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OASIS TRIPS (Local Transport and Overland Trips)
Unlike some of our competitors we dont have the 'stack em and rack em' philosophy when it comes to group numbers, we limit the numbers of people on all our trips. This means that when we visit a local sight we won't be swamping the area with a large number of people all at once, (which more and more companies appear to be doing), which, in turn means you won't be left hanging around waiting for the group to assemble and will have more time to experience and explore the area and will be able to interact more with your crew and local people.
On this site you will find two sorts of trips that we run, one is what we term our ' Local Transport Trips ' which uses local mini buses, ferries, coaches and trains while accommodation is in locally owned hotels and meals are generally eaten in local restaurants. These trips are from 8 to 21 days and group sizes are limited to a maximum of 20 people per Tour Leader and are generally of a more 'holiday' type trip.
Alternaively our ' Overland Trips ' which are generally of a longer nature, run on our own expedition vehicles which carry up to 24 people with a crew of two are the other type of trips that we offer. You will have a more active involvement in the day to day running of the trip and will be expected to get stuck in and do some work, whether its cleaning the truck, lighting fires, collecting firewood, preparing meals, erecting tents (it is approx 70/30 camping & simple local hotels) and generally being an integral part of the group when it is needed. Expect to sometimes get dirty and not be able to have hot showers every night and things may well go wrong or not to plan..............this is simply down to the countries and the continents we operate in and that you are thinking of travelling to - our opinion is that it adds to the flavour of the trip, so if any of the above freaks or frustrates you then please seriously think again about doing one of these overland trips.
But if you are looking for an adventure, enjoy meeting new people, don't mind getting stuck in and involved at ground level - then jump on board!!

On an Oasis Overland trip, a typical day 'on the road' is around eight hours and will go something like this: After breakfast of cereal and toast, tea and coffee and everyone has packed up their tents we 'hit the road' around 8.30am as our exciting overland truck expedition begins. We stop along the way for photos and snacks etc and usually have lunch around 12.30pm, whether it's in a town or on the side of the road. If the latter it usually consists of salad, sandwiches and fruit or if we are in a town or city you may have the opportunity to try the local food stalls. En route on our overland safaris we will stop for food and water in a local town or city so as to give the cooks for that evening's meal a chance to buy fresh produce! We camp up for the evening around 5.30pm. Our overland tours are about pitching in and working as a team: whether it be in a campsite or bush camp, everyone puts up their tents with their tent partner and then helps setting the tables and stools out, getting the fire going (whether it be gas or wood), getting water boiling for a hot cuppa, and helping the cooks prepare the fine fare for the evening meal (this is your chance to impress or flop!). Don't panic - your crew and other group members will have plenty of advice for you!

If we are at a campsite the majority do have a bar and showers! Usually our days on the road on our overland truck expeditions are between one and two days. However, there are times when we are on the road for two to three days, but this is rare and we will then be parked up somewhere for several days eg Zanzibar 4 days, Victoria Falls 4 days, Olympus 3 days, Dahab 4 days, Cuzco 6 days and Iguazu Falls 3 days.

GENERAL INFORMATION
If you wish to know more or have any questions about any of the overland tours on our site, please feel free to contact us by phone, fax or email. We are always ready to chat and can forward to you the departure dossiers which contain information about visas, vaccinations, optional excursions, flights, etc that you should know about before embarking on an overland trip.
Our videos and DVD's of trips in Africa and South America also provide a useful insight into our overland tours, so feel free to contact us for a copy.

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  • 马克 (2006-9-13 19:12:15)

    看到眼花 放大了看

    Oasis Overland offers the perfect option for African safari travel, overland adventures or gap year travel in Africa. However, before you depart, read here for information on travelling with us through this vast, wild and beautiful continent.

    Starting and Ending your African Adventure Travel Experience
    Nairobi, Harare, Victoria Falls and Cape Town are the start and finish points in African adventure travel. We recommend arriving a couple of days before your trip starts in order to acclimatise and give yourself a free day. Most people also leave time spare to visit Cape Town and some will carry on with travel to South Africa for a couple of weeks. Or, if you're embarking on gap year travel in Africa, a trip with Oasis Overland might be the perfect way to kick-start it, and the end point of Cape Town is the perfect place from which to continue your year abroad. We can advise you of places to stay and can book accommodation for you, as well as advise you on general African safari travel information. Contact us today and see how we can help you!

    African Adventure Travel Style
    We camp in either designated campsites, or bush-camps using two person tents. We usually cook over open fires in a rota system. Driving days normally start around 8am and finish around 5pm with stops for lunch and buying food, seeing local sights etc. We won't be travelling every day, although there are times when we will travel for two days in a row. We will then be stopped for three to four days relaxing somewhere.

    African Adventure Travel Requirements - passport and visas
    Most nationalities require visas for some of the countries that we travel through, including travel to South Africa, Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe. However we get these en-route. The costs listed below are a guideline; please note that prices and conditions can change at anytime without notice. Please ensure that you bring US Dollars to pay for your visas. If you are embarking on an African adventure travel experience, be aware that you will need at least one blank page in your passport for each country you enter, which must be valid for at least 9 months. If you have dual nationality you can only use one passport. Contact us for further Africa travel information regarding passport laws.

    Uganda - At present all nationalities require visas. We obtain these on the border for most European nationalities, Australian and New Zealanders costing US$ 30 to $50.

    Kenya - Tourist visas are currently US$20 to US$50 and are issued on arrival for British, Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans. You will need a valid yellow fever certificate and an onward ticket to show immigration on arrival. Americans and Canadians should check with the embassy before travel.

    Tanzania - At the moment we can obtain visas on the border when embarking on African safari travel in this country. British, Canadians, South African and Americans require a visa currently costing US$60. New Zealanders $30 Australians $50.

    Malawi - No visas required for most nationalities.

    Mozambique - All nationalities embarking on African adventure travel in Mozambique require a visa. We can obtain a transit visa on route for US$20 so it is not necessary to have this visa before travelling.

    Zambia - While in Victoria Falls we usually cross into Zambia for a day. A one day visa can usually be arranged locally at no cost.

    Zimbabwe - At present most European nationalities and Australians and New Zealanders require an entry visa, but this is easily purchased on the border. The visa costs US$30 for a single entry and US$50 for a double entry. United Kingdom and Ireland passport holders require a visa costing US$55.

    Botswana, Namibia and South Africa - Most nationalities do not require a visa.

    African Adventure Travel - The Climate
    Even though we cover fairly large distances during our African safari travel experiences, the climate does not change significantly. In East Africa the year is divided into the 'short' rains (November) and the 'long' rains (March to May). The 'rains' usually last for one or two hours each day followed by sunny weather.

    Embarking on an African adventure travel experience means that you need to pack carefully; the 'dry' season is April to October and the 'wet' season is November to March. Although at night temperatures can be very cold the days are usually hot. If you're embarking on gap year travel to Africa, you'll experience all the different seasons. Because of this, make sure you pack appropriate equipment and clothing for all weather types.
  • 马克 (2006-9-13 19:21:10)

    African Adventure and Safari Travel - Spending Money and Local Payment
    At the beginning of your African adventure travel trip the crew will collect the Local Payment in Cash, Sterling or US Dollars. For personal spending we suggest an average of £80 to £120 per week. Personal spending habits vary hugely depending on individuals. We cannot specify every cost during your African safari travel experience, but you need to allow for visas, drinks, occasional meals out, curios and local crafts, telephone calls and emails etc. It's a good idea to budget for optional side trips, on your African adventure travel trip, separately. Credit cards are virtually useless outside main cities so you need to bring at least two thirds of your spending money in Cash US Dollars and the rest in Sterling or US Dollar Travellers Cheques. For those continuing with African safari travel, most major cities have cash points and foreign exchange facilities within easy reach.

    African Safari Travel - Health Precautions
    Vaccinations - You will have to be vaccinated against Yellow Fever and will need an International Vaccination Certificate to prove this when we cross some borders. It is also advisable to be vaccinated before embarking on African adventure travel against Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis A and Meningitis. Consult your doctor about the necessity of having Hepatitis B and Rabies shots and further Africa travel information regarding medicine and vaccination.

    When it comes to African safari travel it is vital that you take Malaria into consideration. Some GPs are quite well versed in tropical medicine, vaccination requirements and malarial prevention. However, many are not! If you are not happy with the information your doctor has provided for your health concerns during your African adventure travel experience, contact a reputable travel clinic in your area or phone us and we can give you the number of several clinics. There are a number of prophylactic malarial treatments on the market and requirements do change. Also, a particular regimen might suit you better than another. It is also wise to take a sample of which ever prophylactic you choose, a few weeks before you leave on your African safari travel experience. This way you may determine early on if you have any adverse reactions so you can change regimens if necessary. For gap year travel in Africa or other long periods of travel, a vaccination booklet is an easy way of keeping records of your immunisations.


    For further African adventure travel information, including African safari travel to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and other countries listed in this section, please contact us by phone fax or email. We are always willing to chat about any of the tours. Our Pre-Departure Dossiers also have further information on each of our African adventure travel tours.
  • 马克 (2006-9-13 19:34:09)

    Coast to Coast - Nairobi to Cape Town

    Days 1 - 4 Our Kenya to South Africa trip begins! We depart Nairobi early morning to begin our Africa overland travel experience and immediately find ourselves in hot savannah grasslands, with thorn trees and acacia providing the only shade. We usually see zebra and giraffe as we head south and cross the border to Tanzania. From the town of Arusha we use a local Tanzania travel safari company to guide us through Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Parks. On the crater floor you can spend the day viewing the abundant wildlife including Elephant, Lion, Cheetah, White Rhino, Buffalo, Hippo, Antelope, Crocodile and Pink Flamingos. From here you can choose to go into the Serengeti where vast herds of Wildebeest roam the plains. For those who decide to view Ngorongoro only, there is a free day in Arusha to visit a local Masai Village.

    Days 5 - 9 It's a one-day drive to Dar Es Salaam, a must-see on this Tanzania travel leg. We pass through a number of small towns and villages along the way and, if we are lucky, we may see the towering peak of Mt Kilimanjaro. We camp for about 4 nights in a campsite on a beautiful Indian Ocean beach. From here most people take the ferry out to Zanzibar for the full four days and venture into the narrow bustling streets of StoneTown and its exotic spice markets, old slave forts and dungeons. There is also time to indulge yourself on Zanzibar's famous white beaches before returning to Dar Es Salaam.

    Days 10 - 12 After meeting the Zanzibar ferry, the next leg of our Kenya to South Africa trip begins. We continue our Africa overland travel through the interesting and often mountainous hinterland for which the country is renowned. In the afternoon, after negotiating some appalling roads and 'in God We Trust' drivers we pass through the peaceful Mikumi National Park. We usually see here Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra and Antelope from the roadside. Passing rivers and small waterfalls, our Tanziania travel leg ends as we enter Malawi, dominated by its huge fresh water lake.

    Days 13 - 17 We spend 2 days at a small laid back camp site on the edge of the lake. We follow the lake shore south and spend a further 2 or 3 nights on one of the campsites equipped for water sports. Here you can windsurf, scuba dive, etc. If you are inclined to just relax during your Africa overland travel experience, there is no better place than the shores of Lake Malawi. Here you have the opportunity to go off for a couple of days and stay in one of the many nearby villages, or visit a school or one of the craft markets where artisans produce some interesting wooden furniture and carvings. From here we continue our Kenya to South Africa trip on to Blantyre in the south of the country where we stop for two nights. Here we organise our Mozambique visas and possibly visit the local brewery - a highlight on any of our backpacker trips to Africa!

