Dans un mois je serai au Chili pour parcourir en 4x4 la carretera austral puis la ruta 40 en Argentine.J'envisage de traverser les andes à hauteur de Cochrane par le paso de los reballos et j'aimerai savoir si parmi la multitude de voyageurs qui sont passe par là quelqu'un pourrait me donner des rensiegnements sur ce passage.
Bonjour, d'après mes infos ce passage est possible en 4X4, par contre il n'y a pas de poste de controle frontalier international, cela peut etre un problème car tu ne peux pas faire tamponner passeport et documents véhicule, a vérifier.
En reponse à tes informations il me semble qu'il existait un poste frontiere assez proche de Cochrane mais que l'on devait se procurer à Coyhaique un "salvo conducto"dont je ne connais pas la raison.
Du cote argentin c'est aussi le mystere mais j'ai l'habitude de chercher les postes frontieres en Amerique du sud.
Merci
Bonjour Bernard
Nous avons emprunté cette route pour aller du Chili ( Villa O'Higgins) en Argentine, sans aucun soucis avec notre Combi VW
Il y a un poste frontière dans chacun des pays...et les formalités ne trainent pas même si le traffic est au minimum
cE sont surtout les Chiliens qui empruntent cette route, qui est signalé comme réservéee aux chevaux...
Si tu as le temps ça vaut que s'attarder aux abords de cette route. par endroit c'est l'isolement total et on se croirait sur une autre planète...
Amicalement
christian
La Patagonie en Combi VW de Bsas à Valdes......Bariloche...Puerto Montt...Chiloé.....La route australe.....Bajo Caracolés.....Calafate.......Ushuaia......et retour à Bsas
Enfin quelqu'un qui est passe par là.Je n'ai plus mes sources mais c'est sans doute toi dans ton blog qui m'a donne l'envie de passer par le paso de los reballos sans oublier que pour aller à Chaiten c'est beaucoup plus court que de passer par Chile Chico.
Est ce qu'il est necessaire en 4x4 d'avoir 2 roues de secours?
Ola
nous sommes passés par ce col le 25 décembre 2008 !
Très bon choix, paysages magnifiques accueil sympa des douaniers des deux cotés sans aucun problèmes !
bon à savoir s'il faut deux roues de secours, pas plus pas moins que partout là bas, car ce n'est pas plus isolé que la carretera austral ou la patagonie !
bon voyage
@+Fred
C'est déjà compliqué de faire simple !!
www.zigzagcruiser.eu/blog/
Si, c'est nous qui ton donné l'envie de passer par Paso Robalo, c'est formidable de se retrouver sur le forum, et crois moi, ça vaut le détour, surtout dans la partie centrale... avec des falaises cailloteuses, des lacunes, des lacs, un vrai dépaysement...et une quiétude hors norme..ou l'on peut bivouaquer sous un ciel étoilé comme nulle part ailleurs.
L'année précedente (2005) nous étions dans le même coin, et je peux de dire que j'ai envie d'y retourner une 3ème fois...
Quand j'avais lancé l'idée de faire la route australe avec le Combi, les gens nous ont traités de fous, d'inconscients ....avec votre Combi, vous ne passerez jamais....et j'en passe des vertes et des pas mûres...Faut dire, qu'aucun d'entre eux ne l'avait faites et se fiait au récit de voyageurs en 4x4...qui bien sûr ne jure que par leur 4x4.
Nous sommes passé avec notre Combi, sans aucun problème. C'était fin décembre, la piste était bonne, donc le 4x4 n'est pas forcément obligatoire....mais suivant les conditions dans certains passage ( prés des lacunes, piste humide) ) avec un 4x4 en cas de plantage on s'en sort bcp mieux..
Un tire fort en complément peut également de sortir d'un mauvais en cas de besoin...
Par contre , ne pas trop compter sur une assistance quelconque car les véhicules de passages sont rares....sauf les carabiniers qui patrouillent....
Que se soit en ARGENTINE ou au Chili, souvent sous la pluie surtout à Chiloé, et sur la route australe et avec un Combi chargé à bloc, nous ne sommes jamais enlisé... Sauf une fois, mais c'était une erreur de ma part, je me suis tanké dans le sable prés de la Péninsule de Valdes
C'était au début du voyage, et crois moi, ça m'a servi de leçon...Aprés je regardais ou je mettais les roues du Combi...
