frenzy. Two days of being tossed up and down in the North Atlantic,…
Overland Journal Presents: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a 3-part Video Series by Desk to Glory
I am thrilled to announce that Overland Journal has launched Episode One of a three-part original fly-and-drive video series titled Destinations: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Episodes two and three will be released later this week via the Expedition Portal YouTube channel on Wednesday, March 23, and Friday, March 25, 2022. This series follows the…
Destination: Parque Nacional de los Lençóis Maranhenses
This 380,000-acre national park situated in Maranhao State in Northern Brazil is considered a kitesurfers heaven, a dune buggy racer’s dream, and an adventurous vacationer’s perfect getaway, and we know why. With few restrictions and a laid-back vibe, the area is a natural draw to overland travelers. The park contains the largest sand dunes in…
Destinations:: Atlin, British Columbia
Known as “little Switzerland,” Atlin, B.C., is one of the most scenic places in Canada—a must-see side trip for overlanders heading to Alaska or the Yukon. The postcard-perfect town is encircled by Atlin Lake—the largest natural lake in B.C.—and majestic forested peaks. The name Atlin—Áa Tlein—comes from the Tlingit language and means “big body of…
Destination: Isle of Skye
I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many beautiful destinations around the world, but something always draws me back to Scotland, and more specifically, the magical Isle of Skye. At 639 square miles, this rugged island is the largest in the Inner Hebrides and showcases some of the country’s most dramatic landscapes. Moreover, it is of…
Destination :: Canmore, Alberta
Feature Image Courtesy of Tourism Alberta Enjoying a cup of coffee one morning, I gazed out the window of my ground-level apartment in Canmore, Alberta, when a herd of elk suddenly appeared, mere steps away. As they gracefully walked by, exhaling clouds of vapor in the brisk morning air, I was utterly dumbfounded by the…
Destination: El Mistico Ranch, Nogal, New Mexico
El Mistico Ranch is located at 7,300 feet above sea level on 30 acres of high desert mountain terrain, in Nogal, New Mexico. Part Air BnB and part glamping retreat, El Mistico delivers an escape from day to day life, with quick access to New Mexico’s Lincoln National Forest which is directly adjacent to the…
Destination: McCarthy, Alaska, and Kennecott Mine
In Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, there sits a village called McCarthy. If you search for this place on Google, you’ll find it says, population: 0. But people do live here. A 2020 census lists 107 residents, up from 28 in 2010. I rode my BMW G 650 GS to McCarthy in 2016. I sat…
Destination: Senja, Norway
In early 2019 I made the 10-hour journey north from my temporary base in Reine, Lofoten, to the lesser-known yet magical island of Senja. At 612.5 square miles, it’s the second-largest island in Norway and home to almost 8,000 people. Characterised by dramatic mountains, white-sand beaches, and a luscious green interior during summertime, it’s regarded…
Destination :: Al Ula, Saudi Arabia
Photography by Richard Giordano Amid the northwestern Saudi Arabian desert lies the oasis town of Al Ula. Nestled amongst palm trees, bordered by red sandstone cliffs, and flourishing with citrus and dates, Al Ula is ripe with history due to its location along the Incense Route, where goods such as Arabian frankincense and myrrh travelled…
Destination :: Carpenteria, California
If you are making your way up or down the California coast, Carpenteria is a great little beachside community worth stopping for an overnight. It’s only an hour and a half West of Los Angeles, yet Carp has a totally different, relaxed atmosphere about it. The Spanish name of Carpenteria, which was bestowed upon the…
Overlanding Tibet to the Gyantse Horse Festival
I put my hand in the air and flagged down a taxi at the Chengdu International Airport in Sichuan, China. I lugged my large pack into the trunk and slid into the pleather seats. Thus began the same Chinese conversation I’d had hundreds of times before: Where are you from? How did you learn to…
Destination: Baviaanskloof, Western Cape in South Africa
The Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve includes a Wilderness Area that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located in both the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces within close proximity to the incredible Garden Route, which sits along the southeastern coast of South Africa, it’s a breathtaking destination that is well-known to many travelers. Photo credit: Sam vd…
Avoidable Missteps Teach a Serious Lesson About Carelessness
As we look back at nearly eight years of full-time, vehicle-based travel, we consider ourselves fairly experienced travelers. So it’s embarrassing to admit we make rookie mistakes from time to time. We should know better. Over the past weekend, we completed a whirlwind but magical tour of La Huasteca Potosina, a tropical region in interior…
11 Tips for Visiting Baja, Mexico, This Winter
Photography by Richard Giordano From sunseekers to snowbirds, surfers, and off-roaders, it seems like nearly everyone I’ve talked to is planning to visit Baja this winter. The promise of warmer temperatures, beach camping, and finding solace in remote desert locations has mass appeal. Waking up to the sound of coyotes chattering, frolicking in sparkling bioluminescence…
Destinations :: San Martín de los Andes, Argentina
In Patagonia’s northwest region, you’ll find forests, lakes, volcanoes, and best of all, the endearing town of San Martín de los Andes, Argentina. Sitting along the glacial shores of Lake Lácar and surrounded by rugged beauty, San Martín was the one place my husband and I seriously considered moving to while on our round-the-world trip….
Destination: Reine, Lofoten Islands
North of the Arctic Circle, nestled amongst dramatic snow-peaked mountains and surrounded by ocean, is the dreamy Norwegian fishing village of Reine. This remote settlement, characterised by wooden rorbuer (traditional fishing huts), and located on the island of Moskenes in the Lofoten archipelago, has been a trading post since 1743. In more recent years, it…
Destination: Sequoia National Forest, California
Covering 1.1 million acres of terrain across three counties in Southern California, the Sequoia National Forest is a diverse and beautiful landscape with opportunities for overland travel and human-powered outdoor recreation. Located in the heart of the Eastern Sierras, it encompasses both King’s Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, Giant Sequoia National Monument, Golden Trout Wilderness,…