The Best Overland Trips To Take Around The World

From the rocky deserts of Jordan to the wilds of Sri Lanka, book one of these Culture Trip adventures and get inspired to hit the road.

Overlanding – an adventurous road trip where the joy is in the journey – is a great way to explore a new place. From Japan to Brazil and much more, these are the overland trips you should add to your travel plans in the coming year.

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View from a flowery field as the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) zooms past Mount Fuji in the Japanese countryside

Japan by Train: The Grand Tour

There’s so much to see in Japan, it’s hard to know where to start, but with the help of our Travel Experts and the country’s incredible rail network, you can have the ultimate Japanese experience in just 12 days. We start in Osaka, before hopping on the Bullet Train to Hiroshima, exploring Miyajima Island and Arashiyama bamboo forest. Then it’s back onboard to Kyoto, to see Torii gates and geishas, before heading up to the Japanese Alps for sake tasting and onsen-soaking. After cruising Lake Ashi with views of Mount Fuji, our final destination is Tokyo – watch sumo wrestlers train, try taiko drumming and hit the neon-lit streets at night for a spot of karaoke.

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Next available from 2nd Sep 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Osaka, Japan

ENDS AT

Tokyo, Japan

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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This is an updated version of an article originally written by Lorna Turnbull.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.