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?

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.

Hey everyone, hope you're doing well! :) I’m planning to go back to Thailand at the start of next year—once just wasn’t enough 😅 I’ve seen that nothing’s official yet, but they’re considering reducing the visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days. If I book for 58 days like last time and they change the rules last minute, what happens? It takes forever to get a visa—I saw you have to prove you have enough funds to cover your stay. How much money do you need in your account? Thanks!

Hi there, I’m filling out my South Africa entry declaration and just found out it costs $53. We’ve traveled to South Africa regularly, the last trip was in 2024, and I’ve never paid anything to enter South African territory before. Is this a new measure, or am I on a dodgy site? Thanks for your replies! Christine

Hi there, We’re doing a staged tour of Africa in our Citroën Dyane 2CV. We left Belgium and our car is currently in Zambia. We’ll be joining it at the start of 2025 to continue on to Malawi and Tanzania. We’d love to chat with overlanders who’ve already crossed these borders with a vehicle—without necessarily having a carnet de passage, given the costs and guarantees required. Thanks

Hi there!

I'm considering doing a round trip of Africa, starting in Morocco, then following the west coast down to the south, and finally heading back up along the east coast.

However, I have some big questions about the route:

From what I've gathered after a lot of research, the road seems quite doable without a 4x4 as far as Senegal, or even Benin?

It's between Benin and Namibia that it would get really tough, and I'd either need a 4x4 or to ship my vehicle if I'm in a converted H2L2 van (not 4x4)?

Could someone clarify this for me?

Otherwise, it seems like Southern, Northern, and Eastern Africa are accessible without a 4x4?

As for the vehicle, if a 4x4 is essential, I'm torn between: Kangoo 4x4 Lada Niva 4x4 standard C15 C15 4x4 Renault Trafic 4x4 (H2L2, so still quite large) or a Subaru Libero 4x4

Or would it even be possible with a simple Twingo? ^

But is that enough, or do I absolutely need a 4x4 like a Toyota, Land Rover, or something similar?

Those are my current questions! If anyone has some answers, that would be amazing!

Thanks so much!

Hi, I’m arriving soon in southern Laos and the 4000 Islands, with plans to head to Cambodia next. The latest news I got this morning (Paksé, La Boulange) isn’t great—the Cambodian border is also in a latent conflict with Laos for the same reasons as with Thailand...

So, what’s the best site to check for updates on the border opening? Since the situation isn’t stable right now and could change from one day to the next?

Thanks for your input.

Hi there,

We’re heading to Southeast Asia for several months as a family with two teens (10 and 13). The first country we’re visiting is Cambodia. I’m having an issue with the e-visa—it won’t accept any of the documents I’m attaching. I’ve validated all four e-visas and received the registration numbers, but when I check the application, it shows no attachments. I’ve tried multiple times in different formats (PDF, JPEG, PNG), whether compressed or not, but there’s always a red cross next to the documents.

Has anyone else run into this problem?

Thanks for your help—I’m losing patience, and our departure is in 15 DAYS 😕

Magos

Good evening and best travel wishes to everyone. I’m leaving soon for a two-month road trip in Southeast Asia. Arriving in Bangkok on January 14th, returning from Ho Chi Minh City on March 13th. I don’t have an exit ticket from Thailand because I’d like to keep some flexibility in my itinerary. Do you think my return ticket from Vietnam will be enough to prove that I’ll have left Thai territory within 60 days of my entry? I hope I won’t run into any issues boarding at Roissy or at immigration once I’m in BKK. What do you think? Thanks for your help. Christine

We're planning a round-the-world trip in a 4x4 with a roof tent and all the gear. We're wondering which African country allows tourists to buy a vehicle (left-hand drive)? Thanks for any tips—they’ll be super helpful!

I'm looking for any recent info (2024) on entering Myanmar from Ranong in Thailand, as well as the journey up to Mawlamyine. Are there any restricted areas?

Hello, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026! We’re heading back in October for a trip through Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. I have a question: for our route, we’ll need to cross the Zambia and Zimbabwe borders twice each. From experience, I know we won’t have any issues with Botswana. But for the other two countries, I can’t find a clear answer. All your tips are welcome!

Thanks for your replies

I'm looking to print a standard police form because I'm traveling to Senegal in a motorhome in early 2025. I saw on the forum that it's highly requested in Mauritania, Senegal, and even Guinea by police or military on the roads. Thanks for your help.

Hello, We’re planning a trip to Zambia in 2 years. This will be our 4th trip to Southern Africa—the last one this year was Moremi, Boteti, KCGR, and KTP as a self-drive with campsites and no guide, just my wife and me. For this year’s trip, we prepared 2 years in advance—bookings are really complicated. We were lucky to get a spot at Bitterpan in KTP (there are only 4 chalets).

