Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > 4 wheels > 4 wheel Overland Travel
3 weeks and a soft-roader, where would you go? 3 weeks and a soft-roader, where would you go?
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
4 wheel Overland Travel NON-technical 4 wheel forum, for subjects specific to TRAVEL with 4 (or more!) wheeled vehicles. e.g. Driving Techniques, Shipping etc.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11 Aug 2009
Alexlebrit's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: West London
Posts: 920
3 weeks and a soft-roader, where would you go?
I've been given the opportunity of trying out a new "soft-roader" 4x4 at the end of September. Realistically if I don't stray too far from an internet connection I can grab about 2-3 weeks out of the office, which gives me about 10 days to get there and 10 to get back. Where's the office? North-West France, but where's there? I've no idea.

So has anyone got any suggestions for a sudden, not really planned and don't want to faff with complicated paper-work, trip. Also I'm no hardcore off-roader and neither is the car. I realise it's 22 years since I last drove a very ancient Army Landy off-road round bits of Aldershot, so I'm not looking for the extremes, but I would like to stray a bit off tarmac, oh and to be even more annoying, preferably somewhere photogenic.

Oh the car? It's (don't laugh) a Skoda Yeti.



EDIT: Fixed the photo
__________________
Happiness has 125 cc
Last edited by Alexlebrit; 20 Aug 2009 at 20:01.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11 Aug 2009
palace15's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: LONDONISTAN, England
Posts: 1,034
Hi Alex
Try the Spanish Pyrenees, a great place for solo offroaders, quads and 4x4's, plenty of places to 'wildcamp' if desired, and i am pretty sure internet connection can be found nearby.
__________________
'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
Never confuse the map with the journey.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12 Aug 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
Alex,

The French/Italian Alps you can get there in a day and spend the rest of yor time exploring old military roads high in the Alps. Never very far from a town and very very photogenic.

I will be getting a ferry down there on the 22nd and hanging about for 3 weeks

G
__________________
Land Rover D90
www.Siroccoverland.com | Follow us on Facebook
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12 Aug 2009
Alexlebrit's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: West London
Posts: 920
Pyrenées? Alps? You guys have a mountain fetish!!! Both sound good though, and of course there's the sneaky part of me says if I stay in France I can at least speak the right language.

I've got a slight pull towards desert/dunes though, but seem to remember hearing about an area in Spain that is very much like that, but doesn't seem to get much press (I guess because it's a big area in Spain that's a bit desert-like).
__________________
Happiness has 125 cc
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12 Aug 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 236
Hey Alex. I heard about these european desert areas. Heres the ones I know: the Bardenas Reales in Navarre, Spaim, the Tabernas Desert in Almeria, Spain and perhaps the best the Accona Desert in Tuscany, Italy. The latter is where Rommel trained his troops in the Africa Korps.

Have fun.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12 Aug 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
I thought the Alps would be more tame/mild as a start point but if you want dunes/sand:

Europe
Accona Desert - a desert in Tuscany, Italy
Bardenas Reales - a desert in Navarra, Spain
Błędowska Desert – a desert located in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland
Deliblatska Peščara - a desert located in Vojvodina, Serbia
Hálendi – a region of Iceland and Europe's largest desert
Oltenian Sahara – a desert spanning approximately 80.000 hectares or 800 km² in the Romanian historical province of Oltenia
Tabernas Desert – a desert in Almería, Spain.

Alternativly Morocco is not far away
__________________
Land Rover D90
www.Siroccoverland.com | Follow us on Facebook
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12 Aug 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 479
3 days down to Morrocco, couple of weeks touring, 3 days back. Quite easy, safe. Lots of camper vans, French, German, Dutch people touring round so well established touring destination, lots of the routes have been tarmaced, roads improved but you can still get away from it across the Atlas mountains, get into the sand dunes. Don't need 4x4 but opportunities to play if you want to.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 20 Aug 2009
Alexlebrit's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: West London
Posts: 920
Well I have a plan, and that's to head down the west coast of France, as I've got friends in Angouleme and then near Tarbes so I might as well check out the Millau Viaduct while I'm there, cross over the Pyrenées and head towards Almeria and the Tabernas Desert, a few days messing about there and back to the mountains and then hopefully, home.

Would have loved to get to Morocco but sadly as it's not mine, the insurers seem oddly reluctant to let me out of Europe. Maybe next time.
__________________
Happiness has 125 cc
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Off roader TommyTenere Which Bike? 8 26 Oct 2008 22:00
Soft packs Fone Bone Equipment Reviews 11 28 Mar 2008 09:06
my saddle is too soft rdjc-GB Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 10 16 Apr 2007 12:16
topcase or soft bag zion1 Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 2 8 Dec 2003 02:29
Top Box or Soft Bag? Fuzzy Duck Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 6 28 Aug 2002 23:22

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-15
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 18:00.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top