    Days 18 - 20 From Blantyre we cross into Mozambique and head for Zimbabwe. We follow the infamous 'Tete Corridor' which was well known in the days of Mozambque's long running civil war as the 'Gun Run'. Thankfully these days things are a lot different! We enter Zimbabwe and travel to Harare, the capital, for a couple of days.

    Days 21 - 23 From Harare we head south to Gweru and a privately run horse and game ranch where you can go game viewing on elephant and horseback or perhaps on a walking safari with young lion cubs!

    Days 24 - 26 From Gweru we travel to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins which was once the greatest medieval city in Sub Saharan Africa and where the name 'Zimbabwe' is derived, literally meaning 'house of stone'. Next we enter Matabeleland and the town of Bulawayo.

    Days 27 - 28 Here you have the option of leaving the truck for a day and a night and using a local safari company to venture into Motobo National Park, where on foot, escorted by an armed ranger, you should see the elusive Black Rhino amongst hordes of other game. There is also the opportunity to visit Cecil Rhodes grave and Worlds End view point before catching an old colonial style sleeper train to rejoin the truck at one of the adventure playgrounds of the world - Victoria Falls.

    Days 29 - 32 For some Mosi oa Tunya - 'The Smoke That Thunders' is the highlight of their Africa overland travel trip. When you arrive it is a surprise to discover the enormity of Victoria Falls. One mile wide and hurling over 5 million cubic metres of water a minute into the Zambezi Gorge this is the setting for the most awesome grade 5 white water rafting in the world. There is something here for everyone from the more sedate canoe trips, Flight Of Angels or Sunset Cruises to one of the highest commercial Bungee Jumps in the world! After your adrenaline has been spent we head into Botswana.

    Days 33 - 34 Although only a short drive away, once in Botswana you will easily notice quite a contrast in the terrain and vegetation from what we have seen so far in this Kenya to South Africa trip. The arid Kalahari with it's expansive freedom, night sky ablaze with shooting stars and the warm glow of our campfire make it an unforgettable camping experience. We spend the first night in Chobe National Park famous for its hordes of elephants as well as an abundance of other wildlife. There is the opportunity to take a cruise on the Chobe River - a less intrusive way to view the amazing wildlife in this park.

    Days 35 - 36 We then organise our 2 day trip into the Okavango Delta (optional). You have the chance to go on a Mokoro (dug out canoe) and explore the extensive waterways of this unique desert wetland. You will also have the opportunity to take several game walks in this huge oasis. Elephant, crocodile and hippo are nearly always seen. The Okavango Delta is the worlds largest inland water way and its serenity and quietness seems to have a calming effect on those that experience it.

    Days 37 - 39 Heading west we travel on to Namibia and continue north-west toward Etosha National Park, recognised as one of the worlds greatest wildlife viewing areas. We game watch by night at one of the floodlit watering holes, hoping to see some of the wide variety of wildlife that inhabits this amazing park.

    Days 40 - 44 From Etosha we visit a local Cheetah park before continuing on to the Brandenberg Mountains in Demaraland and the Skeleton Coast. We visit the world famous Cape Cross Seal Colony and the sight of thousands of these mammals as well as their accompanying pungent odour is remembered by all! For the next three days we are based in Swakopmund. From here there are a variety of activities and excursions. You can spend a day deep sea fishing for shark and other game fish or head out to the desert and try quad biking and dune sledding. You can also go horse riding or take a flight over the desert and it's dramatic coastline. In Swakopmund itself you can walk along miles of deserted beaches, visit the museum or relax in a caf鮍

    Days 45 - 49 A one day drive takes us to the Namib-Naukluft Park, a vast expanse of desert which contains some of the highest sand dunes in the world. At Sossusvlei we stop and explore the area and the dunes. Continuing South we enter the semi desert, and wide open countryside of cattle ranching, until we arrive at one of Africa's most sensational natural features, Fish River Canyon. We camp next to this massive gorge, where you can soak up the sun and fabulous scenery.

    Days 50 -54 A couple of hours drive away we cross the Orange River, a rich source of diamonds, and into South Africa. We travel south through the Cederburg Wilderness area to Stellenbosch visiting one of the historical Cape Wineries before arriving at the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Cape Town. Here, we stay at a comfortable backpacker's lodge.

    Days 55 - 58 There is plenty to here in Cape Town and we spend three days here to experience some of them. From taking a cable car up Table Mountain to abseiling down it, shark diving (in cages), a day trip to Robben Island, Whale watching, winery tours, great shopping and nightlife plus a whole lot more!!
    We then head for the most southern tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas. Here the warm Indian Ocean and the cooler Atlantic Ocean meet, and from August to November Southern Right and Humpback Whales maybe spotted along the coast. From Cape Agulhas we travel inland and camp for the first night close to the picturesque town of Swellendam, one of South Africa's oldest settlements with tree lines streets and white washed Cape Dutch homesteads.

    Days 59 - 62 Then its through the Outeniqua Mountains to the Little Karoo. We visit the Cango Caves recognised as amongst the worlds finest network of Calcite caves. We also visit an Ostrich farm to learn more about the worlds largest bird. 97% of the worlds population of Ostrichs lives in the Karoo and here we will have the opportunity to ride one!
    We then spend two days winding our way along South Africa's famous Garden Route and there is a wealth of things to see and do. We travel through the popular resort of Knysna, located on a tranquil lagoon. We visit the Titsitsikamma Forest, where you will be able to hike along the coast and view the crashing waves at the mouth of the scenic Storms River, and maybe spot dolphins and whales in the ocean. Optional excursions in this region include mountain biking, black water tubing, and the mother of all bungee jumps at Bloakrans Bridge - the biggest jump in the world at 216 metres.

    Days 63 - 66 From the Garden Route we continue along the coast and stop at South Africa's surfing mecca, Jeffrey's Bay, home to the international surfing championships and world renowned supertubes. In the afternoon we reach Addo Elephant National Park which has recently been extended to include part of the coast and is now home to the BIG 7 - lion, rhino, elephant, leopard, buffalo, whale and shark! On our game drive we hope to spot some of the many elephant that the park is famous for, which are the most southerly population in Africa.
    We then drive to the beautiful and remote Wild Coast, an area of rolling grasslands stretching from East London to KwaZulu Natal. Once a former black homeland during the days of Apartheid, the inhabitants are mainly Xhosa people who herd their goats and cattle across the endless pastureland and live in rural settlements of brightly painted kraals. Previously neglected by tourism, it is isolated and wild with great coastal scenery and swathes of long empty beaches. We enjoy 2 nights next to the Indian Ocean, and lazily explore the shell strewn beaches, lagoons and forests.

    Days 67 - 71 From the Wild Coast we have a day's drive north and out of South Africa into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Often referred to as 'the kingdom in the sky'. The scenery here is tremendous and the mountain air crisp and fresh and we will see Lesotho's horsemen dressed in their blankets and gumboots trotting around the hillsides. We spend two nights at Malealea Lodge, Lesotho's most famous countryside retreat tucked up high in the mountains. Here there are isolated waterfalls, cool rock pools ideal for swimming, and peaceful hikes in the surrounding hills. This is also a great place to try pony trekking, even if you have never been on a horse before, the best way to enjoy the scenery is from a sure footed Lesotho pony.
    Today we drive through the lowlands of Lesotho and visit Thabo Bosiu with a local guide. This mountain stonghold was the home of Chief Moshoeshoe, the founder of the Basotho nation. We continue through Lesotho's tiny capital Maseru, and re-enter South Africa near Fouriesburg. We spend the night camping in the Golden Gate National Park on the edge of the Drakensburg Mountains. This is an area of massive sandstone rock formations and the park gets its name from the golden rocks that are illuminated to their best at sunset.
    Continuing into KwaZulu Natal we enter the Drakensburg Mountains where we spend the next couple of days exploring the Royal Natal National Park, a dramatic region of the Drakensburg beneath the famous Amphitheatre - a massive wall of rock with over 4kms of sheer cliff face. Here you will have the opportunity to climb to the Tugela Falls, a hike that includes an ascent by chain ladder, to view the Tugela River as it plunges over the edge of the amphitheatre wall dropping some 800 metres below. The Drakensburg Mountains are known by the Zulu as the 'barrier of spears, and are today a UNESCO world heritage sight for their outstanding natural beauty.
    We arrive in Johannesburg in the afternoon and stay in a backpackers lodge for 2 nights. Jo'burg was built on the gold rush, and has grown into one of the wealthiest cities in the world. There is plenty to do and see in Jo'burg. A 'must do' activity is a tour of Soweto, where in this sprawling township, modern African culture is at its most vibrant and intense and you can visit one of the local shabeens (pubs), talk to local families and drop into the former home of Nelson Mandela. You can also visit the powerful apartheid museum, take a tour down a 700ft goldmine at Gold Reef City or visit South African breweries.

    Those on the 71 day trip finish here in Jo'Burg.

    Days 72 - 75 Today we drive east out of Jo' Burg to the province of Mpumalanga, meaning 'the place of the rising sun'. We head towards the Kruger National Park and on our way visit Blyde River Canyon - the third largest canyon in the world with stunning view points from the top over the lowveld and the shimmering Blyde River Dam at the bottom.
    The Kruger National Park is our next stop, it covers about 24,000 sq km, larger than some countries, with a huge variety of bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian species as well as the BIG 5 - leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino. We explore on game drives during the day and camp at the park's rest camps where there is the opportunity to join an optional night game drive with the Kruger's rangers with a spot light to view the shyer nocturnal creatures. If you are lucky you may spot leopard! The diversity and size of this national park is awesome.
    Crossing the border we enter the smallest country in the southern hemisphere - the Kingdom of Swaziland. Here we visit the capital Mbabane where, in the colourful markets, you can purchase some of the best quality carvings and crafts in Africa. We climb down the Ezulweni valley to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, a hugely successful conservation project that has reintroduced many species of wildlife that became extinct decades ago, back into Swaziland. Here we camp for two nights and you can undertake pony trekking or follow self-guided walking or mountain bike trails through the varied and rich landscape. There is even an overnight guided horse trail!

    Days 76 - 80 Leaving behind Swaziland, we cross another border and enter Mozambique. Today Mozambique is enjoying a revival thanks to political stability and improved infrastructure, and the warm Indian Ocean and idyllic white sand beaches are again welcoming visitors. We pass through the balmy capital city of Maputo, with it's Portuguese atmosphere and charmingly faded colonial architecture, and continue north to the beach near the mouth of the great Limpopo River at the small fishing village of Xia-Xai.
    A few hours drive along the coast brings us to Inhambane where we spend another night near the ocean at Praia de Tofu, a stunning swathe of beach 20km to the south of the town. Here there are numerous watersports to try or even explore the surrounding dunes by quadbike. The beach is in a sheltered bay ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
    A short drive further north we reach Vilanculos. One of the most attractive resorts in Mozambique, this is the gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago, a string of gorgeously tropical Indian Ocean islands that are today a World Heritage Site and part of an important marine park. The waters here are home to dolphins, sharks, and the prehistoric looking and elusive dugong, and the islands are surrounded by colourful coral reefs teeming with fish. In Vilanculos we have the opportunity to enjoy magnificent seafood such as the famous Mozambique peri-peri prawns before an optional two night excursion to the islands by dhow - traditional white sailed wooden boats. The ride takes you across the bright blue sea where you may sea dolphins playing in the shallows or chasing the shadow of the boat.
    Whilst on the island there is the opportunity to go snorkelling at two mile reef. You overnight on the beach in a delightful thatched camp and watching the sun sink over the ocean from this near-on deserted tropical island is a highlight of any trip to Mozambique. After your return by dhow we spend a final night back in Vilanculos and enjoy our last night next to the beach.