We’d like to know if it’s easy to get around Zambia, especially when it comes to restocking supplies. Should we rent a 4x4 in Zambia, Namibia, or South Africa? Botswana is very expensive. Which parks are the most interesting? We’re into wildlife photography.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks in advance! Best regards, Jean-Marc

Hi there, My departure is slowly approaching, and now that I’ve got my Russian visa sorted, I’m fine-tuning the rest of my trip to Tajikistan. Since the Tajik visa is no longer required for stays under 30 days (for French nationals), I’ll need to visit the Ministry of Interior (OVIR) to register within 10 days of entering the country. No big deal, though, since I had to go there anyway to apply for my GBAO permit. 😉 However, I’ve *seen* several reports from travelers (mostly motorized) mentioning that you need an entry permit for Kyrgyzstan, which has to be arranged in advance at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) in Dushanbe. Otherwise, you’re *stuck* at the Kyzyl-Art border (with no Wi-Fi, of course, to try and sort it out). The most recent report was from a year ago, so I’d love to know if this is still the case and if it’s indeed at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) where you need to go for this pre-authorization. Does anyone have any recent info on this? Thanks in advance!

My partner and I are planning a 21-day self-drive trip from Victoria Falls to Cape Town, flying from Montreal to Victoria Falls and renting a 4x4. I’d love to hear members’ thoughts on our itinerary and its feasibility, along with your recommendations for must-see spots, essential parks, lodges, etc.

Our ideal is to start our stay at the falls and head south to South Africa, finishing in Cape Town by the sea for two days of relaxation before returning to Canada. We’re big on photography, not so much on cities, and we usually book accommodations where we can prepare our own dinner. Is this itinerary too ambitious? I’ve read a lot of travel journals and sometimes it seems very doable, other times completely the opposite...

Proposed itinerary: 17 October: Montreal-Livingstone, Zambia (Z) 18-19 Oct.: Victoria Falls, Z 20 Oct.: Kasane, Botswana (BO) 21-22 Oct.: Chobe Park, BO 23 Oct.: Francistown, BO 24 Oct.: Khama Rhino Sanctuary, BO 25 Oct.: Palapye, BO 26 Oct.: Polokwane, South Africa (SA) 27 Oct.: Phalaborwa, SA 28-29 Oct.: Kruger Park, SA 30 Oct.: Malelane Gate, SA 31 Oct.: Winburg, SA 1 November: Bloemfontein, SA 2 November: Beaufort West, SA 3-5 November: Cape Town, SA

Hello, We already did a self-organized trip to Namibia in March 2019, covering Windhoek and the southern part up to the South African border, then heading back via Lüderitz, the dunes, the Atlantic coast, Swakopmund, and Erongo. We’ve organized a second trip for May 2026. Here’s our itinerary and the bookings we’ve made directly or through Booking. The 4x4 Toyota Hilux is reserved with Africa on Wheels in Windhoek—we used them five years ago and were happy with the service.

May 9: Arrival in Windhoek via Lufthansa; Okahandja Country Hotel in Okahandja May 10: Spitzkoppe, Spitzkoppe Tented Camp May 11: Brandberg, White Lady Lodge Tree House May 12 & 13: Twyfelfontein, Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp May 14 & 15: Palmwag, Grootberg Lodge May 16: Opuwo, Opuwo Country Lodge May 17 & 18: Epupa Falls, Omarunga Epupa Falls May 19: Etosha, Dolomite Resort May 20: Okaukuejo, NWR waterhole chalet May 21: Onguma, Mushara Bush Camp May 22 & 23: Waterberg, Waterberg Wilderness Valley Lodge May 24: Brakwater, Windhoek Gama Camp May 25: Return to Windhoek and flight home

- My first question is about the route between Opuwo and Epupa Falls. We’ll take the C43 and D3700. According to the Tracks4Africa map, it’s about a 3-hour drive. What’s the condition of the road? I’ve also heard that the local population, including children and adults, can be insistent and sometimes exhibit dangerous behavior toward tourists and vehicles, asking for food or other things. Is this accurate? After our stay in Epupa, we’ll retrace our steps back to Opuwo, then take the C41 to Galton Gate to enter Etosha National Park. - Do you know what time Galton Gate at Hobatere closes? We’ll need to leave Epupa very early to arrive before the gate shuts, as we’re heading straight to Dolomite Resort.

Thanks for your advice and experiences! Christine

Hi everyone, Have any travelers recently returned to Morocco via the border at Ceuta? If so, how is the crossing at Moroccan customs going right now? Are there any products bought in Ceuta that are banned from import into Morocco? Thanks for your replies! Hope you had a great holiday

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.

Hi,

I’m heading to the Algerian Sahara. I’m taking a flight from Paris to Djanet with a layover in Algiers.

Can anyone tell me how the entry visa process works?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello, Is it possible to consider wild camping with young children, mainly in the Anti-Atlas? It’s not an option for budget reasons but rather a way of traveling we enjoy.