Deux Papy, avec leur vieille Jeep m'ont sorti de là.. Suerte
Ne pas oublier de faire le plein à Cochrane car aprés plus rien ( nada des nada) jusqu'à Bajo Caracoles
Dernière info et pas des moindre, une route est en construction de villa o higgins à Chaiten..... pas encore ouverte au public, mais possibilité d'y passer en négociant avec les autorités... attention quand même car ce n'est pas sécurisé ! ! !
La 2ème roue de secours, ne nous a jamais servie.....mais par sécurité nous l'avions.....( 15.000km = 1 crevaison)
Si tu pars avec ton véhicule personnel évite les Tubless, car en dehors des grands villes, c'est irréparable...
Tant que tu restes sur des voies de communication importante ou la circulation est fréquentes , tu peux tjrs te faire dépanner, mais sur les pistes ou il passe 1 à 2 véhicule par jour, ça peut dépanner..ceci est valable pour un véhicule non 4x4
ATTENTION? LE DANGER; le plus important se sont les projections de pierres sous le véhicules particulièrement entre Bajo Caracoles et Chaiten
EN 2005, lors de notre 1er voyage, - de 100 km était asphalté, l'année suivante presque la moitié de la route était goudronné. ( 2006) ...d'ici peu la liaison avec bajo caracoles se faire sur une route bitumée....
C'est justement dans cette partie de piste caillouteuse que le carter de notre Combi c'est fendue suite à des milliers de jets de pierres qui bombardaient le dessous du véhicule....
La célèbre route mythique 40, avec ces pièges ne sera plus qu'un souvenir...
Et toi, que comptes tu faire comme périple......au Chili ou en ARGENTINE et qu'en pars tu ?
Bonne soirée
christian
Je pars le 15 0ctobre et je rentre le 15 Novembre à Santiago.
A Chaiten je compte faire le parc Pumalin et le parc Queulat avant de descendre la carretera austral jusqu'à Villa O'Higgins en passant par Caleta Tortel, puis remontée vers Cochrane et le paso de los reballos pour rejoindre el Chaiten et el calafate.
Apres les visites des differents lacs remontée vers Bariloche ou l'on restera une semaine avant de revenir à Santiago. Voilà , d'une maniere tres schematique notre projet mais bien sur on improvisera sur le terrain en fonction de ce que l'on rencontrera.
Au fiat sur internet pour passer par le paso de los reballos ils disent qu'il faut obtenir à Coihaique un "salvo conducto" . Est ce vraiment necessaire?
Salut,
Je viens de te repondre mais je suis trompé d'interlocuteur . c'est Fredtictic qui recevra cette reponse. bref, nous allons faire la carretera austral avec les parc Pumalin et Queulat jusqu'à Villa O'Higgins puis traversée des Andes pour arriver à El Chaiten et El Calafate et enfin remontée sur Bariloche avant de rejoindre Santiago.
Merci pour les informations, lorsque j'etais en Afrique je travaillais avec un 4X4 semi blindé, c'est à dire qu'il y avait une plaque de protection qui protegeait le carter et les organes sensibles .Je verifierai.
Merci pour toutes ces infos très intéressantes, j'y serai en début 2011 (janvier-février) après être arrivé sur BA aux alentours du 20 novembre 2010. Je pense rester dans cette région jusque fin mars 2011 avant de remonter au nord. Ces précisions vont me servir, bonne fin de journée.
Hi,
For next summer’s vacation, I’m thinking of returning to the Sahara after visiting Tamanrasset and the Hoggar, which was stunning—not to mention the Tuareg hospitality.
I’d like to explore the sandy desert this time since the Hoggar was 80% rocky.
So, I’m wondering which city I should prioritize if I want to go there in late July–early August for the landscapes, extreme heat, and guides offering 4x4 and camel treks. Also, if there are any recommended guides for those in the know and a decent hotel.
I’m torn between Djanet, In Salah, Adrar, Ghardaïa, and Timimoun.
I’m of Algerian origin, so no visa or other formalities to worry about.
Thanks.
Hello, I’m preparing for a Tunisia-Algeria road trip.
I need to know if we can cross the Sahara to reach Djanet and Tamanrasset by road freely,
After that, obviously off-road in the desert with a guide.
What do the authorities say?
My trip: northern and southern Tunisia, a stroll in the desert.
Crossing the Tunisia-Algeria border via the Taleb Larbi customs.
I’ve already done this route through an agency, but this time we want to do it on our own.