    Days 81 - 83 We now drive toward Zimbabwe and camp overnight near the border on the edge of picturesque Lake Chicamba. Crossing into Zimbabwe we pass through the Eastern Highlands, a rich agricultural area and center of the local wine industry. We arrive in the capital city of Harare by late afternoon. The tour finishes after a hearty cooked breakfast at our Harare campsite.

    If you're interested in this trip from Kenya to South Africa, enquire about "Coast to Coast" or some of our other Africa overland travel experiences today!
  • 马克 (2006-9-13 19:36:37)

  • 家门口的草 (2006-9-18 09:45:08)

    能够开车纵横非洲,想象着在非洲大草原与长颈鹿同行。此生也就能知足了
  • 马克 (2006-9-20 01:01:15)

    已上计划  明年中实行About Oasis Overland

    Oasis Overland adventure travel company was founded in 1997 by Chris Wrede and Steve Crowhurst. With 18 years of overlanding experience between us the time was right to begin our own venture. Our extensive knowledge of Africa, the Middle East and South America had been gained by leading tours for larger established companies, as well as our own independent travelling adventures. By 1997 Steve had driven several Trans Africa expeditions and had designed and built a number of overland expedition vehicles. Chris had cycled across Africa and South America followed by work in the travel industry which involved sales, operations and tour leading.
    We are based in rural Somerset on an old WWII airfield and are one of the few UK based overland companies to maintain our own UK workshop where our vehicles are adapted and built for overland use and where our crews and trainees receive hands on training. Our offices are on the same site and we believe we provide our clients with a high level of service and crews with operational and logistical backup.
    Unlike some of our competitors we have full liability insurance.

    - About You
    - Oasis Overland price structure
    - Oasis crew
    - Optional Excursions and activities
    - General information
    - No surcharge guarantee
    - Your Financial Protection
    - Piece of Mind
    - The Environment

    OUR PHILOSOPHY
    As an adventure travel company, Oasis's philosophy is to provide excellent value for money for budget conscious travellers without compromising their experiences, and providing quality vehicles, equipment, and crew. How do we manage this? By remaining small and compact we keep our UK overheads low. We do not waste money on high street offices, printing glossy brochures or having a large team of administrative staff. This contributes to considerable cost savings which are passed on to you, but in no way do they detract from the quality of your travelling experience with Oasis. At Oasis Overland we concentrate our financial resources where we believe it matters most; building quality overland vehicles, maintaining a high level of equipment, employing and training enthusiastic and dedicated expedition crew. You will also have the security and piece of mind in knowing that when you book directly with Oasis Overland, we own and operate all of our own vehicles, employ and train our own crew and will be the actual company running the trip.

    ABOUT YOU
    Adventure travel companies like ourselves cater for groups made up of adventurous people in their 20's and 30's, from all walks of life and nationalities and who are seeking to experience the real Africa, South America and Middle East with like-minded travellers. As well as the main tourist attractions our groups enjoy the variety that our tours offer. This means visiting small villages off the tourist trail, camping in the open desert and bush, and having the choice if you wish, to do your own thing, when we are camped for a few days. Many people book their trip with friends or as a couple, but about half of our customers are individual travellers who find that overlanding is an ideal way to travel if you are on your own. We believe that an active involvement in your trip is a fundamental requisite to building a good travelling group. Therefore, helping to cook over open fires, buy food from local markets, draw water from wells, party, and participate in the unexpected are essential ingredients.
    OASIS OVERLAND PRICE STRUCTURE
    The Tour Price is payable to Oasis or your Travel Agent before departure. The Local Payment is payable to the Tour Leader upon joining the trip, it is additional to the trip price but part of the overall trip cost you pay and is non-refundable. The reason for this Local Payment is to allow us to get funds to our crew to run the tours as money transfers to many of the countries we operate in can be problematic. It is important to us, as well as you, that there are NO hidden extras which are not included. Optional activities down to approx £5 are clearly listed and these are all paid for at the time of doing them (the only exception being the Mountain Gorilla Trek permits which because of recent changes to permit bookings need to be paid for in advance). We have comprehensive pre-departure information dossiers for each tour which are updated on a regular basis and sent out either on request or upon booking.

    WHAT THE TOUR PRICE AND LOCAL PAYMENT INCLUDES
    Services of the Expedition Crew

    All National Park entrance fees visited with the expedition vehicle

    All meals prepared by group - approximately 50% in South America, 70 - 80% in Africa and Middle East

    Services of two expedition crew on our 'Overland Truck trips'

    Services of one Tour Leader on our 'Local Transport Trips' in Egypt & Peru

    Highlights listed as 'Included' with each trip

    Hotel / Hostel accommodation whilst on tour

    Ferry and train journeys (as per Itinerary)

    All transport in Expedition Vehicle

    All camping fees

    Road taxes and tolls

    Gas and firewood


    WHAT THE TOUR PRICE AND LOCAL PAYMENT EXCLUDES
    Air fares and airport or departure taxes, airport transfers (except for Peru Encompassed, Egypt Encompassed and Oasis Caravan departures from Cairo where arrival transfer is included ), travel insurance, visas, vaccinations, meals while in hotels, personal items and any excursions or activities listed as optional.
    OASIS CREW
    Our crew have gained a considerable knowledge and experience of travelling even before they join us. They have a passion and an enthusiasm for their work and for the countries and places we visit.
    Except in exceptional circumstances, all vehicles have two crew - a Driver and a Tour Leader.
    Their experience and knowledge will enable you to get the most out of your trip and to have an unforgettable experience. Their roles are many and varied and include amongst other things, maintaining the truck throughout the trip, organising group activities and bookings, managing trip funds, overseeing group rosters, organising the day to day running of the trip and passing on general information to the group, but they are not guides as such, so do not expect them to hold your hand every step of the way, get out and experience things for yourself, read the guide books, get lost in markets, met the local people and talk to them - its all part of the experience!

    OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES
    We feel that having optional excursions gives a greater degree of flexibility and independence to our group members: Independence to decide how much your spending budget can afford; flexibility to decide when, what time of day or with whom to visit a particular sight rather than, for example, with the whole group at a pre-ordained time. If you decide not to join a popular excursion, you will have free time to relax or wander off to a town, village or beach, depending on where we are.
    You pay for the optional excursions to the local operator, ensuring the money stays with that operator in the local community and this insures as well that you are paying the true price for any optional excursions you want to do, not supposed 'bargain' or specially organised' prices offered by some companies that you have to pay for before joining the trip, this also applies to accommodation costs pre, post and during the trip as well. Please note that prices of optional excursions quoted are approximate as local prices can and do change and we try and update prices as often as we can.
    GENERAL INFORMATION
    If you wish to know more about any of our trips please feel free to contact us by email, phone or fax or get online and check out our website. We are always ready to chat and can forward to you the pre-departure dossiers which include information about visas, vaccinations, optional excursions, flights etc as well as a more detailed tour itinerary. The itineraries we provide are a guideline only and while we are usually able to follow the timescales mentioned, they can change due to severe weather conditions, political instabilities, roads being impassable or perhaps through a desire to try something different or a group decision to spend longer in one place and less time at another. On deciding to reserve a place, please check the availibility of seats for the date you wish to travel on this site or contact us or your travel agent directly for 'up to the minute' availibility of the tour and date (as certain dates fill up well in advance). Once availability has been confirmed please read the Terms and Conditions and then complete the Booking Form and return it to us with your deposit.
    Once your booking form and deposit have been received we will send you comprehensive pre-departure information regarding your tour, including joining instructions, pre and post tour accommodation, details for flights, visas, vaccinations, spending money etc.

    Oasis gives the following discounts:
    5% off to returning passengers who book a second tour and 10% off a third tour booking.
    10% discount if booking in a group of 5 or more people.
    10% off the second tour booked if a person books two trips at the same time for themselves! (does not apply to Extensions, Bolt-ons or Diving trips)

    Videos and DVD's of our tours in Africa and South America providing an insight of our overland adventure travel tours are available and can be sent on request.

    NO SURCHARGE GUARANTEE
    Unlike many other adventure travel companies, OASIS guarantee that once a booking has been accepted there will be no surcharge on the tour price. This means that your tour price is protected from price rises once we have received your deposit.
    YOUR FINANCIAL PROTECTION
    Oasis Overland are fully bonded through Bond Plus Protection - In accordance with the E.C. regulations on Travel & Tourism, all clients booking with us are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, in the unlikely event of our insolvency. In addition Bond Plus also including repatriation should Oasis Overland become insolvent while you are on one of our trips. Further details regarding this cover will be sent to you upon booking).

    PIECE OF MIND
    As part of our good management practice, and as a duty to our clients and staff as an adventure travel company, Oasis Overland have put into place Crises Management plans and procedures. In the unlikely event of a major incident involving one of our tours, from earthquakes, to road accidents and terrorism, we can respond fully with the reactive logistical support of our contracted Crises Management specialists, Docleaf Ltd. www.docleaf.com

    THE ENVIRONMENT
    At Oasis Overland Adventure Travel we believe travel should be a rewarding experience for you, as well as for the people we encounter, and that preserving the natural state and beauty of the areas we pass through is essential. For this reason Oasis supports Tourism Concern. Their aim is to educate travellers on the positive and negative effects that tourism has on local communities and their culture. Along with Tourism Concern and our crew we have developed our own practical and sensible environmental policy which will be explained to you at the start of your trip. For further information you can visit www.tourismconcern.org.uk. As part of our commitment to the areas we operate in, for every booking you make Oasis will donate £1 to Tourism Concern.
  • 马克 (2006-9-25 22:02:31)

    How many people do you take on your overland trips?
    Most of our vehicles carry 24 people in comfortable coach seats. Our local transport overland trips in Egypt and Peru have a maximum of 20 people.

    How long beforehand should I book?
    It's difficult to say. The most popular times are from July till February when our overland holidays are usually full. It's advisable to book overland trips at least 3-4 months before departure.

    Do you sell flights?
    No we do not. Depending on where in the world you are, what time of year you are flying, your route, and how young you are affect flight prices greatly. For example, if you are embarking on gap year travel, prices will be cheaper as you will be eligible for youth fares. Please contact us with the above information about the overland trips you are interested in and we should be able to direct you toward a competitive flight agent. For further information, departure dates, detailed itineraries and list of optional excursions/activities please contact us by one of the methods below and we shall get back to you as promptly as possible.

    What is the rest of the group like on your overland trips?
    Our groups are made up of mainly British, Australians and New Zealanders predominantly in their 20's. Some are on gap year travel and some are older. In Africa it is normal to have a fairly even mix of sexes, however, on our Oasis Caravan tour the mix is biased slightly toward females. Expect about half the group to have booked overland holidays on their own and the rest with a friend or in couples.

    Why is Oasis Overland such good value compared to other operators?
    We rely mainly on direct sales, we do not subcontract, the office and workshop are combined out of London therefore avoiding unnecessary premises and high rental costs. Also being small we avoid extra staff such as operations manager, marketing manager etc.

    What about visas?
    Generally speaking the majority of nationalities (British, New Zealand and Australians) require visas for several of the countries that we pass through on our overland trips, however these are obtainable on route so there is no need for you to get them before you leave. Our Pre Departure Dossier which you will receive upon reserving a seat will give you more up to date information regarding visas and the costs for each nationality along with a lot more general information.