If we get the landowner’s permission and offer compensation, is it feasible?

Happy New Year to you all

Hi everyone,

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! 😊

Hi there,

This will be my first trip to Thailand, which will be the first stop on my Asian journey. This time, I’d like to leave with a one-way ticket so I can return to France from the last country I visit.

First and foremost, I’d like to confirm whether it’s possible to get a VOA (Visa on Arrival) when I land in Thailand without any prior steps? Is proof of onward travel (like a return ticket) required to get this visa?

If so, does it have to be a round-trip ticket from the country I’m arriving from, or can I use a flight or train ticket from Thailand to a neighboring country as proof of exit?

For Cambodia and Vietnam, is it also possible to get a VOA on the spot?

I’d also love any tips or important info you think might be useful about Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam—my planned destinations—especially regarding accommodation, transportation, points of interest, and, of course, any personal advice or experiences you’d like to share!

Thanks so much to everyone, and I wish you all an amazing 2025 filled with health, travel, and discoveries! !

Hi,

Is the land border crossing from Ranong to Kawthaung in Myanmar still possible? Can you get a Myanmar visa at the border, and if so, for how long?

Thanks

Hi everyone, We’re self-drivers planning a trip through Zimbabwe in 2026—our route is Johannesburg, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. We’ll have a rented 4x4. We’d like to know about any difficulties at the borders between South Africa and Zimbabwe, and between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Also, which park in Zimbabwe is the best? Thanks in advance for your replies!

JP

Hi everyone, We’re planning to travel from Mongolia to China in July 2026 via the land border. I know there’s a visa exemption for French citizens in China, but I think I read that if you’re coming from Mongolia, you need a visa. Has anyone got any info on this? Thanks! Séverine

Good evening, We’re a couple in our fifties thinking about heading to Asia from France in a 4x4 with a camper cell (duration not set yet). Is this doable or totally unrealistic given the current situation? The route isn’t finalized yet, but it’d look something like this: Crossing Europe / Turkey - Georgia - Azerbaijan (Baku / Alat) - Caspian Sea ferry Baku - Aktau (Kazakhstan) - crossing Kazakhstan - Kazakhstan-China border (Khorgos / Dostyk) - Central Asia / China, then continuing to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

First, I’m just looking for info before fully committing to the project. I’ve found some trip reports from a few years back, but nothing recent… Thanks for your help! Nathalie

Hello, We’re planning a trip to Patagonia for November–December 2026. After reading forums, blogs, and guidebooks, we’ve sketched out a rough itinerary and would love to hear from experts. We initially wanted to rent a camper van, but it’s hard to find options and we have no idea about prices. We’ve settled on starting in Bariloche, crossing into Chile for the Carretera Austral, then back into Argentina before crossing into Chile again for Punta Arenas, and finally ending in El Calafate to drop off the car. We don’t want to make any advance reservations so we can stay flexible based on weather and road conditions. Do you think this route is reasonably doable? And if you have any idea about the cost of renting a car for 17 days with a different drop-off location and the paperwork needed for border crossings… Thanks a million in advance for your replies! Céline

Day 1: Flight – 24 hours of travel, overnight on the plane Day 2: Arrival in Buenos Aires, overnight in BA Day 3: BA, overnight in BA Day 4: BA, overnight in BA Day 5: Flight to Bariloche, overnight in Bariloche Day 6–7: Seven Lakes route, overnight in Bariloche Day 8: Drive to La Junta, overnight stop Day 9: Drive to Puerto Tranquilo, overnight in Puerto Tranquilo Day 10: Catedral de Mármol, overnight in Puerto Tranquilo Day 11: Drive to El Chaltén, overnight stop Day 12: Arrival in El Chaltén, overnight in El Chaltén Day 13: El Chaltén, overnight in El Chaltén Day 14: El Chaltén, overnight in El Chaltén Day 15: Drive to Punta Arenas, overnight in Punta Arenas Day 16: Punta Arenas, overnight in Punta Arenas Day 17: Punta Arenas, overnight in Punta Arenas Day 18: Drive to Torres del Paine, overnight in Torres Day 19: Torres del Paine, overnight in Torres Day 20: Torres del Paine, overnight in Torres Day 21: Drive to El Calafate, overnight in El Calafate Day 22: El Calafate, overnight in El Calafate Day 23: Flight to BA, overnight in BA Day 24: Flight to Paris

hi

we’ve got a 16-hour layover at Shanghai Airport in March 2026—is it easy to leave and come back? Do we still need a visa? Or do we have to return to clear customs? Do we need to buy another ticket? Thanks for your help

Hi there, Since April 2025, Namibia has been requiring a visa for many nationalities. I have a French passport and I’d like to know if the paid visa granted is for 60 or 90 days? I can’t seem to get a clear answer. Thanks! Bourlingueurs.com from Eswatini (Swaziland)