Oasis Overland Adventure Travel

Ultimate Expedition Info

This is a general overview of our Overland Adventure Trips.   Please refer to the 'Before you Go' section of the relevant trip page for  more detailed information.

Our 'Ultimate Expedition Trips' are run on our own expedition vehicles with two crew which carry up to 24 travellers although the average group size tends to be around 20 people.  Our Trans Continental Expeditions are a tougher and more extreme style than our Overland Adventure trips.  You must expect a higher degree of hardship and to be away from civilization for days at a time, completely off the beaten track, reliant on the truck, equipment and stores carried on board.

Starting & Finishing your trip
We recommend arriving a couple of days before your trip starts in order to acclimatise and give yourself a free day to explore the town or city you arrive into. Because these trips are so long in duration we recommend that your return flights or onward travel plans are as open and as flexible as possible, as it is rare that we manage to arrive on the exact date specified, this is usually due to border or bureaucratic delays, road or weather conditions etc.  We can advise you where to stay and can book accommodation for you at our departure points.

Life on the road
Our truck will be your new 'home' for the entirety of your trip enabling you to enjoy life on the road. You will be expected to have an active involvement in the day to day running of the trip and be part of the group and get stuck in and help with various tasks, whether it's collecting firewood, cooking meals over open fires, pitching your tent or keeping the truck clean and tidy, right up to digging the truck out of bog holes and sand dunes.  You will cross terrains of all descriptions, living in extremes of weathers and at times be pushed to the limits of physical endurance.  Expect to sometimes get dirty and not be able to have hot showers every night and that sometimes things may well go wrong or not to plan... this is simply down to the countries and the continents we operate in and that you are thinking of travelling to.  Our opinion is that it adds to the flavour of the trip, so if any of the above freaks or frustrates you then please seriously think again about doing one of our Ultimate Expedition trips.

During the day
Driving days normally start at about 8am and finish at about 5pm, with stops for lunch and buying food, seeing local sights etc. We won't be driving every day, although there are times when we will drive for two or three days in a row, but we will then stop for a day or two and you will then have free time to explore, meet local people, participate in optional activities or just relax and do your own thing.  We believe that an active involvement in your trip is essential to building a great travelling group. Therefore, helping and participating with your group in the unexpected as well as partying and having a good time are essential ingredients.

Accommodation
In Africa the majority of accommodation is usually under canvas and we stay at a mixture of campsites as well as in the open desert and bush.  Facilities and standards at campsites vary and at bush camps when you are living off the truck, there are no facilities, especially en-suite options!  At certain campsites there is the opportunity to upgrade to a room if you are missing your bed.

Meals
We usually cook using gas or over open fires in a rota system and you can expect to cook in a group of two or three people approximately once every week.  So as a cook group you will decide on what to cook, use supplies from the truck stores as well as buy from the local markets, but don't worry if you're not a great cook or have run out of ideas, the rest of the group and the Tour Leader usually lend a helping hand. If you're a Vegetarian, Vegan or have any other dietary requirements we will do our utmost to cater for you, but never fear, no one goes hungry.

Passports & Visas
Most nationalities require visas for some of the countries we travel through. However the majority of these can currently be obtained en route and you may only require a couple of visas before you travel (see the appropriate 'Before you go' section for more in-depth information for most nationalities on which visas are required and the approximate costs).  You will need at least one blank page in your passport for each country you enter.  Your passport must be valid for at least nine months from the start date of your trip and passports or vaccination certificates with any indication of travel to Israel must be replaced.

Health
To join any expedition you should be in good general health.  Because of the nature of these trips and the regions through which we travel it is compulsory to have been vaccinated a variety of possible illnesses and a valid certificate to prove these is necessary as well. Vaccinations include: Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis A, Diphtheria and Meningitis, amongst others. There is a risk of malaria in some of the countries we visit and there are a number of preventative treatments available on the market and requirements do change. Also, one particular regimen might suit you better than another.

It is recommended that you consult your doctor or a reputable travel clinic to discuss your requirements about these or any other travel related queries you may have.

Local Customs
People in the countries we visit are usually extremely friendly and helpful, but please respect their customs and beliefs, i.e. local people's beliefs and sensitivity regarding photography. Both men and women should dress modestly when in small towns and villages. Women travellers should wear loose-fitting clothes that cover their arms and legs (this is especially relevant in Middle East countries, although in 'tourist' type beach resorts local attitudes are more westernised and relaxed).

Spending Money & Local Payment
At the beginning of your trip the crew will collect the Local Payment in a mixture of Cash  £GB, US Dollars and Euros. We suggest an average of £100 to £140 per week. Personal spending habits vary hugely depending on the individual. We cannot specify every cost however you need to allow for visas, drinks, occasional meals out, souvenirs and local crafts, telephone calls, e-mails and items of a personal nature etc. Budget for optional excursions separately. A detailed list for these can be found with each trip pre-departure information.  Credit cards are virtually useless outside main cities so you will need to bring at least half if not two thirds of your spending money in Cash - US Dollars, Sterling or Euros or a mixture of all three and the rest in US Dollar Travellers Cheques.

For more information on visas, vaccinations, climates and other information relating to our trips, please check out the 'Before you Go' section on the trip page of your choice.

• Privacy Policy   |
• Terms & Conditions |
• Sitemap
• © Copyright Oasis Overland 2012