    How much spending money should I bring?
    Again this is a bit difficult to accurately say, but generally on most overland trips we recommend between £80-£100/week. (Our Trans Africa Expedition is significantly less). It depends on the individual and how much you want to eat out in restaurants, drink etc. This amount is separate to the costs of the optional excursions.

    Do I need insurance for overland trips?
    Definitely. We require everybody to have their own travel insurance. The insurance we offer covers you for medical, baggage, repatriation, and currency. If you would like any more information regarding insurance then give us a call or email us.

    What accommodation is provided?
    We use either two person 'A' frame or 'Dome' type tents that are very robust and weather proof. They have an inbuilt ground sheet and mosquito netting on the doors. We tend to stay in either campsites or bush camp in Africa as well as pensions or hostels on our Middle Eastern, Egypt and South American tours.

    How much time do we spend 'on the road'?
    On our overland holidays a day normally starts at about 8.00am after breakfast and ends at about 5.30pm; stopping throughout the day for lunch, photo stops, markets or towns to stock up on food and water or have a snack. This breaks up the time spent on the truck into approximately two hour periods. Generally we will be on the road for eight hours on any given driving day. There will be times when we do spend longer on the roads, but this is rare and then we will sometimes be parked somewhere for several days i.e. Zanzibar 4 days, Victoria Falls 4 days, Olympus 3 days, Dahab 4 days, Cuzco 6 days, Iguazu Falls, 3 days.

    What about medical kits and vaccinations?
    Each of our trucks carries a comprehensive medical kit, however we do suggest that everyone brings along their own personal kit. Our Pre Departure Dossiers for each tour details what to bring with you on overland trips as well as up to date information in regards to vaccinations and where to get them.

    Is there somewhere for my money and valuables?
    Yes, all our vehicles have a safe on board where we recommend that you leave your monies, passport and valuables etc.
  • 马克 (2006-9-25 22:14:09)

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    Cairo to Nairobi or Cairo to Cape Town
    8 or 16 Weeks - (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa)

      Price Length Start End Plus Local Payment Book Online
    £795.00 8 Weeks Cairo Nairobi 275.00 CLICK HERE
    £1390.00 16 Weeks Cairo Cape Town 595.00 CLICK HERE


    The words 'Cairo to Cape Town' conjure up images of an expedition through the heart of Africa, crossing deserts, rivers, mountains and overcoming the various challenges this continent can throw at you. As with any travel to remote parts of Africa you must sometimes expect a high degree of hardship: bouncing around on poor rocky un-tarred roads and even crossing a desert where there is no road, or sometimes having to bush camp for the night with no prospect of even a cold shower to wash away the dust. However, countries such as Sudan and Ethiopia are particularly rewarding for the traveller who likes to go places that have seen very few other tourists and meet local people who are keen to meet you and whose hospitality can be very humbling.

    Please note that because of the unpredictable nature of this expedition it is not always possible to follow the itinerary exactly as set out below.

    For further details please request our Pre-Departure Information.

    Weeks 1 & 2 - Our first day is spent in Cairo visiting the great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza with our Egyptologist guide. The following morning we drive out of Cairo and head for the Western Desert leaving both modern and ancient civilizations behind us for a few days. Described as the 'desert of deserts' this vast world of desolation and beauty covers 2.8 million square kms. We visit 3 isolated oases, Bahariyya, Farafra and Dhakla where u can roll down sand dunes, hire a desert guide and some camels and head out to explore this sand sea and walk through the winding lanes of mud houses at the Citadel of Mut.
    We end our first week at the city of Luxor where the Valley of Kings and Queens and Karnak and Luxor Temples will keep us busy exploring for a few days more.
    A half day drive further south brings us to Aswan. Here you will notice the first of many cultural changes on this trip. The darker Nubian people in Aswan lead a more relaxed and less hectic pace of life than their Egyptian countrymen. We base ourselves here for the next 4 or 5 days in which time you can organise a 2 or 3 day felucca sail cruise to Edfu and Kom Ombo and also visit Abu Simbel. From Aswan we take the ferry across Lake Nasser to the port of Wadi Halfa in Northern Sudan.The ferry takes about a day and a night and is a supremely relaxing way to travel and a great opportunity to mix and chat to local Sudanese people.

    Weeks 3 & 4 - From Wadi Halfa we rejoin our expedition vehicle for our drive across the Nubian Desert. We spend much of this journey hugging the banks of the Nile, passing through sleepy Nubian villages where we can rest in tea rooms or potter around the local souqs.
    Khartoum is our next stop and it has a fantastic setting on the confluence of the Blue and White Nile. Our stay here is on the banks of the Nile at the quirky but interesting Blue Nile Sailing Club. It's office is housed in one of General Kitcheners old Gunboats, a relic from the British military campaign against the Mahdi over a century ago. For such a large city, Khartoum feels quite laid back. In our few days here you can visit the Hamed al Nil Tomb and witness the dancing dervishes who perform every Friday as well as the daily camel market or take a boat trip on the Nile. You can also visit the ancient Pyramids at Meroe and the temples at Naqa. From Khartoum we drive south-east through the towns of Wadi Medina and Gedaref on our way to Ethiopia. We spend about 5 days at the town of Gondar from where it is possible to organise visits to some of Ethiopia's most famous sites, including the holy city of Axum and the rock-hewn churches at Lalibela. These date from the 12th Century and have been kept alive by generations of dedicated priests who guard their precious religious and artistic artifacts.

    Week 5 & 6 - Many of the roads we travel on in Ethiopia are very poor dirt or gravel roads and often in mountainous areas so travel is slow. Our route to Addis Ababa takes us via Lake Tana and the spectacular Blue Nile Gorge and Blue Nile Falls. From Bahar Dar you can organise boat trips to some of the small islands which have Monasteries dating back up to 900 years and which are still looked after by monks who live from subsistence farming. From Addis Ababa we head south towards Kenya.
    The north of Kenya is very remote with nomadic tribespeople like the Rendille in Marsabit and the Samburu who still wear very distinctive and often elaborate dress. We pass through Marsabit National Park and then visit Samburu National Park which has some unique wildlife like reticulated giraffe and Grevy's Zebra, as well as leopard, elephant, cheetah and crocodile. Next we drive via Archers Post and Isiolo to Nanyuki which is in the foothills of Mt Kenya and then continue via Eldoret into Uganda.

    Weeks 7 & 8 - Kampala (the capital) has had a turbulent past, but these days is a friendly and safe city. We have a free day to spend in local cafes and nightspots and get to know the local people, there is also the opportunity to spend the day visiting a local Chimpanzee Sanctuary and rehabilitation centre on one of the islands on Lake Victoria. The following day we have a long drive as we head west through swamps, patches of forest and fertile green countryside. We also stop at the spot where our route crosses the equator.
    At 2000 metres, Kabale is Uganda's highest town and it is from here that we visit either Bwindi or Mgahinga National Parks. Both are situated in the Virunga Range of volcanic mountains and the rainforests on these mountain slopes are home to several families of Mountain Gorillas. We usually spend 2 or 3 days at the base camp so allowing everyone in our group enough time to complete their trek to the gorillas. During this time there is the opportunity to visit nearby villages, climb an extinct volcano or go to Lake Bunyoni where you can call in at the friendly local school or hire mountain bikes or canoes.
    Please Note: - If we are unable to view the gorillas in Uganda we will visit them in Rwanda.
    We then return to Kampala and camp near Jinja. Here, on the edge of Lake Victoria, the Nile begins its 6700km journey to the sea. We spend the next few days at Bujagali Falls, just downstream from the source of the Nile. This is a spectacular area, and with one kilometre of raging water below Bujagali Falls, a superb place to go whitewater rafting. We can also organise quad biking or a visit to a local school.
    Re-entering Kenya we travel through hills covered in tea plantations. A further half-day drive brings us to Lake Naivasha. We camp near the lakeshore where Hippos sometimes feed at night! We also pay a visit to Elsamere - the former home of Joy Adamson - of Born Free Fame. We also go on a game drive at Lake Nakuru National Park home to almost one million pink flamingos amongst a horde of other game including rhino, lion, giraffe and leopard.
    Our break in Nairobi will give you a chance to laze by a hotel pool, drink an ice-cold beer and catch up with world news & events with English language newspapers or visit a Giraffe sanctuary or Elephant orphange.

    Weeks 9 & 10 We depart Nairobi early morning and immediately find ourselves in hot savannah grasslands, with thorn trees and acacia providing the only shade. We usually see zebra and giraffe as we head south and cross the border to Tanzania. From the town of Arusha we use a local Tanzania travel safari company to guide us through Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Parks. On the crater floor you can spend the day viewing the abundant wildlife including Elephant, Lion, Cheetah, White Rhino, Buffalo, Hippo, Antelope, Crocodile and Pink Flamingos. From here you can choose to go into the Serengeti where vast herds of Wildebeest roam the plains. For those who decide to view Ngorongoro only, there is a free day in Arusha to visit a local Masai Village.
    It's a one-day drive to Dar Es Salaam. We pass through a number of small towns and villages along the way and, if we are lucky, we may see the towering peak of Mt Kilimanjaro.
    We camp for about 4 nights in a campsite on a beautiful Indian Ocean beach. From here most people take the ferry out to Zanzibar for the full four days and venture into the narrow bustling streets of StoneTown and its exotic spice markets, old slave forts and dungeons. There is also time to indulge yourself on Zanzibar's famous white beaches before returning to Dar Es Salaam.
    After meeting the Zanzibar ferry, we travel through the interesting and often mountainous hinterland for which the country is renowned. In the afternoon, after negotiating some appalling roads and 'in God We Trust' drivers we pass through the peaceful Mikumi National Park. We usually see here Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra and Antelope from the roadside. Passing rivers and small waterfalls, our Tanziania travel leg ends as we enter Malawi, dominated by its huge fresh water lake.

    Weeks 11 & 12 We spend 2 days at a small laid back camp site on the edge of the lake. We follow the lake shore south and spend a further 2 or 3 nights on one of the campsites equipped for water sports. Here you can windsurf, scuba dive, etc. If you are inclined to just relax during your Africa overland travel experience, there is no better place than the shores of Lake Malawi. Here you have the opportunity to go off for a couple of days and stay in one of the many nearby villages, or visit a school or one of the craft markets where artisans produce some interesting wooden furniture and carvings. From here we continue onto Blantyre in the south of the country where we stop for two nights. Here we organise our Mozambique visas and possibly visit the local brewery!
    From Blantyre we cross into Mozambique and head for Zimbabwe. We follow the infamous 'Tete Corridor' which was well known in the days of Mozambque's long running civil war as the 'Gun Run'. Thankfully these days things are a lot different! We enter Zimbabwe and travel to Harare, the capital, for a couple of days.
    From Harare we head south to Gweru and a privately run horse and game ranch where you can go game viewing on elephant and horseback or perhaps on a walking safari with young lion cubs!
    From Gweru we travel to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins which was once the greatest medieval city in Sub Saharan Africa and where the name 'Zimbabwe' is derived, literally meaning 'house of stone'. Next we enter Matabeleland and the town of Bulawayo.
    Here you have the option of leaving the truck for a day and a night and using a local safari company to venture into Motobo National Park, where on foot, escorted by an armed ranger, you should see the elusive Black Rhino amongst hordes of other game. There is also the opportunity to visit Cecil Rhodes grave and Worlds End view point before catching an old colonial style sleeper train to rejoin the truck at one of the adventure playgrounds of the world - Victoria Falls.

