Bonjour,
Nous allons partir en couple à Oman en mars 2014.
Nous pensons passer 3 jours dans les montages proches de Nizwa, plus particulièrement Jebel Shams et Jebel Akhdar.
Je n'arrive pas à m'y retrouver au niveau déplacement dans cette région (route, piste, marche, etc.).
Quelqu'un aurait-il une carte ou un lien internet me permettant de m'y retrouver ?
Nous continuerons ensuite jusqu'au désert de Wahiba en passant par Wadi bani. Est-ce jouable en une journée ?
Pouvez-vous me donner des infos sur les incontournables du coin et les hébergements conseillés voir site de camping.
Merci d'avance et cordialement.
Chris
On ne va jamais aussi loin que lorsqu'on ne sait pas où l'on va.
- Il n'y a pas de route qui traverse le massif du Jebel Shams. Pour aller du versant Nord (Rustaq, Nakhl) au versant Sud (Nizwa) par le bitume, empruntez l'autoroute 15 par Izki. Pour le plateau de Sayq, l'accès se fait par une route goudronnée, et comme il y a une zone militaire, le 4x4 est obligatoire. C'est pas plus mal, car ça monte raide.
- Il y a une piste qui traverse complètement le massif, c'est le wadi bani Awf. Un 4x4 est nécessaire. En partant de Nizwa, ça monte en goudron jusqu'au col (1900m) puis ça passe en piste dans la descente, dont les 10 premiers kilomètres sont raides et impressionnants. Il y a aussi plein, plein, plein de pistes qui circulent dans les "cirques" montagneux formés par wadi bani Awf et wadi Sahtan. Certaines sont faciles, d'autres moins.
- Autour du Jebel Shams (sur le plateau ou dans le wadi Ghul/Grand Canyon), balades à pied possibles. Dans le wadi bani Awf, randos possibles, avec parfois fortes dénivellés, depuis le village de Bilat Sayt. Sur le plateau de Sayq, belles randos aussi.
Tapez "trekking oman tourism map" sur Google et vous trouverez sur le site du ministère du tourisme des PDF avec des cartes de randonnées pédestres.
Dans votre message, vous indiquez la piste "wadi bani Awf" qui traverse complètement le massif. N'ayant pas réussi à me procurer l'Oman off road, je n'ai pas les temps de parcours.
Nous souhaitons rejoindre le Jebel Chams resort à partir de Mascate en passant par Nakhal, Awabi...
Google maps indique 3h17 pour 215 km. Je doute qu'il prenne en compte la difficulté de la piste !
Pouvez vous m'indiquer si ce trajet est faisable en partant tôt de Mascate ?
Nous restons ensuite 5 nuits dans la région de Nizwa (Jebel Shams, Nizwa et Jebel Akhdar).
Bonjour,
Merci pour vos indications. Vous semblez bien connaître le pays. Êtes-vous déjà allé dans la région ?
Nous allons passer 3 jours dans la Hajar oriental. Que pensez-vous de notre programme :
1er jour : départ de Barka ou Al Suwaik en bord de mer. Route 4x4 pour Al Hamra en passant par wadi bani Awf. Nuit proche de Al Ahmra.
2ème jour : route pour dejbel Shams. Rando dans le canyon ou éventuellement jusqu'au sommet du djebel Shams. Nuit sur place (pas au sommet 😛)
3ème jour : route pour Jebel Akhdar, rando et visites. Nuit sur place.
4ème jour : Départ pour le désert de Wahiba.
Sachant que nous privilégions la nature et les grands espaces, cela vous semble-t-il jouable en prenant le temps de découvrir.
Connaissez-vous approximativement les temps de déplacements selon ce programme.
Je planifie pour début mars 2014 et n'ayant pas encore le Oman Offroad Explorer, vos conseils me sont précieux.
Cordiaux messages.
Chris
On ne va jamais aussi loin que lorsqu'on ne sait pas où l'on va.
Bonjour,
je pense que les 3h17 de Google Maps sont comptés en passant par l'autoroute 15, pas par la piste !?
