If the idea of driving to a remote area, camping throughout your stay and enjoying the journey is something that excites you, venture into overlanding . It’s a distinct form of travel – intensive, self-driven, challenging and a hassle-free adventure in the wilderness. Gul Panag , who has been overlanding for over a decade now, says, “Such community-driven journeys bring out the best in us. It activates our innate hunter-gatherer instincts.” Sulaksh Kaushik, founder of an adventure travel company, adds, “Post-COVID, there has been a boom in overlanding tours . While the tourism sector is huge in India, the community of overlanders is relatively small but growing fast.” Here’s a low down on how to curate an overlanding trip.
Curate your overland adventure trip
‘For beginners, it’s best to rent an overlanding rig’
Harsh Sharma, founder of Camping Co , an Assam-based travel company that provides pre-loaded vehicles for overland journeys in the Northeast, says, “Overlanding is best when done in a safe area away from tourist trails. As soon as the traveller steps out of the Assam airport, their overlanding rig, pre-loaded with BBQ grill, cooktop, cutlery kit, camping chairs, tables and cooking utensils for the journey is handed over to them. This is the beginning of a camp-ready, self-drive adventure .” He adds, “If you build your own setup, overlanding is more cost-effective. However, for someone who is beginning to overland, it is best to rent.”
Overlanding as a community experience
You can still overland even if you don’t have a vehicle or tent or portable kitchen. There are overlanding communities and experience providers, who solve that problem for the traveller. Gul Panag, who ventured into developing an experience aggregator model called Lets Magucho, says, “Bringing together people, and forming a community that’ll act as an experience aggregator is a way to help people explore the outdoors responsibly. This way the expense and lack of means to overland does not hold anyone back. For overlanding specifically, the community arranges the means, equipment and help hunting for a safe campsite as well.”
"Adventure was a big part of my life growing up, and as a family, we used to go camping 3-4 times a year. Such experiences build one’s character. On one such camping trip, I and my family got stuck at the base of Saach Pass for an entire night and that night gave rise to the idea of having a customised, outfitted vehicle that helps in undertaking a self-sustained journey," shares Gul Panag,
"Overlanding in caravans is the most money-intensive segment and the other includes those who own SUVs that can be trusted on all terrains. They can customise their vehicle by mounting hard shell rooftop tents and carrying portable kitchens. The easiest is to carry your own tent, and pitch it at flat surfaces near a water source, preferably at designated camping sites and enjoy the experience, " says Sulaksh Kaushik, founder of Nomad Adventures Overland
The cost of an overlanding rig
If you customise your vehicle
If you have a 4x4 with the ability to manoeuvre different terrains and ample space, invest in a rooftop tent first.
Mountable tents, depending on space and material, range between ₹35,000 - 1,80,000. “Begin with a basic, hardshell waterproof tent. Equipment like a portable kitchen, portable power source, portable toilet, aluminium awning and camping chairs can be added as you continue your overlanding journey,” says Tarun, who works at an adventure travel company.
If you rent an overlanding rig
The average per day cost to rent a vehicle with a driver is between ₹10,000 - ₹30,000. (The cost depends on the destination, terrain and equipment present in the vehicle. The cost is inclusive of food, fuel and the driver’s fees)
Basics to brush up on
Curate your overland adventure trip
- Search for wilderness, a region far away from the tourist trail
- Travel in a fully equipped vehicle. Durability, terrain-handling capabilities and storage are key factors when choosing the vehicle
- Find a patch of flat land if you don’t have rooftop tents
- Safety is key for such adventures, travel with a community
- Make sure one person is up at night to keep vigil; take turns
- Overland responsibly; follow the ‘leave no trace’ policy to minimise your impact on the local ecosystem
- Research and adhere to local regulations and get the required permission from local authorities
‘For beginners, it’s best to rent an overlanding rig’
Harsh Sharma, founder of Camping Co , an Assam-based travel company that provides pre-loaded vehicles for overland journeys in the Northeast, says, “Overlanding is best when done in a safe area away from tourist trails. As soon as the traveller steps out of the Assam airport, their overlanding rig, pre-loaded with BBQ grill, cooktop, cutlery kit, camping chairs, tables and cooking utensils for the journey is handed over to them. This is the beginning of a camp-ready, self-drive adventure .” He adds, “If you build your own setup, overlanding is more cost-effective. However, for someone who is beginning to overland, it is best to rent.”
Overlanding as a community experience
You can still overland even if you don’t have a vehicle or tent or portable kitchen. There are overlanding communities and experience providers, who solve that problem for the traveller. Gul Panag, who ventured into developing an experience aggregator model called Lets Magucho, says, “Bringing together people, and forming a community that’ll act as an experience aggregator is a way to help people explore the outdoors responsibly. This way the expense and lack of means to overland does not hold anyone back. For overlanding specifically, the community arranges the means, equipment and help hunting for a safe campsite as well.”
"Adventure was a big part of my life growing up, and as a family, we used to go camping 3-4 times a year. Such experiences build one’s character. On one such camping trip, I and my family got stuck at the base of Saach Pass for an entire night and that night gave rise to the idea of having a customised, outfitted vehicle that helps in undertaking a self-sustained journey," shares Gul Panag,
"Overlanding in caravans is the most money-intensive segment and the other includes those who own SUVs that can be trusted on all terrains. They can customise their vehicle by mounting hard shell rooftop tents and carrying portable kitchens. The easiest is to carry your own tent, and pitch it at flat surfaces near a water source, preferably at designated camping sites and enjoy the experience, " says Sulaksh Kaushik, founder of Nomad Adventures Overland
The cost of an overlanding rig
If you customise your vehicle
If you have a 4x4 with the ability to manoeuvre different terrains and ample space, invest in a rooftop tent first.
Mountable tents, depending on space and material, range between ₹35,000 - 1,80,000. “Begin with a basic, hardshell waterproof tent. Equipment like a portable kitchen, portable power source, portable toilet, aluminium awning and camping chairs can be added as you continue your overlanding journey,” says Tarun, who works at an adventure travel company.
If you rent an overlanding rig
The average per day cost to rent a vehicle with a driver is between ₹10,000 - ₹30,000. (The cost depends on the destination, terrain and equipment present in the vehicle. The cost is inclusive of food, fuel and the driver’s fees)
Basics to brush up on
- Travelling in a group and camping at designated campsites ensures safety
- Tackling challenges, like extreme weather, wildlife encounters and medical emergencies, becomes easier when the travellers are in a group
- Finding wilderness is important, so plan routes carefully, considering factors like terrain, weather, and accessibility
- Carry essential supplies such as food, water, fuel, camping gear, first aid kits
- Carry GPS devices, paper maps, and navigation apps are crucial tools for overlanders to stay on course
- Basic vehicle maintenance skills are essential, as breakdowns can happen on treacherous roads and remote areas
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