    Weeks 13 & 14 For some Mosi oa Tunya - 'The Smoke That Thunders' is the highlight of their Africa overland travel trip. When you arrive it is a surprise to discover the enormity of Victoria Falls. One mile wide and hurling over 5 million cubic metres of water a minute into the Zambezi Gorge this is the setting for the most awesome grade 5 white water rafting in the world. There is something here for everyone from the more sedate canoe trips, Flight Of Angels or Sunset Cruises to one of the highest commercial Bungee Jumps in the world! After your adrenaline has been spent we head into Botswana.
    Although only a short drive away, once in Botswana you will easily notice quite a contrast in the terrain and vegetation from what we have seen so far in this Kenya to South Africa trip. The arid Kalahari with it's expansive freedom, night sky ablaze with shooting stars and the warm glow of our campfire make it an unforgettable camping experience. We spend the first night in Chobe National Park famous for its hordes of elephants as well as an abundance of other wildlife. There is the opportunity to take a cruise on the Chobe River - a less intrusive way to view the amazing wildlife in this park.
    We then organise our 2 day trip into the Okavango Delta (optional). You have the chance to go on a Mokoro (dug out canoe) and explore the extensive waterways of this unique desert wetland. You will also have the opportunity to take several game walks in this huge oasis. Elephant, crocodile and hippo are nearly always seen. The Okavango Delta is the worlds largest inland water way and its serenity and quietness seems to have a calming effect on those that experience it.

    Weeks 15 & 16 Heading west we travel on to Namibia and continue north-west toward Etosha National Park, recognised as one of the worlds greatest wildlife viewing areas. We game watch by night at one of the floodlit watering holes, hoping to see some of the wide variety of wildlife that inhabits this amazing park.
    From Etosha we visit a local Cheetah park before continuing on to the Brandenberg Mountains in Demaraland and the Skeleton Coast. We visit the world famous Cape Cross Seal Colony and the sight of thousands of these mammals as well as their accompanying pungent odour is remembered by all! For the next three days we are based in Swakopmund. From here there are a variety of activities and excursions. You can spend a day deep sea fishing for shark and other game fish or head out to the desert and try quad biking and dune sledding. You can also go horse riding or take a flight over the desert and it's dramatic coastline. In Swakopmund itself you can walk along miles of deserted beaches, visit the museum or relax in a caf鮍
    A one day drive takes us to the Namib-Naukluft Park, a vast expanse of desert which contains some of the highest sand dunes in the world. At Sossusvlei we stop and explore the area and the dunes. Continuing South we enter the semi desert, and wide open countryside of cattle ranching, until we arrive at one of Africa's most sensational natural features, Fish River Canyon. We camp next to this massive gorge for two days, where you can hike and soak up the sun and fabulous scenery. A couple of hours drive away we cross the Orange River, a rich source of diamonds, and into South Africa. We travel south through the Cederburg Wilderness area to Stellenbosch visiting one of the historical Cape Wineries before arriving at our final destination, the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Cape Town. Here, we stay at a comfortable backpacker's lodge.  
  • 边西 (2006-9-25 22:23:12)

    看不懂啊

    强烈要求翻译
  • 马克 (2006-9-25 22:30:05)

    原文字太小  俺拿来放大瞅瞅
    Morocco to Beijing Exploratory
    22.5 Weeks Marrakech to Beijing & V.V. via Libya, Egypt, Turkey & the 'Silk Road'

      Price Length Start End Plus Local Payment Book Online
    £1850.00 11 Weeks Bishkek Cairo $975.00 CLICK HERE
    £1850.00 11 Weeks Cairo Bishkek $975.00 CLICK HERE
    £2750.00 16 Weeks Marrakech Bishkek $1550.00 CLICK HERE
    £2750.00 16 Weeks Bishkek Marrakech $1550.00 CLICK HERE
    £3650.00 18 Weeks Cairo Beijing $1900.00 CLICK HERE
    £3650.00 18 Weeks Beijing Cairo $1900.00 CLICK HERE
    £3950.00 22.5 Weeks Marrakech Beijing $2250.00 CLICK HERE
    £3950.00 22.5 Weeks Beijing Marrakech $2250.00 CLICK HERE


    Overland Travel Tour to China - from the 'Roof of Africa' and along the fabled 'Silk Route'

    The following discounts for the first exploratory trips from Marrakech and Cairo apply:
    Marrakech to Beijing - £3450 (£500 off), Marrakech to Bishkek £2450 (£300 off), Cairo to Bishkek £1550 (£300 off), Cairo to Beijing £3250 (£400 off). Other discounts on certain sections are available, these are avilable by requesting one of our trip pre-departure dossiers.

    If you're looking for a ground breaking trip of a challenging nature in the true style of overlanding from years gone by - then this could be your adventure of a lifetime!

    The overland trip to China departs from Marrakech in early March '07, it is the first time Oasis have overlanded this route, and as such is a trip of an exploratory nature. The Oasis Crew leading this overland tour to China are some of our most experienced and our expedition vehicle will be newly built and equipped especially for this trip.

    The overland trip to China will only be departing if we get a minimum of 15 people booking. Please also be aware that as stated above this is an exploratory overland adventure travel trip and as such anyone booking on this trip should expect that there will be times that things do not go according to plan and there WILL BE hold-ups and some unexpected hassles along the way.

    Over the 23 week duration of the overland adventure travel tour to China we will be camping approximately 50% of the time, some of which will be in the extreme heat of deserts or the cold of mountainous regions. The hotels we use will be small locally owned pensions and bed and breakfasts and may often be of a very basic standard.

    But this should be regarded as part and parcel of being among the first to partake in such a ground breaking expedition and this in turn is reflected in the discounted introductory cost of first of our overland tours to China. We believe we are among the very first to offer tours to China of this nature travelling through the countries listed at such a price. If the idea of embarking on overland tours in China interests you, if you think you can handle it, want a challenge and to be one of the first to travel from the 'Roof of Africa' and along the fabled 'Silk Route' - then jump on board!

    Please also be aware that any and all information regarding this overland trip to China is only available from our website - there are no printed brochures - apart from our Pre- Departure Dossier which contains information about where to join this overland adventure travel tour to China, what to bring with you, visas and vaccinations, optional excursions etc and which can be order online as well.

    Overland Travel in Morocco
    Days 1 - 3 Our overland tours to China begin in the fabled city of Marrakech. Well known for its stunning architecture and unique street life it is worth arriving here a couple of days before our overland trip to China departs. Our first day's drive of this marathon journey takes us up into the Atlas Mountains. Leaving the lush greenery behind us we climb through the spectacular Tizi-n-Tichka pass. Once we have navigated the hairpin bends and are through the mountainous pass a remarkable scene is unveiled; the lunar desert landscape of the Anti Atlas. Our first night on our epic overland adventure to China will be spent here camping under the stars.
    We stop at Ait Benhaddou which has one of the most exotic Kasbahs in the Atlas and then continue on to Ouarzazate. From here we follow the Dades Valley, also known as 'Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs', and visit small oasis towns like Skoura and Boumaine on our way to Todra Gorge.

    On days 4 - 9 of our overland tour to China we spend a couple of days at Todra taking in the magnificent scenery, crystal clear rivers and you can take a guide to hike the many paths around Todra.
    Next we drive to Fez, where we have a couple of days in Morocco's oldest imperial city. There is plenty to do here whether you are into the history of Fez or enjoy getting lost in the Medina, to viewing the tanneries and eye catching dye pits or sampling the excellent local food. From Fez we journey east toward Oujda and the border with Algeria.

    Overland Travel in Algeria
    Days 10 - 16 Overland travel in Algeria begins on day 10 when we begin heading South East into the Sahara Desert. Our destination is the beautiful oasis town of Ghardaia, and we have a choice of routes to take. On our way we will be visiting a number of small towns and settlements and we will be camping out in the freedom of the desert. Overland travel in Algeria is so rewarding, you will notice a more relaxed and slower pace of life than that of Morocco which is reflected in the Algerian people who are generally friendly, helpful and generous and rarely will you experience any hassle or salesman touting for your attention. Once we arrive in the remote town of Ghardaia we spend a couple of days. It is inhabited mainly by the Mozzabite sect who built the town 1400 years ago. The woman here will generally wear the Hejab and have their faces fully covered. The town is set below an escarpment with nearly all the buildings painted white and blue, with streets only wide enough to allow a mule with side packs to pass. The houses are built around the central mosque and expand concentrically away but are all close enough to hear the call of the Muezzin.
    Continuing North East we visit the town of Ouargla, and then travel through Hassi Bel Guebbour towards Libya on our next leg of the overland travel tour to China.  
  • 马克 (2006-9-25 22:32:14)

    Overland Travel in Libya
    We will spend days 17 - 21 of our overland travel adventure trip to China exploring Libya. We cross into Libya and visit the Unesco World Heritage listed oasis town of Ghadames. Situated on an ancient desert caravan route from West Africa there is believed to have been a town here for 5000 years. Overland travel in Libya is awesome because you can feel perfectly safe as you get lost in its labyrinthine alleyways. You can also venture out of town and climb one of the sand dunes to view the spectacular sunsets.
    Pressing forward on our overland tour to China we then journey north to the small town of Nalut which has an exceptional Berber Granary, or Qasr, clinging to a steep hillside. In this unforgiving terrain grain was as precious and as carefully stored and protected as water. Nearby we also visit the fortified hilltop Qasr at Kabow. Over 700 years old and about 5 stories high this magnificent piece of history is usually deserted.
    For the next 2 days of our overland travel adventure tour we cross the desert to Gariyat and then drive to Leptis Magna. This is one of the finest preserved Roman Cities and one of the few where you can actually still picture a living city. With colonnaded streets, a huge triumphal arch, a well preserved Roman harbour with quay side and warehouses still intact and much more, it is well worth investing in a local guide and enjoy the whole day exploring the city.

    Days 22 - 25 are spent touring the rest of Libya. We now drive along the Mediterranean coast with plenty of opportunities to freshen up with a swim from one of the many deserted beaches. Our next major stop is at the ancient Greek city of Cyrene. Established in the 7th Century BC it has an outstanding history having come under the rule of Alexander the Great as well as being rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian after destruction by a Jewish revolt. Plato was also a resident of Cyrene.
    From Cyrene it is a short drive to Tobruk, the scene of some of the most important and viscous battles of WW 2. Here we visit very well kept Commonwealth cemeteries, containing 6128 graves of mainly British, Australian, New Zealand and South African troops. We will also see some of the 25 kms of fortified trenches and battle remains that circled the town. Don't forget to wear shoes here as some of the barbed wire still exists in the sand!

    Overland Travel in Egypt
    This overland tour to China will take you to the fascinating country of Egypt. Egypt overland tours offer a supreme way to experience as much of this country as you can. Taking you to a host of destinations and allowing you to witness the beauty of the country whilst you travel through it, Egypt overland tours are a preferred option when it comes to travel in Egypt. Days 26 - 30 From Tobruk we cross into Egypt and visit El Alamein. Winston Churchill said 'Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamain we never had a defeat.' This was the turning point of the Second World War. It is well worth paying your respects at the cemeteries and visiting the excellent War Museum which documents Montgomery's and Rommel's momentous battles and it also houses much of the abandoned tanks and other armour.
    The next stop on our overland adventure travel tour to China is Alexandria where we can visit the old coffee houses or enjoy some of the excellent seafood or take a trip to the Catacombs in the eerie subterranean Roman Necropolis full of bizarre carvings and an ancient dining room for mourners! The beaches and diving here are also excellent with wrecks of Roman Galley's, French Warships, German U-boats and Cleopatra's Palace.
    A half days drive away brings us to Cairo> which will be our base for the next few days. During our overland tours to Cairo we include a visit to the Pyramids with an Egyptologist guide, but you will also have enough free time while here to travel by overnight train to Aswan and Luxor to visit the Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel or take a felucca trip on the Nile, or if you prefer to chill out on the Red Sea coast you can travel ahead of us to Dahab where you can do a PADI dive course, snorkel or relax on the beaches or spend longer in Alexandria and join us in Cairo later.

