Paid Guided Trips?

[CJTherapy]

I'm curious to know if any of you have done a paid guided overland trip and how was it? Was it worth what you paid? Where did you go? What did you really enjoy about it and what would you have liked to seen done better?

 

[MOAK]

I know a guy that paid for a guided trip/tour here in the east out of WV. He thought it to be a total rip off and way over priced. Never again, says he. Now, here's the thing, there is at least one tour/trip operator I'd be willing to pay for. Bill Burke put's on fantastic trips and teaches skill sets along the way. Hell, I'd go just to get to know the guy, pick his brain and learn from him, but I just can't justify the expense. Hope this helps.

 

[OTH Overland]

I would likely only consider a professional guided trip if I were travelling to another continent and had only limited time to explore, that way I would hope to get the most out of my time visiting the locals favorite spots. Preferably also one where you get a rig of your own to drive on the trip.

 

[MMc]

I have a friend that goes on a Jeep trip in Baja with Curt LaDuc and Baja Legends, they are going to see the grey whales this year. It's expensive in my opinion, they love it however.

 

[MOAK]

Let me edit my post a bit, South Africa? Australia? Yep we would definitely rent a vehicle and take a guided trip.

 

[OTH Overland]

Let me edit my post a bit, South Africa? Australia? Yep we would definitely rent a vehicle and take a guided trip.

Both those are on my bucket list!

 

[Alanymarce]

We travel under our own steam most of the time; exceptions have been:

1) When the only way to get to a particular destination is with a guide - e.g. gorillas in Rwanda, upriver in Borneo, Pantanal,

2) When the area has hazards which guides know and which we’d prefer to avoid - e.g. SW Bolivian desert & Salar de Uyuni,

We’ve seen, over the years many “overland tour groups”, in South America and Africa, and spoken with people on these tours from time to time. It seems that the principal negatives are that the route and timing are fixed, so you can't say “I wonder what’s on the other side of that mountain" and go to look, and that conflict arises between members of the tour which give rise to frustration and irritation (at best).

 

[MOAK]

We travel under our own steam most of the time; exceptions have been:

1) When the only way to get to a particular destination is with a guide - e.g. gorillas in Rwanda, upriver in Borneo, Pantanal,

2) When the area has hazards which guides know and which we’d prefer to avoid - e.g. SW Bolivian desert & Salar de Uyuni,

We’ve seen, over the years many “overland tour groups”, in South America and Africa, and spoken with people on these tours from time to time. It seems that the principal negatives are that the route and timing are fixed, so you can't say “I wonder what’s on the other side of that mountain" and go to look, and that conflict arises between members of the tour which give rise to frustration and irritation (at best).

Ya, I’d steer clear of groups any larger than 3 vehicles, total.

 

[John and Mandi]

In Costa Rica the overland vehicle rental companies tell their customers to install and use iOverlander, everyone renting vans in Chile were using it too. If we decided to rent in another country for a vacation our plan would be the same. We'd also have our rough route hashed out and plotted before we got on the plane. If we ever take another long overland trip it would be in our own vehicle and on our own, hooking up with others on the road as needed/wanted. Now, as Alanymarce stated, if the only way to reach a destination is by hiring a guide then we would do it...especially for the gorillas.

 

[Alanymarce]

Ya, I’d steer clear of groups any larger than 3 vehicles, total.

The biggest group we've ever joined was 2 vehicles (ours plus the guide's), with one exception - in Rwanda we were in our vehicle and there were four more, as I recall. The run into the park was not far, and then we walked. On all other occasions (half a dozen, maybe) we were either in our own vehicle with a guide or in the guide's vehicle.

 

[John and Mandi]

In 2015 we rented a Honda CRV, there were four of us and the 4Runner was already rented, to drive to the Caracol Ruins in Belize. We left early to join the military convoy, what we were supposed to do, but they had already left by the time we reached the check-point. The guards told us to go anyway, which we did, so we drove the "dangerous" road all by ourselves. After we had visited the ruins we decided to leave early, the military convoy commander said that would be fine, with the expectation that they would eventually catch us so we'd finish the majority of the drive with them. Twenty minutes later they blew past us so we ended up driving that road alone again. A couple days later we drove our own rigs, both being only 2 seaters which is why we rented a vehicle the first time, to the military check-point to arrange permission to camp in the area. They asked how long, we said 2 days, they approved and sent us on our way. We left after 4 nights because, between the two rigs, that's all the decent food we had since we only planned for two. That was the location we made the rule to always stock up no matter the expected duration.

Back on topic: We did run into a convoy in Mexico. We were cutting inland to hook up with friends to visit a monarch butterfly sanctuary. After a long day we stopped at a known water park that had an adjacent campground for the night. Just before dark a 14ish rig convoy, travel trailers and 5vers, pulled in and went to a far corner and parked in a wagon wheel configuration...more of a giant rectangle. They set-up a private area in the center but it wasn't very lively, they appeared exhausted. We waived but everyone that noticed just turned away. We walked into town to get a few groceries and when we returned it was lights out at the convoy compound, it wasn't even late, couldn't have been 8. Just before dawn we heard the diesels crack-off, within 15 minutes they were gone. Since no-one ever spoke to us we can't say for sure that it was a miserable experience but we did look up the website for the company that was listed on the lead truck. The itinerary that included the campground we were at was brutal, at least to us. We can't recall the business name, it too was in 2015, but we know the Baja trips by other organizations are high paced as well...friends of ours were wagon masters for a few years. To each their own, if it's what someone wants to do then great. There could be a market for a lesser distance but more immersive convoy experience. While we will always try and go alone, we do think that starting with a group as one's first foray outside the US can provide a bit of comfort.