Then heading down to Djanet for eight to fifteen days in the desert with Mouloud, a local guide.
Direction Tamanrasset: road and tracks, the mountains of the Assekrem, the Hermitage of Père de Foucauld.
Return via the Trans-Saharan Highway.
Visit to northern Algeria, then back by boat from Oran to Spain.
Dates: late December to mid-February.
We’ve got plenty of time.
If another crew is interested, we’re already two vehicles.
Looking forward to your replies.
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip to Russia and Mongolia, starting from France.
Crossing the border at Poland/Belarus or Georgia/Russia—other borders seem either closed or complicated.
Tourist visas for 3 months with multiple entries.
Do you have any info on Russian companies that cover a 4x4 vehicle for 3 months, and what prices in rubles or euros you’ve paid?
Which bank did you use for expenses? (EuroMastercard and Visa cards no longer work.)
Regarding Russian SIM cards, a new system called "Gosuslugi" has been introduced. How long did it take you to get one, and what steps did you follow?
Hi there,
We’ll be traveling in January 2027 in a 4x4 with a rooftop tent with our three kids, from Johannesburg to Cape Town. We’ve already booked several campsites in national parks (Golden Gate / Mountain Zebra / Addo Elephant / Garden Route).
We still need to reserve the stretch between De Hoop Nature Reserve and Cape Town. Any suggestions?
We’d love to stay around Cape Town for 5 days to explore the wine route, the peninsula, and do some hikes in Table Mountain.
Any camping recommendations? Or, on the contrary, places to avoid?
Also, we have 2 nights left near Wilderness National Park / Knysna. Any recommendations?
Thanks so much for your help!
For my 60th birthday (yes, I’m jumping the gun a bit!), I’m starting to plan a self-drive trip to Tanzania (in June).
I also considered Zimbabwe but I’m worried it might be a bit chilly at night in June.
I’ve revisited an itinerary I’d thought about before, tweaking it since I’ll have more days to dedicate to this trip. Still no big northern classics for the same reasons as before (too expensive, too crowded, too many tour operators).
Here’s what I’ve got so far:
(Arrival/departure from Kilimanjaro Airport)
Night 1: Arusha
Night 2: Arusha
Night 3: Lake Manyara
Night 4: On the way to Iringa (any ideas???)
Night 5: Iringa
Nights 6–8: Ruaha NP
Nights 9–10: Mikumi NP
Night 11: Bagamoyo
Nights 12–15: Beach
Nights 16–17: Lushoto
Nights 18–19: Mkomazi NP
Night 20: Toward Marangu – eastern Kilimanjaro
Night 21: Western Kilimanjaro
End of trip
All your ideas, tweaks, info, and suggestions on this route are welcome!
I could move one beach night somewhere else if needed.
Also, if you have a car rental company to recommend or thoughts on the bandas rented in the parks, I’m all ears!
Finally, what are the roads like in Ruaha in June? The rental company I’m looking at seems to allow this park with a small 4x4. (Off-limits: Serengeti and Natron)
We’re planning a long-term trip starting in April with our 4x4, beginning in the USA.
We’re still looking for car insurance that covers Canada and the USA.
We’ve read quite a few forums, but we’re hoping for some help (from fellow travelers).
Hi,
we’re planning to visit a park again.
Could you point us toward the camps in Gonarezhou Park?
>We’re traveling completely self-sufficiently.
We love wildlife.
Thanks for any tips you can share!
JP
Hi there, we’ll be in Mozambique in early December 2026 and we’d like to travel from Vilanculos to Beira by car or bus to reach Beira airport. After that, we’re planning to visit Gorongosa National Park before flying back to France from Beira. From what we’ve heard, the road to Beira is tricky, especially at this time of year (start of the rainy season). Could anyone share their thoughts or suggest a solution? Thanks so much for your help!
Anne
Hi there,
I’m heading to Lesotho in a few days and I’m struggling to find info on the best route between Katse Dam and Sehlathebe National Park. There’s a fairly "direct" route from Thaba Tseka, but the roads seem rough, and we’re not exactly 4x4 pros. Anyone have any tips to share? Thanks!
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to Mozambique in October and are looking for either a 4x4 or 4x2 rental in Maputo, or a driver transfer option to reach:
- Ponta Do Ouro
- Tofo
- Vilankulos
The idea is to be self-sufficient for sightseeing and stops while still being able to access certain lodges or beaches that require a 4x2.