    These few days in Cairo will be explained in more detail in the trip dossier.

    Days 35 - 40 On day 35 we leave the hectic, crowded city of Cairo to continue our overland tour to China. We will cross the Suez Canal and enter the Sinai Desert, home of the Bedouin. We camp out at Mt Sinai, the site of God's revelation of the 10 Commandments and you will have the opportunity to climb it early in the morning to view the sunrise over the desert. On our way down we visit St Catherine's Monastery where Moses heard God speaking from the burning bush. We now visit the laid back resort of Dahab on the Red Sea where we relax for the next 4 days.
    This overland adventure travel haven offers you the opportunity to snorkel or scuba dive to some of the best coral reefs in the world, go desert quad biking or just chill on the beach.

    Overland Travel in Jordan
    Day 41 - 45 On the next leg of our overland tour to China we have a short drive to Nuweiba to catch the ferry across the Red Sea to Aqaba in Jordan. From Aqaba we camp over night in the desert at Wadi Rum - the desert headquarters of Lawrence of Arabia. This remote area is best viewed from the back of a camel; there is also the chance to take a jeep ride out deep into the desert. Petra - one of the main attractions when it comes to overland travel in the Middle East is only a short drive away and is our next stop, this stone-carved city was only uncovered about 60 years ago after being forgotten for over 1000 years. Walking through an incredibly narrow, rocky defile brings you out to Petra's most famous site -The Treasury -The Nabataeans who carved this vast red city in 3 BC controlled the spice and slave caravans on their way to Arabia. From Petra we venture down to the lowest point on earth The Dead Sea. A visit to the Red ea will definitely be a highlight on your overland travel to China. Here, therapeutic mud baths and not so therapeutic mud fights are followed by an unusual swimming experience in this highly buoyant salt sea! In the late afternoon we have a short drive to Mt Nebo where we camp for the night overlooking Israel. The next day we drive to the Syrian border.

    Overland Travel in Syria
    On the next leg of our overland tour to China we travel to Syria. Day 46 - 51 Overland travel in Syria is highly acclaimed; our first stop in this fascinating country is the capital - Damascus. We spend three nights in this, the oldest inhabited city in the world. From here there is the option of taking a one day guided tour into Lebanon and Beirut. Syrians are among the most hospitable people you will ever meet. The country has a rich and varied history with the Egyptian, Roman, Babylonian and Persian Empires having all passed through here along with Jesus and his disciples! From Damascus we visit Crac de Chevaliers - an 800-year-old Crusader Castle - perched on top of a mountain. Then we trek out to the oasis town of Palmyra we really get into the desert proper. Sleeping out in this vast wilderness, untainted by artificial light is an experience not to be missed. The night sky dazzles with stars, satellites and shooting stars. We then travel via Homs and Hamma to the market town of Aleppo. Here there is also a huge crusader castle and a very relaxing and friendly atmosphere. Driving through stunning mountain scenery in the crisp, clear spring days we wend our way into Turkey.

    Overland Travel in Turkey
    Our next leg of the overland adventure travel tour to China takes us to Turkey. Days 52 - 61 From the Syria border we travel to the town of Khata. Nearby we climb the 2150m Nemrut Dagi where at the summit the solid rock statues of the gods of antiquity lie scattered. We now cross the central plateau and our next major stop is at the visually powerful, windswept landforms of Cappadocia where over the centuries houses, churches, fortresses and even underground cities have been carved into this eerily eroded volcanic rock. We spend a few days here to explore the region. From here we head north to the mountain monastery at Sumela which is a fine example of Byzantine architecture in an awe inspiring location clinging to a cliff face 1,000 feet above the Altindere Valley. We hit the coast of the Black Sea at Trabzon, which is well known for its historic frescos in its old mosques and Ottoman buildings, our overland adventure tour continues along the coast to the border of Georgia.
  • 马克 (2006-9-25 22:32:57)

    Overland Travel in Georgia
    Days 62 - 68 To begin our overland tour of Georgia we drive through western Georgia via Bat'umi on the Black Sea coast. The high snow-capped Caucasus Mountains with their fertile valleys and gushing rivers dominate the country. Numerous fortresses, towers and churches will catch your eye as we travel through the countryside. In Kutasi we visit the 1000 year old ruined Bagrati Cathedral that overlooks the town from a high hill. The nearby Sataplia Nature Reserve is the location of the world's largest collection of dinosaur tracks, as well as wolves and bears.
    Then at Gori we visit Stalin's old house, now a museum, which has his private railway carriage parked outside. No doubt there will also be the chance to try the local drop, Khuachkara a sweet red wine said to be one of Stalin's favourites which is traditionally drunk from a ram's horn. The historic churches of Mtskheta, former capital of Georgia and today a World Heritage Site show the high artistic and cultural level attained by this ancient kingdom that have lived here for 3,000 years.
    We reach Georgia's capital city of Tbilisi and the Old Town has much to offer. Here you can take a stroll along narrow cobbled streets, past traditional old houses with carved wooden balconies, relax in the warm waters of the historic sulphur baths and visit some of the city's key historical sites; Metekhi Church, Narikala Fortress, Sioni Cathedral and Anchiskhati Church. From here and en route to Azerbaijan, we stop for wine tasting at Telavi and visit the impressive 6th century ruins at Gremi. Visiting this historic and beautiful country will be one of your most memorable experiences during your overland travel to China.

    Those on the 68 Day trip from Marrakech finish here in Tblisi.

    Overland Travel in Azerbaijan
    On the next leg of our overland adventure travel tour to China we will visit Azerbaijan. Day 69- 79 Once in the tiny country of Azerbaijan, we drive through a long valley to Sheiki, which is famed for its silk production and was an important stop over on the silk route. Sheki is also famous for Khan's summer palace which was built in 1762. In the country's capital of Baku, we catch our first glimpse of the Caspian Sea. This is a bustling city that has made its fortune from oil, but it has a number of historic sights such as the old fortress and Medieval Old Town and there is the opportunity to go on a day trip to visit the mud volcanoes at Gobustan. These small cones emit cold mud, water and gas almost continually. From Baku we board a ferry for the one day journey across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan, our next stop on our overland tour to China.

    Overland Travel in Turkmenistan
    Day 80 - 87 Nearly 80% of the country is taken up by the Kara-Kum (Black Sand) Desert, and almost all the attractions lie around the fringes of the desert and in its oases. The semi nomadic people, the Turkmen, lead an extraordinary life in this remote region and we may have the opportunity to see them and their conical homes known as yurts from the roadside. First we drive through to Bakharden where there are caves to explore and hot springs, and then stop in Geok Tepe to visit the impressive new mosque, before heading into the capital, Ashgabat, on the southern rim of the Kara-Kum Desert. This is a modern city that replaced the one founded in 1881, which was destroyed in an earthquake in 1948. The sprawling Sunday market in Ashgabat is the best place to buy Turkmen carpets amongst the livestock and household goods. While here take the opportunity to try the staple food; plov pronounced 'plof' which consists of chunks of mutton, shredded yellow turnip and rice fried in a large wok. From Ashgabat there is a gruelling desert crossing that could take a few days but you will be well rewarded with camping out at night in one of the world's most remote environments. Before leaving the country to continue on our overland tour to China we stop briefly at Kunye Ugench to see the 60m tall minaret.

    Overland Travel in Uzbekistan
    Day 88 - 99 Uzbekistan has well preserved relics from the time when Asia was a centre of empire, learning, and trade along the famous silk route. This leg of our overland adventure travel tour to China is fascinating. Some of its cities have abundant old architecture, mosques and minarets cloaked with the mystery of the orient dating back thousands of years. Our first stop is in Khiva, one of the most noteworthy cities in Central Asia. It is a unique monument town, completely preserved in the cultural style of the region, and is a World Heritage Site for its historical significance. It has more minarets than any other place in Asia, and the Juma Mosque which has an amazing 218 ornate carved wooden columns is another of the main attractions. We will spend at least a couple of nights here to explore the ancient madrassahs, medinas, mausoleums and museums and soak up the unique atmosphere.
    Next we explore another town with much historical influence that was also on the great silk route. Bukhara is situated on a sacred hill, and was founded in the 13th century BC and it is home to over 350 mosques and some 100 Islamic colleges. It's an attractive city with narrow streets, green parks and gardens and is a pleasure to wander around and there will be the opportunity for a bout of good humoured haggling in the bazaar. We then continue on our Trans Asia Expedition to the Kyzylkum Desert which is about 300,000 sq km and lies between the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya rivers. This is a vast arid plain with a number of isolated bare mountains rising to 900 metres and we spend at least one night camping out in the desert before driving to Samarkand, the second largest city in the country. The history of Samarkand goes back 2,500 years. It's as old as Babylon or Rome. Here we have a couple of days to explore the city and its treasures such as the 15th century BibiKhanum Mosque which when it was built was considered to have the largest dome in the Muslim world. Today it stands next to a noisy and colourful Oriental market, and other sights include stately squares and mausoleums. From here we drive northwards to Tashkent, the present capital of Uzbekistan. There is also the opportunity to sample some of the excellent Russian restaurants in the city. On the next leg of our overland adventure travel tour to China we travel to Kyrgyzstan
  • 马克 (2006-9-25 22:33:50)

    Overland Travel in Kyrgyzstan
    Days 100 - 114 Kyrgyzstan is a rugged country with the Tien Shan mountain range covering approximately 95% of the whole territory. The mountaintops are perennially covered with snow and glaciers. Overland travel in Kyrgyzstan is renowned for its gorgeous scenic drives. The drive from Tashkent takes us through the dramatic Fergana Valley and over the border. Our first stop is Osh and there are good views of the town surrounded by tobacco and cotton fields from the Sulayman Rock in the middle of town. At the bazaar there are some small taverns, where you can sit on balconies beside the river which overlook the entire bazaar.
    From here we continue our Trans Asia Expedition and head into the heart of the mountains and spend about three to four days driving through snow capped peaks and camping in the wild. En route we visit the Song-Kul Lake situated at an altitude of 3013 m above sea level, and it's a stunning spot with the surrounding glaciers reflected on the still water. We also drive through the spectacular Kochkorka Valley where we visit a carpet shop and it may be possible to go horse riding.
    During overland travel in Kyrgyzstan we also stop at Lake Issyk-Kul in the northern Tien Shan Mountains and with a surface area of 6,300 sq km this is considered to be one of the largest mountain lakes in the world, and is famous for its magnificent scenery. The surrounding countryside is full of fruit trees and the local people transport their wares by traditional donkey and cart. On the southeast shores of the lake is the town of Karakol with its attractive houses and tree-lined streets, and behind it are the Terskay Ala-Too Mountains, an unspoilt wilderness populated only by nomadic shepherds and only then during the summer. On the northern shore of the lake is Colpon Ata, we stop here to enjoy a mud cure at one of the many spas and health-resorts here. Continuing on our overland tour to China we head for the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek via the famous hot springs and red rocks in the DjetyOguz Valley. Bishkek is a largely Soviet-built city, and along Ulitsa Sovietskaya, the broad tree-lined road between the railway station and the city centre, are the Kyrgyz State Opera and Ballet Theatre and the State Art Museum. Other attractions include the Lenin Museum and an hour's drive from Bishkek the Ala-Archa Nature Reserve which offers spectacular scenery for trekking and skiing.
    Those on the 16 week trip from Marrakech finish here in Bishkek.