 

[MMc]

In 2015 we rented a Honda CRV, there were four of us and the 4Runner was already rented, to drive to the Caracol Ruins in Belize. We left early to join the military convoy, what we were supposed to do, but they had already left by the time we reached the check-point. The guards told us to go anyway, which we did, so we drove the "dangerous" road all by ourselves. After we had visited the ruins we decided to leave early, the military convoy commander said that would be fine, with the expectation that they would eventually catch us so we'd finish the majority of the drive with them. Twenty minutes later they blew past us so we ended up driving that road alone again. A couple days later we drove our own rigs, both being only 2 seaters which is why we rented a vehicle the first time, to the military check-point to arrange permission to camp in the area. They asked how long, we said 2 days, they approved and sent us on our way. We left after 4 nights because, between the two rigs, that's all the decent food we had since we only planned for two. That was the location we made the rule to always stock up no matter the expected duration.

Back on topic: We did run into a convoy in Mexico. We were cutting inland to hook up with friends to visit a monarch butterfly sanctuary. After a long day we stopped at a known water park that had an adjacent campground for the night. Just before dark a 14ish rig convoy, travel trailers and 5vers, pulled in and went to a far corner and parked in a wagon wheel configuration...more of a giant rectangle. They set-up a private area in the center but it wasn't very lively, they appeared exhausted. We waived but everyone that noticed just turned away. We walked into town to get a few groceries and when we returned it was lights out at the convoy compound, it wasn't even late, couldn't have been 8. Just before dawn we heard the diesels crack-off, within 15 minutes they were gone. Since no-one ever spoke to us we can't say for sure that it was a miserable experience but we did look up the website for the company that was listed on the lead truck. The itinerary that included the campground we were at was brutal, at least to us. We can't recall the business name, it too was in 2015, but we know the Baja trips by other organizations are high paced as well...friends of ours were wagon masters for a few years. To each their own, if it's what someone wants to do then great. Their could be a market for a lesser distance but more immersive convoy experience. While we will always try and go alone, we do think that starting with a group as one's first foray outside the US can provide a bit of comfort.

I hate the Large RV tour groups in Baja. years ago we had to wait for 2+ days for the gas truck to refill the tanks of the Pemix in Cativina after a wagon train drained the place dry. That station has been closed for 20 +years. Last year there was a large group driving together so close you couldn't pass and pull in between the rigs safely. I finally got past them. In the next town after filling up I saw them pull in and talked to the wagon master about how they were spaced, his comment was I was driving to fast and should need to pass his group. they all had command there was no need to be that close.
I travel solo and prefer it, I will sometimes go with a another rig, I never have paid for a guide. I the surfing world it is bad form to show up to a remote break with more than 4 people that surf.

 

[Alanymarce]

re convoys - our only experience has been on the road north to Lake Turkana - at the checkpoint in Kainuk we were told that we'd have to take a guard. We pointed out that our Land Cruiser was a two-seater, so they told us that we'd have to join a military convoy. Fortunately the next one was leaving in 10 minutes. We stayed with the convoy until Lokichar; progress was slow - owing to the speed of a couple of big trucks, and frequent cigarette rest stops. From Kokichar north we were on our own again.

On the way south we did not need to be escorted - for whatever reason... : )

PS: In Algeria we've travelled with a military escort many times, however these were not really what we'd call "overland travel".

 

[tjZ06]

I think others have pretty well nailed my thoughts on this... the two reasons I'd do a paid, guided trip would be: 1) security concerns in a foreign country 2) language/culture barriers that would make things needlessly difficult in a foreign country. That said, I tend to plan most of the trips I take (because many are solo, but even the 'group' trips I usually do the planning) so the thought of just showing up and somebody else having done all of the prep-work is pretty nice...

-TJ

 

[John and Mandi]

Even when we did hook-up with another rig we had a rule that we didn't need to be stuck together. We would hash out the ending point and plan to meet there. Of course there were times we ended up traveling together due to rough terrain, if there were technical sections, and motorcycles liked to stay behind our big old butt to get a break from the wind. One thing is for sure, long-term overlanders don't like any kind of stress so trying to keep together would get the kabash. If we wanted to pull over a gazillion times to take photos, buy fresh veg/fruit, visit a museum, or the more important random food cart...we did. That would freak others out that were more concerned with making a specific time, which we did too but we always attempted to build in a nice buffer. Those that went before us told us how difficult it was to find places to camp so they didn't stop as much as we did. That's one big benefit of using iOverlander.

 

[CJTherapy]

Thank you all for your input and experience sharing. I really appreciate it.