Do you have any contacts, addresses, or ideas to share?
Thanks in advance,
Hello,
We're hitting the road again in 2027 to discover new countries and cultures.
Could anyone give me some tips on driving from Ulaanbaatar to Lake Baikal and the route to take?
Thanks, and safe travels to those who are setting off!
We’re planning a 4x4 trip from Belgium to Central Asia, passing through Georgia, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
For these countries, our national insurance obviously doesn’t cover the vehicle, so we’ll need to get local insurance.
Will it be a problem if the vehicle is registered under person A and the national insurance is under person B? Both A and B will be in the vehicle, and both will be listed as drivers on the insurance.
When we get the local insurance, if we again list A and B as drivers, does the order matter? Could we get stuck at the border for this reason?
Hi,
For those who’ve driven on Iceland’s gravel roads in their own or a rented Duster, could you tell me what tires were fitted on the vehicle?
Were they All Terrain tires or more "standard" ones like all-season tires, for example?
Follow-up question: if they were "standard" tires, did that cause any issues on the gravel roads and rough terrain?
Thanks so much for any info you can share.
Best,
Marc
Hi there,
I'm planning a 4x4 road trip from Darwin to Broome with a rooftop tent in July 2026.
I'd like to know if I need to book overnight stops in advance or if I can just wing it and stop wherever I feel like it?
Some evenings, we'd like to stop and make use of campsite facilities (restaurant, shop, showers, toilets).
What do you recommend?
Do I need a permit?
My rough itinerary looks like this:
Darwin - Kakadu
Kakadu - Nitmiluk
Nitmiluk - Kununurra
Kununurra - Purnululu
Purnululu - El Questro
El Questro - Mt Elizabeth - Bell Gorge - Broome
I’m planning a trip to Iceland for next July-August, with a car and tent, and I’m wondering about booking campsites.
From your experience, is it necessary or even essential to book campsites in advance, or do you always manage to find a spot to pitch your tent?
We’ll also have the option to sleep in the car without pitching the tent.
Does that give us the flexibility to stay outside a campsite for a night here and there?
Hi,
I’m planning a road trip in the Middle Atlas, starting and ending in Fez and heading down to the south of Midelt, the Assoul Massif.... We’ll be traveling with two small 4x4s.
I’m looking for detailed maps of this region that include small roads and tracks.
Last year, we had a fantastic road trip in the Anti-Atlas and High Atlas using Erfahren maps, but unfortunately, they don’t cover the area we’re interested in this year.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Dominique
We’re planning a 13-day family road trip in Morocco this July, with six people in a Toyota Prado 4x4 (renting in Marrakech).
We’ll alternate between bivouacking and small hotels/riads depending on the stops.
Here’s the planned route (in this order):
Marrakech
→ Ouarzazate
→ Draa Valley
→ Zagora
→ Erg Chegaga
→ Lake Iriki
→ Foum Zguid
→ Tata
→ Tafraoute
→ Aït Mansour
→ Tiznit
→ Mirleft
→ Taroudant
→ Back to Marrakech
Our goal:
Atlas Mountains + desert + dunes + plateaus + valleys + a bit of coastline.
We’ll cover about 1,700 km in total.
We’re planning:
Bivouacking in the Chegaga/Iriki area
Flexible for the rest (booking the day before or same day)
Sand gear: traction plates, compressor, tow strap, roof rack
Questions:
Is the Zagora → Chegaga → Iriki → Foum Zguid crossing in July doable on our own (single vehicle, no guide)?
Are there any truly technical or risky sections between Chegaga and Iriki?
Does the overall itinerary seem manageable in 13 days without rushing?
Any suggestions for great bivouac spots or particularly interesting stops along this route?
The points on the route are provisional overnight stops. Some spots will include two nights in the same area.
We’re used to off-road driving, but not yet in the Moroccan desert.
Thanks in advance for your feedback and tips! 😊
Good evening
I could use some advice 🙂
Our trip to Namibia is planned for June/July 2026.
We’re struggling a bit with timing and choosing activities for the part of the trip between Sesriem and Brandberg.
