PUBLICATION

It’s time to list 9 essential items that work magic on overlanding trips. These are the ones that you might forget, but change (or save) everything. If you’re a first-time overlander or just getting started in the overland sphere, you might not think these items are a must to take with you. But after about 5 years on the road, we can tell you they make a difference. To help you gather the strangest—but—necessary items on your next overlanding trip, we’ve created the list of items you should pack now.

Explore how overlanders can navigate modern money management from digital wallets and international fees to budgeting tools. Stay financially agile on the road.

Land Rovers unexpectedly led me to a career in freelance writing, something I still do from time to time. Now, my passion fuels my business, Cars & Crayons, where I use my creative skills to design and produce products that are meant to last a lifetime. I believe in slow fashion and sustainability, so I’m always learning new techniques to keep my work as handmade and personal as possible. I print everything myself and continuously push myself out of my comfort zone to master new skills. If it weren’t for Land Rovers, I might not have developed the same drive to explore, learn, and create.

Discover how modern overlanders thrive by embracing global cultures, budgeting smartly, staying safe, and even earning on the road. A nostalgic yet practical guide to long-term overland travel.

The focus often lies on the victories, the awards, the picturesque scenes at the race's end. Yet, the essence of off-road racing — the part seldom caught on camera — is the hush of the wilderness when the steering falters, the soreness in your back after multiple truck inspections in a day, and the silent determination needed to persevere. Helen Tait Wright embodies this narrative deeply.

My dad, Peet de Smet, bought me a Camel Trophy DVD when I was 3 years old. This instantly sparked the love for getting muddy and fixing stuff yourself. A year later, he suprised me by picking me up at my grandparents with his ‘new’ 1963 Land Rover Series 2a, Limestone. This is where he fully infected me, the trips around the local lanes… The times working in the garage.

The story of our legend aSLAn continues and includes many interesting characters including our good friend Sébastien of Land-Vintage.

There’s nothing more freeing than heading off into the wilderness with everything you need on your back (or in your vehicle), food and fuel to make a warm dinner and a sleeping bag to snuggle down into, but where do you pitch your tent or park your vehicle? This question is packed with intricacies, both practical and legal; a campsite would be the most straightforward option but where do you go if you want to get completely off the grid?

Imagine waking up to a divine coffee aroma on a coffee plantation surrounded by cool mist, walking inside a decommissioned submarine, having a floating breakfast in a pool overlooking the Bay of Bengal, exploring 150-million-year-old caves, and trekking through a wildlife sanctuary interacting with remote tribals — Explmore presents a travel blog on Visakhapatnam, a coastal city in south India, curating all these unique experiences that put a spotlight on the city’s naval culture, coastal life, and ancient heritage.

I can still feel the Thai heat on my arms as I remember nights around the campfire with the Rovernuts. This tenth-anniversary gathering in Bangkok and beyond was more than a Land Rover meet—it felt like family. Engines hummed, laughter rose above neon city lights, and a clutch failure became just another chance for teamwork. From Khao Kho’s muddy bogs to Chiang Khan’s riverside charm, we forged fresh memories—and left convinced that with the Rovernuts, you never face adventure alone.

Maintaining your health and wellbeing while on the road is a necessity, not a curse. By keeping an eye on your daily activity you can avoid having to keep a gym membership or plotting out dedicated exercise times. Armed with a few pointers in the grocery store, you can go from feeling hungry and lethargic, to wide-eyed and bushy-tailed. You don’t need to pack the whole gym into your car. Enjoy getting a sweat on or lacing up your hiking boots and you’ll be charging into your later decades like a boss instead of a shuffling zombie.

All wrapped up and a moment for refreshment, we waved a “see you later” to our legendary Land Rover Series 3. What a sight to see, as we think back over the years of its formidable history.

Lotte, from the Netherlands, shares her story and perspective of experiencing life-changing adventure. Hear a snapshot of her life, what inspires her to explore more, how she engages with others, and why she believes it is important to embrace global cultures.

Immersing yourself in other cultures, you experience first-hand other people’s everyday reality. This is most apparent when travelling slowly and meaningfully. It widens your horizons and perspectives on life and teaches you to respect others. It helps you to understand at a deeper level that your own reality back home can be less self-centred and more about embracing others and the environment around you.

They are also attempting to break a world record, by overlanding from London to Cape Town in a rather unique vehicle, a 2000 THREE WHEELED Reliant Robin (only three in the world). With daily reels on social media you can follow their life-changing adventure in real time. They are also doing this in aid of charity, particularly one close to their hearts School in a Bag.

A couple of years ago, we decided to make changes. Influenced by online content, we wanted to see for ourselves what the world was like, not just pictures or news. Our parents warned us against Africa, but we decided to experience it ourselves. We met a Dutch couple traveling with a Land Rover Defender with rooftop tents in Scotland. Having used a rooftop tent before, we knew that was our way. The direct cause for this trip is our honeymoon, wanting to set off our life together by traveling more and living outdoors. The Netherlands is crowded and we're looking for peace.

The more years we spend on the road, the more we realize that it doesn't take much to be happy and that the notion of happiness can have many definitions. For us, it's not necessarily about possessing. But about living, experiencing, and enjoying our time. Because, after all, it may be time that has the most value. It's not expandable; we don't know how much of it is given to us, and it is, in fact, infinitely precious. Taking the time to take time means being more attentive and more aware of what and who surrounds us.

Every culture has its worthwhile things. It is interesting to hear about, respect and maybe learn from each other. For me as a young student, travelling and other cultures were already a lesson for life. You find true solutions with that, whether it is the technique or the way people work together. Now in my 58 years, embracing global cultures is still inspiring me.

The most recent accident. When my car flipped on a dune in Morocco and I walked away with no injuries. That moment reminded me how fast everything can change. Since then I often remind myself to go to bed each day knowing I have done all the things I want to do for the day and I genuinely look forward to the next day nowadays. I can’t say the same when I was in the rat race.

It’s important to go everywhere with an open mind. To be open to learn new things, push yourself out of your comfort zone and be kind and respectful to those whose environment you get to share.In today's society it’s easy to form preconceived opinions of a place and its people but with an open attitude you are able to form your own opinions and to try new things, meet new people and feel immersed in different cultures. It’s not until you spend time in a place with those living there you get a true idea of what daily life is like, it’s important to take time to understand. 

Knowing there’s place and people and just experiences out there to learn about and… experience. We have this whole amazing creation out there which we’re meant to be a part of. Nature, cultures, all kinds of amazing people… it’s there. But you can only get a slight taste of it through media like photos and videos. Going to be present in them and experience in them changes you in ways nothing else can.

We have an insatiable desire to see as much of the world as we possibly can. The thrill of discovering hidden gems, exploring new places and seeing iconic landmarks is an addiction we just can't get enough of! 

Our inspiration comes from watching like-minded people who document their travels. They show us how accessible the world really is and how achievable it can be if you have the determination to make it happen. We’ve only scratched the surface of what the world has to offer, but everything we’ve seen so far has been incredible. It fills us with excitement and makes us laugh with anticipation to get out there, explore, and immerse ourselves in even more of what the world has to offer.

To quote someone we met on our trip: 'we are so blessed to travel this way'.