    From Bishkek we continue on our Trans Asia Expedition and spend a few days driving south through the mountains to reach the border with China. This is a difficult journey along rough roads and at high altitude so expect cold temperatures and a challenging time. The border is crossed via the Torugat Pass in the Tien Shan Mountains which is one of the highest passes in the world and a highlight when it comes to overland travel in China. On the way we cross vast high plains where Kyrgyz nomads, living in their traditional yurts, practicing a lifestyle which has changed little over the centuries and we will the opportunity to stop and sleep the night in one of their camps.

    Overland travel in China
    Days 115 - 122 We begin our overland travel in China once on the other side of the Torugat Pass. We descend into China and eventually reach our first Chinese city, Kashgar which is an old city in the far western Chinese province of Xingjian. We take the opportunity to stock up with provisions and explore and if we are here on a Sunday we will visit the local market which attracts a rather staggering 60,000 shoppers.
    On the next leg of our Trans Asia Expedition we travel on through the string of oases which skirt the inhospitable Takla Makan Desert, also dubbed 'the desert of death or the place of no return'. It takes several days of overland travel to cross the desert which constitutes one of the largest moving bodies of sand in the world, stretching west from Kashgar for over a 1000 kms to the mysterious desert of Lop in the east and its dunes conceal the ruins of numerous ancient civilizations. On the way we stop in Hotan which despite being in such a remote location is home to 1.2 million people and we have our first experience of how populated China is. It is best known for its carpet making, silk production and jewellery made from the local jade. We will have the opportunity to visit a carpet shop and watch the weavers at work. On the eastern edge of the desert we stop at Korla which is situated at the foot of Mount Tianshan.
    After 57 kilometres of northeast overland travel we visit Bosten Lake which is surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Gobi Desert and here we can go on a boat ride or water-ski. We then drive north through the mountains to the city of Urumqi and nearby we visit ,b.Tain Chi 'heaven lake' where we have the opportunity to cool off from the heat of the desert and hike in the forests beneath the mighty 6000 m high Bogda Feng mountain. A fascinating stop on our overland tour of China, you can choose to stay in yurts with the semi nomadic Kazakh population. A day's drive away at lower altitude is Turpan, which is frequently dubbed one of the hottest places in the world. The town is picturesquely covered in vine trellises, shading the friendly locals from some of the fiercest heat in China. We visit the town's old mosques and take a tour to the ruins of Goachang City which was founded in the 2nd century BC, which at its height had a multi-ethnic population of perhaps 30,000 and was doubtless an impressive sight to those arriving on caravans. Its massive rammed earthen walls were 11.5 m high and about the same thickness. During this leg of our overland tour of Egypt we also visit the Thousand Buddha Caves which were dug out and painted by monks from the 4th century.

    On days 123 - 131 of our Trans Asia Expedition we leave Turpan and start our long journey east to cross the Gobi Desert via the oasis towns of Gansu Province. The first place of interest is Dunhuang and here we visit the famed Mogao Grottoes. This honeycomb of caves was constructed from the 4th to the 14th centuries, and is one of the world's richest treasure houses of Buddhist sutras, murals and sculptures. We also take a trip to the edge of the oasis to Min Sha Hill and the Crescent Moon Pool. Spring water trickles up into a depression between huge sand dunes, forming a crescent-shaped pond. Here we will be able to scramble up and slide down a giant dune and there is the opportunity to take camel ride on a two-humped camel over the sand dunes.
    Continuing on our overland travel in China, a couple of days drive takes us east to Jiayuguan which gives us our first glimpse of the Great Wall of China as the city is at its most western end. This incredible feat of engineering was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). We can take a walk along the wall and visit the Jiayuguan Fort which was the last outpost of the Great Wall. We also visit the Wei Jin Tombs which date from somewhere between 220 - 420 AD which have early rock art on the walls and the mummies unearthed at the tombs can be seen in the adjacent museum. Visiting the Great Wall of China will definitely be one of the most memorable experiences on this Trans Asia Expedition.
    Our next stop is the town of Wuwei, another centre for Buddhism. Places of interest include the Haizang Temple, Loshi Pagoda, Confucian Temple and the Leitai Taoist Temple. The town's single most famous object, the Han-dynasty Flying Horse of Wuwei, dating from 206 BC to 220 AD was discovered here in 1969 in an ancient tomb. We then move on to Lanzhou, a city that has a 2,000-year history and is capital of Gansu Province. It spans the wide Yellow River, so named because of its sludgy colour. We will have time to explore and from the White Pagoda Temple Park on a mountain overlooking the city there are tremendous views of the skyline and river. If time allows during this leg of our overland tour to China we make two short excursions from Lanzhou. One is to the Maijishan Grottoes which is a steep rock face with 194 cave-shrines chiselledout of it that provide shelters to 7,200 stone and clay figurines and 1,300 square metres of murals. It's a compelling sight and the clay figures are fastidiously crafted to minute detail. The second excursion is to the Bingling Grottoes, also known as the Bingling Temple, which are another intriguing series of Buddhist caves on a cliff face, some 80km from Lanzhou and accessed by boat across the Yellow River. The largest statue is a giant 27m- high seated Maitreya, the future Buddha. The first cave was built here in 420 AD by daring Buddhists who descended from the cliff on ropes to carve their masterpieces. Today there are a series of winding walkways and stairs that lead you around the site.
  • 马克 (2006-9-25 22:34:17)

    On Days 132 - 137 of our overland travel in China we move on to Xiahe to visit the Tibetan style Buddhist Labrang Monastery to see the grand halls and white towers, and the tens of thousands of gold Buddha statues decorated with ivory and jade. A days drive further south we visit Huanglong National Park. Also known as Yellow Dragon Valley, it is studded with terraces and waterfalls and coloured limestone ponds of blue, yellow, green and white.
    Another days journey south brings us to the next destination on our Trans Asia Expedition; Chengdu is a great place to see giant pandas. We can visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Centre, where nearly 50 Pandas have been born and successfully reared.

    From Chengdu we head 160 km southwest to Emeishan which has been a place of pilgrimage for 1800 years. It is one of the four mountain ranges in China that Buddhists consider sacred and there are a number hiking trails punctuated by Buddhist temples that offer food and beds to pilgrims and tourists alike. During our overland tour of China we will dedicate a few days of our journey to this location which is renowned for being one of China's most pristine natural wildernesses. If the weather is clear you can attempt a hike to the top of its main peak, Wanfo Top, at over 3000 meters. From the mountains we have a short drive to Leshan to visit the 71 metre high Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest stone sculpture of Buddha in the world which sits at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers. He is depicted barefooted with drooping ears and has his hair arranged in a spiral topknot. His chest is exposed and his hands rest on his knees, and carved from the side of the Lingyun Hill, his head is level with the cliff top.

    On days 138 - 145 of our overland tour to China we visit Chongqing and it's from here that we embark on our three day boat trip down the Yangtze River. On the stretch between Chongqing and Yichang we pass through the impossibly narrow and meandering gorges of Qutang, Wu and Xiling. We disembark at Yichang and rejoin our vehicle. This is China's largest city and is home to 31 million people! The vista of skyscrapers goes on forever and at night when the whole city is lit up; the views are amazing!

    On days 146 - 150 of our Trans Asia Expedition we now travel east again toward Wuhan where the Hanjiang River joins China's great Yangtze River. It has a history going back 3,500 years and starting here, early merchants followed the great Yangtze River and lake network to expand trade throughout the entire country.
    Moving north we pass through Luoyang and reach the world-famous Longmen Grottoes. Here two hills confront each other with the Yi River running northward between them. Another World Heritage Site on our overland tour to China, the grottoes were first sculptured around 493 AD. Today, there are 2345 caves, 100,000 massive Buddhist images, more than 2800 inscribed tablets, and 43 Buddhist pagodas. The most extraordinary statue is in the Fengxian Temple and is the Grand Vairocana Buddha, which is 17.14 meters tall with his head 4 meters long and his ear 1.9 meters wide.
    Nearby is Shaolin where we visit the monastery which although destroyed on several occasions has been on this site since 495 AD. This is thought to be the birth place of Kung Fu and centuries ago it is believed the monks at the monastery to relieve themselves of the great monotony of daily life, imitated the movements of various different animals, which gradually developed into a unique martial art. Nowadays much of the spiritual side of Kung Fu has been lost, although there is still a Kung Fu Academy here. If we are lucky we may see some of the orange robed monks perform.

    On days 146 - 150 of our Trans Asia Expedition we now travel east again toward Wuhan where the Hanjiang River joins China's great Yangtze River. It has a history going back 3,500 years and starting here, early merchants followed the great Yangtze River and lake network to expand trade throughout the entire country.
    Moving north we pass through Luoyang and reach the world-famous Longmen Grottoes. Here two hills confront each other with the Yi River running northward between them. Another World Heritage Site on our overland tour to China, the grottoes were first sculptured around 493 AD. Today, there are 2345 caves, 100,000 massive Buddhist images, more than 2800 inscribed tablets, and 43 Buddhist pagodas. The most extraordinary statue is in the Fengxian Temple and is the Grand Vairocana Buddha, which is 17.14 meters tall with his head 4 meters long and his ear 1.9 meters wide.
    Nearby is Shaolin where we visit the monastery which although destroyed on several occasions has been on this site since 495 AD. This is thought to be the birth place of Kung Fu and centuries ago it is believed the monks at the monastery to relieve themselves of the great monotony of daily life, imitated the movements of various different animals, which gradually developed into a unique martial art. Nowadays much of the spiritual side of Kung Fu has been lost, although there is still a Kung Fu Academy here. If we are lucky we may see some of the orange robed monks perform.

    Days 151 - 156 takes us to Xi'an our last drive during our overland tour. Xi'an's history goes back over 6000 years and over time 13 dynasties placed their capitals here, and today Xi'an enjoys equal importance with Athens, Cairo, and Rome as one of the world's four major ancient civilisation capitals. There are an abundance of relics and sites to see and we spend 2 or 3 days here to absorb everything. Of these the vast Terra Cotta Army is probably the most famous. Xi'an is also well known for its food and nightlife and there are some attractive restaurant districts to wander around in the evening. From Xi'an we begin our last overland journey by train to Beijing.
    We arrive in Beijing, the last stop on our overland tour to China after a 15 hr train journey ready to explore China's capital and soak up the atmosphere. Beijing is a heaving, thriving place, an economic power house of Asia, and the cultural centre of China. We include a guided city tour on our last day of the trip, before enjoying our last night party in some of the many bars and clubs in the city.
    There is so much to see in Beijing so we recommend staying on for a few days to see all the main sights and also to relax. Beijing will be one of the highlights on your overland travel tour in China. Well known places to visit here include the largest central square in the world - Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City, a superbly preserved section of the Great Wall, as well as the largest sacrificial complex in the world, the Temple of Heaven. You will also see the towering skyscrapers and the endless stream of traffic. No where else on earth will you find such a variety of gourmet Chinese restaurants offering the very best of the eight different styles of Chinese cuisine as well as western style dishes. Then there is of course the shopping and there are countless shopping malls and markets all over the city to pick up cheap Chinese made products. The nightlife too is worth exploring and there are plenty of pubs and clubs to visit before flying out or continuing on with your Trans Asia Expedition.
  • 聚义厅 (2006-10-10 19:21:16)


    Explore the wonders of Southern Africa in a motorhome!??