De Mascate à Djebel Shams en une seule journée, cela me parait vraiment long. Il est parfois long de sortir de Mascate, puis la piste du wadi bani Awf est longue, on peut être ralenti par de l'eau (ou par d'autres voitures parfois), la montée finale est assez raide, ensuite il faut redescendre de l'autre côté de la montagne, gagner le début de l'itinéraire du Djebel Shams, et prendre encore les 40km d'accès au plateau, qui sont assez raides....
Si vous restez 5 nuits du côté de Nizwa, pourquoi ne pas consacrer une nuit au wadi bani Awf et en avoir encore 4 pour la région de Nizwa?
Bon voyage,
Bonsoir,
tant mieux si je puis vous être utile. J'habite sur place (enfin, aux Émirats) donc n'hésitez pas si je peux vous aider.
Votre parcours semble sympa:
- 1er jour: ok; 1 journée entière dans wadi bani Awf, éventuellemnt un détour par wadi sahtan au début. On s'en met déjà plein les yeux !
- 2e jour: il faut choisir entre le plateau du Djebel Shams et le canyon. Soit en haut, soit en bas, quoi :-) Du plateau il y a quand même plus de possibilité, et on a des vues plongeantes à couper le souffle sur le canyon (1300m d'à-pic). Ne manquez pas la rando vers le village abandonné. La route qui monte au plateau est goudronée sauf pendant 7km, elle est raide par endroit mais ça passe bien. Elle fait environ 40km. Comptez donc 1h.
Vous pouvez randonner sur le plateau mais pas jusqu'au sommet qui est une zone militaire.
- 3e jour: Djebel Akhdar, pour moi, c'est l'ensemble du massif qui va du Djebel Shams au Sayq plateau. Est-ce au plateau de Sayq que vous pensez? largement de quoi remplir une journée !
- 4e jour: ne manquez pas une nuit dans le désert, surtout si vous aimez les grands espaces. Si vous avez un 4x4, vous pourrez facilement camper par vos propres moyens, en restant sur la piste pendant disons 20km, puis en vous en écartant légèrement (de façon à ne pas être trop isolés quand même en cas de pépin). En général, ce genre de compromis procure à la fois autonomie, sécurité et sensation d'espace. Pour gagner l'entrée du désert, comptez 3h depuis Nizwa.
Je vous remercie pour ces informations.
Nous prendrons donc la route 15 pour aller sur Djebel Shams, même si nous louperons surement des beaux passages.
Nous rayonnerons autour de Nizwa ensuite.
Hello, on revient tout juste d'Oman, tout bronzé et tout sourire :-)
J'ai un OOR et une carte d'Oman aussi aux editions explorer. Le tout pour 38€ + frais de port.
j'habite dans le 74, si jamais vous etes dans le coin.
Bon voyage !
"There are no strangers here, only friends who haven't met yet" = "Il n'y a pas d'étrangers ici, que des amis qui ne se sont pas encore rencontrés". Une phrase que tout ceux qui hésitent à partir seul devrait méditer.
Nous sommes revenus d'Oman avec plein de souvenirs.
Pour le trajet Mascate - Djebel Shams, il est réalisable de Mascate en une journée.
Nous sommes partis de Mascate à 7:00 (notre hôtel se situait vers la mosquée Quabos, Arrêt à Barka avec sa plage et son marché typique de poisson et son fort.Arrêt rapide pour faire quelques photos du fort de Nahkal. Petite ballade dans le Snake Canyon. "Visite" du village de bilad sayt en passant par la piste (pas par le sentier). Arrivée au jabal shams resort vers 16:00.
Sinon la randonnée vers le village abandonné est superbe.
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).
I’m planning to leave Morocco for the summer but want to leave my 4x4 there to avoid exceeding the famous 6-month limit. I’d like to park it in one of the two Spanish enclaves (Ceuta or Melilla).
Does anyone know of people or companies that handle long-term parking (preferably secure) in either place?
Once the car is parked, what’s the best way to get back to France using public transport?
Is the nearest airport Tanger from Ceuta?...
How do I get there easily, etc. etc.
hello! I’d like to go to Kazakhstan and rent a fitted 4x4 locally so I can drive off-road trails and sleep inside the vehicle... could anyone share some local rental company addresses, please? Thanks! !
