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…
Principles of Overlanding: Intentional Vehicle Modifications
Join hosts Matt Scott and Scott Brady in this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast as they dive deep into the principles of modifying your overland vehicle with intention. Matt and Scott discuss the importance of thoughtful upgrades, the dangers of over-complication, and how to build a vehicle that meets your specific use case without…
Arctic Trucks Founder Emil Grímsson on the Challenges of Polar Exploration
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as sits down with Arctic Trucks CEO Emil Grímsson to discuss the origin of Arctic Trucks Iceland and how he turned the “Top Gear Polar Special” into a career of polar exploration. Grímsson touches on his role during the Transglobal Car Expedition, the world’s first wheeled surface navigation…
The Scientific Exploration Society :: Overland Conservation
When we read about Darién Gap expeditions, we tend to focus on the immense undertaking of the crossing from a four-wheel-drive perspective. But for Colonel John Blashford-Snell, the expedition leader responsible for the first crossing of the Darién Gap with a team of Range Rovers in 1971-72, the mission also focused on plants, animals, and…
Principles of Overlanding: Anthropology and the Overlander’s Code
In this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, host Scott Brady talks to Dr. Bryon Bass about the principles of overlanding and the Overlander’s Code, created as a supplement to resources like Tread Lightly and Leave No Trace. They discuss the importance of respecting unique cultures and taking responsibility for one’s actions while traveling. Dr….
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…
Principles of Overlanding: Traveling the Pan-American Highway on a Budget
Join hosts Scott Brady and Matt Scott on the Overland Journal Podcast as they discuss budget travel and how you can explore the Pan-American Highway for under $25,000, including the cost of a vehicle. Hear practical tips on gear, vehicle selection, and budget as we share inspiring stories of fellow travelers who have completed their…
Can AI Plan a Better Overland Trip?
Photography by Richard Giordano. The likeness of our 2008 Tundra and OEV camper in Bosnia (lead image) was generated using OpenAI’s DALL·E, which creates images from text descriptions. Nestled within Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Dinaric Alps, Orlovačko Lake is so clear the surrounding mountains are mirrored in its waters. The glacial lake, home to brown and…
Clay and Rachelle Croft of XOverland on the Adventure of Travel, Life, and Love
Join host Scott Brady on the Overland Journal Podcast as he converses with Clay and Rachelle Croft, the dynamic duo behind the XOverland brand. Known for their extensive global travels and mastery of overlanding, Scott delves into their incredible adventures, the intricacies of their life, marriage, and maintaining family values amidst success. This episode offers…
Rafiki on Tour on Overlanding Africa as a Couple
Join host Ashley Giordano on the Overland Journal Podcast as she and Dutch overlanders Tobias and Manon discuss the couple’s travels through Africa for the past two and a half years in their Land Rover Defender 110. In this episode from the field, Tobias and Manon share how they began overlanding and answer questions from…
Grit, Rigor, and Fun: Inside the Success of INEOS Grenadier
This episode explores the core values of grit, rigor, and humor that drive INEOS Automotive and its revolutionary overland vehicle, the Grenadier. Hosted by Scott Brady, the conversation delves into the personal and professional adventures of Lynn, a key executive at INEOS. They discuss Lynn’s memorable African journey, the strategic expansion of INEOS in the…
Emergency Travel: Navigating the Unexpected
As full-time overlanders originally from South Africa, we rarely get the chance to visit our home country, especially when in the far reaches of North America. For a family of four traveling with a pet, flights are long and expensive, especially when factoring in shipping your vehicle, as you must consider your next international destination….
Billy Creech on Overlanding Conservation and Remapping the Old Traction Road
Overland Journal Podcast Episode 218 Explorers Club fellow and former President of the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association, Billy Creech, is a conservationist, adventurer, expedition leader, author, poet, and father. In this Overland Journal Podcast episode, Billy and host Ashley Giordano discuss the Old Traction Road Expedition and how overlanders can use their wide…
The Old Telegraph Track
Photography by Dan Grec and Katie Harris While technically in the driver’s seat, what I’m doing can’t reasonably be called sitting. With the Jeep nearly vertical, the steering wheel is directly below me, and I’m pushing back hard to keep my body off the dashboard and my back against the seat. I can barely see…
The Alabama Rubicon
Photography by Marco Garcia When you hear someone mention the state of Alabama, what comes to mind? According to the internet, Alabama has great college football and not much else. But what if there’s another side to Alabama? Natural, untouched, and scenic. A side with beautiful mountain roads and trails, hiking paths, and lakes, all…
Chasing Hot Springs and Trout: An Overland Route Through Idaho
“You got your suit, right?” I asked my wife, Louise. “Yep. What about the fly rods?” she responded. We pack many necessities and equipment for an overlanding adventure, and a fly rod and swimsuit are required for any adventure in the “Potato State.” Idaho is an overlanding paradise, offering countless miles of forest roads, remote…
There’s No Place Like Home
Feature image by Kurt Windisch I am gazing upward at morning sunlight filtering through a canopy of moss-covered Douglas Fir and western red cedar trees, towering over a soft bed of needles and fuzzy pine cones they’ve strewn about, inviting me to abandon my sandals and walk from cooler to camp kitchen to tent, barefoot….
Southeastern Kazakhstan | Overland Routes
Photography by Coen Wubbels Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world as well as the largest Stan country of Central Asia, sharing borders with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Vast and empty, it’s possible to traverse more than 1,200 miles of continuous steppes, home to the traditional nomads who, until the Soviet…
The Overlanding Code to Happiness
Lead photograph by Joanie Pépin Despite becoming more materially affluent over the past four decades, those living in developed countries have not experienced the happiness boost expected from modern materialism. Since the 1940s, we’ve upgraded significantly, installing showers and bathtubs, microwaves, dishwashers, and big-screen color televisions—purchasing twice as many vehicles per person, and adding boats and…