Day 1: Sesriem to Mirabib
Day 2: Mirabib to Swakopmund – visit Swakopmund, overnight in Swakopmund
Day 3: Sandwich Harbour – overnight in Swakopmund
Day 4: Kayaking with the seals + the living dunes – overnight in Swakopmund
Day 5: Moon Landscape, Henties Bay + Cape Cross – overnight at White Lady Lodge in Brandberg
Does this itinerary seem realistic to you? Is Cape Cross really worth the trip? If I had to choose between Cape Cross and kayaking with the seals, which would you recommend?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hélix
My son and I are heading to Georgia this summer to explore the High Caucasus (Svaneti, Kazbek, and Tusheti regions). For this, we’re planning to rent a 4x4.
However, the rental agencies we’ve found prohibit driving on the tracks to Omalo (Tusheti) and/or Ushguli (Svaneti).
Do you know of any agencies in Tbilisi (local and reliable) that allow rented 4x4s to drive on these tracks? If so, which ones?
Hi everyone,
I’m starting to plan an itinerary for September 2027 focused on Zimbabwe and Zambia. I’d love to visit Gonarezhou National Park—I see there are two sectors: the Mwenezi Region in the south and the area around the Runde River in the north. Should I cover both sectors or just focus on the northern region?
For the parks along the Zambezi River, is it better to visit Mana Pools on the Zimbabwe side or Lower Zambezi on the Zambia side?
Thanks in advance for any tips on the parks in these two countries.
Have a great day, everyone.
We’re spending 18 days in New Zealand from 05/04 to 05/21, arriving in QUEENSTOWN and leaving from AUCKLAND.
Any ideas for a road trip that covers the highlights of both islands but only changes hotels every 3–4 nights?
Thanks.
For our trip to Georgia in July, I’d like to rent a 4x4 starting from Tbilisi.
Do you have any rental companies to recommend?
The traditional rentals like Hertz, Avis, etc. seem way overpriced compared to local companies—what do you think? Are they properly insured?
Has anyone here tried Geo Rent Car, Auto 4 Rental, or Sur Price?
Also, I’m looking for info on the condition of the Ushguli–Lentekhi track—is it passable?
Hi everyone,
A well-prepped 4x4, a travel plan across Africa in stages since I’ve got kids to see regularly and work to earn a living.
I’m leaving in November for about a month with the goal of reaching Senegal via Mauritania. I’d love to share this trip with someone who wants to discover Mauritania and a bit of Senegal... and also experience life on board a 4x4 in the desert or bush, sometimes sleeping in the vehicle or in hostels/small hotels for comfort. I want to share this rediscovery because two’s better than one!
Just traveling, exploring, and living! !
I’m planning to explore Argentine and Chilean Patagonia for a month in December 2019.
I’m looking for a rental company (or several) that offers single-cab 4x4 pick-ups with a fitted camper cell for two people. I’m specifically after a vehicle with an indoor shower for extra comfort ;)
So, no vans—at least not from the rental companies I’ve seen so far.
While browsing the forum, I came across the Chilean rental company Holiday Rent. But do you have any recommendations for Argentine rentals?
Because, if I can’t return the vehicle in the same city as pickup, I’d prefer—and it’d likely be cheaper—to at least return it in the same country.
I’m traveling through Argentina and Chile (as well as Paraguay and Uruguay) with a 2019 Toyota Hilux Euro 6. Could anyone tell me if the local diesel is suitable for its engine, or if I need to take any special precautions (like adding an additive, for example) for these countries?
I’d also like to know if driving at high altitudes is possible, and up to what elevation—or if I should worry about the vehicle going into limp mode?
If that happens, what should I do?
Hi there,
Can you tell me if the road between Zagora and M'Gouna is easy or difficult for a 4x4? How much time and how many kilometers should I plan for? I’m traveling in May.
Thanks!
Hi there,
My trip to South Africa is starting to take shape.
However, I'm struggling to figure out the route through Kruger Park. I can't seem to find the information I need about getting around.
Coming from the south, I plan to arrive on Day 1 in the early afternoon at Malelane or Crocodile Bridge.
Do some shopping in Malelane (or Crocodile Bridge main area) and stay overnight outside the park.
Leave on Day 2 at 5 AM for the park. Explore the southern part of the park.
Stay overnight around Skukuza or Lower Sabie. (We don’t want to stay in one of the park’s big camps. We’re looking for a lodge around 200 €.
Head out on Day 3 for a self-drive safari, maybe as far as Orpen.
We’d like to stay in a private reserve on nights 4 and 5.
We’re not sure which one or how to get into a private reserve. Do we need to exit Kruger Park?
On Day 5, we’d like to leave to visit Blyde Canyon (on Day 6).