    Yes... but route planning and camp site bookings can be a very stressful and frustrating task, however it is the most important part of your holiday preparations.
    It is not easy to plan an exciting and safe route from your desk at home, calculating comfortable traveling distances and allowing enough time to visit highlights and to participate in activities along the route.

    Let us make your motorhome holiday relaxing and easy with our
    Point to Point road book tours.

    Please have a look at one of our exciting itineraries to choose from:

    Kruger Park, Swaziland, KwaZulu Natal

    13-DAY Safari


    I T I N E R A R Y

    Day 1
    Arrive at Johannesburg International Airport.
    Transfer to our offices. Complete the necessary paperwork with the aid of one of the helpful staff and go over all the vehicle抯 operations.
    A detailed road book and vouchers for the camp sites is handed over to you before you
    depart for Dullstroom, en-route to Mpumulanga.

    Day 2
    Today you head in an easterly direction towards the beautiful area of Mpumalanga.
    After a scenic drive through the country side you set up camp at the Aventura Blyde River Poort camping site with beautiful views of the Blyde River Canyon, the worlds 3rd largest canyon.

    Day 3
    During the morning you take the scenic route and visit places like, Pilgrims Rest, God抯 Window, Bourke抯 Luck Potholes, The Pinnacle, Mac Mac Waterfalls etc.
    Early afternoon you head for the Kruger National Park.
    The afternoon can be spent driving around in the Park or you can relax at the campsite.

    Day 4
    Today you have plenty of time to explore the Park on your way south to your next camp site for the night.

    Day 5
    Full day game viewing on your way down to the Berg en Dal Camp.

    Day 6
    After an early morning game-drive , you leave the Kruger Park through the Malalane Gate. Head down south and enter Swaziland through the Matsamo border, You have ample time for site seeing and visits to the glass factory, the Swazi candle factory, etc.
    You camp at Mlilwane Nature Reserve.

    Day 7
    Travel down south exploring this beautiful country.
    Overnight at the Nisela Safaris camping site.

    Day 8
    Leave Swaziland through the Golela border post and head for Mkuzi Game Reserve, your next overnight camp.
    Here you have enough time to explore the Game Reserve.
    More than 380 bird species have been recorded at Mkuzi, including fish eagles, kingfishers and a host of ducks and waders. On walks through a wide variety of habitats, you may see rhino, giraffe, zebra, kudu and impala, among other species.

    Day 9
    Travel through the beautiful area of Maputuland, a region of coral, unspoilt beaches, freshwater lakes, sand forests, wetlands systems and bushveld.
    Your next overnight stop is St. Lucia Game Reserve, World Heritage Site.
    St. Lucia Lake and its surroundings comprise a wetland of global importance. The reserve contains some of the highest forested dunes in the world, as well as swamp and sand forest, palm veld and various woodland vegetarian types. Wildlife includes black rhino, suni, pangolin and red duiker; marine turtles, breeding populations of pink-backed pelicans, Caspian terns, flamingos, and the largest crocodile, hippo and reedbuck populations in South Africa.
    In the late afternoon you can go on a boat cruise on Lake St. Lucia.

    Day 10
    Travel down the coast to your next overnight stop just north of Durban in the seaside holiday resort, Ballito.

    Day 11
    After a brief visit to Durban you head up north towards the KwaZulu Natal抯 Drakensberg.
    Your campsite for the night is in the foothills of the berg in Royal Natal National Park.

    Day 12
    Depart during the morning to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park where you spend your last night at the Glen Reenen Camp site in the Park.
    The Park is nestled in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains of the northeastern Free State. It gets its name from the brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the park抯 sandstone cliffs.

    Day 13
    After breakfast you head back to Johannesburg via Clarens and Bethlehem.
    At about 15:00 you arrive at our office to return your vehicle.
    Transfer to Hotel or airport.
  • 聚义厅 (2006-10-10 19:28:27)

    Despite my mountaineering goggles and turban, I had sand in my hair, teeth and eyes. On reaching Mauritania, on the Plymouth - Dakar rally it struck me how far some girls will go to have a good time.

    Founded by an eccentric British stockbroker (the Disorganiser) with a passion for knackered old cars, this was the 4th Plymouth - Banjul Challenge. Ahead of us, 3700 miles in 21 days through seven countries, one disputed border, a mined no-man's land and a desert. All in a vehicle that must cost less than £100 and have left-hand drive (a challenge for us Brits).

    The 60 teams included: The Lada Louts, Minor Detour, 4x2xTaxi, German Wunderkind and of course Anne-Marie and I - The Pink Ladies - in our hand-painted pink Citroen.

    We chose our team name, The Pink Ladies as an homage to the movie Grease. Which was what we were covered in by the end of the trip. Oh, and sand.
  • 聚义厅 (2006-10-10 19:43:52)

    We left London to the tune of Summer Loving from Grease, hopped onto a ferry at Portsmouth (Plymouth is a spiritual starting point) and shared a beer on board with fellow rally folk. We didn't see another rally car until our first official meeting point in Sottogrande, Southern Spain. In the mornings we'd spend a full hour de-icing the car and another two de-icing ourselves. Funnily enough, 1988 vehicles don't come with full central heating.
    With indecipherable road signs, never-ending straight roads and police roadblocks up ahead this rally wasn't going to be easy. So, hooking up with the other teams, we took the ferry to Morocco to begin our journey to the Western Sahara, via the Rif Mountains. And that's just the start. Let the adventure begin...
    Driving off the ferry into Africa, we were soon lost in a sea of cars, carts and people, three abreast on the road. Our German friends, more used to the Nürburg-Ring racing track, were somewhat shocked to be sharing a lane with a donkey. We reached Marrakesh by small convoy, where we spent Christmas Day sampling the culinary delights of Jemma el Fna square and shopping for potions in the souks.
  • 聚义厅 (2006-10-10 19:46:29)

    We had long days driving through Morocco, thankfully broken up with our walkie talkies. We used them to signal petrol/loo stops, comment on each other's driving, or play 'name that tune' over crackly speakers.
    Reaching the Southern Moroccan coast, the warmer weather lifted our spirits and left us wishing we could stay there.
    Camel signs were the only distraction on a 500km stretch of brand new tarmac with unchanging landscape either side. These signs created great excitement. Our first wild camels! But where? Every now and then we would pass groups of rally cars who we assumed were stopping for lunch or tea. Later in the evening we'd find they'd stopped to look at a herd of several hundred (well-camouflaged) camels.
    Having successfully crossed into Mauritania we left the tarmac behind. As soon as we hit soft sand we knew the cars would get stuck, but no one wanted to be the first. Thankfully, The Lada Louts took that honour. The only way of getting a car out was to scoop the sand away from the wheels and push, sometimes using tufts of desert grass for extra traction. The old methods are the best.
    The secret of driving through soft sand is momentum. You put your foot down and hold the steering wheel in a vice-like grip, whilst your back wheels are spinning out of control and the engine is revving its life away. It's exhilarating, terrifying and a huge adrenalin rush. Our little pink van hated it. We got too much sand in our engine, an occupational hazard, you could say. A tow start got us going again.
  • 聚义厅 (2006-10-10 19:53:27)

    At last, a camel! Huge herds of camels would scuttle in front of our cars, followed by a nomad on camelback acting as shepherd.Our three-day desert crossing ended with a 50km beach ride down the Atlantic Coast. We waited for low tide and set off on a thrilling drive, wind in our turbans, sea gulls soaring around us. At first we thought the wet sand was slowing down our little pink van, but she was undeniably losing power. When we reached the tarmac she gave up completely. 'No problem', said the Germans, who took out a tow rope and attached us to the back.The next day we headed off-road again to the little-used Senegalese border post at Diama. We were still on tow. The tow rope broke. Frank, the racing car mechanic, got out and, to our horror, reknotted it! With an ever-shortening tow rope and dust billowing from the car in front we couldn’t see a thing. We screamed as we flew over invisible potholes, and wished we were on some sort of mad fairground ride instead.It took us seven hours to cross the Mauritanian-Senegalese border. Cars over 5 years old aren’t allowed into Senegal, so with 40 old bangers at once, the border officials had a field day. After a day’s customs escort through Senegal, the Gambia crossing was much easier. The children were naturally curious and we found ourselves frequently surrounded by potential new pen friends all clamouring for our pink diceWe shared a ferry with goats, hawkers and broken down taxis across the river to Banjul. The boat was so crowded that we sat on top of our cars. Frank had given our van a thorough examination in Senegal but the diagnosis was terminal - piston failure. So, with a little help from our friends, we arrived at our final destination, still on tow (and covered in sand).. Greased Lightning no more, we arrived in Banjul with failed cylinders, pistons and brakes, overheated wheel bearings, no exhaust, and no tow ring. Of the 60 teams that set off, 58 made it to the Gambia. Each car had its dramas, but the phenomenal team spirit the rally generates saw us through. The London taxi boys even picked up a hitchhiker along the way - notching up a whopping fare...

    We would never have made it without our desert family convoy. Sad Steve sorted out the border controls, the Crazy Fools cooked for us all,  the Lada Louts came up with ideas so bad they were 'good' and the Minor Boys provided much-needed mechanical know-how. German Wunderkind quite literally stuck with us throughout our African adventure, towing us out of a ditch and through three different countries. We know exactly where we'd be without them.

    So if you've got a spare hundred quid and a pair of goggles, you can register for the 2008 Plymouth to Banjul rally by logging on to www.plymouth-dakar.co.uk. Or if you want to find out more about the Pink Ladies' trip, drive on into www.pinkladiesdodakar.co.uk.
  • 聚义厅 (2006-10-10 19:56:03)

    The Nepalis have long understood the importance of land and animal protection. Over 8 percent of the country's area is taken up by national parks, established to protect every significant ecological system in the country - from tropical plains to fertile midlands to the highest mountains in the world.

    This commitment is even more impressive when you realise that the designated protected areas are not simply unused tracts of wilderness. Most of the country is used by humans, whether for farming, firewood or trade routes. The system in place is a unique attempt to combine the requirements of the people with the needs of the land (and the income potential from nature-loving tourists). Traditional custodians of the protected land are given assistance to develop ecologically sustainable development.

    For safari buffs, this commitment to the land means a wonderful assortment of animal-spotting opportunities. As well as protecting some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, the current program is directly credited with saving the magnificent royal Bengal tiger in Chitwan - just one of the must-see creatures on any visitor's itinerary.

    Because the parks are spread across a wide range of geographies, the attractions are similarly diverse. In the flood plains of the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, intrepid travellers can spot the last surviving group of wild buffalo in the country, several species of deer, and over 280 species of bird. Up near Everest in the Sagarmatha National Park, you might stumble across musk deer, Himalayan tahr, black bears, wolves and the beautiful impeyan pheasant - the national bird of Nepal.

    Because of its easy accessibility and its location en route from Kathmandu to India, the most popular place for animal sightings is the 1431 sq km (558 sq mi) Royal Chitwan National Park. About 70 percent of the area is covered by sal forest, with grassland and riverine forests making up the remainder. Despite the steady stream of visitors, the park offers visitors a great opportunity to see one-horned rhinoceros (among the last surviving groups in the country), the Bengal tiger, and any of the other 50 species of large mammal. Those orno-inclined aren't left out here, either: the area boasts some 400 species of bird.

    Animal-spotting groups are possible to organise in Nepal, but by far the most popular way to see the country's scenery and fauna is on private treks. There are also lots of organisations running treks of various lengths, from a day to several months, but these rarely focus on the wildlife. Animal sightings on these treks are by chance and considered a bonus.